The 1950s was a wonderful time of innovation and optimism. It was also a time of cold war between East and West. Some prominent scientists on both sides, wondered if advancements could happen quicker if they were able to work together on basic research with all results shared. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
60 countries participated in the I. G. Y., and many issued stamps. In my opinion the Japanese stamp is the most attractive. Since I only write up stamps in my collection, I am left writing up this still solid effort from Hungary showing the Soviet Antarctic Station.
Todays stamp is issue A276, a 40 Filler stamp issued by Hungary on March 14th, 1959. It was a seven stamp issue in various denominations and was also available as a imperforate presentation set. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents.
The International Geophysical Year, I. G. Y., had it’s roots in two earlier, 1882 and 1932, International Polar Years that had focused the world on exploring and studying the earth’s poles. The 1932 year was somewhat discredited because many of it’s projects were abandoned and results lost in the runup to war. It was decided that all nations would be invited and all data shared in multiple locations. Only China refused to participate as they were annoyed that Taiwan was invited to participate as if it was a real country. It was further decided that the the subject of the year would expand from just the poles to include peaceful space exploration.
In the runup to the year, it was announced that the USA would launch 2 manmade satellites as part of it’s contribution. Four days later the Soviets announced that they too would launch a man made satellite. The American Project Vanguard faced several failed launches and the world was shocked and impressed when the Soviets launched successfully Sputnik 1 as part of Soviet involvement in the I.C.Y. Project Vanguard was abandoned in the USA and a version of the Jupiter missile substituted with a new reentry cone and a scientific payload. The Americans eventually got two rechristened Explorer satellites in space for the year, but it was not forgotten that two Sputniks were there first. America had some consolation in that one of their satellites discovered the Van Allen radiation belts that surround earth.
The poles were not forgotten during the IGY. Japan set up an intended to be year round manned science station in Antartica called Showa. The first year proved to be sort of a fiasco and the ship assigned to keep the station supplied got stuck in the ice. It was eventually freed by an American ice breaker but was unable to resupply the Showa station. The Japanese researchers were airlifted out by helicopter. The discusting losers left behind 15 Sakhalin Husky sled dogs chained up in the station. When the station was returned to a year later, seven of the dogs had died on their chain, six had disappeared. and two dogs named Taro and Jiro were still alive and in residence. they had escaped their chains and survived eating penguins becoming national heroes in Japan as examples of perseverance and fortitude. Upon their natural deaths in 1960 and 1970 Taro and Jiro were stuffed and put on display.
Overall the IGY was a great success and lead to much later cooperation. In the early 1980s the Steely Dan singer Donald Fagin had a top 20 solo hit with the song IGY, what a beautiful word. I was familiar with the song but never knew what he was singing about. You can hear the song here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di0_KYtmVKI.
The optimism did not last into this century. In 2008 a new International Polar Year was organized. Why I say it lost the optimism is that it was centered around climate change. What a bunch of gloomy Guses that must have been.
Well my drink is empty, and I think four toasts are in order for the two Sputniks and Taro and Jiro. Come again soon after I sober up for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.