World's Most Southerly Post Office

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 December 1934, Page 6

World's Most Southerly Post Office

MATT. FOR LITTLE AMERICA

f£sy Telegraph —Press Association). AUCKLAND, Last Night. Entrusted with the unique mission of establishing the world's most isolated post office, Mr. S. F. Anderson, of Washington, arrived at Auckland by the Monterey, en route to the Antarctic. He has been appointed the personal representative in the Antarctic of the Postmaster-General of the United States and is on his way to join RearAdmiral B. E. Byrd's expedition in Little America. There is a valuable consignment of 32 bags of mail in his charge, consisting of 40,000 letters, the estimated value of which is £BOOO. The distance from Washington to Little America is lft,ooo miles and Mr. Anderson considers this to be the longest journey undertaken by a post office official while engaged on a special errand. This enterprising scheme was originated by- the American Post Office Department and is the result of successful sales of a commemorative stamp issued in February in honour of the Byrd.expredition. Collectors throughout America and the general public were anxious to obtain stamped letters which had actuallv been cancelled in Little America. It was accordingly decided to establish a post office in the Antarctic and the provide an oportunity for people to send letters bearing an unusual mark. Although there are 40,000 letters to be carried to the base in Little America, it is expected that more than twice that number will be sent to various parts of the world. This is explained by the fact that each letter is in reality only a covering envelope addressed to the post office of the Byrd expedition. When the post office is established the envelopes will be opened and the enclosed letters, addressed either to the senders' or their friends, will be stamped by a cancelling mark. The charge for the special stamp is three cents (1-ld) and a carrying charge of 50 cents (2/-) is made for each letter.