SUPSCRIPTION MAGAZINE FOR COLLECTORS OF GREENLAND STAMPS • VOL. 13• NO. 2 • APRIL 2008 Winner of 10.000 kr. Royal wedding Anti-TB-work Fossils in Greenland TV-doctor in Greenland Contest p. 3 p. 4 p. 6 p. 9 p. 12 p. 14 A reader is recounting…. A memory of fifty years ago about Greenland By: Viggo Jensen, Kalundborg In the years after World War II, the naval We mainly lived of tinned food, which we command, in corporation with the Geodetic brought from Denmark, but we soon worked Institute, carried out a survey of the seas50 out how to shoot birds and catch fish. At between Greenland and Canada, by means that time mostly cod. During the summer we Viggo Jensen is retired of the newly developed Decca system. caught 1500 kilo cod totally, which we sold to agricultural adviser from the Consequently, a central station and three Grønlands Handel for 15 øre per kilo. That was northern Jutland in Denmark. transmitters with an interval of 125 kilometers not a lot of money, but we could buy a bottle He got his first experiences with Greenland as liable for military were placed in Greenland. Every year, the of schnapps for only 3 kroner on the ships of service, but his connections with station would move 125 kilometers further the navy. the country are still very close. north up the coast. Conscripts of the navy plus The midnight sun was an experience, where we other expertise were placed on these stations. could sleep whenever we wanted. Greenlandic Usually, five men on each location. Twenty families from Agto would visit us a lot. I men born during 1951 were chosen to spend especially remember the Væver family. I wonder the summer in the area between Egedesminde if they still exist? Later, when we got back to (Assiat) and Holsteinsborg (Sissimiut). And Denmark, I received a thank you letter from what an experience it was for us of that party. the head of this family, who thanked for all My station was situated in the sea west of the the things we had contributed with. Their trading station Agto on a little uninhabited gratefulness enriched us with a lot of adventures desert island called Rifkol, about 8-10 nautical at the trading station, where almost every home miles off shore. We called it Skeleton Island, was visited that summer. because we discovered bones and skulls of Poor did the Greenlandic people seem to be, human beings there. but endowed with a great hospitality. Motor On this little island we discovered the nature of boats would often come from far away to get Greenland with all its good or bad qualities – their motors repaired by our engineer. Yes, it for better or for worse. It is a ‘nature’; however rumoured that we were here and could help that still brings tears to ones eyes, sensing the people in trouble. endless longing of a Greenlandic traveller from My stay in Greenland sowed the seed of a the south. The writer of this article has since wanderlust, but Greenland will always stand out then travelled through most of the worlds as the greatest and perhaps also as the first being Tell YOUR story! continents, but no other country has been as a longer stay. Do you have memories and fascinating as a revisit to Greenland. I have still When I started collecting stamps, it was only experiences with Greenland that you not been there, and it is as if I do not dare to do natural that Greenland became a part of my want to share with our readers, or so for fear of being disappointed. Denmark-collection. Large parts of my family would you like to share your interest To me, the Greenlandic nature is outstanding have stayed in Greenland for shorter or longer for philately, now is the chance. Send with its fresh air and low humidity. Of course periods of time. So, an uncle of mine has been your story to: POST Greenland, we lived rough on the island. In the beginning head of magnetic observatory in Godhavn. Two Filatelia, Postbox 121, 3913 Tasiilaq we got our water from melted snow, later from of his children were born there, and one of a little pond, in which there were little bugs. them used to be a doctor in Egedsminde. Stories, which are published in They were strained off before we used the water. the magazine, are rewarded with a On certain days we would walk around in the philatelic surprise. summer heat of 17- 18 degrees and literally sweat. 2 Customer Service Manager, Line Brændstrup, receives the name of the chosen winner by "the god of fortune", Ole Bondesen, superintendent of the children's home in Tasiilaq. 