Himalaya Expedition Mail

Expedition Mail of the Himalaya

A Philatelic Story of the 1921 - 1953 Mail
Appendix A

The following is Appendix A from my book in-work "Expedition Mail of the Himalaya, A Philatelic Story of the 1921 - 1953 Mail"

Cheers,
Eddie

Appendix A (DRAFT)

Himalayan Expedition Markings and Labels of the 8000 Meter Peaks
(Through 1970)

The following numbering has been developed to provide a tracking schema for each item. This is not a formal industry standard numbering system, but a method employed to track unique items based on the expedition and markings. Labels have been included in this list for additional tracking purposes.

Mountain/ Region	Expedition Year	Sequential Marking ID (or Label)
EV	24-	Mx (Lx)

For the purposes of this book, the numbering of markings will include all markings associated specifically with an expedition (a.k.a. expedition marking). Expedition-specific markings include:

Postal Markings - Markings that are applied by the expedition to the item for postal purposes. This usually encompasses markings applied to an item that associates it with a specific expedition so that once the item reaches the government postal facility, any further costs associated with forwarding the item to its final destination can be billed to the appropriate expedition.
Cachet - According to the APS Stamp Vocabulary, a cachet is "A design or artwork on the left-hand side of an envelope, found primarily on first day covers." Cachets are added to commemorate a specific event and placed on a cover or post card to help market the item for future sale (e.g., EV33-M4).
Cancellation - According to the APS Stamp Vocabulary, a cancellation is "A mark used by the post office to show that a stamp has been used." (e.g., EV33-M2)
Ancillary Markings - Other markings added by the expedition. (E.g., "Carried by Runner")

There is a lot of gray area in this terminology. Information about each marking is provided in this appendix and is thoroughly discussed in the chapter associated with the specific expedition.

Additional terminology:

Rarity - This refers to how many items are known to exist. Less than 25: Very Rare, 25 - 100: Rare, More than 100: Common
Scarcity - This refers to availability and is subject to sales information and how often the items are available for acquisition.

The graphics that follow have been recreated as best as possible. Most have been generated from actual images but some are based only on descriptions of the image. These graphics should not be used for authentication purposes. More detailed graphics and information are provided in the chapters associated with the expedition.

The census data is a count of the number of covers (including post cards) that I have identified as unique and have been able to document. There are more covers in existance than I have documented here and this census will be updated as more items are identified over time. These numbers may require additional explanation when noted. See appendix B and C for specific details of each item. (as of December 2021)

Table A-1 - Mt. Everest (EV)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Haver-beck	Hellrigil	Water-fall	Image	Census Data (12/2021)
1924 3rd British Expedition	The "Tibet Marking", used while in Tibet Rare	EV24-M1	II	E1	IIb		62
	The "Base Camp Marking" used while in Tibet. The exact pupose of this marking in unknown Very Rare Very Scarce	EV24-M2	-	E2	IIc		14 Note: This marking is always used in association with another marking. This number is any cover that has this marking.
	The "Advertising Marking" used on film advertising covers mailed from India after expedition Common	EV24-M3r	I	E3	IIa		It has been stated that Noel mailed 40,000+ cards with the red marking.
	The "Advertising Marking" used from various Very Rare Very Scarce - in combination with other expedition markings	EV24-M3b	I	E3	IIa		10 Note: This number is for items that passed through the official mail.
	Questionable usage of the "Advertising Marking" on privately forwarded covers and post cards.	EV24-M3v	I	E3	IIa		5 Note: These did NOT pass through the official mail.
	The "Tractor Expedition Marking" used on mail forwarded through Yatung, Tibet Rare Scarce	EV24-M4	III	E4	I		13
	Dark blue label used on mail originating from expedition. Also used as a souvenir after the expedition. Common	EV24-L1	-	-	-		NA
	Light blue sold as souvenirs after the expedition. Common	EV24-L2	-	-	-		NA
1932 The "Flying Carpet" Expedition Flight	Used on mail carried on the attempt to circumnavigate Mt. Everest.	EV32-M1	-	-	VIII		Per Stephen Smith, who provided the covers, 50 were flown.
		EV32-L1	-	-	-
		EV32-L2	-	-	-
1933 4th British Expedition	Used as a marking during the expedition while in Sikkim/Tibet.	EV33-M1	-	E5	III		13
1933 Houston Mt. Everest Expedition Flight	Used as a cancellation on expedition mail after the successful flight over Mt. Everest. The marking comes in various shades of color, violet to slate	EV33-M2	-	-	IX		19 Certified as flown over Everest 32 General mail - not certified as flown See chapter for specific details.
	Used primarily as a cachet on expedition mail. The marking comes in a couple colors, black and brick-red.	EV33-M3	-	-	X
	Used as a cachet and label on covers flown during a local survey (possible filming) flight on April 8th. The fee to purchase a cover was used to raise funds for charity. The cachet and label were designed by Stephen Smith. (Not flown over Mt. Everest).	EV33-M4	-	-	XI		Per Stephen Smith, who provided the covers, 87 were flown.
		EV33-L1	-	-	-		Per Stephen Smith, who provided the covers, 87 were flown.
1935 5th British Reconnaissance Expedition	Only known on one cover mailed to/from Darjeeling, India.	EV35-M1	-	-	-		1
1936 6th British Expedition	Used during the expedition while in Sikkim/Tibet.	EV36-M1	-	E6	IV		5 Non-Theft 12 Theft See chapter for specific details.
1938 7th British Expedition	There is no confirmed expedition specific marking. * Waterfall identifies the common postal marking "UNDER CERTIFICATE OF POSTING" as an expedition marking. This is not an expedition marking, but a postal marking for tracking purposes.	-	-	E7*	V*	*	4
1953 Climbing	Used during the expedition while in Nepal.	EV53-M1	-	-	VI		Several - No numbers at this time.
1963 American Mt. Everest Expedition	Used during the expedition while in Nepal. The label was created by Lawrence Swan.	EV63-M1	-	-	-		Several - No numbers at this time.
		EV63-M2	-	-	-
		EV63-L1	-	-	-

