Pitcarin Island Cover

While sorting through some old covers, I came across this little item from Pitcarin Islands. This was a valid mail usage and NOT a philatelic item. It was address to a Amateur Radio operator (whos name and address I have blocked out of the scan) here in the USA, and likely contained a QSL (verification) card for exchange. The written date under the stamps was when the operator received it.

Whereas it isn't an expensive item, it is a true to life valid cover usage, which is kinda rare (to me).

Enjoy.

Nice cover! Given the number of people on Pitcairn at any given time (current population 56), any valid postal usage would have to be at least scarce, I would think. I would venture to guess that the overwhelming majority of Pitcairn stamps in most collections have never been anywhere near Pitcairn.

Ham radio operators have these kinds of cards that they send out to people they contact in other countries. It is part of their hobby to contact people around the world and collect these cards from each other to commemorate their having contacted each other on their radios. There is a bit of competition among such amateur radio operators to try to collect as many of these from as many countries as they can.