GC_GB_0703

S U P S C R I P T I O N M A G A Z I N E F O R C O L L E C T O R S O F G R E E N L A N D S TA M P S • V O L . 1 2 • n O . 3 • S eptem b er 2 0 0 7

New collecting theme p. 2-3

Subscribers’ contest p. 4

Science III p. 4-7

Expedition series p. 8-9

The way to Tasiilaq p. 10

Christmas 2007 p. 12

11stamps only DKK 112,00

Beautiful

corners of Europe...

New collecting theme: Small european mail services On October 1 2007 all in all 11 small European post nations each issue a stamp in a new joint stamp series. This issue has its roots in a long-standing cooperation between these small mail services. The stamp issue focuses on the unique landscapes that are characteristic for the single countries.

The mail services in question in this first SEPAC issue are from Åland, the Faeroes, Gibraltar, Greenland, Guernsey Island, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Malta and Monaco. All 11 stamps are being published in a special souvenir folder, which contains pictures and brief presentations of each county along with the flags of the countries placed on a map of Europe.

Note! The souvenir folder is delivered with subscriptions November 8 2007.

The folder is sold by the piece and sent out from the issue date on October 1 2007. Item No. 01303032. DKK 112.00.

011007

01100380 Sepac 2007 ”Landscapes” Value: DKK 6,50 Issue date: 1.10.2007 40 stamps per sheet Size: G – horizontal Artist: Nuka K. Godtfredsen Outside measurements: 39.52 x 28.84 mm Typography: Dorit Olsen Printing Method: Offset Paper: TR8

The Science series – part 3 On October 1, POST Greenland issues three new stamps in the science series.

2007

Subscribers’ contest

By Ilka Gerken

It is a grand tradition at POST Greenland, Filatelia that lots are drawn among all of our subscribers for a piece of eastern Greenlandic handicraft. This takes place each year in December, and anyone, who subscribes by November 30 will be part of the ‘pool’. This year a beautiful model kayak is to be won that can hang in the ceiling.

The length of the kayak is just over 50 cm. and inside is a sealer with harpoon and paddle. The rest of his sealing equipment is tied to the kayak with leather string. Some details are made from reindeer antlers.

The winner of the contest is contacted personally, and his or her name will be published in Greenland Collector, no. 2, April 2008.

Participating in the contest is far from the only advantage you get from subscribing to Greenlandic stamps. As a subscriber at POST Greenland, Filatelia you get all subscription deliveries and any additional orders free of handling charge and postage.

Furthermore, you receive all of our letters

and other mailings franked with our beautiful stamps.

Whatever the cancellation method, there are no extra charges for subscribing to cancelled stamps. Regular day cancellation, centre day cancellation, first day cancellation or centre day cancellation is in other words totally free; you just pay for the postal value of the stamp. Furthermore, you will receive the Greenland Collector free of charge.

A newsletter is enclosed each subscription delivery, where you can see our special offers and always the latest information.

And last, but not least, all subscribers get a small gift each year, which is enclosed the last delivery of the year. You also automatically participate in the subscribers’ contest mentioned above, as long as you are subscribing before November 30 2007.

The purpose of the series is to point out new scientific discoveries that were done in Greenland.

Nuka K. Godtfredsen has drawn the motive for two of these stamps and Ina Rosing has drawn the third. Yves Beaujard, new engraver in a Greenlandic connection, has engraved all three stamps.

The themes on the stamps are geography, geology and biology.

Below you can read the specific presentations of the three new science stamps.

011003787 Science III/1 Tubbiap Qeqertaa Value: DKK 0,75 Issue date: 1.10.2007 40 stamps per sheet Size: G – vertical Artist: Nuka K. Godtfredsen Engraving: Yves Beaujard Outside measurements: 39,52 mm x 28,84 mm Printing method: Combination Paper: TR4

The mirage that became an island

01102007

A hundred years ago the second sledging team of the Denmark-Expedition looked from the north-eastern bend at the Greenlandic sea towards Svalbard and caught sight of what seemed to be land far out at sea. Up until World War 1, this mirage land was persistently searched for, though without results, after which it became a Greenlandic myth. Not until just under 90 years later it was confirmed that there were some unknown islands outside of Northeast Greenland, and in 1999 a Danish geologist succeeded in going ashore from a helicopter out of the German icebreaking research boat, ‘Polarstern’. The island proved to be made from large ice capes resting on a foundation of rocks and sand, but the specific location and size was not determined.

By Axel Fiedler, former commander

The Island was named 'Tubbiap Queqertaa' (Tobias' Island) from the Greenlandic sledge driver on the Denmark-Expedition’s second sledging team and sealer, Tobias Gabrielsen (1878 – 1945), who proved his skills among other things by leading the teams’ sledges safely over the foot of a sheer iceberg by the Mallemuk mountain, and taking it safe and sound to the town ‘Danmarkshavn’.

In 2000 the Forces of Greenland several times vainly tried to reach the island by helicopter in order to plant the country flag and to make further measurements. In the spring, a flight had to be cancelled due to bad weather conditions near the island, and a further try in late summer was cancelled few hours before the helicopter at sunrise was supposed to take off from the ship, because the admiral in ‘Grønnedal’ at night had a hunch that cancelling would be necessary. The same day the helicopter made a forced landing on the ship due to a serious material error!

