What Fish Stamps Do You Have???

In 1991 French Polynesia issued a set of 3 stamps with the odd inscription "stone fishing" (Sc #s 571-3). The high value of the set, shown here, pictures a large number of fish in a shallow enclosure.

From the rove.me website, " Locals beat the water surface with heavy stones tied to ropes made of coconut fibre. The frightened fish head toward the shore. Meanwhile, fishermen in canoes drop a net and catch fish in woven baskets or sometimes with spears."

I thought I'd add a bit of vintage flair. While not a stamp per se, this bank check is stamp-related in that it contains a revenue stamp imprint (Scott # RN-G1).

The check is from 1877, with a green fish imprint, as well as a fish-shaped check protector over the dollar amount.




John Elsey was a fish dealer:

Nice check and invoice! Looks like it might be a brown trout.

This Philippines stamp from 1993 is from the first "National Symbols" series. Depicted is the bangus fish (Chanos chanos)), known by many different names (milkfish, awa, ava, and others) as it is widespread across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This fish is the last surviving species of the Chanidae family, which dates back to the Cretaceous Period.

This fish is farmed in saltwater pools throughout the Indo-Pacific region. From Wikipedia, "The milkfish is an important seafood in Southeast Asia and some Pacific islands. Because milkfish is notorious for being much bonier than other food fish, deboned milkfish, called "boneless bangus" in the Philippines, has become popular in stores and markets."

On March 15, 1974 Japan issued a set of two, 20 yen stamps featuring Iriomote National Park. One of these stamps depicts a school of fish swimming over a coral reef.

These fish look very much like the milkfish shown in the previous posting.

This September 16, 1976 issue (Sc. #1263) of Japan is from the country's "Nature Conservation" series issued in the mid-seventies. It depicts the much-studied, three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus).

From Wikipedia, "The three-spined stickleback is a fish native to most inland coastal waterways north of 30 degrees N. It has long been aq subject of scientific study for many reasons. It shows great morphological variation throughout its range, ideal for questions about evolution and population genetics."

This self-adhesive, 2nd class rate Finnish stamp (Facit #1536) depicting the whitefish, or European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) is part of the country's definitive series V "Provincial Fishes and Birds" and was issued on September 5, 2000. The Coregonus genus is a member of the salmon family (salmonidae).

The scan does not effectively show that the stamp's background color is printed in an iridescent ink.

Giant mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) are depicted on this 30s. low value (S.G. #1355) from Malaysia's October 9, 2006 "Semi Aquatic Animals" set of 3.

From Wikipedia, "(It) is native to the tropical shores of the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean, where it occurs in marine, brackish, and fresh waters. It is most frequently found along muddy shores in estuaries as well as the tidal zones of rivers...It can move quickly across a muddy surface and is capable of breathing both in and out of water."

Here are images of the four stamps in a set depicting indigenous Chadian fish species, designed and engraved by French artist Claude Haley (1923-1988), and issued by Chad on November 25, 1969, Scott Nos. 218-21.

- nethryk

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, aka Tilapia nilotica).


Lutefish (Citharinus latus)


Fahaka pufferfish (Tetraodon lineatus, aka Tetraodon fahaka strigosus).


Elongate tigerfish (Hydrocynus forskahlii).

On May 25, 2006 Malaysia issued a set of 4 stamps depicting native freshwater fish. They are Stanley Gibbons #s 1333-6. Jullien's golden carp, shown on the 1r. value, is threatened species due to modern agriculture and damming.

30s. Hoven's carp (Leptobarbus hoevenii)
50s. Kampala barb (Hampala lepidota)
50s. shark catfish (Pangasius sp.)
1r. Jullien's golden carp (Probarbus jullieni)

This April 15, 2002 issue of Finland shows an European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), a commercially important flatfish of the Baltic region. The stamp (Facit #1621) is one of 5 designs issued in a booklet format of traditionally-gummed stamps with the theme "Sea Life in the Gulf of Finland".

On January 15, 1998 Finland began its definitive series V "Provincial Fishes and Birds" with 2 self-adhesive issues (1st class rate stamp + second class rate stamp). The second class rate stamp depicts a pike-perch, or zander (Sander lucioperca). The cursive script on the stamp identifies the species as Stizostedion lucioperca, the old scientific name as given by Linnaeus in 1758.

From Wikipedia, "The Zander is a species of fish from freshwater and brackish habitats in western Eurasia. It is a popular game fish and has been introduced into a variety of localities outside its native range...It strongly resembles, both in looks and in taste, the closely related American walleye (Sander vitreus)."

Wallis and Futuna
Native Fish
May 22, 2007
The se-tenant pair depicts Goby (Eviota sp. and Trimma sp.).

Tajikistan
Fishes
March 24, 2000
Northern Snakehead (Ophiocephalus argus)
Aral Barbel (Barbus brachycephalus)
False Osman (Schizopygopsis stoliczkae)
Syr Darya Shovelnose (Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi)

Faroe Islands
The 23x23mm square on the right is actual fish skin. I don't know what the long-term storage implications are, other than "store in a cool, dry place."