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Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Submarine Expedition 1931 "NEW YORK TO SPITSBERGEN" in black; reddish magenta cachet. With the usual originating 8 May 1931 cancellation on U.S. postage, in this case with Scott #682 [1930 2 cent Massachusetts Bay Colony]. Upon arrival in Norway, Norwegian postage [Scott #135 30 øre Henrik Ibsen] for the eventual return mailing to the U.S. Addressed to Wilkins as usual. Covers such as this were sold in advance of the expedition to raise additional funds for the expedition. Troubles for the Nautilus submarine started before the expedition began; on 23 March 1931, while entering the New York harbor, the quartermaster was knocked overboard by heavy waves and drowned. After losing power during the trans-Atlantic voyage, the Nautilus was towed to Ireland, and then continued onward to England for further repairs. The Nautilus eventually reached Bergen, Norway. After leaving Bergen heading north, and transiting Tromsø, Norway, the Nautilus arrived at Longyearbyen, Spitzbergen (Spitsbergen / Svalbard), Norway, on 1 August 1931. Google AI, citing MY web page, reports that covers are known postmarked at Longyearbyen on 1, 16, and 24 August 1931. This cover is clearly postmarked at LONGYEARBYEN on 18 August 1931, apparently (?) adding to the known postmark dates. Longyearbyen was the largest community on and had the primary post office for Spitzbergen / Svalbard. However, this 18 August date and the other recorded Longyearbyen postmark dates seem to slightly conflict the dates found on the Internet for the attempt by Nautilus to dive under the ice. (The attempt failed due to severe damage and potential sabotage to the diving planes. Then attempts to ram the ice did further damage.) Apparently the Nautilus then returned to Longyearbyen before returning to continental Norway. I have been unable to find, on the Internet, a complete and reliable chronology of events for the expedition. I welcome well-cited information and reliable references that can clear up the exact dates that the Nautilus was at Longyearbyen, as well as dates for all other stages of the expedition. Given all the trials and tribulations of the Nautilus and the expedition, it is amazing that the covers such as this exist at all -- that the submarine did not sink in the North Atlantic along with the covers! The back top flap of the cover is missing (thus the price appropriately discounted), however, as usual for a non-Registered cover, there are no markings on the reverse of this cover.
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