However, on April 28 the following year a Twin Otter airplane from Air Greenland succeeded in landing on the snow and ice covered island bringing a researcher from each of the three

large national geographical institutions – Greenland’s preliminary studies (ASIAQ), the Danish agency of maps and land registry (KMS) and Denmark’s and Greenland’s Geological Examinations (GEUS). During the very brief stay of the researcher, the islands’ geographical position (79º20´N, 15º48´W) and its size were very accurately determined, and furthermore geological samples were gathered. Most importantly of all, however, was that ’Tobias’ Island’ was symbolically taken into possession as a part of Greenland by the rising of a flag pole with the waving flags of Denmark and Greenland. ‘Tobias’ Island’ could now be drawn onto maps and charts with the proper position and the determined ownership.

Two years were to pass before the island once again saw visitors, and this time by ship. Usually, the whole region around ’Tobias’ Island’ is covered with the polar ice all year long, but in September 2003, the icing situation was so favourable that the inspection boat ’Triton’ could sail up to the area. ‘Triton’ landed a team that built a flag bastion with the waving flag of the union. After that, ‘Triton’ navigated the waters around the island and made determinations of

depth and in this connection, the boat succeeded in reaching 81º10´N thus breaking the previous record of the expedition ship ‘Gustav Holm’ from 1933.

Recently, ’Tobias Island’ has become a topic in the negotiations between Norway, Denmark and Greenland regarding the determination of the economical borderlines in the waters between Svalbard and Greenland, and an agreement between the countries was signed on February 20 2006.

‘Tobias Island’ is now an undisputed part of Greenland. It is a few square kilometres and consists of a low placed bank of rocks and sand, and the inner island is covered with a 35 meter ice cap. The island has a permanent character, since measurements has proven its existence to more than a thousand years of age. The climatic conditions in the region are very rough, but the global warming can mean that ’Tobias’ Island’ in the future may become very important regarding the financial profits of the resources in the sea.

Soapstone in Greenland

KALAALLIT NUNAAT GRØNLAND

KALAALLIT NUNAAT GRØNLAND

0.75

2.00

Narsatsiaq - ukkusissaq ukiuni tuusintilinni / Narsatsiaq - fedtsten gennem år tusinder

Tobias Ø

Post and Greenl

01100388 Science III Soapstone quarry Value: DKK 2,00 Issue date: 01.10.2007 40 stamps per sheet Size: G – vertical Artist: Nuka K Godtfredsen Engraving: Yves Beaujard Outside measurements: 28,84 mm x 33,44 mm Printing method: Combination Paper: TR4

Yves Beaujard sc . / Nuka K Godtfredsen del. / 2007

Yves Beaujard sc . / Nuka K Godtfredsen del. / 2007

By Kenneth Liedtke

The soapstone lamp: Source of light and heat.

For centuries, the soapstone has been of great importance to the Greenlanders. As such the soapstone lamp has provided the Inuits with light and heat, and has at the same time been used in cooking hot food by placing the pots on top of the lamp. Its utility value can be compared to our times’ spirit or gas stoves, which are as is well known completely indispensable when going camping. In the past, large soapstone lamps and mess tins were at disposal, but the earliest inuit cultures solely used the lamp to light up

the peat hut, the skin tent or the igloo. The lamp contained two vessels, one of which was filled with blubber from seal or whale. As the blubber became fluid, it floated over the rise to the wick, which was most often made of dried faeces of the mountain hare. The wick was cleverly lit by one or two persons, who in cooperation, and by use of a couple of primitive tools, quickly rubbed two peaces of wood against each other. The friction created enough heat to light dry moss and heather.

Today, most tourist information offices and souvenir shops sell miniature models of the soapstone lamp to fill with lamp oil. A burning soapstone lamp can get very hot, and therefore they are usually placed on a wooden isolating foundation with three little legs. This provides the home with a cosy lighting that brings memories of ancient times that are after all not so far away.

Soapstone art in Greenland

Earlier, mostly articles for daily use were made of soapstone, for instance sealing tackle, soapstone lamps and various household goods

as pots and various other kinds of depository containers. Since then, Greenlandic artist have however become increasingly aware of the manageable stone with the beautiful and varied shades of colours. Today, each soapstone artist has he’s own style and personal expression, and the stone is still inspiring more and more young artists to develop their own techniques and their own interpretation of the arts.

Soapstone can also be worked into relief, flat and lying figures, jewelry, applied art and the ‘tupilak’. And furthermore the stone can be used for creating visual art. The artist then polishes the stone until it gets a blank and black surface, which he can cut light motives into. Some artists mix different types of soapstone and create brand new expressions.

Figures of soapstone can be exported out of Greenland and can be bought in all towns at tourist information offices and in souvenir shops.

KALAALLIT NUNAAT GRØNLAND

KALAALLIT NUNAAT GRØNLAND

KALAALLIT NUNAAT GRØNLAND

0.75

2.00

10.25

Tobias Ø

Narsatsiaq - ukkusissaq ukiuni tuusintilinni / Narsatsiaq - fedtsten gennem år tusinder

Nunarsuatsinni uumassusillit pisoqaanersaat ukiuni 3,8 mia.-ni / Verdens ældste liv 3,8 mia. år

Post and Greenl

Yves Beaujard sc . / Nuka K Godtfredsen del. / 2007

Y v e s B e a u j a r d s c . / I n a Ro s i n g d e l . / 2 0 0 7

Photo: Minik Rosing

Yves Beaujard sc . / Nuka K Godtfredsen del. / 2007

01100389 Science III/3 ”Earliest life on earth” Value: DKK 10,25 Issue date: 01.10.2007 40 stamps per sheet Size: F – vertical Artist: Ina Rosing Engraving: Yves Beaujard Outside meassurements: 28,84 x 33,44 mm Printing method: Combination Paper: TR8 Stamp Paper PVA

The earliest life on earth

By Ilka Gerken

News from Isua: A year ago we already wrote about the earliest life on earth and about carbon12 isotopes as a sign that there was life on earth 3.8 million years ago (see Greenland Collector No. 03/2006). Now the research of the well known geologist, Minik Rosing, has identified one of the earliest life forms on the planet: cyanobacteria, advanced life that had developed the ability to perform photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria is also known as green alga; a regular plague in the summer time at popular beaches.

