Antarctica is well known as one of the most starkly desolate places on earth – a vastly inhospitable expanse of land permanently cloaked in ice.
Issue information
Yet for all its frozen isolation, the continent’s landscapes and wildlife are also breathtaking beautiful, inspiring some of New Zealand’s greatest photographers to create some of their finest works.
In 2005, New Zealand Post invited five professional photographers to submit their personal favourites of the Ross Dependency – and the results were simply stunning.
An Adventurer's Paradise
The first day cover featured the icy interiors of Ross Dependency.
The Photographers and Their Stories
The presentation pack reflected the photographic excellence of this superb stamp collection. You could learn more about the photographers, their specialities and their achievements on the international stage.
A Prized Collector's Collection
Behind every photograph there is a story, and that certainly applied to this collection. That is why we choose it as the subject for our special limited editions, a prestigious and sought-after collectable that is produced in limited quantities (only 2,000 available worldwide) - and this limited edition offered additional insights into the Ross Dependency through the lens.
This prestigious collectable contained a set of stamps, a unique numbered souvenir miniature sheet, a special first day cover and a set of colour separations.
Ross Dependency Postage in New Zealand
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Ross Dependency stamps are not valid for postage in New Zealand. Click here to find out more. |
Product Listing for 2005 Ross Dependency - Through the Lens
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 45c 'Craig Potton - Dry Valleys' gummed stamp. Lake Chad, which renowned New Zealand photographer Craig Potton captured on a visit to the Dry Valleys in 2002, is one of his favourite photographs. It shows the exquisite contrast between the glacial, frozen lake and the startling blue night sky. |
$0.45 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 90c 'Andris Apse - Emperor Penguins' gummed stamp. The animal residents of Antarctica include the Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsten) – photographed here standing tall by Andris Apse. Standing more than one meter tall, they and another 16 species of penguin dominate the continent’s bird life, making up more than 85% of its bird population. |
$0.90 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.35 'Mark Mitchell - Fur Seal' gummed stamp. Mark Mitchell spent 12 days in Antarctica in 2003 – an experience that included the opportunity to photograph the delightful Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephaulus gazelle). Once seriously endangered because of the international trade in fur seal pelts, the species have made a remarkable comeback. |
$1.35 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.50 'Colin Monteath - Captain Scott’s Hut' gummed stamp. Mountaineer, photographer and writer Colin Monteath has spent 27 summers in Antarctica. His photograph depicts one of Antarctica’s most famous landmarks – the 14.6 x 7.3 metre hut was brought to the continent by explorer Captain Robert F Scott. |
$1.50 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.00 'Kim Westerskov - Minke Whale' gummed stamp. Kim Westerskov specialises in the seas and wilderness areas from New Zealand to Antarctica. His photograph of the Antarctic Minke Whale (balaenoptera acutorostrata bonaerensis) is an enticing glimpse of this distinctive and beautiful inhabitant of the world’s most southern waters. |
$2.00 |
 |
First Day Cover | First day cover with stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $6.70 |
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Presentation Pack | Presentation pack containing a selection of stamp product from the issues and further information on the theme of the stamps. | $16.95 |
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Limited Edition | Limited edition collectable containing exclusive stamp products not available anywhere else. | $135.00 |
Technical information
| Date of Issue: | 2 November 2005 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Five |
| Denominations and designs: | 45c, 90c, $1.35, $1.50, $2.00 |
| Stamps designed by: | CommArts Design, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Wyatt & Wilson, New Zealand by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Stamp size and format: | 42.27 x 30.32mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | 104gsm litho gummed stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 50 |
| Perforation gauge: | 13.2 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode, value blocks and logo blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least two stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in both A and B format. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 1 November 2006. |
