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The Expedition, 1954. original handmade Nepalese Daphne paper cover, with red pictorial expedition label, postmarked Indian and Nepalese stamps, circular rsm 'Carried by Runner' and rsm 'Barun Glacier Base Camp', hand addressed to Cleveland, Ohio (cover neatly slit open along left margin, otherwise in near fine condition). The 1954 US Makalu expedition used a special label designed by Lawrence W. Swan to raise funds. Although the expedition was unsuccessful (the first ascent was made by the French the following year), they reached 23,200'. Swan later described the trials and tribulations of his role as Barun Glacier 'postmaster', noting how the sherpas handfolded the envelopes from locally made paper into curious, irregular shapes, and how the ink in his pen froze as he addressed the envelopes by candlelight in his tent on the glacier. At this time Nepalese stamps were not recognised beyond India, hence the double postage costs with the separate application of Indian stamps. Very scarce.. First Edition.