However, had there not been any photosynthetic green algas, the earth may never have looked the way it does, because the bacterias abilities were vital for the rise of the continents.

When the solar system was created and the planets found their place in space, there was nothing on earth but the archaic sea; no continents. Life began as tiny bacteria in a fluid, where iron may have been the most important element. The

bacteria breathed by means of iron, and through numerous cycles of growth, life and death they turned into increasingly complicated organisms.

The first form of life with the ability to perform the socalled oxygenic photosynthesis was the cyanobacteria that were found in formations of rocks near Isua. It is the same kind of photosynthesis that we know from plants, and the reason why it is called the oxygenic photosynthesis is that oxygen molecules are waste products in the process. For a long time the oxygen only existed in the sea where it influenced the biochemical course. Among other things, the oxygen also influenced the basalt that sank from volcanic eruption to the sea bed.

At the other planets, basalt keeps on being basalt, while some of the basalt here is exposed to a forceful decomposition and crumbling especially because of the oxygen in the seas and the atmosphere of the planet. Occasionally some

of the basalt sinks to the red-hot mass, melts and is then sent back up through volcanic crevices.

If the basalt had not been crumbled, it would just turn into a new piece of sea bed, but the crumbling means that some of the material start to melt already by 600 – 700 degrees, while other material sinks deeper and does not melt until approximately 1100 degrees. Easy melting material – granite material – is thereby distilled, that is separated from the material that melts harder. Since it is at the same time lighter, it rises and hardens as granite. And since the granite is light, it does not (like the basalt) sink back into the centre of the planet. The granite lies upon the heavy material in the centre of the planet and mould the continents.

Joint issue with La Poste, France Expedition series – part 5

By Pertti Frandsen

We have reached the 5. part of the expedition series.

The series began in 2003 when we issued two stamps in cooperation with Post Danmark. Since then, we have issued expedition stamps in cooperation with Posten Norge and Canada Post, and we have celebrated the american Robert Peary and the german Alfred Wegener with a stamp each.

The series marks a number of important milestones in the proud history of the Greenlandexpeditions, where researcher and explorers from foreign countries have made several important scientific advances, often at the risk of their lifes.

In this regard, the joint issue with the french La Poste is no exeption Here we represent two significant french expeditioners, who have both left enduring impressions in the history of Greenland: Jean-Baptiste Charcot and PaulÉmile Victor.

01106391 Minisheet Expeditions V - Charcot/Victor

Jean-Baptiste Charcot Pourquoi Pas?

and the

Over the centuries, Polar Regions have been a source of fascination to explorers. Jean-Baptiste Charcot was one of them. Put in Carcot’s own words, the vast expanses of ice had “a strange luring effect” on him. The irresistible calling became combined with scientific interest. JeanBaptiste Charcot was convinced that “doing something useful” was necessary above all else.

The son of Jean Martin Charcot, the great Salpêtrière hospital doctor and the inventor of modern neurology, Jean-Baptiste, was born 15th July 1867 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on the outskirts of Paris. He completed medical studies and set up his own surgery, which he had a tendency to forget about, preferring cruises in cold countries, for instance to the Faeroe Isles and Iceland. He tried his hand at scientific observation and felt that this was where his calling lay. The divorce from his first wife gave him the excuse he needed to break all links with his country. JeanBaptiste Charcot fulfilled his dream in 1903 when he set forth for Antarctica on a threemasted schooner, Le Français. The mission met with considerable success: 1,000 kilometres of coasts mapped out, 75 cases of notes, measure-

Value: DKK 13,25 Issue date: 08.11.2007 Paper: TR4

ments and collections destined to the French national Natural History Museum.

Charcot married once more, this time to Meg Cléry in 1907. A second expedition in Antarctica was organised from 1908 to 1910, on board the Pourquoi Pas?, and once again, Charcot brought back huge amounts of precious information. After the war, Charcot set his heart on the vast northern expanses. He was to be the first Frenchman to walk on the eastern coast of Greenland in 1925. As mission leader on the Pourquoi Pas?, he organised nine other expeditions in these waters. In 1934, he was still at the helm when he set up an ethnographic mission in Greenland, led by Paul-Émile Victor, who came to live among the Inuits.

Charcot was 69 years old when he completed his last mission onboard the Pourquoi Pas? On 16th September 1936, the ship sailed into the midst of a terrible hurricane and was smashed to smithereens as it was thrown on to a reef near the coast of Iceland. Charcot died along with nearly all his shipmates. There was only one survivor. Captain Charcot is remembered as a talented explorer, appreciated for his sincere kindness, his availability and his respect for nature.

01100391 Expeditions V/1 – Pourquoi Pas? Value: DKK 5.75 Issue date: 8.11.2007 28 stampt per sheet Artist and engraver: Martin Mörck Outside meassurements: 60 mm x 36 mm Printing method: Combination Paper: TR4

Paul-Émile Victor

By Pertti Frandsen

Another great French explorer in Greenland throughout time is Paul-Émile Victor.

