Built in 1801of oak throughout by Johannes Ekeboom, Kalmar, Sweden for two merchants.
Launched under the name ZENOGEN, other sources give BENOHEN.
Tonnage 88 last, 210.84 gross, dim. 88.8 x 19.3 x 14.2. (draught).
Some sources give her as a brig, other as a snow; she was so round as an apple forward, with a square stern.
08 October 1801 sold to the Grönland Trading Co., and renamed HVALFISKEN (whale), with homeport Copenhagen.
She was bought for the service between Copenhagen and the Greenland west coast.
Between 1801 and 1811 the normal sailing plan was altered due to the war with French and the continental blockade.
She was completely overhauled in 1849-50, and her figurehead was replaced with the figurehead on the Greenland stamp. Sculpted by H.J.Moen of Denmark, the figurehead is a fantasy beast of half whale and half fish, with a scaly body and water spouting from its head, as it rushes through the reed maces of a duck pound.
All together she made 84 round voyages in the service, and during this time she had not much damage, only was she three times due to ice forced to stay in Greenland, till the ice drifted away or melted.
1899 She was lent to the Shipping Inspector’s Department and during the winter used as a rigging school.
1902 Bought by the Kjøbenhavns Amatør-Sejlklub, Langelinie, and used as a clubhouse.
1915 Sold to the Sømandshøjskolen at Svendborg, island Fyn, Denmark, and used as a stationary training ship.
1936 Sold to the town Strib, her hull was cut down and she was converted into a barge for producing concrete for the building of Frederica harbor and the Agersund bridge.
Her figurehead was obtained by the shipbuilder Ring Andersen’s Shipbuilding company at Svendborg when the ship was sold in 1936, his company made the annually inspection on the vessel during the time she was berthed in Svendborg.
During the 750 anniversary of the Svendborg a statue was unveiled at Svendborg on 25 Feb. 2003 which depict this figurehead. http://www.sights.hjem.wanadoo.dk/english8x6/fish.htm
After World War II the HVALFISKEN was sold to a builder and all usable timber were removed for the building of the open-air museum on Hjerl Hede in 1949, the remains were blown up.
Greenland 1985 2k80 sg 52, 1995 4k sg 290, scott 299
Sources: Sail Training and Cadet Ships by H. A. Underhill. Watercraft Philately. Navicula.