Pitcairn Islands

The Pitcairn Islands (official: Pitcairn, Henderson, Oeno and Ducie Islands) are a group of four islands in the South Pacific. It is the last remaining British territory in the Pacific. Pitcairn was named after the 15 year old sailor that first sighted the island on 3 July 1767.

Pitcairn was either inhabited or frequently visited by Polynesian peoples in earlier centuries (they left glyphs etched in the rocks), and was visited briefly by Portuguese and British explorers, but it was deserted when in 1790 the infamous mutineers of the HMAV Bounty and their Tahitian companions settled there under the leadership of Fletcher Christian. They burned and sank the ship in what is now called Bounty Bay, and founded a village on Pitcairn. At first a rather lawless community of violent drunks, it was "tamed" when John Adams, the last mutineer to avoid accident or murder, converted the women and children to Christianity. They lived there for 24 years before being rediscovered by the British, who allowed the community to continue. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in 1838).

Emigration – first to Norfolk Island and mostly to New Zealand in the last century – and a nearly-prohibitive approach to immigration have thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50. Furthermore, the island was rocked in 2004 by accusations of chronic and ubiquitous sexual abuse of the community's young female members (including pre-adolescent girls), and the subsequent investigation of much of the adult male population (including several who were no longer living there), six of whom were sentenced to terms in prison.

The first stamps were issued in 1940. Previous letters were sent with a special cancellation 'no stamps available'.

Capital: Adamstown

Government: British Overseas Territory

Area: 4,5 km²

Population: 47 (2006)

Currency: British Pound (20 shilling, 1 shilling = 12 pence); from 10 July 1967: New Zealand Dollar (100 cent)

Internet TLD: .pn

Dialling code: +872 (satellite telephone)

Links

Pitcairn Islands in Wikipedia.

Flag of Pitcairn Islands in Flags of the World.

The website of the Philatelic Service.

Country description from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Country description of Pitcairn Islands from the CIA.

Official website of the government of Pitcairn Islands.

Stamp catalogue

UPU 75th anniversary

date: 10 October 1949

designer: -

printer: Waterlow & Sons, London, United Kingdom (1 and 4), Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., New Malden,

United Kingdom (2 and 3)

perforated: 13½:14 (1 and 4), 11:11½ (2 and 3)

1 2½ d Hermes, globe, letter, airplane, boat, train, text "UNIVERSAL / POSTAL UNION / 1874 1949"

red-brown

(cat. Michel 15/SG 13/Yvert 13)

2 3 d hemispheres, airplane, steamer, text "1874 / UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION / 1949"

deep blue

(cat. Michel 16/SG 14/Yvert 14)

3 6 d Hermes scattering letters over globe, text "UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION / 1874 / 1949"

deep blue-green

(cat. Michel 17/SG 15/Yvert 15)

4 1/- UPU monument, Berne, text "UNIVERSAL / POSTAL / UNION / 1874 / 1949" and "UNION

POSTALE UNIVERSELLE"

purple

(cat. Michel 18/SG 16/Yvert 16)

Freedom from Hunger Campaign

date: 4 June 1963

designer: Michael Goaman

printer: Harrison & Sons, London, United Kingdom

perforated: 14½

5 2/6 collection of 'protein foods', text "FREEDOM FROM HUNGER"

ultramarine

(cat. Michel 35/SG 32/Yvert 35)

ITU Centenary

date: 17 May 1965

designer: Michael Goaman

printer: Johan Enschede en Zonen, Haarlem, United Kingdom

perforated: 11:11½

6 1 d globe and flash, text on telex tape "INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION /

+ CENTENARY + 1865 + 1965"

mauve, orange-brown

(cat. Michel 52/SG 49/Yvert 51)

7 2/6 globe and flash, text on telex tape "INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION /

+ CENTENARY + 1865 + 1965"

turquoise-green, bright blue

(cat. Michel 53/SG 50/Yvert 52)

International Co-operation Year

date: 25 October 1965

designer: Victor Whiteley

printer: Harrison & Sons, London, United Kingdom

perforated: 14½

8 1 d ICY emblem, text "1965 / INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION YEAR"

reddish purple, turquoise green

(cat. Michel 54/SG 51/Yvert 53)

9 1/6 d ICY emblem, text "1965 / INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION YEAR"

deep bluish green, lavender

(cat. Michel 55/SG 52/Yvert 54)