He was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and graduated from École Centrale de Lyon in 1928. The mysterious Greenland had a compelling effect on the young Victor, so given the opportunity to lead the ethnographical expedition to Eastern Greenland in 1934, his fate was sealed. Only 27 years old, he was then the head of the mission, which was initiated by Jean-Baptiste Charcot.

Greenland became his second home, and it was here that the germ of his lifelong work as ethnologist, polar scientist and explorer took root.

During the expedition, Victor recorded among other things Greenlandic music on 50 records.

These recordings made a remarkable ethnographical documentation. Therefore, it cannot be regretted enough that this material in Paris was lost during World War II, and that the apparently only surviving set of records, which is kept at the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen, is in miserable condition.

Among the participants of the French expedition to Eastern Greenland were Victor’s countryman, Robert Gessian, as well as the Swiss, Micha Perez, and during the expedition, they came upon the Danish explorer, Eigil Knuth. The four of them continued together, and this has been described in Knuths’ Greenland-classic “Fire mand og solen” (English: Four men and the sun) (1937), which among other things also contains many wise observations of sledge driving and its challenges.

During the years 1948 – 1953, Victor made several expeditions to the inland ice, both east and west, with the purpose of making observations to explain if and to what extent the inland ice was moving. He and his staff placed radio explorers in the ice, and could therefore read any movements that may occur. Other purposes of the expedition were getting profiles of the surface of the inland ice, measuring temperatures, density and stratification in the deeper layers of the ice, besides a number of other glaciological and geological purposes.

In order to bring the expedition equipment to the inland ice, Victor had purchased seven belt-driven vehicles from the surpluses of the American Army (Weasel M29C). Tracks from these vehicles can still be seen and followed all the way to the place where the expedition had to construct a hoist system to take both vehicles and equipment up a mountain side and onto the ice. At the ice front, remaining of the sledges that were to be drawn after the belt driven vehicles as well as the hoist system and other things to show that men was here, can still be seen.

Paul-Émile Victor died on March 11 1995 at the age of 87.

June 28 2007, his 100th birthday is celebrated, and POST Greenland is participating in this well-deserved tribute of the French polar hero by issuing the stamp with his portrait.

01100392 Expeditions V/2 – Paul-Émile Victor Value: DKK 7.50 Issue date: 8.11.2007 40 stamps per sheet Artist and engraving: Martin Mörck Outside measurements: 25 mm x 32 mm Printing method: Combination Paper: TR4 EKSPEDITIONER I GRØNLAND V · EXPEDITIONS IN GREENLAND V EXPEDITIONEN IN GRÖNLAND V · EXPÉDITIONS AU GROENLAND V

&

Jean-Baptiste Charcot Paul-Émile Victor

63274 omslagsmappe.indd 2

06/09/07 9:26:40

01303033 Souvenir Folder Expeditions in Greenland V Pourquoi-Pas? and Paul-Émile Victor DKK 22.00 Issue Date: 8.11.2007 Contains one mint copy of the souvenir sheet from POST Greenland and one mint 081107-A copy of each of the two stamps from La Poste.

It is a long way to Tasiilaq The east coast of Greenland is one of the most impassable places in the world with extreme weather conditions and great ice masses. In the middle of all this is Tasiilaq, and this is the place from which POST Greenland’s philatelic department, “Filatelia”, services its customers from all over the world.

The weather in Tasiilaq can change very suddenly from clear sun to dense fog, snow storm or violent Piteraqs – severe storms coming down from the inland ice. The storm usually arrives within a few hours, but can last for more than 24 hours and thereby put a natural stop to the daily life in Tasiilaq as well as to the transportation of mail to and from the town.

Postal

10

communication

Logically, the transportation of mail to and from Tasiilaq is somewhat of a challenge. Various factors supervene: Besides the extreme weather conditions, the limited amount of flights in the winter means that the postal communication in this part of the world is not always as fast and effective as one could wish for.

All of the mail to Greenland is gathered and sorted every day in Copenhagen. While mail to North-, West- and South Greenland is flown directly to Kangerlussuaq (Sønder Strømfjord), mailings to the East coast of Greenland, Tasiilaq and Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund) is sent via Iceland. The mail is transported by plane from Copenhagen to Keflavik, the international airport of Iceland, and from there by mail-carrying to the airport Reykjavik. From here the stored mail bags are flown on to Kulusuk in East Greenland, which can be no sooner than the next day. From October to the middle of May, there are only two departures a week between Reykjavik and Kulusuk, Wednesday and Saturday. Mail to and from Tasiilaq can therefore be considerably delayed, if for instance flights are cancelled week after week.

The plane to Kulusuk can transport up to

Picturs from www.tasiilaq.net

1.5 Tons of mail. Passangers, however, come before the mailings between East Greenland and Iceland and vice versa. That is why POST Greenland always advises Air Iceland a couple of weeks beforehand, whenever the shipment of one of the three yearly stamp issues is due, which enables Air Iceland to put on a larger airplane if necessary.

Nature

has power

In Kulusuk both mail, cargo and passangers must change and continue by helicopter the rest of the way to Tasiilaq, since the landscapes around Tasiilaq are too uneven for establishing a regular runway. The trip by helicopter takes no more than ten minutes, and yet delays can occur at this stage. Despite the short distance, there can be a great difference between the weather in Kulusuk and the weather in Tasiilaq, which sometimes force departures to be cancelled.

The entire process is the same the other way around, when the mail leaves Tasiilaq for foreign destinations.

