ROBERT FALCON SCOTT, R.N., M.V.O.

Scott will always be regarded as one of the greats of early Antarctic Exploration but much of his fame comes as a result of his tragic demise at the end of his second expedition.

He was born in 1868 and made a career in the Royal Navy rising to the rank of Captain.

Scott led the 1901-04 British Antarctic Expedition using the vessel "Discovery" as his base. The vessel was frozen into the ice at McMurdo for 2 winters while Scott and his men explored the region using dog sleds.

Scott proved to be a capable scientific investigator and a good writer and publicist and accordingly he was chosen to lead the 1910 expedition on board the vessel "Terra Nova". Because of the suffering of his dogs in his first expedition Scott fatally decided to use Siberian Ponies and skis this time and while he reached the South Pole (After Amundsen) his whole party perished on the return trip.

SCOTT ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION ANNIVERSARY ITEMS

We offer below a range of philatelic items issued to celebrate Scott and his Antarctic exploits. They are listed in chronological order.

Note: The above postcard is franked with two 20 cent Ross Dependency stamps showing Scott Base which was named after Scott. The picture side (shown at right) depicts Scott's birthday party on board "Terra Nova" in 1911 from a photo by Ponting.

Note: The above postcard was postmarked on 30th November 2001 as the actual centennial date, the previous day, was a Sunday when Post Offices were not open.

Note: For this important date the New Zealand Post Office produced a pictorial postmark as shown above. The picture side of the postcard as shown at left shows the "Discovery" clearing Lyttelton Heads.

Note: the above postcard is postmarked with the regular Lyttelton datestamp.

Note: Pictorial postmark on the centennial postcard.

Note: the above envelope is a Lyttelton Port Company commercial envelope and has been franked with the Company's pictorial meter frank which celebrates Scott and the "Discovery" expedition.

Note: Same as the previous item but this time with the NZ Post pictorial datestamp.

Note: Same as the previous item but this time with the Lyttelton hand datestamp.

Note: This postcard has a Ross Dependency $1.20 Scott & "Terra Nova" stamp affixed.

Note: The Antarctic Heritage Trust has as its aims the preservation of all historic sites in the Antarctic. This includes a number of huts in the Ross Dependency including Scott's hut at Cape Evans. The envelope is signed by Josef Hoflehner, the Photographic Project Leader.

Note: Bearing a strip of three of the English 1972 Polar Explorers set showing Scott.

Note: Same postmark and date as previous item but with single machin stamp so postmark is easier to see.

Note: This postcard bears the 80 cent Ross Dependency stamp which depicts the "Discovery"

Note: Postcard has been signed by David Harrowfield, the leader of the Historic Huts 2002-03 Expedition. The Ross Dependency stamp depicts "Discovery".

Note: Envelope has been signed by David Harrowfield, the leader of the Historic Huts 2002-03 Expedition. The Ross Dependency stamp depicts the three man "Discovery" team of Ernest Shackleton, Robert Scott and Edward Wilson.

Note: Envelope has been signed by David Harrowfield, the leader of the Historic Huts 2002-03 Expedition. The Ross Dependency stamp depicts the "Discovery" Hut.

Note: The vessel "Discovery" is now berthed in Dundee Harbour in Northern Scotland where this envelope was posted. The stamp shows Scott and his Polar team.

Note: The American main Antarctic Base of McMurdo is situated right next to Scott's "Discovery" hut and in fact the McMurdo Ice-Wharf is within a stones throw of the building. this nearby presence of a large transient population means that preservation of the huts contents is difficult.

Note: The above postcard bears a "Posties Choice" 40 cent stamp showing the "Discovery" which was issued by a Alternative Postal Company in New Zealand. This company has an arrangement whereby NZ Post will accept its stamps as valid for postage throughout the NZ Post system.