Antarctic Treaty 30th Anniversary

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Cachet: The cachet shows a colour photograph of a towering ice cliff, its sheer face catching bright sunlight against a dark navy sky, with a single tiny figure standing at its base to give a sense of scale. The photograph sits as an inset panel over a wider background image of cracked pack ice stretching out under a pale blue sky. Beneath the photograph the text reads "1961-1991: The Antarctic Treaty / 1961-1991: Die Antarktiese Verdrag" in plain black lettering, keeping the design grounded in its documentary photography rather than illustration.

Info card

THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANTARCTIC TREATY (1961 — 1991) Scientific co-operation received new impetus in the International Geophysical Year (1957 to 1958) during which the RSA and eleven other countries participated. At the end of IGY, the twelve countries decided to continue scientific investigation and co-operation in Antarctica and consequently, the Antarctic Treaty was drawn up to serve as a guideline for future activities in the region. South Africa was one of the original twelve signatories on 1 December 1959. The Treaty came into force on 23 June 1961. The treaty stipulates inter alia that Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only, that scientific investigation and co-operation shall continue and knowledge shall be freely exchanged. 27c SA Agulhas The research and supply vessel, the MV SA Agulhas, has been specially reinforced and equipped for Antarctic conditions. The ship has a gross tonnage of 5 359,13 tonnes, a surface speed of 13 knots and a maximum speed of 14,25 knots. The stamp depicts the SA Agulhas moored in bay ice. Penguins are characteristic of Antarctica. The emperor penguin is the largest species, standing waist-high to a man and weighing up to 16 kilograms. The small Adelie penguins live only on the Antarctic continent and the surrounding islands. The treaty countries all strive after the conservation of the unique ecology of Antarctica. The emblem of the Antarctic Treaty is also incorporated into the design of the stamp. The emblem is a representation of a map of Antarctica with twelve spokes projecting from the South Pole. The colour transparency used on the stamp was taken by R Skinner. 65c Thirtieth anniversary, Antarctic Treaty (1961 — 1991) This depiction of a meteorological chart indicates the position of SANAE, the base of the South African National Antarctic Expedition, as well as the distance to Cape Town, viz. 4 260 kilometres. All South African Antarctic expeditions depart from the Cape Town harbour. The chart features the numbered meteorological zones used in the Antarctica weather charts. The emblem of the Antarctic Treaty is also depicted. Commemorative envelope: A colour transparency of an Antarctic landscape, taken by R Skinner, was used as background on the commemorative envelope. The detail picture of an ice and snow cliff is a colour transparency taken by M Steyn. DERTIGSTE HERDENKING VAN DIE ANTARKTIESE VERDRAG (1961 — 1991) Wetenskaplike samewerking het gedurende die Internasionale Geofisiese Jaar (1957 tot 1958) nuwe stukrag verkry toe die RSA en elf ander lande aan 'n volksale verkenning van Antarktika deelgeneem het. Na afloop van die IGY, het die twaalf lande besluit om in die gebied opgestel is om te gaan waarvan die Antarktiese Verdrag as riglyn vir toekomstige werksaamhede in die gebied opgestel is om te gaan waarvan die Antarktiese Verdrag as riglyn vir toekomstige werksaamhede in die gebied gehanteer sal word. Suid-Afrika was een van die oorspronklike twaalf ondertekenaars op 1 Desember 1959 in werking getree. Die verdrag bepaal onder meer dat die vreedsame doeleindes aangewend sal word, dat wetenskaplike samewerking slegs vir vreedsame doeleindes aangewend sal word, dat wetenskaplike ondersoek en samewerking sal voortduur en kennis vrylik uitgeruil sal word. 27c SA Agulhas Die navorsings- en voorraadskip, die ms. SA Agulhas, is spesiaal versterk en toegerus vir Antarktiese toestande. Die skip het 'n massa van 5 359,13 ton, 'n vaarsnelheid van 13 knope en 'n topspoed van 14,25 knope. Die seël toon die SA Agulhas waar dit in baai-ys vasgemeer is. Pikkewyne is kenmerkend van Antarktika. Die keiserpikkewyn is die grootste spesie. Hy reik tot by 'n man se middel en kan tot 16 kilogram weeg. Die klein Adelie-pikkewyn word net op die Antarktika-vasteland en die omliggende eilande aangetref. Die verdragslande bewaar hulle almal vir die bewaring van die unieke ekologie van Antarktika. Die embleem van die Antarktiese Verdrag is ook in die seëlontwerp vervat. Die embleem is 'n afbeelding van 'n kaart van Antarktika met twaalf speke wat van die Suidpool af uitstraal. Die kleurtransparant wat op die seël gebruik is, is deur R. Skinner geneem. 65c Dertigste herdenking, Antarktiese Verdrag (1961 — 1991) Die afbeelding van 'n meteorologiese kaart toon die ligging van SANAE, die basis van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Antarktiese Ekspedisie, asook die afstand na Kaapstad, nl. 4 260 kilometer. Alle Suid-Afrikaanse Antarktiese ekspedisies vertrek vanaf die Kaapstadse hawe. Die kaart wys die genommerde meteorologiese sones wat by die opstel van weerberigte en sinoptiese weerkaarte gebruik word. Die emblem van die Antarktiese Verdrag is ook afgebeeld. Gedenkkoevert: Vir die agtergrond op die gedenkkoevert is 'n kleurtransparant van 'n Antarktiese landskap, geneem deur R. Skinner, gebruik. Die detailinsetsel van 'n ys en sneeu krans is 'n kleurtransparant geneem deur M. Steyn.

Additional information

This cover is postmarked on 5 December 1991 in Pretoria, SAPO reference PT 5.17. It marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, which came into force on 23 June 1961 after South Africa signed as one of the original twelve nations back in December 1959. The two stamps show the research vessel SA Agulhas moored in bay ice and a meteorological chart marking SANAE, the South African National Antarctic Expedition base, which lies 4 260 kilometres from Cape Town. All South African Antarctic expeditions depart from that same Cape Town harbour, which makes the vessel's round trip a genuinely long haul before the ice even comes into view.

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