Despite the conditions, the Greenlandic population is used to dealing with these powers of Mother Nature, and at the end of the day, all mail bags arrive safely at Filatelia. No matter how problematic the conditions may be, POST

Greenland is proud to be based in this small east Greenlandic local community. It is a very long way to Tasiilaq, but eventually the mail will arrive and depart again!

This is the main reason, why we recommend that orderings and wishes for cancellation always be sent in good time. Are you planning on ordering Christmas gifts for your loved ones, please, remember to take into account the long postal communications to and from east Greenland. The fastest way of contacting us is by e-mail, fax or telephone. Or you can visit our web shop at www.stamps.gl. We are looking forward to servicing you!

Note:

Greenland

Stamps in Forum ’07

guest country at Paris fair

By Peter Hvidberg, konsulent

at the Salon Philatelique d’Automne November 8. – 11.

By Pertti Frandsen

POST Greenlands joint issue with La Poste is marked most festively in the city of lights. The arrangers of the Salon Philatelique d’Automne in Paris have among other countries invited Greenland as guest exhibitor in November.

At POST Greenland we are thrilled about this opportunity to meet with our French and international collectors.

At POST Greenlands’ stand you will find among other Martin Mörck, the artist and engraver of both the Greenlandic and the French expedition stamps. Martin will happily sign both his latest and other Greenlandic stamp products that he has designed and engraved.

We are looking forward to presenting a see worthy stand in Paris where we – besides expedition stamps, first day covers, maxicards, souvenir sheets and souvenir folders – will bring other popular philatelic products. Furthermore, a large lump of Greenlandic ice will be part of the stand, so if you come to visit us on the last day of the exhibition, November 11, you will have the chance to bring back a piece of real Greenlandic inland ice.

When the doors November 8 – 10 are opened to the fair “Frimærker i Forum”, it will be to the theme of stamps telling stories.

POST Greenland is once again co-organizer, this time in cooperation with our colleges from POST Danmark and Postverk Færoya, and we are sincerely looking forward to meeting our many customers.

Together, we have put together a programme that appeals to our faithful guests as well as to newcomers, who have never visited the fair before.

“Frimærker i Forum” will consider the visitor, who comes to make a good bargain, and will also serve as eye-opener to those, who wish to experience stamps in new connections or the stories behind the stamps.

The interest in Greenlandic stamps has never been greater, and we are looking forward to presenting our many exiting news, including our stamp programme in 2008.

At our stand, you will as usual be able to buy our many exiting stamps and other philatelic

products at the price of the postal value. Here the opportunity really presents itself to supplement your collection. As it is tradition, we also bring a special exhibition cachet, as well as the regular day cachet from Tasiilaq.

In connection with POST Greenland’s stand there will be a special exhibition, where you can see original effects from the Denmark Expedition, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The last diary of Mylius-Erichsen, letters from the expedition, a telegram from Knud Rasmussen on the day he left Denmark and many more interesting documents. Several of these documents have never even been publicly displayed before.

The Greenlandic artist, Naja Abelsen, who has created several Greenlandic stamps, will this year visit our stand. Your will able to se some of her beautiful works and at the same time get her signature on for instance first day covers etc.

Visit the website www.frimforum.dk and let the many experiences that waits be an inspiration. See you at “Frimærker I Forum” ´07!

See you at Salon Philatelique d’Automne in November 8 – 11. Á bientôt!

Paris

11

08112007

Christmas 2007

By Ivalu Risager

To me, Christmas is the atmosphere, I sense, when I walk around town in the afternoon, watching the lights in the dark and listening to the snow creak beneath my feet, while I am hurrying like never before, and I think: ”Is it already Christmas again?”.

It is so cosy with all the lights in the city and the sweet smells of the stores forming a contrast to the cold and the snow. Then, it does not matter at all that it is dark when you go to work and dark when you go home again.

And characteristic for Greenland are the many ”soooo silly and ugly” (and to me the only thing right) orange coloured Christmas stars that you will see hanged from every window, and that – be it seen from the inside through the iced window or from the outside for instance when you walk by a large apartment house in town – seem very cosy and warm, and can bring memories of childhood and an odd sense of brotherhood with everyone, who is or have been to Greenland, and who has seen it. For that feeling can only be reached here in Greenland. In my opinion!

I myself never make much of Christmas (though of course I hang up my orange paper star on the first Advent Sunday), but I am so happy that others decorates and lights up.

Christmas is also a bitter-sweet time, where you miss lost ones or feel sorry for those, whom you cannot be with that has not got anyone else. You remember and miss lost ones so much more intensively at Christmas, perhaps because the traditions makes you remember, who you were with the last time, you did the same things. That is why, I think there is something spiritual about Christmas, and it is hard, but nice at the same time: Every time comes Christmas, more and more emotions remind you that life passes on hastily. Christmas makes you ponder a bit more over life than you would at any other time.

That is why I have chosen frost patterned windows, orange coloured stars and candles, whose flame among other things symbolize that we think of those we for some reason cannot be with, as my motive.

12

01301112 Christmas Stamp Booklet No. 12 DKK 79.50 Issue date: 8.11.2007

Printing method: Offset Paper: Avery 96/S2000/Kr130 Each containing 6 self-adhesive stamps of both Christmas stamps

01100394 Christmas Stamp 01/07 Value: DKK 5.75 Issue date: 8.11.2007 50 stamps per sheet Size: B – vertical Artist: Ivalu Risager Outside measurements: 31.08 mm x 23.60 mm Printing method: Offset Paper: TR8 01100395 Christmas Stamp 02/07 Value: DKK 7.50 Issue date: 8.11.2007 50 stamps per sheet Size: B – vertical Artist: Ivalu Risager Outside meassurements: 31.08 mm x 23.60 mm Printing method: Offset Paper: TR8

Final sale on November 30 2007 The following stamps and philatelic products will be withdrawn from our sales list on Novenber 30 2007, provided that they are not sold out prior to this date. Any remaining stock will be shredded.

