Front:
USA25
SHINGTON
SEP
14
1988
Lt. Charles Wilkes
20066
DC
Back:
CHARLES WILKES
First Day of Issue: September 14, 1988
First Issue Location: Washington, D.C.
In the 1830's the United States Government sent an
expedition to Antarctica. Commanded by Lieutenant
Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Navy, the South Sea Exploring
Expedition was led by the flagship Vincennes. Wilkes
took his fleet on a 1500-mile cruise along a vast and
unfamiliar coast. The expedition was by no means a calm
one as gale-force winds whipped the ships across icy seas.
Each day winds and icebergs threatened to destroy the
ships and send their crews to icy death. Wilkes described
passage through the Antarctic sea as much like traveling
through “an immense city of ruined alabaster palaces ...
with long lanes or streets wandering through them.” The
extent of this treacherous journey not only convinced
Wilkes of the grave dangers of this snow-covered, deso-
late land, it also convinced him of the land's massive size,
pointing to the existence of a continent. Wilkes' journey
opened a new and uniquely hostile frontier - a frontier
which presented a fabulous challenge to the adventurous
spirit of man.
No. 88-57
©1988 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Tom McNeely
