In 2025 we will be observing the 100th anniversary of Norway’s Polarbear and Airplane stamps. These were some of the earliest stamps I recall my dad introducing me to when he gave me his stamp collection in the mid-1970s. He referred to these as being his favorites (incidentally being released the same year he was born) and suggested to me that they were fairly valuable (relatively speaking) which likely impacted my own affinity for them.
But the background and purpose for this stamp issue has a slightly controversial origin story. They were issued to fund Roald Amundsen’s proposed 1926 North Pole expedition. Roald Amundsen was the first explorer to reach the South Pole and is considered one of the greatest polar explorers of his time, and perhaps of all time. In short, the Norwegian government had decided to use this stamp series to help fund Roald Amundsen’s planned 1926 northpole expedition. We are all familiar with semi-postal issues where a portion pays the postage and the addition goes to a special cause. With these stamps, it was proposed that all the income would go to Mr. Amundsen. A large portion of these stamps were given directly to him to sell to collectors for the purpose of raising funding for his expedition. The rest was sold through post offices for regular postage, but with the income going to Amundsen.
Overview of the 1925 Polar Bear Stamps
| Catalog Number | Denomination | Color | Volume |
| NK 130/Scott 104 | 2 øre | Yellow-brown | 569,700 |
| NK 131/Scott 105 | 3 øre | Orange-yellow | 357,000 |
| NK 132/Scott 106 | 5 øre | Purple | 250,000 |
| NK 133/Scott 107 | 10 øre | Yellow-green | 254,200 |
| NK 134/Scott 108 | 15 øre | Black-blue | 202,700 |
| NK 135/Scott 109 | 20 øre | Red-purple | 206,800 |
| NK 136/Scott 110 | 25 øre | Red | 375,500 |
As early as February 1924, Kristiania Filatelist-Klub (Kristiania Philatelic Society, Kristiania was renamed Oslo in 1925) had a discussion of these stamps on their agenda. Philatelists were outraged about this release which they considered speculative and not the way for a postal service to operated. They submitted a protest to the Norwegian government which read:
“Kristiania Filatelist-Klub deeply regret the governments decision to issue a so-called ‘polmerke’ (polar stamp). We see this in violation of the principals under which the postal service has thus operated. In the event that such a stamp is produced, it is the position of Kristiania Filatelist-Klub that the government is creating a private, speculative issue out of thin air.”
NORWAY: Complete Set of 1925 Amundsen Polar Stamps Canceled
The 1925 Polar Series caused quite a bit of controversy when first released. These were Norway’s early attempt at semi-postal stamps, even if they don’t have an additional charge. They were designed to raise funds for Roald Amundsen’s next expedition. All seven values, NK 130-NK 136.
In stock
When these stamps were released on April 1, 1925, collectors, as predicated by the Oslo philatelists, flocked to acquire these. A lot of covers, a few of which are shown on these pages, were produced with philatelic intent. Ironically, several covers bearing the names of members of this club or the club itself have been discovered over the years. Maybe they weren’t so undesirable after all?