01301212. 14.05.2004 Stamp Booklet No. 12 Special Issue – Crown Prince Frederik & Mary DKK 63.00

01303021. 17.01.2005 Souvenir Folder Edible Fungi I DKK 36.50

01100150. 15.09.1992 Lars Møller DKK 100.00

01106324. 26.03.2004 Souvenir Sheets – Norden Mythology I DKK 12.00

01303006. 05.02.1998 Book The Whales of Greenland DKK 175.00

01303023. 18.10.2004 Souvenir Folder Navigating in Greenland IV DKK 52.75

01100330. 18.10.2004 EUROPE 2004 ”Holidays” DKK 6.50

01107290. 05.03.2002 Mini Sheets - Drum DKK 36.00

01303007. 07.05.1999 Souvenir Folder Greenlandic Artists DKK 89.00

01303025. 31.10.2005 Souvenir Folder Robert E. Peary DKK 27.50

01100338. 17.01.2005 Edible Fungi I/2 Arctic Crab Brittlegrill DKK 6.00

01107291. 05.03.2002 Mini Sheets - Mask DKK 38.00

01303008. 05.02.2001 Souvenir Folder Arctic Vikings DKK 146.50

01303026. 31.10.2005 Souvenir Folder Edible Plants II DKK 31.00

01100339. 17.01.2005 Edible Fungi I/3 Arctic Grisette DKK 7.00

01107303. 12.03.2003 Mini Sheets – Sledge dog puppies DKK 36.00

01303010. 24.06.2002 Souvenir Folder Navigation in Greenland I DKK 28.00

01303028. 22.05.2006 Souvenir Folder Edible Fungi II DKK 45.00

01100352. 31.10.2005 Edible Plants II/1 Scottish Lovage DKK 0.75

01107326. 14.05.2004 Mini Sheets - Angelica DKK 40.00

01303012. 12.03.2003 Souvenir Folder Sledge Dogs DKK 30.50

01304099. 11.11.1999 Yearpack 1999 DKK 136.00

01100353. 31.10.2005 Edible plants II/2 Rose Root DKK 6.50

01107327. 14.05.2004 Mini Sheets – Arctic Thyme DKK 44.00

01303014. 20.10.2003 Souvenir Folder Navigating in Greenland II DKK 49.25

01304001. 16.10.2001 Yearpack 2001 DKK 181.25

01100359. 29.03.2006 Additional Value Stamp ”Children in Greenland” DKK 5.50 + 0.50

01301207. 08.02.1999 Stamp Booklet No. 7 Snow Owls DKK 51.00

01303016. 26.03.2004 Souvenir Folder Otto Sverdrup DKK 50.00

01304002. 21.10.2002 Yearpack 2002 DKK 167.00

01100362. 29.03.2006 Norden - Mythology II/1 The Mother of the Sea DKK 7.50

01301208. 18.08.2000 Stamp Booklet No. 8 Cultural Heritage I DKK 55.50

01303019. 14.05.2004 Souvenir Folder Edible Plants I DKK 55.00

01304003. 20.10.2003 Yearpack 2003 DKK 196.25

01100372. 22.05.2006 Sheep farming over 100 years DKK 7.50

01301209. 09.05.2001 Stamp Booklet No. 9 Cultural Heritage II DKK 55.50

01303020. 18.10.2004 Souvenir Folder Navigating in Greenland III DKK 51.00

01301111 Christmas Stamp Booklet No. 11 DKK 75.00

01100375. 06.11.2006 Christmas 2006/1 DKK 5.50

01301210. 24.06.2002 Stamp Booklet No. 10 Navigation in Greenland I DKK 56.00

01100376. 06.11.2006 Christmas 2006/2 DKK 7.00

01301211. 12.03.2003 Stamp Booklet No. 11 Sledge Dogs DKK 61.00

Planter i Grønland med beskrivelser og opskrifter

Plants in Greenland with descriptions and recipes

Pflanzen in Grönland mit Beschreibungen und Kochrezepten

Following

our final sale on

March 31 2007,

we can now publish the following sales figures: Item No.

DKK

Issue Date

01100319 The crownprince Frederik & Mary 1/2

Titel

5.00

14.5.2004 466,352

01100320 The crownprince & Mary 2/2

5.50

14.5.2004 471,784

01100350 Science I/3

10.00

20.6.2005 255,257

01106340 Add. Value stamp ”Save the Children Fund” 23.00

17.1.2005

Sales

69,555

News from POST Greenland 08112007A 20092007

Frimærker i Forum '07 01122007

Philatelia und MünzExpo '07 Köln 08112007 20.-22.9.2007

8.-10.11.2007 Tag der Briefmarke 2007 Sindelfingen

26.-28.10.2007 23112007

Reprint of the Sverdrup Souvenir Sheet In 2004 we issued the Sverdrup souvenir sheet, item no. 01106321. The souvenir sheet was POST Greenland’s’ contribution in the joint issue with Posten Norge and Canada Post.

