Issued in 1986 as part of the Polar Explorers set, this 22-cent stamp honors Robert E. Peary and his indispensable assistant, Matthew Henson. Their 1909 expedition to the North Pole is one of the most celebrated and debated achievements in the history of exploration. The stamp depicts the two men with a dog sled, trekking across the Arctic ice. For years, Peary's claim to have reached the pole was widely accepted, though later analysis of his records has cast some doubt. Regardless, the expedition was a remarkable feat of endurance and a landmark in Arctic exploration. The inclusion of Matthew Henson, an African American explorer, on the stamp was a significant recognition of his crucial role in the expedition's success.