Island Stamps

From my home island of Guernsey, off the coast of France, but politically British. Almost 15km along its longest axis, and home to nearly 60,000 people.

UPU Centenary set included this stamp showing the profile of the island:


printed - Courvoisier

This shows the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the group of islands also includes some smaller islands, such as Lihou, Brecqou and Burhou.


designed - A Copp, printed - Questa

Chart showing Guernsey and the RoyalNavy Fishery Protection patrol vessel, H.M.S. Guernsey (decommissioned in 2003/04)


designed - Karl Taylor, printer - De La Rue

The next largest island to Guernsey in the Bailiwick, Alderney measures about 6 km along its longest axis.

1st edition Alderney and Burhou map, created by Addison Warren:


designed - Two Degrees North, printed BDT International

One of the first accurate surveys of Alderney to be completed:


designed - John Cooter, printed - Joh. Enschede en Zonen

Showing Alderney in relation to the coast of France and Guernsey:


Designed - Gordon Drummond, printed - Courvoisier

Cyprus

One of the 1938 Waterlow set, issued under the colonial administration of King George VI:


Issued on becoming an independent republic on 16th August 1960:


From the Cyprus Through the Ages series, a map from 1718 attempting to mark out the borders of the kingdoms of Cyprus in the first millenium B.C.


Designed - M. Efstathiadou, et al

Inari, Finland is in northern Lapland Province, within the Arctic Circle. This Inari village cancel depicts Ukonsaari Island. According to the Sami Museum of Finland, "Ukonsaari Island is the best known sacred site of the Samis (native Lapland people) in Finland. It is located about 11 kilometers to the northeast of the village of Inari on an open part of Lake Inari called Ukonselka."

Spain's Canary Islands are a very popular vacation destination for Europeans. Fuerteventura, shown on these two Swiss Post stamps, is the second largest of the Canary Islands.

So, why are Swiss stamps used in a Spanish territory? The answer is, because these are from "hotel mail". With European postal services now open to competition, we see both private couriers and national postal services making contracts with hotels, museums, and other tourist destinations for the processing of postal cards and other vacation correspondence.

At the bottom of these stamps we see the mail code for Swiss Post's modern mail processing center in Zurich. The" P.P." at the top of stamps signifies Porte paye', or fee paid. The stamp on the right shows the "correos" marking of the Spanish postal service.

Republic of China (Taiwan)
Dongsha Atoll National Park
February 21, 2019
Set of four, one stamp shows a bird's eye view of the Dongsha Island with a white-breasted waterhen.

Costa Rica
Cocos Island
June 26, 2003
The se-tenant pair celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Coco Island National Park.

Faroe Islands
Islands series
January 26, 2004
Stóra Dímun (area 618 acres, population 10) and Lítla Dímun (area 203 acres, uninhabited) are two islets in the southern Faroe Islands.

Uruguay
Historical Sites
September 12, 1996
Set of two, one stamp depicts Gorriti Island, Punta del Este, with a relief map and locations of Spanish forts.

Republic of China (Taiwan)
Penghu National Scenic Areas
May 1, 1996
Set of four, one stamp depicts Tingkou Yu, a small island composed of basaltic lava flows and columns.

"Nevis from the sea, North," engraved and printed by Waterlow & Sons, Ltd., and issued for use in St. Kitts-Nevis on March 1, 1954, Scott No. 111.

- nethryk

Thailand
Thailand-Maldives Joint Issue
June 21, 2019
Ang Thong National Park is an archipelago of 42 islands at the shore of the Surat Thai Province in the Gulf of Thailand. Limestone cliffs, coral reefs and white-sand beaches create stunning natural scenery both above water and below.

Palau
Marine Life of Palau
October 1, 2013
Mushroom Rock Island is one of a group of small carbonate rock outcrops collectively called Rock Islands (Chelbacheb) southwest of the main island. These islands are known for their beaches, blue lagoons and the peculiar umbrella-like shapes.

Australia
World Heritage Sites
March 14, 1996
Lord Howe Island is a small island in the Tasman Sea, 600 km east of Port Macquarie. The island is recognized for its geology, birds, plants, and marine life.