Polar Philately covers the full spectrum of philatelic activity covered by the existing exhibition classes of Traditional, Postal History, Postal Stationery, Social Philately, Thematic, Marcophily and Aero/Astrophilately, applied specifically to northern (Arctic & Sub-Arctic) and southern (Antarctic & Sub-Antarctic) polar geographic regions. Polar exhibits may be presented in whole or in part in any of the formats of these other classes, or in any combination of them, or in any other format that the exhibitor may prefer - flexibility is the rule rather than the exception. Exhibits presented as Polar Philately will be judged solely in that class.

Broadly, the scope of a Polar Philately exhibit can range through stamps and covers with all types of cachets & markings, including related support material such as correspondence, newspaper articles, photographs or pictures of bases and personnel, ships, and wildlife etc that relate to any activity or services regarding polar regions.

2.1  Adhesive stamps issued specifically with a polar motif.

An exhibit may also contain related material such as proofs, trials, imperforates, miniature sheets etc, a study of printing methods, paper varieties, perforations, watermarks, and printing & overprinting errors.

2.2  Covers, cards, stationery and/or other items of mail despatched or carried to or from polar regions.

2.2.1  Covers, post and postal cards, postal and communication stationery (telegrams, radio message forms, etc)
2.2.2  Inwards and outwards commercial mail
2.2.3  Philatelic mail - souvenir and First Day of issue covers, commemorative covers

2.3  Correspondence relating to polar exploration and development - scientific, political & social.

2.3.1  Material relating to preparation and undertaking of polar exploration
2.3.2  Material relating to political territorial claims; polar congresses, treaties, conventions
2.3.3  Material related to polar scientific expeditions
2.3.4  Material related to the development of a polar postal service
2.3.5  Routes for transportation of mails into, through and from polar regions
2.3.6  Material related to polar flights

2.4.1 Base markings; expedition markings; ships' post offices; polar mail transit locations

2.4.2 Classification and study of postal markings; chronology of occurrence - earliest and latest dates of use

Labels (private or official), cachets, transit and other explanatory markings, as well as written endorsements, backstamps and relevant signatures

2.5.1  Base cachets; expedition cachets; ship's cachets
2.5.2  Expedition, base and or marine transit members' signatures

For example: Wildlife; Expeditions - scientific, tourist; Explorers; Ethnographic; Geographic.

As for any story, an exhibit must have a clear beginning, a central theme and a logical ending. The exhibit must begin with an introductory page which defines in full what the subject is, explains how it will be developed, and specifies what the self imposed outlines and limits are. It may also contain a short list of important documentary sources used.

Exhibits may be planned chronologically, geographically, by mode of transport/service, topically, or by any other way that the exhibitor may feel appropriate.

Photographs, maps and drawings should be shown to highlight elements of the exhibit. Ephemera should not exceed 10 percent of the total exhibited material. Illustrations of postal markings & cachets are necessary only when the originals are not clear enough to the onlooker. When it is desirable to illustrate markings on the reverse side of a cover, such markings can be illustrated with a reproduction, such as a photograph or photocopy, as long as it is clearly seen as such. Photographs or reproductions should be at least 25% different in size from the original.

Treatment                               25
Condition                                10
Philatelic Importance               10
Rarity                                     15
Philatelic/Subject Knowledge    25
Presentation                             5
Research                                10
Total                                     100

    The APF Coordinator appointed to promote and assist persons interested in exhibiting Polar philately is David Collyer, P.O Box 201, Gladesville, NSW, 1675.