Explorers Alabama, Thule, Denmark expeditions Greenland stamps vignettes year 1981/85 MNH
That’s a fantastic and specific area of polar philately! It appears you are referring to a group of vignettes (or Cinderellas) that were privately produced to commemorate the famous Danish expeditions to Greenland, likely referencing a specific philatelic sale or lot description.
These items are not official postage stamps issued by the Danish or Greenlandic postal authorities (Post Danmark or TELE-POST Greenland) but are instead non-postal labels or seals created for collectors of polar themes. This explains why they are often listed together as a “set of vignettes” rather than a catalogued stamp issue.
Based on the information, here is the breakdown of the items you are likely referring to:
🏔️ Greenland Expedition Vignettes (Labels) 1981-1985
| Expedition | Historical Context | Significance |
| Alabama Expedition | Led by Ejnar Mikkelsen (1909–1912). The main goal was to find the records of the lost Danmark Expedition and disprove the existence of a channel that separated Greenland from a larger landmass. The ship Alabama was lost, and Mikkelsen’s survival trek is legendary. | Focuses on exploration and survival in Northeast Greenland. |
| Thule Expeditions | A series of seven major expeditions led by Knud Rasmussen between 1912 and 1933. The most famous was the Fifth Thule Expedition (1921–1924), which traversed the North American Arctic. | Focuses on ethnography and comprehensive Arctic exploration. |
| Denmark Expeditions | Likely a reference to the Danmark Expedition (1906–1908), which charted unknown coasts of Northeast Greenland but ended tragically with the loss of its leader, Ludvig Mylius-Erichsen, and two companions. | Focuses on mapping and scientific exploration. |
🔍 Nature of the “Vignettes”
- Vignettes (Cinderellas): These are non-postal adhesive labels, seals, or bogus stamps. They often commemorate events, raise funds for causes, or are produced purely for the collector market.
- Issuing Period (1981/85): While the expeditions themselves took place much earlier (1906–1933), the vignettes were produced around 1981-1985 to capitalize on the historical and topical interest in these famous polar voyages.
- Quality: They are frequently found in MNH (Mint Never Hinged) condition, as they were made for collectors and never saw postal use.
💰 Value and Collectibility
- Value: Since they are not official stamps, they do not have a standard catalog value (like Scott or Stanley Gibbons). Their value is purely determined by the demand from topical collectors of polar, exploration, or Greenland themes.