Table A-2 - K2, also known as Mt. Godwin Austen (K2)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
1954 Italian Climbing	Used during the expedition.	K254-M1
1954 Italian Climbing	Used as a government cancellation for a short time in Skardu and Gilgit, Pakistan July - September	K254-M2
1960 U.S. Expedition	Used during the expedition.	K260-M1

Table A-3 - Kangchenjunga (KA)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
1955 British Expedition	Used during the expedition while in Nepal.	KA55-M1

Table A-4 - Lhotse (LH)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
-	No pre-1970 Lhotse expedition markings have been identified.	-	-

Table A-5 - Makalu (MA)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
1954 California Himalayan Expedition to Makalu	Used as markings on expedition mail and souvenir mail. The circular marking was reused during the 1960 expedition. Markings are found in both balck and red. The "CARRIED BY RUNNER" marking is only found on the regular expedition mail. It was not applied to the souviner covers.	MA54-M1
		MA54-M2
		MA54-M3
	Used as labels on expedition mail and souvenir mail. The labels were created by Lawrence Swan.	MA54-L1r
		MA54-L1b
		MA54-L1g
1955 French Expedition	Used during the expedition.	MA55-M1
1960-61 Himalayan Scientific and Mountaineering Expedition (also known as "The Hillary Expedition")	Used as markings on expedition mail. The circular (M1) marking was a reuse of the 1954 marking device.	MA60-M1v (see MA54-M1)
		MA60-M2
	The "Map" label was used on expedition mail. The label was created by Lawrence Swan.	MA55-L1
	The "Map & Yeti Footprint" label was used on expedition mail. The label was created by Lawrence Swan.	MA55-L2

Table A-6 - Cho Oyu (CO)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
-	No pre-1970 Cho Oyu expedition markings have been identified.	-	-

Table A-7 - Dhaulagiri I (D1)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
1958 Schweizerische Dhaulagiri Himalaya Expedition	Used as a cancellation on expedition mail.	D158-M1
1960 Swiss Dhaulagiri Expedition	Used during the expedition. The marking comes in various shades of color to include, violet, blue, black.	D160-M1
1960 Swiss Dhaulagiri Expedition	Used while in Kathmandu (Ekatakuna, Jawalakhel district).	D160-M2

Table A-8 - Manaslu (MN)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
-	No pre-1970 Manaslu expedition markings have been identified.	-	-

Table A-9 - Nanga Parbat (NP)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
1934 German Himalaya Expedition	A personal label used by Peter Mullritter during the expedition.	NP34-L1
1962 Deutsche Diamir Expedition	Used during the expedition. (Need to capture actual graphic)	NP62-M1
1964 German Rupal Expedition	Used during the expedition.	NP64-M1
1968 German Rupal Expedition	Used during the expedition.	NP68-M1
1970 German Rupal Expedition	Used during the expedition.	NA	Reused 1968 marking with same color

Table A-10 - Annapurna (AN)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
1969 German Himalaya Expedition	Used during the expedition.	AN69-M1
1970 British Nepalese Army Expedition	Used during the expedition.	AN70-M1	To be captured
	Used during the expedition.	AN70-M2	To be captured
	Used during the expedition.	AN70-M3	To be captured
1970 South Face Expedition	Used during the expedition.	AN70-M4r
1970 South Face Expedition	Used during the expedition.	AN70-M4b

Table A-11 - Gasherbrum I, also known as Hidden Peak (G1)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
1958 Osterreichische Himalaya Expedition	Used during the expedition to Haramosh while in Pakistan. Initial plan was for Gasherbrum I/Hidden Peak, but permission was not granted.	TBR

Table A-12 - Broad Peak (BP)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
1954 German Himalayan Expedition	Used during the expedition. In various colors. Not to be confused with the similar marking: GERMAN-AUSTRIAN HIMALAYA KARAKORUM - EXPEDITION 1954 - GILGIT (PAKISTAN)	BP54-M1
1954 German Himalayan Expedition	Label used on Albert Bitterling correspondence. (personal label?)	BP54-L1
1957 Austrian Karakoram Expedition	A personal label used by Hermann Buhl during the expedition.	BP57-L1

Table A-13 - Gasherbrum II (G2)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
-	No pre-1970 Gasherbrum II expedition markings have been identified.	-	-

Table A-13 - Shishapangma (SH)

Expedition	Description	ID (new)	Image
-	No pre-1970 Shishapangma expedition markings have been identified.	-	-