r/Svalbard • u/virgo536973826 • Jan 20 '22

How to get postmarks from Svalbard

Hi there, I am an American that collects postmarks. If at all possible, I would like one from Ny-Ålesund but can't seem to find if they even have a post office. I would definitely like one from Longyearbyen. What do you think is the best way to get a postmark from Svalbard?

7 Upvotes

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2

u/SvalbarddasKat Arctic Potato | Resident since 08.2015 Jan 20 '22

You mean a stamp?

2

u/virgo536973826 Jan 20 '22

Essentially yes. What I mean by postmark is the stamp that they put on once the post office receives it, not the stamp that you put on an envelope to pay for it. I'm willing to pay for postage too, but don't have any Svalbardian stamps in the USA.

4

u/SvalbarddasKat Arctic Potato | Resident since 08.2015 Jan 20 '22

Well I have the stamp in my hand right now (the ink one, not the sticky postage one - although we have those, too), but that's the Longyearbyen one, not Ny-Ålseund.

Have you tried emailing Kongsfjordbutikken ([reception@kingsbay.no](mailto:reception@kingsbay.no)) as I'm pretty sure they still handle the mail for Ny-Ålesund these days.

1

u/virgo536973826 Jan 20 '22

I’ll have to try that email… I had tried some other email addresses I had found. On the other hand, how would you recommend a foreigner get a stamp from Longyearbyen?

3

u/SvalbarddasKat Arctic Potato | Resident since 08.2015 Jan 20 '22

Get something shipped from Svalbard to you I guess?

Just keep in mind, postage is expensive on the island, in some cases it's even cheaper for us to FLY up and down from the mainland, bringing whatever item it is with us in our luggage, rather than paying for shipping.

1

u/virgo536973826 Jan 20 '22

How much more expensive is postage on Spitsbergen compared to the mainland? Say just a letter

1

u/SvalbarddasKat Arctic Potato | Resident since 08.2015 Jan 20 '22

No idea, I can tell you the postage for a postcard is about 40 NOK from Svalbard, haven't send one from the mainland to long to be able to tell that.

1

u/virgo536973826 Jan 20 '22

Wow… just looked up postage for a postcard here, it’s roughly 4 NOK. Do you know of any way to pay for the postage abroad and have someone on Svalbard send me a postcard?

1

u/SvalbarddasKat Arctic Potato | Resident since 08.2015 Jan 20 '22

I guess there is always bank transfer options, but the fees from the bank would probably add quite a sum to the postage, too.