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Auction: 1020 - Summer Collectors Series - Stamps
Lot: 1909

Antarctic Bases and Territories Argentina 1951 (Feb.) envelope from the Melchior Islands to Mendoza bearing 10c. with "anchor" d.s., some water staining at right and accompanied by a typed letter (26 April) from the Ministry of Communications advising that the fishing boat ErnestoTornquist, which by chance collected the letter from Melchior Island, was shipwrecked near the South Orkney Islands, it´s mail bags being rescued by the Argentinean fishing boat Arpón, which transported them to the "Malvinas", from where they were transported to their destination by the English steamer John Biscoe; most unusual. being unlisted in the Hoggarth and Gwynn handbook Estimate £ 100-120 Note: Some of the information contained in the letter is incorrect. The "Tornquist" actually ran aground at Cape Constance, South Georgia. The mail was transported by the "Harpon" to Grytviken where it was eventually picked up by the "John Biscoe". Although it was not customary for her to carry mail to Argentine establishments in the Dependencies, the "John Biscoe" did carry the mail on this occasion, making delivery to the Argentines at Laurie Island on 22 January, Deception Island on 1 February and Melchior on 8 February

Sold for
£70