These are the first stamps that I initially purchased to collect, and hopefully to increase in value.
I purchased them at the post office in the village called London on Christmas Island. Which in the summer of 1977 was part of the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 miles south of Hawai'i. In 1979 it was renamed "Kiritimati".
I was on the island for about 4 weeks surveying two possible areas to build a jetty out through the reef. The population of the island at that time was about 300 with most working in the Copra plantations.
I met the postmaster at a social function and he mentioned that in 4 months time, on December 25, 1977, was the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Christmas Island by Capt. James Cook.
The day of my departure (at the end of August 1977) he offered to sell me a full set of current stamps with a postmark of "Dec. 25th, 1977". I was very pleased to be able to purchase these stamps as I felt that these stamps would be a good investment and would be worth a fortune in the future as they had the postmark of the 200th anniversary of discovery of Christmas Island.
Although these were my first stamps. I did not add to my collection for another 13 years, and then focusing on Canada stamps. Relegating these Gilbert Island stamps to a dark corner, only to be seen every few years when I conduct a tidy-up.
I hope you enjoy these stamps and story behind them.
Posted 11/21/2010 6:36 pm
