CartoPhilatelic Issues of Note for 2007

Mapping of South Georgia New Issues

The Falklands Islands Philatelic Bureau (South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands) has released a set of 4 stamps on January 5, 2007 to commerate the 1958 mapping of South Georgia.

The first survey of South Georgia was carried out by Captain James Cook at the time of claiming the island in 1775. Captain Cook's chart of South Georgia was drawn in 1777 contained 18 named features.

These new stamps commemorate the 1951-1957 Survey Expedition lead by the late Duncan Carse (1913 - 2004). The maps produced by Carse's team were until the 21st century the most detailed maps of South Georgia. In 2005 South Georgia also issued a set of stamps celebrating the life of Duncan Carse.

British Antarctic Survey has been mapping remote areas of the Antarctic for many decades.

The contrast between the original Carse Map and the new satellite derived map shown on these stamps illustrates the way sruveying and mapping technologies have changed over time. The original map was based on field surveying involving many weeks of on-site travel and exacting theodolite measurements. It was an outstanding achievement at the time of its completion in 1958. The original map was used during the 1982 Falkland Islands conflict. The new map is almost entirely based on satellite-derived information, using Landsat 7 scenes for coastline, ice/rock/moraine classification and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data for elevations. New survey adjustments using global positioning systems (GPS) have positioned the island more accurately on the surface of the Earth, as compared with the original surveys of the 1950s.

Increasing temperatures have resulted in major changes to the extent of South Georgia's glaciers over the past 50 years. Tourism and research on the island are increasing every year and the 1958 map was becoming unsuitable for these requirements.

The Government of South Georgia commissioned a new map from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) BAS has been mapping remote areas of the Antarctic for many decades. The new map is based on revised positional data, with satellite pictures and digital topography. This l:200,000 map was prepared by the BAS Mapping and Geographic Information Centre (MAGIC)

The theodolite shown on the stamp design is a Kern DKM1 that was used for the 1951-52 survey expedition. Equipment used during the 1955-56 survey was, according to the survey report ' much the same as in 1951-2 and 1953-4' as described on the Falklands Philatelic Bureau site.

This wonderful map topical from South Georgia is similar to another magnificent mapping and surveying set from the British Antarctic Territory, issued in March, 1998.

This was one of the significant map topicals released this year. It has taken a long time to get a good set of detailed scans. We thank our European Representative, Mark Honig for the scans.

Mark has also informed us that a small outline of South Georgia is printed in the gutter of the sheet and has provide this additional scan shown above. Thank you Mark! -web admin.

New issue of "Cartography of the Isle Man Through the Ages"

A new release from Isle of Man Post, due out August 1, 2007.

Isle of Man Post will release a set of stamps which portrays the cartography of the Isle of Man through the ages. Although there are a number of old maps of the Island still in existence today, John Speed is the only cartographer who might be described as a household name.

Speed's maps are considered works of art as well as scientific documents. Speed, a tailor by profession, had an interest an antiquarian and became connected with map publication early in the 17th century. By collecting and amending already existing maps and having them re-engraved and printed, he completed his famous "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain," series consisting of 54 (fifty-four) sheets, including the Isle of Man. Speed's work became the basis for almost every other map of the Island for the next 100 years. Speed based his maps of the Isle of Man on a personal survey by Thomas Durham conducted in 1595. Speed's map is the earliest separate printed map of the Isle of Man and is probably the most important of all the historical maps of the Island.

Some additional information about John Speed and the "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain," may be found on Professor of History, Occidental College, Dr. M.C. Horowitz's web site on John Speed and also additional photos of the "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain," along with a short biographical sketch about John Speed are available on the Map Forum web site.

Deutsche Post Waldseemuller Map Stamp

Thanks to Society Member Mr. Volker Woesner, we now have two spectacular images of the Waldseemuller map, as shown below. Shortly before the stamp is issued, this link at Deutsche Post will have a photo of the stamp. I believe the official name of the stamp in German is "500 Jahre "Amerika-Karte" von Martin Waldseemuller."

The single 2.20 EUR is shown below.

A full sheet of 10 stamps is shown below.

Historical Old Maps Issued by Korea Post

While the issue date of Feb 28, 2007 may not appear that "new," the keen eye of one of our members brought these beautiful and detailed historical old map stamps issued by Korea Post to our attention. This set of four is sure to be in the running for the most important map stamps of 2007. As described on the official

New and Forthcoming issues from Argentina and New Zealand

Mark Honig has submitted a couple of new issue images from Argentina and New Zealand.

New Issues from Sweden, France, Romania and Ecuador

Mark Honig, our European Representative has alerted us to some relevant new map related issues released during 2007 which some of us may have missed. Described here are issues from Sweden, France, Romania and Ecuador. The French and Romania issues are mini-sheets. The November 12, 2007 issue from France entitled "Les Phares" (The Lighthouses) shows a set of six (0.54EU denomination) stamps with a background of a nautical chart, fishing vessel, compass and other navigation instruments.

The November 14, 2007 issue from Romania depicts Danubian Harbours and Ships. There are two denominated stamps on the sheet, and two additional non-denominated labels. Two non-map related stamps picturing ships were also issued with this set.

Sweden issued an Ocean Search and Rescue topical during the spring of 2007. This coil issue from March 22nd, 2007 depicts a rescue boat and nautical map in the background. Another set from Ecuador, issued on January 16, 2007 is a joined pair of 40cent stamps, along with a single $1 stamp, from a set of 9 (strip of 6, this pair, and a single). The stamps show a portrait of Sir Francis Drake and the Galapagos islands on the left stamp, while the right stamp shows a map of Golfo and the Ecuadorian coastline with a sailing ship. The $1 item shows a similar coast line motif with a portrait of William Dampier, English buccaneer, explorer and sea captain. Dampier was the first person to circumnavigate the globe three times. [ there were 3 stamps in this series with maps. thanks to Mark Honig for bringing this to our attention. -- web admin. ]