Auction of British Empire and Foreign Countries Postage Stamps and Postal History

Antarctica: Early Exploration: First Sighting of the Antarctic Mainland 1820, 1850(ca.) stampless envelope addressed to Nathaniel Palmer, at his business address in New York, endorsed for possible redirection to Palmer’s home, “Please forward to Stonington Ct. if not there”, sent from Stockbridge, Mass. with red “JAN/17” despatch c.d.s. at left, slightly stained. Nathaniel Palmer, American sailing captain and explorer and his crew on the sealer “Hero”, had been on Nov. 17 1820 the first Americans to sight the Antarctic Peninsula, larger ships skippered by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Edward Bransfield having also reported sighting of land earlier in the year. Photo.
[Proposed price: £100-120]