Ross Dependency

The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south. It is claimed by New Zealand. Since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, Article IV of which states: "No acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is in force shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica or create any rights of sovereignty in Antarctica," most countries do not recognize territorial claims in Antarctica.

The Dependency takes its name from Sir James Clark Ross, who discovered the Ross Sea, and includes part of Victoria Land, and most of the Ross Ice Shelf. Ross Island, Balleny Islands and the small Scott Island also form part of the Dependency, as does the ice-covered Roosevelt Island.

The first stamps inscribed Ross Dependency were issued on 11 January 1957, in conjunction with the New Zealand Antarctic Expedition, led by Sir Edmund Hillary (part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition). Before the expedition left New Zealand, on 23 November 1956, Hillary had been appointed postmaster. When the expedition chose the site for Scott Base, a post office was established, initially in a tent. The post office at Scott Base was closed in 1987 as part of the rationalisation of New Zealand Post. Mail from the base was handled in Christchurch, and the issuing of “Ross Dependency” stamps ceased.

New Zealand Post resumed the issue of stamps inscribed “Ross Dependency” in 1994, “due to local and international demand.” A definitive set was issued in 1994, and pictorial sets of five or six stamps have been issued annually since then.

The denominations match those of contemporary New Zealand stamps. However, the stamps are not generally valid on New Zealand mail. Mail from the Ross Dependency is processed by the “Ross Dependency Agency”, located at a post office in Christchurch. Members of the public (mostly philatelists and stamp dealers) are able to post items bearing Ross Dependency stamps at this office.

I ordered a single stamp for the international rate from New Zealand post and when it arrived I sent my envelope to the Christchurch agency for the postmark. I got it back very fast. Apart from the Rosse Dependency postmark, there was a Christchurch MSC postmark on my envelope and an air mail label.

This postmark can be obtained by sending mail with Ross Dependency (not New Zealand!) stamps to: Philatelic Mail, Christchurch Mail Service Centre, Private Bag 55055, Orchard Road, Christchurch 8154, New Zealand.

Ross Dependency stamps can be bought from New Zealand Post. They are listed under the International stamps section: nzpost.co.nz/ross-dependency.

Date sent: 10 May 2017

Date postmark: 19 May 2017

Date received: 30 May 2017

Number of days: 20

Envelope in collection: 126