A selection of Pacific stamps, Cook Islands to Marshall Islands

PACIFIC ISLANDS STUDY CIRCLE

The Pacific region contains a great diversity of stamps and postal history. The early issues of stamps, for example those of New Caledonia in 1860 and Fiji in 1870, provide much scope for philatelic study, as does the postal history of the area. Early correspondence, from missionaries, convicts, soldiers, administrators and settlers, gives a fascinating insight into the history of the region, and reflects the competition between European powers for influence and control after the pioneering voyages of explorers such as Magellan, Tasman, Bougainville and Cook. Today new names, such as Kiribati, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, reflect changes in political status.

Few other parts of the world are as romantic, or as remote, as the South Sea islands, which is perhaps why the members of the Study Circle find this area so attractive. Some of us are postal historians, some collect stamps, others collect airmails, ship mail, postal stationery or postmarks. Whatever we collect, there is much scope for philatelic enjoyment.

Here is a selection of Pacific stamps and cancellations from Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Galapagos, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. To see two more pages of illustrations, featuring different island countries, please follow the links at the end. NOTE: This page may not display properly in browsers which do not support tables.

COOK ISLANDS.
This 30c stamp, which commemorates the 10th British Commonwealth Games, was issued in 1974.

FIJI.
The 1d (one penny) definitive stamp of King George VI was first issued on 5th April 1938 and remained on sale until 30th May 1956; this example was used at Dreketi.
The 8 cent stamp, which was issued on 4th February 1985, features a Monarch butterfly and was used at Raiwaqa.

FRENCH POLYNESIA/POLYNESIE FRANCAISE
(FORMERLY KNOWN AS FRENCH OCEANIC SETTLEMENTS).
The pair of 25 centime stamps are from a definitive set issued between 1913 and 1915 and were used at Papeete, Tahiti, on 14 December 1921.
The Queen Pomare stamp does not have a face value indicated; it is valid for internal letters and was used at Moerai on the island of Rurutu, in the Australes group. A smaller, self-adhesive, booklet stamp exists in the same design.
Polynésie Francaise is a French overseas territory.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.
The Galapagos Islands use the stamps of Ecuador. This example dates from 1969.

GILBERT AND ELLICE ISLANDS.
This 2 cent definitive stamp is from the 1968 series and was used at Butaritari in the Gilbert Islands. On 1st January 1976 the Gilbert Islands and Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) became separate Crown Colonies.

KIRIBATI (pronounced "Kiribass").
Kiribati, formerly the Gilbert Islands, became independent on 12th July 1979. These two stamps from the 1979 International Year of the Child set were cancelled at Christmas Island (Kiritimati), in the northern Line islands.

MARSHALL ISLANDS.
The 44 cent commemorative stamp illustrated here depicts the bottling of extracted coconut oil.

The second page of stamps and cancellations covers Nauru, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Niue, Norfolk Island, Pitcairn, Solomon Islands and Tokelau.

We have a system of Group Leaders, members who can answer questions on their special areas.

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COOK ISLANDS. This 30c stamp, which commemorates the 10th British Commonwealth Games, was issued in 1974.
FIJI. The 1d (one penny) definitive stamp of King George VI was first issued on 5th April 1938 and remained on sale until 30th May 1956; this example was used at Dreketi. The 8 cent stamp, which was issued on 4th February 1985, features a Monarch butterfly and was used at Raiwaqa.

FRENCH POLYNESIA/POLYNESIE FRANCAISE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FRENCH OCEANIC SETTLEMENTS). The pair of 25 centime stamps are from a definitive set issued between 1913 and 1915 and were used at Papeete, Tahiti, on 14 December 1921. The Queen Pomare stamp does not have a face value indicated; it is valid for internal letters and was used at Moerai on the island of Rurutu, in the Australes group. A smaller, self-adhesive, booklet stamp exists in the same design. Polynésie Francaise is a French overseas territory.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. The Galapagos Islands use the stamps of Ecuador. This example dates from 1969.
GILBERT AND ELLICE ISLANDS. This 2 cent definitive stamp is from the 1968 series and was used at Butaritari in the Gilbert Islands. On 1st January 1976 the Gilbert Islands and Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) became separate Crown Colonies.
KIRIBATI (pronounced "Kiribass"). Kiribati, formerly the Gilbert Islands, became independent on 12th July 1979. These two stamps from the 1979 International Year of the Child set were cancelled at Christmas Island (Kiritimati), in the northern Line islands.
MARSHALL ISLANDS. The 44 cent commemorative stamp illustrated here depicts the bottling of extracted coconut oil.