SVEN HEDIN EXPEDITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 228, 26 September 1929, Page 29

SVEN HEDIN EXPEDITION.

CHINA ISSUES SPECIAL STAMP

FIRST TIME PRIVATE PARTY SO

HONOURED.

For the first time in history a private scientific expedition will get a postage stamp of its own. ' The Chinese Government at Nanking has granted the request of Dr. Sven Hedin, noted explorer and leader of many expeditions to the interior of Asia, that his expedition now at work in' China be permitted to have its own postage stamp. The stamp will be printed in two or three values and colours. The whole edition will represent a value of 5000 Mexican dollars, which will be paid in advance to the postal authorities in Shanghai. Then Dr. Hedin has the authority to submit the rights of selling the whole edition, except certain series, which will be on sale to the public in China, to some philatelic concern in America or Europe." Money paid for the exclusive right to sell the stamps will go in full to the expedition's committee in Peking, Dr. Hedin said. It will be used for travelling expenses of Chinese members and to maintain the meteorological stations he has established in Central Asia. "Eventually part of the profit will be used for the support of a magazine recently founded in Peking, which contains nothing but news and reports from the members of my expedition," the explorer continued. "The Chinese Government has approved my suggestion of the stamp issue." The central section ot the stamp will show a rider on a camel among sand dunes, with the setting sun as background. The official name of the expedition in China, "The Scientific Mission to the North-western Provinces," will appear in Chinese letters at the top and the same in Latin at the bottom. The value will be printed in the corners. The stamp is being designed by a Swedish artist. It will be the same size, the Chinese Government. has announced, as the newly issued stamps bearing the picture-of Sun Yat Sen.