TRISTAN DA CUNHA POSTAGE STAMPS
Tristan da Cunha is a very, very remote island. Even though its population is only in the hundreds, it issues its own postage stamps which are recognized throughout the world as legitimate. These stamps can be purchased from the island's part-time postmaster; however, due to the remote nature of the island, mail can easily take three months or more to arrive. After several failed attempts to get in touch with the postmaster, I contacted someone who gave me a copy of the island's latest philatelic bulletin, which is posted here for your reference.
POST OFFICE STAMP BULLETIN NO. 39
ISSUED 15 MARCH 2000
Feb. '98 50TH ANNIVERSARY LOBSTER SURVEY
This is a colourful and attractive 5 stamp issue with souvenir sheet. The stamps depict all the fishing vessels that have taken part in catching the lobster and are as follows: Hillary and Melodie, Tristania II and Hekla, Pequena and Frances Repetto, Tristania and Gillian Gaggins, Kelso and Edinburgh. The souvenir sheet shows all the above vessels and a portrait of FR. C.P. Lawrence who took part in the survey.
Printed by House of Questa.
Values: 15p 20p 30p 45p 50p
Souvenir Sheet: 1.20 pounds
FDC: 1.85 pounds FDC S/S 1.45 pounds
15 May '98 TRIBUTE TO DIANA PRINCESS OF WALES.
This is an attractive issue and will be released in a sheetlet of four stamps depicting portraits of the late Diana Princess of Wales. Part of the proceeds from this issue will be donated to a designated local charity.
Values: Sheetlet including surcharge 1.60 pounds
FDC: 1.85 pounds
8 Jul '98 PREHISTORIC MARINE FAUNA (SECOND SERIES)
This issue is a follow up from the first series of ocean animals 15 million years ago. The stamps are in a sheetlet of four depicting: Carcharodon (shark), Orycterocetus (carnivorous sperm whale), Eurhinodelphis (long snouted dolphin), Hexanchus (six gilled shark), and Myliobatis.
Printed by BDT.
Values: 45p each
15 Sept '98 CRUISE SHIPS
This is an attractive 4 stamp issue featuring passenger ships that have called here. The stamps depict Livonia, Professor Molchanov, Explorer, and Hanseatic.
Printed by BDT.
Values: 15p 20p 45p 60p
FDC: 1.65 pounds
23 Nov '98 MARITIME HERITAGE PART I
Another colourful and attractive 4 issue featuring sailing ships that have called during the 19th century. The stamps feature: H.G. Johnson 1892, Theodore 1893, Hesperides 1893, and Bessfield 1894.
Values: 15p 35p 45p 50p
FDC: 1.70 pounds
19 Mar '99 MARITIME HERITAGE PART II
The second series of a colourful and attractive 4 stamp issue featuring mailing ships that called here during the 19th and 20th century. The stamps feature: Derwent 1895, Strathgryfe 1898, Celestial Empire 1898, and Lamorna 1902.
Values: 20p 30p 50p 60p
FDC: 1.85 pounds
27 Apr '99 WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
An attractive four stamp issue depicting the Wandering Albatross: Diomedea exulans. All the stamps carry the WWF logo. The 4 stamps are also available in a sheetlet of 12 costing 1.60 pounds. The fourth stamp in the second row has an extra panda printed on it; therefore, we had a reprint of the sheetlet. Both of the sheetlets are for sale.
Values: 5p 8p 12p and 15p
FDC: 65p
18 June '99 THE WEDDING OF HRH PRINCE EDWARD AND MISS SOPHIE RHYS-JONES
A two stamp issue showing portraits of HRH Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones.
Values: 45p 1.20 pounds
FDC: 1.90 pounds
18 Aug '99 THE QUEEN MOTHER'S CENTURY
This issue consists of 4 stamps and a souvenir sheet. The stamps feature: The Queen Mother aged 5, The Battle of Britain 1940, Their Majesties with Princess Elizabeth on her 18th birthday, Their Majesties in the hills above Balmoral 1951 and HM The Queen Mother, Colonel-in-Chief The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). The souvenir sheet features: HM the Queen Mother with the Royal family at Clarence House on her 95th birthday.
Values: 20p 30p 50p 60p
Souvenir Sheet: 1.50 pounds
FDC: 1.85 pounds FDC S/S 1.75 pounds
1 Jan 2000 MILLENNIUM.
This is a very attractive 4 stamp issue showing various scenes of the island at First Dawn in the year 2000.
Values: 20p 30p 50p 60p
FDC: 1.85 pounds
1 Feb 2000 DEFINITIVE
An attractive 12 stamp issue featuring monarchs from 1066 to date. The stamps depict: King Manuel I, Frederick Henry Prince of Orange, The Empress Maria Theresa, H.M. King George III, H.M. King George IV, H.M. King William IV, H.M. Queen Victoria, H.M. King Edward VII, H.M. King George V, H.M. King Edward VIII, H.M. King George VI, and H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.
Values: 1p 3p 5p 8p 10p 15p 20p 25p 35p 1 pound 2 pounds 5 pounds.
Three FDCs carry 4 stamps each, values on each cover: 1p 3p 5p 5 pounds, 8p 10p 15p 2 pounds, and 20p 25p 35p 1 pound.
