ANTARCTIC POST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20477, 1 December 1934, Page 34 (Supplement)

ANTARCTIC POST.

Long Trip to Deliver U.S. Mails. LETTERS FOR BYRD’S MEN. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, November 30. Entrusted with the 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 personal representative in the Antarctic of the Postmaster-General of the United States, and is on his way to join RearAdmiral R. E. Byrds expedition in Little America. There is a valuable consignment of thirty-two bags of mail in his charge consisting of 40,000 letters, the estimated value of which is 18000. The distance from Washington to Little America is 16,000 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 the commemorative stamp issued in February in honour of the Byrd expedition. Collectors throughout America and the general public were anxious to obtain stamped letters which had actually been cancelled in Little America. It was accordingly decided to establish a post office in the Antarctic and provide an opportunity for people to send letters bearing the unusual mark. 40,000 Letters.

I 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 (lid) and a carrying charge of 50 cents (2s) is made for each letter.