Jay Smith & Associates: Iceland: Covers: Vatnajokull Glacier Expedition Covers

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Iceland: Covers: Vatnajokull Glacier Expedition Covers

From 1959 to 1964 annual research expeditions on the Vatnajökull Glacier were undertaken by the Icelandic Glacialogical Society (IGS). This glacier covers one-thirteenth of the total area of Iceland and is the largest glacier in the world between the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, with the exception of southern Greenland. The total area is approximately 3200 square miles and the highest peak is 6950 feet. Active volcanos under the glacier cause massive under-glacier lakes which can periodically discharge causing catastrophic flooding. During these expeditions, temporary postal service was maintained at Grimsfjall on a "1300 feet high precipitous crater rim, 5600 feet above sea level." The expedition "post office" had its own bridge-type cancellation and pre-printed registry labels. In 1963, the IGS stated that annually, from 1959-1963, 5000 cacheted covers were created. The cachet is different each year. Despite the quantity issued, these covers are very hard to find, with 1964 items being the scarcest. As of 1/2012, I have only had one item (non-postal) from a 1965 expedition.

In 1936, a Swedish-Icelandic Expedition also had a postal cancellation, used only for a short time in 1936. I am interested in buying 1936 covers.

All items (and possibly others not listed) are available for viewing on approval. If you are seeking anything not listed, please send your want list.

Vatnajokull Glacier Expedition Covers

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Item #

Quality & Description

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US$

235874

1959 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted NUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #302-4, 26 May, registered to the U.S., with Icelandic and U.S. backstamps. With official insert card. Minor delivery mark erasure on front, but very nice example.

Reference
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Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

235876

1959 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted UNNUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #302-4, 8 June, registered within Iceland. With official insert card. Envelope a little aged.

7.00

235877

1959 Vatnajökull Expedition: official Icelandic post office first day cover envelope (is not a FD) used, bearing Scott #B14-6, 15 June, used within Iceland. This is the only non-expedition envelope I can recall having in 38 years.

12.00

235878

1960 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted NUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #309-10, 7 June, within Iceland, with Reykjavik backstamp. Very fresh.

15.00

235879

1960 Vatnajökull Expedition, on private (business) envelope, bearing Scott #303, 7 June, within Iceland, with Reykjavik backstamp. Very fresh. Though certainly philatelic, one of only two "commercial looking" covers I have seen in 38 years from any of the expeditions.

Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

235880

1960 Vatnajökull Expedition, on private (business) envelope, bearing Scott #304 and C29, 7 June, registered within Iceland, with Reykjavik backstamp. Very fresh. Though certainly philatelic, one of only two "commercial looking" covers I have seen in 38 years from any of the expeditions.

Reference
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Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

235881

1960 Vatnajökull Expedition, on private envelope, bearing Scott #324 (damaged) and C29 (used sells for $8.50), 7 June, registered WITH LABEL #1!!! within Iceland, with Reykjavik and Hafnarfjördur backstamps. Unsealed registered printed matter ("Prent."). Though certainly philatelic, one of only a few non-cacheted covers I have seen in 38 years from any of the expeditions. Address has been erased, but very unusual with registry label #1 (I am not sure how the numbering worked).

Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

235882

1961 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted NUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #C30-1, 12 June, registered within Iceland, with Reykjavik and ASGARDUR-GARD (postmark only in use 1958-1968) backstamps. Very fresh.

16.00

235883

1961 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted NUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #C30-1, 12 June, registered within Iceland, with Reykjavik and unreadable ASGARDUR-GARD (postmark only in use 1958-1968) backstamps. Very fresh.

12.00

235884

1961 Vatnajökull Expedition, on 17 June FIRST DAY COVER for Scott #335-7, using "F.F.I." cacheted cover, registered within Iceland, with Reykjavik backstamp. Very fresh.

Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

Vatnajokull Glacier Expedition Covers continued ...

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Item #

Quality & Description

IMAGES: Hover mouse pointer over image to determine if ACTUAL image of item OR a REPRESENTATIVE sample image of item.
Click for more information

US$

235885

1962 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted NUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #325-6, 3 June, unaddressed. With official insert card. Superb.

14.00

235888

1963 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted UNNUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #306, 324x2, 5 June, unaddressed. Superb.

10.00

235889

1963 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted UNNUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #329, C29 (sells for $8.50 used), 5 June, unaddressed. Superb.

13.00

235886

1963 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted NUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #C29, 5 June, unaddressed. With official insert card. Superb.

14.00

235887

1963 Vatnajökull Expedition official cacheted NUMBERED cover, bearing Scott #332, 5 June, With official insert card.

10.00

235890

1963 Vatnajökull Expedition official insert card, bearing Scott #332, 5 June. Very faint water mark at bottom edge, but scarce.

10.00

235891

1963 Vatnajökull Expedition official insert card, bearing Scott #C29 (sells for $8.50), 5 June. The #C29 pictures part of the glacier.

16.00

235892

1963 Vatnajökull Expedition privately made MAXIMUM CARD, canceled 5 June, bearing Scott #C29 (sells for $8.50) which pictures part of the glacier. This is the only #C29 maximum card I have seen in 38 years.

Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

235893

1964 Vatnajökull Expedition souvenir envelope with various stamps. Year-dated NON-postal expedition handstamp, signed on 26 May by an expedition member (I cannot read the signature). (1964 postal items are very scarce; I have only ever had one or two in 38 years.)

Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

235894

1964 Vatnajökull Expedition official insert card without stamps. Year-dated NON-postal expedition handstamp, signed on 26 May by an expedition member (Magnus Johannsen?). (1964 postal items are very scarce; I have only ever had one or two in 38 years.)

Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

Vatnajokull Glacier Expedition Covers continued ...

Top

Item #

Quality & Description

IMAGES: Hover mouse pointer over image to determine if ACTUAL image of item OR a REPRESENTATIVE sample image of item.
Click for more information

US$

235895

1965 Vatnajökull Expedition official insert card without stamps. NON-year-dated NON-postal expedition handstamp (year handwritten, probably the handstamp used in 1964 with the year carved out), signed on 4 June by an expedition member (Magnus Johannsen?). This is the only 1965 expedition related item I have had of any sort, in 38 years.

Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
Sold, but if you are seeking similar items, please send your want list.

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