As mentioned in the previous issue of this magazine, Tusass Greenland is participating in the HAFNIA 24 exhibition in Copenhagen, 17th to 20th October 2024. To mark the event we are presenting our HAFNIA 24 - special issue, which comprises two stamps in sheets of 10 identical stamps and an attractive souvenir sheet. The latter is sold with an additional price of DKK 4, which will be donated in full to HAFNIA 24. The stamp issue is entitled ’Centenary of Unity in Greenland’. As a prelude to HAFNIA 24 and the above-mentioned special edition, we have enlisted the assistance of a close friend of Tusass Greenland, Flemming Petersen from Copenhagen. Flemming has for many years been the embodiment of philately. His interest in and knowledge of Greenland is also extensive. We bring you here his account of the centenary. The stamps and souvenir sheets were designed by Nina Spore Kreutzmann based on the historical materials provided by Flemming.
Brief historical background Following the arrival of the priest Hans Egede’s and his companions in Greenland in 1721, Danish colonies were established over the subsequent three decades at the most attractive sites for trading on the south west coast of Greenland. The stretch of coastline comprised an area of 70 miles on each side of the individual colony, constituting approximately 7% of Greenland‘s total area. (Royal poster, 26th March 1751). The rest of Greenland was considered a no man‘s land at the time, for general use by private individuals and companies. Many countries hunted whales and seals in the waters around Greenland, in areas that were inaccessible by kayak. In 1894, a mission and trading station was established in the Angmassalik area on the east coast of Greenland, where the local priest had the final say in instances of dispute. In 1908, Denmark passed Greenland laws which included some fishing restrictions, but had to refuse the polar explorer Knud Rasmussen‘s request to establish a Danish trading station in the Thule area, North Greenland, on political grounds. The North Star mission station was established in Thule in 1909 and Knud Rasmussen’s private trading station the following year. Denmark desired the creation of a unified Greenland and an opportunity arose to achieve this after the Danish West Indies were traded to the USA in 1917 and Danish interests on Spitsbergen to Norway in 1920. The bicentennial of Hans Egede’s arrival in Greenland was widely celebrated in Greenland and Denmark in 1921. King Christian X took part in the celebrations in Greenland and, in Denmark, the Ministry of the Interior held an enormous Greenland exhibition in St. Nikolaj Church in Copenhagen. A new declaration reaffirming the relationship was issued. Despite previous acceptance, Norway announced the same year that they could not accept the declaration and would continue to consider most of Greenland‘s east coast including its waters and islands as no man‘s land open to Norwegian hunters and fishermen.
Conditions for the population in Greenland Fishing and hunting opportunities determined the size of the population and the location of the settlements. In Dr. Alfred Bertelsen‘s report from ‚The Danish Literary Greenland Expedition‘ 1902-04 he also states that Greenlanders who wanted an abortion held their legs in ice-cold water for some time, or placed a hot stone on their stomach. The local Greenlanders were not included in the Danish legal system. From 1918 to 1919, the population of Greenland fell by 126 people to 13,335. In North Greenland the population fell by 163, while the population in South Greenland rose by 37. There were around 10% more women than men. There were 510 births and 56 deaths due to kayak accidents and drownings. The life expectancy of Greenlanders as late as in 1952 was a mere 35 years for men and 38 years for women. Along the entire east coast of Greenland there were only 352 residents, in Angmassalik, while the other settlements were abandoned. Sustainability of the nomadic hunter culture was challenged, as the number of animals to hunt for various reasons could not secure a livelihood. Between 1916-25, Greenland commenced fundraising for an orphanage for fatherless children. Jens Chemnitz instigated the initiative was subsequently joined in the undertaking by Miss Elisa Motzfeldt-Bøggild (’Aunt Greenland‘), who lived in Denmark. Victor Hansen was the administrator. After events, they would meet in Denmark’s Garden (Tivoli). Denmark was very concerned about the situation in Greenland. In 1923, a parliamentary delegation was sent to personally inspect and discuss the situation with the elected representatives of the National and Municipal Councils and others. The visit took place from 30th June to 12th September and resulted in a comprehensive, confidential report to the parliament. At the same time, Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen was very concerned about the outcome of the negotiations with Norway. The East Greenland Agreement was concluded with Norway on 10th July 1924 with a 20 years’ duration. Norway accepted that the Angmassalik District was Danish however, they regarded other territories as a no-man’s and. Norway also accepted that the local Greenlanders had the pre-emption right to settle in the attractive Scoresby Sound area. The right to this area would have been rescinded if these lands were not used within a period of 5 years. The Greenlandic Island of Jan Mayen was eventually annexed by Norway. On the same day that the agreement entered into effect, Ejnar Mikkelsen departed onboard the ship ‚Greenland‘ to Scoresby Sound, located about 850 km northeast of Angmagssalik. Following a national collection four settlements were privately built in this enormous fjord area, which is equivalent to the total area of Denmark. One of the settlements was located at Ferslew’s Point in Amdrup Harbour and the other three settlements, each with two houses, were spaced 30 kilometres apart on Cape Tobin, Cape Hope and Cape Stewart. In 1925, the locals chose to avail of their pre-emption right to settle in the area and consequently took possession of the newly built houses; something none of the 82 settlers reportedly regretted.