Unfortunately, in 2004 we ordered too few Greenlandic Sverdrup souvenir sheets from the printer. We were not aware of this error until 2006, long after the sheet was issued and came into use, but just before we “ran out” of the souvenir sheet. That is why we in 2006 had to order a stock of extra 20.000 of the Sverdrup souvenir sheet. The sale of these was initiated in September 2006. This mistake was due to an error in our internal procedures. This is deeply regrettable, and we apologize. The procedures have been corrected in this regard.

The result is two different Sverdrup souvenir sheets, and for that reason POST Greenland now offers the subscribers the opportunity to purchase an example of the reprint, naturally at the price of the postal value of DKK 17.50.

The offer stands until stocks are exhausted.

We have already reserved the amounts of the reprint we need for the production of the last year packs 2004 as well of an upcoming book on expeditions (stock: 4.000). When the souvenir sheet is sold out, collectors may therefore experience that they are still able to purchase the souvenir sheet in the year pack from 2004 – and later in the book on expeditions. The latter is planed as a rounding out of the expedition series and will contain one of each of the souvenir sheets in the series.

Juleudstilling '07 Randers 1.-2.12.2007

Salon Philatelique d'Automne Paris 8.-11.11.2007

Frimerkets Dag Oslo

23.11.2007

Exhibition Cancellations Up until the end of the year POST Greenland will participate in the following stamp exhibitions: • Philatelia und MünzExpo ’07, Köln, September 20 - 22.

• Tag der Briefmarke 2007, Sindelfingen, October 26 - 28.

• Frimærker i Forum ’07, København, November 8 - 10.

• Salon Philatelique d’Automne, Paris, November 8 - 11.

• Frimerkets Dag, Oslo, November 23.

Special Greenlandic cancellations will be produced for all five of these exhibitions. Envelopes to be cancelled with these cancellations must be received by POST Greenland, Filatelia, no later than the day before the opening of the respective exhibitions.

POST Greenland will also be represented at: • Byttedag & udstilling, Esbjerg, September 1 - 2.

• Stamps in Svedala, Svedala (Sweden), September 8 – 9.

• Bofilex 2007, Borås (Sweden), September 14 – 16.

• Juleudstilling ’07, Randers, December 1 - 2.

Note: No special Greenland cancellations will be produced for these four exhibitions.

The cancellation advertising ”Send juleposten i god tid” (Send your Christmas mail early) will be used in the time period November 1 – 30 2007 in the stamp cancellation machines at the following eight Greenlandic post offices: 3900 Nuuk (Godthåb) 3910 Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord) 3911 Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg) 3912 Maniitsoq (Sukkertoppen) 3920 Qaqortoq (Julianhåb) 3950 Aasiaat (Egedesminde) 3952 Ilulissat (Jakobshavn) 3970 Pituffik (Thule Air Base) Please, send franked and addressed letters to be cancelled with this cancellation to the post offices in the above towns. Furthermore, the cancellation will also be available at POST Greenland, Filatelia, 3913 Tasiilaq.

In the time period December 1 – 25 2007 the post office in 3910 Kangerlussuaq will also use the advertisement cancellation ”Christmas Greetings from Greenland” on its stamp cancellation machine. Please, send franked and addressed letters to be cancelled with this cancellation directly to the post office in question by use of the following address: TELE-POST Center, Blok L (B-50), 3910 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.

Read in the next issue…

• Election for the Greenlandic stamp of the year’07 • Stamp Programme 2008 • Final sale March 31 2008 • EUROPE-stamps 2008 • Additional Value Stamp 2008 • First Greenlandic bank notes • And much more…

Worth

Please send your orders / amendments to: POST Greenland, Filatelia P.O. Box 121, 3913 Tasiilaq, GREENLAND Phone: (+45) 70 26 05 50 and (+299) 98 11 55 Fax: (+299) 98 14 32 Email: stamps@tele.gl

knowing…

The Netherlands: Postbank NV, Account No.: 3487172. IBAN: NL92 PSTB 0003 4871 72, BIC (SWIFT code): PSTBNL21

Switzerland: Postscheckamt, Office de cheques postaux, Ufficio dei conti correnti postali, 4040 Basel. Account No.: 40-6773-5.

IBAN: CH37 0900 0000 4000 6773 5, BIC (SWIFT code): POFiCHBE

Any change in name, address and/or subscription must be received by POST Greenland, Filatelia, no later than 5 weeks prior to an issue.

How to pay: On payment - please, make sure you always state your name and your customer number. Your payments can be made by giro to one of the accounts mentioned below, by credit card, by international reply coupons or by cash in Danish Kroner, Euro or US Dollars only. It is no longer possible to pay by cheque.

Denmark: BG Bank A/S, Girostrøget 1, 0800 Høje Taastrup, Account No.: 9541-940 4120 IBAN: DK98 30000009404120, BIC (SWIFT code): DABADKKK Sweden: Postgirot Bank AB (publ), Vasagatan 7, 105 06 Stockholm. Account No.: 41 45-9.

IBAN: SE9795000099602600041459, BIC (SWIFT code): NDEASESS Norway: Postbanken, Kunderegister Bedrift, 0021 Oslo. Account No.: 7878.06.55312.

IBAN: NO44 78780655312, BIC (SWIFT code): DNBANOKK Finland: SAMPO BANK, UNIONINKATU 22, 00075, SAMPO. Account No.: 800016-70617928.

IBAN: Fi2580001670617928, BIC (SWIFT code): PSPBFiHH

Fees for registered letters and parcels despatched from Greenland The fee for registered letters within Greenland or to Europe (including Denmark and the Faroes) is DKK 52.00. E.g.: Postage for a registered letter stamped with DKK 7.50 (max. 20 g) comes to a total of DKK 59.50. For surcharge on mail to overseas countries, see: www.post.gl

Germany: Postbank, Niederlassung Hamburg, Überseering 26, 22297 Hamburg.