First Day Covers: 5.34 pounds, 2.58 pounds, and 2.05 pounds respectively.
22 May 2000 STAMP SHOW 2000
This issue consists of 4 stamps and a souvenir sheet. The stamps feature: A Tristan Longboat under oars, Tristan Longboat under sail, The Tea Clipper Cutty Sark under sail, and a head on view of the Cutty Sark without sail. The souvenir sheet depicts the Cutty Sark and a Tristan Longboat under sail with the island in the background.
Values: 15p 45p 50p 60p
Souvenir Sheet: 1.50 pounds
FDC: 1.95 pounds FDC S/S 1.75 pounds
21 June 2000 PRINCE WILLIAM 18TH BIRTHDAY.
This is another colourful and attractive issue which will be released in a sheetlet of formal and informal photographs of the young prince over the years.
Values: 45p each
FDC: 2.05 pounds
4 Sept 2000 HELICOPTERS.
An attractive issue consisting of four se-tenant pairs depicting helicopters and the parent vessel which have carried mail to and from the island. The se-tenant pair feature "SA Agulhas" and SA3301 PUMA 1999, "HMS London" and Westland Wessex HAS1 1964, "HMS Endurance" and Westland Lynx HAS3 1996, "USS Spiegal Grove" and Sirorsky VH-19F 1963.
Values: Se-tenant pairs 10p 15p 20p 50p
FDC: 2.15 pounds
2 Oct 2000 SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL--PARLIAMENTARIAN 1900-1955
An attractive 4 stamp issue depicting Mr. Winston Churchill the Home Secretary during the Siege of Sidney Street 2nd January 1911, The right Hon. Winston Churchill P.C. M.P. Ch. Chancellor of the Exchequer 25 April 1925 and Mr. Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt of the USA Atlantic Treaty 22nd August 1941, Mr. Winston Churchill Prime Minister V.E. Day broadcast 8th May 1945 and Sir Winston Churchill K.G. O.M. Retirement 1955, Sir Winston Churchill and Lady Churchill greet HM the Queen at 10 Downing Street 4th April 1955.
Values: 20p 30p 50p 60p
FDC: 1.85 pounds
AEROGRAMMES. These have a line drawing of the "RMS St. Helena" and were issued on 3rd October 1994. Price 15p each.
POSTAGE DUES. A set of labels was issued on 20 November 1986.
Values: 1p 2p 5p 7p 10p 25p
POSTCARDS.
5 Postcards:
1) View of Settlement.
2) View of Settlement with the 1961 Volcano on the left.
3) The 6,760 ft Peak with patches of snow and the pond in the crater.
4 and 5) Showing views of the Island.
Price 20p each.
POSTCARDS.
a) 1 set of 4 colour postcards showing: Tristan Thrush or Starchy (Hesiochoa eremita) endemic to the Tristan da Cunha islands; Antarctic Tern or Kingbird (Sterna vittata) at Tristan da Cunha; Sooty Albatross or Peeoo (Phoebetria fusca) nesting among tussock at Gough Island; young Yellow-nosed Albatrosses or Mollies (Diomedea chlororhynchos) nesting among tree ferns and Lichen-covered with Island trees (Phylica arborea) at Nightingale Island.
Price 15p each or 55p for a set of 4.
POSTCARDS
6 POSTCARDS.
1) Longboat leaving Tristan with 1961 Volcano Lava flow behind, Yellow Nosed Albatross with St. Mary's Peak, Settlement Edinburgh of the seven seas and Longboat sailing to Nightingale Island with Tristan in background.
2) Yellow-Nosed Albatross with St. Mary's Peak Tristan da Cunha.
3) Edinburgh of the Seven Seas.
4) Longboat sailing to Nightingale Island with Tristan da Cunha in the background.
5) Elephant Seal at Tristan da Cunha and Inaccessible island on the Horizon.
6) Longboat leaving Tristan with 1961 Volcano Lava flow behind.
GREETINGS CARD.
A Greetings Card in Notelet form depicting the outline of the Island and an Albatross (printed in blue on a white background). Price 15p each.
PHILATELIC ORDERS.
Orders containing First Day Covers and CTO stamps over the value of 5 pounds are sent post free.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
STOCKS.
Clients should note that commemorative issues are stocked for a limited time and then destroyed.
MAIL.
The mail service depends upon the movement of fishing vessels to and from Capetown. All mail from Tristan goes by sea to Capetown, thence by airmail or surface mail to other parts of the world.
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS.
Philatelic orders may be paid by Sterling Cheques, cash, bankers' draft, or British Postal Order. Due to the infrequency of mail, all cheques should be open-dated or endorsed to the effect that payment be made even if six months have elapsed since the date of issue.
OPENING A CREDIT ACCOUNT.
Sums of money can be deposited at the Post Office and a standing order placed for your requirements. Should you wish to do this, please send your remittance and instructions to the Postmaster. Stipulate all requirements carefully (e.g. 'cancelled' or 'mint' stamps) and state whether airmail or surface despatch is required. An account will be opened for you and with each despatch a "Statement of Account" will be sent. Unless otherwise requested, Philatelic material is despatched under registered cover (cost of registration 35p).
Please address correspondence and cheques to Postmaster, Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic, Via Cape Town, South Africa.
