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400132 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
1855 (ca.) Julianehaab to the Royal Greenland Trade Company (KGH) office in København. A folded cover (no contents) from the Greenlandic administration office in JULIANEHAAB to the KGH office in København. The reverse bears a SUPERB example of the red wax letter seal used in Julianehaab, bearing text around the circle "INSPECTEURENS SEGL FOR DE SYDLIGE COLLONIER" [Inspectors Seal For The Southern Colonies] and in the central coat of arms "DEN KONGEL GRØNL HANDEL" [The Royal Greenland Trade Company]. The only handwriting present is very neat and attractive script for the destination address (preceded by "Til" [To]) and with a letter-listing number "No. 3." in the upper right corner. Letters to and from Greenland, most of which were official mail related to the administration of Greenland, were transported (to/from Greenland) mostly by KGH ships without postage charge, all passing from/to/through the KGH office in København. [Letters from elsewhere in Denmark to Greenland required normal postage to take them as far as the KGH office in København. Letters from Greenland to points beyond the KGH office in København required normal postage (probably affixed by the KGH office) to their final destination.] The Julianehaab district, which constituted from 61 degrees and south to the southern extent of Greenland at Cape Farewell (Farvel), was founded in 1775; it was the last of the Greenland colonies to be founded and it was the only one founded by royal order. From 1853-1857, the "Bestyrer" (manager, administrator) of the KGH in Southern Greenland (Godthaab and Julianehaab) was H.J. (Hinrich Johannes) Rink. From 1857-1868 Rink was the Royal Inspector For South Greenland -- the highest ranking Danish representative in Greenland. After leaving Greenland for health reasons, Rink went on to be the top administrator of Greenland (KGH), and operated out of the København office. The previous owner(s) and researcher(s) of this cover have stated that it was sent by Rink around 1855. Rink was the preeminent Greenlandic expert and scholar of the era. A geologist and expert in glaciers, Rink become the preeminent (non-native) expert in Greenlandic history and culture. He also published and printed books and journals within Greenland and later in Denmark. Rink founded institutions to ensure the independence and quality of life of the native Greenlandic people. Though he was a European, he was a key, early figure in laying the foundations of what eventually developed into Greenlandic Home Rule. Such covers -- especially in such extraordinarily nice quality with a superb seal -- are "extremely scarce" or "rare"; if this had its original letter contents (which would be "extremely rare" in private hands), this would surely be a museum piece. [Accompanied by text clipped from a previous album page and research comments.] ACTUAL item. |
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