FREE: Peary-Henson North Pole Arctic Exploration First Day Cover, Scott #2223, USA 1986

The listing, Peary-Henson North Pole Arctic Exploration First Day Cover, Scott #2223, USA 1986 has ended.

Up for auction is a First Day Cover of 1986 US Scott stamp #2223, which shows famed Arctic explorer Robert Peary and his African American associate explorer Matthew A. Henson and a map of their historic journey to discover the North Pole on April 6, 1909.

Matthew Alexander Henson was the first African-American Arctic explorer, and possibly the first man, black or white, to reach the North Pole. He was orphaned at the age of eleven and eventually found employment as a cabin boy on a ship. He met Robert Peary in 1887 and later served as his assistant on six expeditions over nearly a quarter of a century. Later in life, Henson was the first African-American elected to the Explorer’s Club in New York, and in 1988 his remains were interred in the Arlington National Cemetery near Peary’s monument. Henson served as a navigator and craftsman, traded with Inuit and learned their language, and was known as Peary's "first man" for these arduous travels. Henson was indispensable to the success of Peary's arctic exploration missions.

Excellent condition US 1986 First Day Cover. From a smoke free home. Thank you for bidding!

Will do free shipping to Canada on First Day Covers.