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Front: Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930), a Norwegian explorer, scientist and diplomat

Nansen made his first voyage to Greenland waters in a sealing ship 1882, and in 1888 succeeded in crossing the Greenland ice field on skis from east to west with five other companions. In 1893, he sailed to the Arctic in custom designed vessel, the Fram, which was deliberately allowed to drift north through the ice, a journey that took more than three years. During this first crossing of the Arctic Ocean the expedition became the first to discover the existence of a deep polar basin. When, after more than one year in the ice it became apparent that Fram would not reach the North Pole, Nansen, accompanied by Hjalmar Johansen (1867-1913), continued north on foot and, in April 1895, reached 86° 14´ N, the highest latitude then attained. The two men were forced to spend the winter, surviving on walrus blubber and polar bear meat. They eventually connected with a British expedition led by Frederick George Jackson in the summer of 1896.

Nansen was a professor of zoology and later oceanography at the Royal Frederick University in Oslo and contributed with groundbreaking works in the fields of neurology and fluid dynamics.

Nansen was appointed as the Norwegian ambassador in London 1906-08. After World War I, Nansen became involved in the League of Nations as a High Commissioner for several initiatives, including organization of exchange of war prisoners and help to Russian refugees, in which campaign he originated the Nansen passport for refugees. For his work in service of the League of Nations he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922.

Back: Fisherman and cargo ship

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Front: Peter Christen Asbjørnsen (1812-1885), Norwegian writer of fairy tales

Asbjørnsen started collecting and writing fairy tales and legends in his twentieth year. He and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe (1813-1882) first met when he was fourteen years old. In 1834 Asbjørnsen discovered that Moe had started independently on a search for the relics of national folklore. They eagerly compared their results, and determined to work together. In 1842-1843 the first installment of their work appeared, under the title of Norske Folkeeventyr (Norwegian Folk Tales), which was received at once all over Europe as a most valuable contribution to comparative mythology as well as literature. A second volume was published in 1844, and a new collection in 1871. Sir George Dasent translated many of the Folkeeventyr into English in 1859.

In 1845 Asbjørnsen also published, without help from Moe, a collection of Norwegian fairy tales (huldreeventyr og folkesagn). He died January 6, 1885.

Back: Water lilies and dragonfly

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Front: Kirsten Målfrid Flagstad (1895-1962), famous soprano

This note was first issued on her 100th birthday in 1995. Slight variations of the note were issued through 2003.

Flagstad was considered one of the greatest Wagnerian (dramatic) sopranos of the 20th century. She was born in a musical family. Her father was conductor Michael Flagstad and her mother pianist Marie Flagstad Johnsrud. She received her early musical training in Oslo and made her stage debut at the National Theatre in Oslo as Nuri in Eugen d'Albert's Tiefland in 1913.

Her Metropolitan Opera début as Sieglinde, broadcast nationwide on February 2, 1935, created a sensation. Four days later, Flagstad sang Isolde, and later that month, she performed Brünhilde in Die Walküre and Götterdämmerung for the first time. Later that season, Flagstad sang Elsa, Elisabeth, and her first Kundry. Almost overnight, she had established herself as the pre-eminent Wagnerian soprano of the era.

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