Account No.: 541414200, BLZ 200 100 20.

IBAN: DE03 2001 0020 0541 414200, BIC (SWIFT code): PBNKDEFF

NOTE: Please do not write your order on a giro transfer form as these are processed electronically.

Giro bank transfer:

One-year deadline for complaints Any complaint concerning stamps or philatelic items purchased from POST Greenland must reach POST Greenland, Filatelia, no later than one year from the last day of the month in which the items were despatched. The date of the postmark, or possibly the invoice, indicates the date of despatch.

United Kingdom: Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank plc., Bridle Road, Bootle, Merseyside, Liverpool GIR 0AA. Account No.: 358 7118.

IBAN: GB69GIRB72000003587118 Luxembourg: Postes et Telecommunications, Division des Postes, Service des Cheques Postaux, Secretariat, 38 Place de la Gare, 1090 Luxembourg.

Account No.: 26606-28.

IBAN: LU18 1111 0266 0628 0000, BIC (SWIFT code): CCPLLULL France: La Poste, Centre Régional des Services Financiers, de la Poste en ile-de-France, 16 rue de Favorites, 75900 Paris.

Account No.: 250.01 F020.

IBAN: FR51 3004 1000 0100 2500 1 F02 022, BIC (SWIFT code): PSSTFRPPPAR Credit cards: VISA, Eurocard/MasterCard, JCB, Dankort.

Cash: Danish Kroner (DKK), Euro (EUR) or US Dollars (USD) only - to be sent by registered mail.

Postal order IRC (IBRS) International reply coupons: value DKK 8.00 each.

Net Payment within 30 days Payment of our invoices is to be made within 30 days from the date of the invoice.

Please, note that the registration of your payments will take approximately two weeks or more.

Therefore, you may receive an invoice with a balance which does not include your recent payments.

Exchange of Stamps POST Greenland, Filatelia, exchanges only old stamps (stamps no longer on our sales list) into new stamps (stamps on our sales list) at the customer’s choice. No more than 3 exchanges free of charge at maximum DKK 100.00 each, per customer per year. When exceeding a total of 3 x DKK 100.00, POST Greenland, Filatelia, will charge a fee of 45% of the nominal value. The fee of 45% must always be paid in cash and is not payable by other stamps. The maximum annual value of stamps for exchange per customer must not exceed DKK 50,000 in nominal value.

For further information, please contact POST Greenland, Filatelia.

All information on prices, fees etc. is subject to printer’s errors.

Publisher: POST Greenland - Editors: Pertti Frandsen, Chief Editor. Ilka Gerken, Kenneth Liedtke, Holger Amelung, - Layout & Printing: Datagraf - ISSN: 1397-8632 - Cover Photo: Olivier Gilg

We are the people you reach, whenever you write, fax, email, or telephone POST Greenland, Filatelia.

We look forward to offering our continued assistance with your philatelic enquiries.

Helene Tukula Sales Assistant Danish, English

Karoline Josvassen Customer Service Greenlandic, Danish

Kristian ”Karé” Pivat Assistant Clerk Greenlandic, Danish

Søren Sand Kristensen Head Clerk Danish, English, German

Kenneth Liedtke Sales Assistant Danish, English, German

Line Brændstrup Customer Service Manager Danish, English, German

Finn Ib Larsen Administration & Logistics Manager Danish, English

Pertti Frandsen Philatelic Manager Danish, English, German

Year pack 2007 Together with the last stamps of the year, POST Greenland on November 8 issues the year pack 2007. As usual, the year pack contains all the stamps issued during the year, which comes to a total of 19 in 2007. Especially the relations between Greenland and the rest of they world in many ways became visible in this year’s stamps. Each year, the Greenlandic department of Amnesty International receives the additional value of the year. The international Boy Scout movement started off 100 years ago, which was celebrated with the two EUROPE-stamps of the year. The international Polar Year was chosen as a theme for a joint issue among eight countries with connection to the arctic areas, and the West-North cooperation of the Faeroes, Iceland and Greenland was equally celebrated with a stamp. The small European mail services have launched a new joint series under the name of “SEPAC” with landscapes as first motive. The French-Greenlandic joint issue in the expedition series stands out as one of the highlights of this stamp year. With the ending of the PARCEL POST series, a new series about modern Greenlandic art saw the light of day, and the science series continued with three new stamps.

Aside from all the stamps, the year pack contains the additional value souvenir sheet about the International Polaryear as well as the expedition souvenir sheet that were issued in 2007.

However, the regular year pack does not contain the special PARCEL POST Aniversary souvenir sheet, since this sheet that was published

during the years 2005 – 2007. Due to these special conditions, POST Greenland has chosen not to include it in the year pack of 2007.

The price of the Year Pack 2007 without a PARCEL POST Souvenir sheet is DKK 276.00. Item No. 01304007.

Note: Subscribers will receive the year pack 2007 without the PARCEL POST souvenir sheet for the price of DKK 276.00.

The PARCEL POST anniversary souvenir sheet The PARCEL POST anniversary souvenir sheet, which was issued May 221 2007 (Item No. 01106374, DKK 175.00), is not included in the year pack 2007 and must therefore be ordered by the piece.

POST Greenland . Filatelia . Phone (+45) 7026 0550 Fax (+45) 98 14 32 . stamps@tele.gl . www.stamps.gl