New Antarctic License Plate

In the accompanying photograph, Lieutenant John J. Jaminet, (SC), USN, shows the novelty license plate which he designed and which has been manufactured by a Christchurch, New Zealand, advertising firm.

The plate combines various unique features of Antarctica and Operation DEEP FREEZE. The "SP" identifies the owner as a "resident" of the south polar land mass, the "90°" represents the latitude at the very bottom of the earth; the bird is, of course, the native Adelie penguin, and the slogan "The World's Last Frontier" represents the uniqueness of the last continent to undergo scientific exploration. Task Force 43, the Navy task force responsible for United States Antarctic operations, is represented to the right of "90°."

--from the Bulletin of the U. S. Antarctic Projects Officer (official U. S. Navy publication), volume V, No. 5, February 1964, p. 13.

No Antarctican should be without these important pieces of identification. After all, more than one of the Pole 1977 w/o's drove around the USA for months after our winter while displaying only these license plates. At left is a more recent version that has been reproduced in vinyl. These are available from Ron May for $15.00. And at right is the latest and greatest 2004 edition, updated with the Old Antarctic Explorers' Association (OAEA) logo. These are available from Billy-Ace Baker in full color on aluminum for $25 plus $2 shipping (check with Billy-Ace for current pricing).