Mt. Everest Expedition Mail - 1922

Expedition Mail of the Himalaya

NOTE: Due to the small number of covers with this marking combination, I have combined the Appendix B and Appendix C data on one page.

Copyright 2022, Eddie Hackstaff

Appendix B - Table 1 (DRAFT)

A Detailed Listing of the 1922 British Mt. Everest Expedition

Similar to the 1921 expedition, the 1922 expedition used local officials to move the mail, but they also began employing specific locals that would carry the mail along the route to Pharijong, Tibet where the mail was processed and handed to official runners to move the mail to India where it would join the established international postal system.

Neither the 1921 nor the 1922 expeditions applied any expedition markings making it very difficult to identify the mail associated with these expeditions. Covers from this expedition can only be identified by the name and dated cancellation from Pharijong. There are few documented examples of mail from the 1922 expedition.

The following two covers carried correspondence from the expedition doctor, Dr. Wakefield to his father in England during the expedition.

The third cover is a letter to Dr. Wakefield from his wife in England. However, since the team was already on the return journey when it reached Darjeeling it was returned to England.

Table B1 - 1922 Mt. Everest - TBD

	Identifying Information

ID	Mailed To	Mailed From	Notes	Image
EV22_001	Dr. R. W. Wakefield Winder Cark in Cartnel(?) Carnforth, England	Dr. Arthur Wakefield Pharijong Tibet Dated: 20 July 22
EV22_002	Dr. R. W. Wakefield Winder Cark in Cartnel(?) Carnforth, England	Dr. Arthur Wakefield Pharijong Tibet Dated: 14 June 22
An inbound cover	Dr. A. W. Wakefield Everest Expedition Darjeeling, India Received: 8 Aug 22	Mrs. Wakefield Birklands Kendal, England Dated: 19 July 22	"To wait arrival" of the expedition in Darjeeling on return. Cover was returned to Alpine Club in London

NOTE: Due to the small number of covers with this marking combination, I have combined the Appendix B and Appendix C data on one page.

Appendix C

Details of Covers

EV22_001 Cover addressed to Dr. Wakefield, Carnforth, England. Bearing a pair of KGV 1a stamps tied by PHARIJONG cancel (Hel B17) dated 20 JUL 22. No other marking on the cover. Ex Bard Collection Courtesy of the Hackstaff Collection. David Feldman Auction 2020 December Auction, Lot 41153, (2 covers) Realized: Euro 2,200 (US $2,500)
EV22_002 Cover addressed to Dr. Wakefield, Carnforth, England. Bearing a KGV 2a stamp tied by PHARIJONG cancel (Hel B17) dated 14 JUN 22. No other marking on the cover. Ex Shambhala Collection Spink Auction 20019, Jan 2022, Lot 569, Realized: HK$28,000 (US $3,600)
An inbound cover After news was received in England of a tragic accident that took the lives of 7 porters, Dr. Wakefield's wife sent a letter expressing her concern. Because there was a good chance that the accident could end the expedition, the letter was sent to Darjeeling to await the teams arrival. Knowing the letter may miss the team, it was annotated on the reverse that it should be returned. The letter did in fact miss the team and it was returned to the Alpine Club in London. Enclosed letter reads: "Birklands, Kendal, England Mon. July 17, 22 My dearest Arthur – Yours of June 1st came 13th (just after last week’s mail had gone) & I was so glad to have it, for it seemed long since we had any definite news of you. You were expecting to start next day for another climb, & I have waited anxiously for news of the result. Today’s paper says there was "a disaster" caused by an avalanche & "7 porters killed" and Mallory, Somervell & Crawford were able to extricate themselves, & that 3 others, names not given, "were dug out just in time". I think you must have been one of those three & I don’t know how to write about it. It is impossible to say what I feel, but I do thank God that all six lives were spared. I dare not think what injuries may have been received, & it is hard to wait, – but as I write these words, others flash into my mind – "In quietness & confidence shall be your strength," so by His grace & help I will try to wait quietly & hopefully." Tuesday 18th. I shall be very sorry if D does not want you in Bombay, tho it will not ?able for her to come then not till after the (?) & early (?). I think TBD... Ex Bard Collection Courtesy of the Hackstaff Collection. David Feldman Auction 2020 December Auction, Lot 41153, (2 covers) Realized: Euro 2,200 (US $2,500)

Copyright 2022, Eddie Hackstaff