Inauguration of WHO Headquarters, Geneva

date: 20 September 1966

designer: Michael Goaman

printer: Harrison & Sons, London, United Kingdom

perforated: 14

10 8 D WHO emblem, building, text "New Headquarters Building / 1966 / WHO"

black, yellow-green, light blue

(cat. Michel 62/SG 59/Yvert 61)

11 1/6 WHO emblem, building, text "New Headquarters Building / 1966 / WHO"

black, light purple, yellow-brown

(cat. Michel 63/SG 60/Yvert 62)

UNESCO 20th anniversary

date: 1 December 1966

designer: Jennifer Toombs

printer: Harrison & Sons, London, United Kingdom

perforated: 14

12 ½ d UNESCO emblem, pen and blocks, text "20TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNESCO / EDUCATION"

state-violet, red, yellow, orange

(cat. Michel 64/SG 61/Yvert 63)

13 10 d UNESCO emblem, retort and ears of wheat, text "20TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNESCO / SCIENCE"

orange-yellow, violet, deep olive

(cat. Michel 65/SG 62/Yvert 64)

14 2/- UNESCO emblem, harp and temple, text "20TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNESCO / CULTURE"

black, bright purple, orange

(cat. Michel 66/SG 63/Yvert 65)

International Year for Human Rights

date: 4 March 1968

designer: George Hamori

printer: De La Rue & Co., London, United Kingdom

perforated: 13½:13

15 1 c IHRY emblem, Queen Elizabeth, crown, text "INTERNATIONAL / HUMAN RIGHTS YEAR 1968"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 88/SG 85/Yvert 87)

16 2 c IHRY emblem, Queen Elizabeth, crown, text "INTERNATIONAL / HUMAN RIGHTS YEAR 1968"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 89/SG 86/Yvert 88)

17 25 c IHRY emblem, Queen Elizabeth, crown, text "INTERNATIONAL / HUMAN RIGHTS YEAR 1968"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 90/SG 87/Yvert 89)

WHO 20th anniversary

date: 25 November 1968

designer: Jennifer Toombs

printer: De La Rue & Co., London, United Kingdom

perforated: 14

18 2 c medical research: microscope, plant cell, animal cell, WHO emblem, text "World / Health

Organisation / 1948- / 1968"

black, turquoise-blue, ultramarine

(cat. Michel 95/SG 92/Yvert 94)

19 20 c medical treatment: syringe, jars with capsules, vitamins and antibiotics, WHO emblem,

text "World / Health Organisation / 1948- / 1968"

black, orange, bright purple

(cat. Michel 96/SG 93/Yvert 95)

UPU Centenary

date: 22 July 1974

designer: Jennifer Toombs

printer: Questa Colour Security Printers, London, United Kingdom

perforated: 14½

20 4 c people with letters at Pitcairn Islands post office, UPU emblem, text "Universal Postal Union 1874 1974"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 141/SG 152/Yvert 139)

21 20 p letter from Pitcairn Islands to England 1922 with cancellation 'no stamps available', UPU emblem,

text "Universal Postal Union 1874-1974"

bright purple, light cinnamon, black

(cat. Michel 142/SG 153/Yvert 140)

22 35 p Pitcairners in longboat rowing to the mail boat, UPU emblem, text "Universal Postal Union 1874-1974"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 143/SG 154/Yvert 141)

International Year of the Child

date: 28 November 1979

designer: John Waddington Security Print, Leeds

printer: John Waddington Security Print, Leeds, United Kingdom

perforated: 13; souvenir sheet 13½:14

size souv. sheet: 198 x 73 mm

remark: stamps depict children's drawings

23 6 c man with wheel barrel, IYC emblem, text "CHRISTMAS 1979 / Taking presents to the Square"

multicoloured, frame blue

(cat. Michel 188/SG 200/Yvert 185)

24 9 c women with Christmas trees, IYC emblem, text "CHRISTMAS 1979 / Decorating trees with the presents"

multicoloured, frame red

(cat. Michel 189/SG 201/Yvert 186)

25 20 c men with trees and presents, IYC emblem, text "CHRISTMAS 1979 / Chosen men distribute the gifts"

multicoloured, frame purple

(cat. Michel 190/SG 202/Yvert 187)

26 35 c children with presents, IYC emblem, text "CHRISTMAS 1979 / Carrying presents home"

multicoloured, frame yellow

(cat. Michel 191/SG 203/Yvert 188)

