1924 – Mail from the Artistic Expedition

July 4th cover from Francis Helps
July 4th cover from Francis Helps, the official Expedition artist.

The Indian stamp was cancelled in Yatung, and the back of the envelope shows a clear strike of the rare ‘Mt. Everest Expedition / Rongbuk Glacier / Main / Base / Camp / 17,000 ft / 1924’ cachet. The use of this cachet on an envelope posted from the Sikkim-Tibet border indicates that it was never taken with the main climbing Expedition.

Sketches of Norton, Somervell and Beetham
Details from Helps’ sketched portraits of (left to right) Norton, Somervell and Beetham