Collecting Greenlandic covers with town and village cancellations is very popular. Even as far back as 1938, collectors and dealers were sending off covers to Greenland to obtain cancellations from each different town and village. The most recent catalog of Greenlandic cancellations (and all types of postmarks) is the DAKA GF6 Grønland 1997 Poststempler Efter 1938. When DAKA started to publish Greenland (and Faroe) catalogs, the editor completely revised the cancellation / postmark numbering system. I use that revised DAKA numbering system, but sometimes may additionally refer to the Wowern number.
Organizing and listing Greenland cancellations is particularly complicated because the cancellation town names mostly started with the early Danish names, but then around the mid-1980s the cancellations started to be changed to show the Greenlandic town names. There have also been spelling changes to the Greenlandic names (for example, K changed to Q). In some cases, mostly in the 1970s, the cancellations showed both names. Additionally, nearby sub-offices of larger towns also show two names, only sometimes separated by "PR" (meaning "located near"). The aforementioned DAKA GF6 1997 organizes and lists the towns under whatever version of name was FIRST USED for postmarks. The catalog organizes and lists any sub-offices of larger towns alphabetically under their own name (not under the larger town name). DAKA provides both Danish-to-Greenlandic and Greenlandic-to-Danish town name listings to assist the user.
Unfortunately, the DAKA GF6 1997 catalog sold out many years ago and is quite hard to find. I am always interested in buying used examples. If you are seeking an example, please tell me and I will let you know if/when one becomes available.
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US$
401365
Scott #138, 141 [1985 10 kr Halibut; 1983 50 kr Salmon] (VF) on very clean and neat 2 May 1986 DOMESTIC, INSURED parcel card for a single 5.170 kg package, with an insurance value of Dkr 3000, sent from "JULIANEHÅB / KAKORTOQ / 1" to NUUK (Godthåb) with receiving postmark (office stamp style) "POSTSTATIONEN / NUUK / 13 MAY 1886 / 3900" on the reverse. Pink insured "V" numbered postal label, with violet handstamp "3920 Qaqortoq" [yet another spelling for Julianehåb] is affixed. "SKIBPOST" (ship mail) instruction typed at top of card. This card has been unusually neatly prepared with typed information and a very neatly struck postal markings. Parcel cards sent WITHIN Greenland ("domestic" uses) are surprisingly seldom offered; the vast majority of Greenland parcel cards seen on the market are for parcels sent to Denmark. It is also unusual to find "pure" frankings (all stamps of from the same stamp issue, in this case the popular Fish issue). Lastly, insured parcel cards, especially domestic uses, are quite unusual. The 60.00 franking appears to be a .20 convenience overpayment for 50.80 postage required: Surface parcel within Greenland 1-5 kg 20.00 kr, 1986-Jan-23 thru 1987-Jan-11; plus Insurance base fee of 30.00 kr for LESS THAN 3000 kr insurance, plus 0.40 kr per additional 1000 kr (i.e. 2x), insurance fee 1986-Jan-23 thru 1988-Jan-10. The sender specified 3000.00 kr of insurance which is 1 kr more than the initial fee step (of LESS THAN 1000.00 kr); if the sender had specified insurance of 2999.00 kr, the fee would have 0.40 kr less!
ACTUAL item.