27 souvenir sheet with stamps 23-26, text "Pitcairn Islands / CHRISTMAS 1979" and "The giving of Christmas

presents on Pitcairn follows a unique and charming tradition. / During the afternoon presents are taken to

the Square where they are hung on trees / specially erected for the purpose. / Towards the sunset everyone

assembles to watch the presents being cut down and the names / of the recipients announced. As the number

of parcels remaining on the trees diminishes / the pile of discarded wrapping paper increases until, as the

fourth stamp illustrates, all / are distributed and the people return home with their gifts."

multicoloured

(cat. Michel block 5/SG MS 204/Yvert BF 5)

UNO 50th anniversary

date: 24 October 1995

designer: Anthony Theobald

printer: Walsall Security Printers, Walsall, United Kingdom

perforated: 14

remark: stamps depict different means of transport used by the United Nations

28 20 c United Nations float at Lord Mayor's Show, London, UN jubilee emblem, text "LORD MAYOR'S SHOW"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 465/SG 483/Yvert 452)

29 $ 1 tanker, UN jubilee emblem, text "RFA BRAMBLELEAF"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 466/SG 484/Yvert 453)

30 $ 1.50 ambulance, UN jubilee emblem, text "UNITED NATIONS AMBULANCE"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 467/SG 485/Yvert 454)

31 $ 3 airplane Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, UN jubilee emblem, text "ROYAL AIR FORCE TRISTAR"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 468/SG 486/Yvert 455)

International Year of the Ocean

date: 16 December 1998

designer: Paul Martinson, New Zealand

printer: Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand

perforated: 14

size souv. sheet: 86 x 86 mm

32 20 c boat, people fishing, seabirds, dog, IYO emblem, text "FISHING"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 526/SG 539)

33 90 c divers, shipwreck of the Cornwallis (sunk January 1875), fish, IYO emblem, text "CORNWALLIS WRECK"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 527/SG 540)

34 $ 1.80 fish, coral reef, IYO emblem, text "REEF FISH"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 528/SG 541)

35 $ 3.00 Murphy's Petrel at Ships Landing Point, IYO emblem, text "MURPHY'S PETREL Pterodroma ultima"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 529/SG 542)

36 $ 5.90 souvenir sheet with stamps 32-35, IYO emblem, text "Sheet Value $5.90"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel block 21/SG MS 543)

22nd UPU Congress, Beijing/China 1999, Beijing

date: 20 August 1999

designer: Sue Williams, New Zealand

printer: Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand

perforated: 9

size souv. sheet: 74 x 10 mm

remark: self-adhesive

37 souvenir sheet, passion flowers, exhibition emblem

$ 1 honey bee (Apis melifica) on passion flower

multicoloured

(cat. Michel block 23/SG MS 559)

World Heritage

date: 15 February 2006

designer: Denise Durkin, Wellington, New Zealand

photographer: dr. Michael Brooke, Cambridge, England

printer: Wyatt and Wilson, Christchurch, New Zealand

perforated: 13¼

remark: stamps depict different views of Henderson Island

38 50 c beach, Henderson hawk-moths (Hippotion hateleyi), text "Henderson Island"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 694/Yvert 647)

39 60 c beach, trees, Stephen's lorikeet (Vini stepheni), text "Henderson Island"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 695/Yvert 648)

40 $ 1.00 beach, Henderson Island warbler (Acrocephalus vaughani taiti), text "Henderson Island"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 696/Yvert 649)

41 $1.20 coast line, spiny lobsters (Panulirus penicillatus), text "Henderson Island"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 697/Yvert 650)

42 $ 1.50 rock coast, octopuses, text "Henderson Island"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 698/Yvert 651)

43 $ 2.00 beach, palm trees, Green sea turtles (Chelonia midas), text "Henderson Island"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel 694/Yvert 652)

World Heritage

date: 3 December 2008

designer: J.R. Lisiak, Noisy le Grand, France

printer: Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand

perforated: 14½ x 14

size souv. sheet: 196 x 83 mm

44 $ 6.10 souvenir sheet, view of Henderson Island, turtles, birds, map of Henderson Island, World Heritage

emblem, text "Green Turtles of Henderson Island", "UNESCO World Heritage Site" and "Green

Turtles Chelonia mydas nest on East Beach on Henderson / Island. The main nesting season is

around January-March with / observations suggesting about 10 females may be using the Island."

60 c green turtle swimming under water, text "Green turtle Chelonia mydas"

$ 1.00 green turtle swimming under water, text "Green turtle Chelonia mydas"

$ 2.00 green turtle crawling unto the beach, text "Green turtle Chelonia mydas"

$ 2.50 young turtles making their way to the sea, green turtle, text "Green turtle Chelonia mydas"

multicoloured

(cat. Michel block /Yvert BF )

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last revised: 16 August 2009