50 Winner Filatelia Photo: POST Greenland, CHOSEN OF DKK 10,000 By: Tina Vestergaard The vote for the 2007 Greenlandic stamp of the year has just been completed and not only is the most beautiful stamp a winner. So, too, is Bent Eriksen from Copenhagen, who not only won the title but also DKK 10,000 DKK in cash. By casting a vote for the 2007 stamp of the year, you also automatically took part in a contest for the grand prize of DKK 10,000 and this contest just made Bent Eriksen a richer man. The lots were drawn by Ole Bondesen, newly appointed superintendent of the Photo: Peter Hvidberg Prinsess Margrethe’s children’s home in Tasiilaq, which celebrated its 50th anniversary The happy winner, Bent Eriksen from Copenhagen, with the cheque for in the Autumn of 2007. He had lots of voting papers from which to choose as 10.000 danish Kroner. participation this year was very high. POST Greenland, Filatelia, is happy to be able to present Bent Eriksen with a cheque for the amount and congratulates him on his success. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the vote for their great interest. We hope that 2008 will also bring the many philatelists world-wide nice and beautiful experiences via our Greenlandic stamps. 20 WINNER S OF THE YEAR PACK 2007 - THE CON S OLATION PRICE IN THE CONTE S T Result of the vote GREENLANDIC Elef Christensen, Canada, Timo Luostarinen, Fin- STAMP OF THE YEAR 2007 land,Johannes Kattrup, Denmark, Ernst Rudel, Place G-Nr. % Germany, Pagnoux, France, Ingo Nielsen, Denmark, 1 384 34,3 Jan Halldén, Sweden, Peter Freyer, Germany, Jan-Åke 2 383 32,0 It was a close run to the very end, when the most beautiful Peterson, Sweden, John Kristensen, Denmark, Svend 3 391 8,6 stamp of the year 2007 was to be chosen, between the sledge Poulsen, Denmark, Kim Trans, Denmark, Palle Schir- 4 390 5,9 ling, Denmark, Walter Huber, Germany, Peter Herlev, 5 392 4,0 dog team by Jens Rosing in the first part of the art series Denmark, Roman Bykovensky, Germany, Franscesco 6 377 3,7 and the Crown Prince family. No one could, however, quite Graziano, Italy, Ane Katrine Jensen, Greenland, C. 7 378 1,7 race Jens Rosing’s rushing sledge dogs, who won right on the Van Hest, The Netherlands, Helge Ryborg, Denmark 8 379 1,4 8 381 1,4 finishing line with 26 votes. Jens Rosing can be proud of his POST Greenland thank you all for your great 9 394 1,2 creation; his beautiful artistic work is at everybody’s taste and interest. 10 387 1,0 10 374 1,0 thus decorates the Greenlandic Stamp of the Year 2007. 11 385 0,8 12 386 0,7 13 380 0,6 You can still purchase all of these beautiful stamps from 2007 13 395 0,6 with POST Greenland, Filatelia. You can for instance buy them 14 388 0,3 inserted in a nicely illustrated cover – in the Year Pack 2007. 14 389 0,3 15 382 0,3 Item No. 01304007. Price DKK 276.00. Another fairytale wedding will be taking place in Hans Christian Andersen’s land, when Marie Cavallier is saying her yes to His Royal Highness Prince Joachim on 24th May in Møgeltønder. Royal wedding By: Tina Vestergaard Photo: Steen Brogaard Royal weddings are one of the very favourite events amongst the Greenlandic people. There is great respect for and devotion to the Danish royal family in Greenland. We simply love our own royal family and fortunately it is now the occation of another festive event. We can now look forward to yet another royal wedding, when Prince 4 01100406 Royal Wedding – Joachim & Marie Value: DKK 10,25 Date of issue: 24. May 2008 40 stamps per sheet Size: G-vertical 24052008 B Outside meassurements: 28,84x39,52 mm Printing method: Offset Paper: Sopal, white paper Typography: Dorit Olsen Photo: Steen Brogaard Joachim is going to seal his love to French The wedding is set to 24th May 2008 Marie Cavallier with the holy matrimony. in Møgeltønder church, not far from On that occasion, POST Greenland is proud Schackenborg Castle, which will be the new to honour the royal family presenting a very home for the newly wed after the wedding. Royal special stamp. Untill then, Marie Cavallier will stay in Joachim and Marie have made a couple since Genève, where she works in the investment 2005 and finally engaged 3. October 2007. company, RE Invest. Marie says in an interview with the Danish Even if Marie Cavallier wishes to be ‘just’ the still be able to follow the wedding, though, and magazine “Se&Hør” that she most certainly wife of Price Joachim, she still has to leave enjoy the ‘usual’ media covering from the living wedding would like to have a child so who knows? The her civil position behinde.