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Spitsbergen Logo on stamp (Svalbard)

Spitzenberg

Source: Polar Post Svalbard

See also:

Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Portions of the information below (shown in *[bracketed italics]*) is in error. See information below the posting.
Franciae Vexilla [frv] # 16/62 (December 1999) has its main contribution on Svalbard archipelago, with a very limited flag-related content. - Between 1896 and 1913, private post stamps were released, one of them showing the "first blazon of Svalbard". The shield is azure with a polar bear, a white star in chief and another, tilted white star in point. A scroll above the shield reads SPITSBERGEN. [- In 1989 were adopted the arms of the Norwegian governor: an azure shield with silver islands fimbriated in gold and golden scripture (in chief SYSSELMANNEN, in point SVALBARD). The position was suppressed in 1994 when the archipelago was attached to the fylke (county) of Nordland. - The flag of Svalbard is rectangular with blue and white vairs, charged with a golden armed lion fimbriated in black.] Ivan Sache, 19 December 1999

As far as I know, the 1989 "arms" are only an unofficial logo used by Sysselmannen (the governor) in advertisements, etc. These "arms" have never been officially approved by the proper authorities. The proper insignia for the governor is the Norwegian national coat of arms.

The position of sysselmann (governor) is still valid and Svalbard has not been attached to the county of Nordland. Svalbard is a separate administrative entity.

I suppose Franciae Vexilla used an article in Nordisk Flaggkontakt [nfa]. In that article the information that the Norwegian-lion-on-a-field-of-vair-blue-and-white was a proposal that was never approved was printed in bold to avoid misunderstandings.
Jan Oskar Engene, 20 December 1999

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