Micro-Nations

A Mirco-Nation is an individual or group whom has declared themselves independent of the country they live in. They state that their property is free and clear of the local national government, that they are a government onto themselves. This can be a farm, house, ranch, even an apartment/condo. They establish their own constitution & laws, some print their own stamps & money including coins.

Who made those rules????

During my reasearch for every issuing entity I came upon this "Micro-Nation" by John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellers, 2006. I was already of many of these but this book has the stories behind them and many more.

Here's a list of such "Nations"

Prinipality of Sealand, located in the North Sea about 5 miles off the Suffock Co. coast of England on an old oil rig platform founded in 1967 issues stamps & coins.

Christiana, located in Copenhagen in 1971 when squatters seized an abandoned Army barracks. The streets in the area were barricaded, making the area a no car zone, bikes only. No stamps or coins noted.

Hutt River Province Principality founded in 1970 in Western Australia, 75 sq miles.
Claims to be the 2nd largest country on the Australian Continent. Stamps & coins.

Lovely, is essentially an apartment in Bow, England a suburb of London, founded in 2005. No stamps or coins noted.

Whangamomona aka Whanga Republic a township in New Zealand founded in 1989, pop. 20. Stamps are known, coins?

The Gay & Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Islands, founded in 2004 on Cato Island in the Coral Islands off the east coast of Australia. Postcode is 0000. Stamps are known, coins?

Kingdom of Elleore, founded in 1944 by Danish schoolteachers, self proclaimed "immortals" is located in Roskilde Fjord, Denmark. Coins known, stamps?

Akhzivland, founded in 1952 in NW Israel 4km north from Nahariya, in the former village of Akhziv. This nation has it's own National Park. No stamps or coins noted.

Northern Forest Archipelago, a Kingdom that claims 2/3ths of the state of Maine, half of each Vermont & New Hampshire & finally Adirondack's of New York. Their National Anthem is Marvin Gaye's "Mercy, Mercy Me(the Ecology Song)". Stamps no coins noted.

Principality of Freedonia, founded in 1992 is an apartment in Houston, TX. Coins issued, $50., Stamps ?

More to come!

They did!

That tells you everything you need to know about Micro-nations !

Londonbus1....we all live in our own little MN's don't we

I guess that means I could declare my property the "Kingdom of Popeye" and I could be the one and only lord ruler and make all the rules.

No, wait. I still couldn't because I'm married.

What great place this is.
I have more laughs here at SCF than my wife does watching comedy shows on TV !

Londonbus1....So why did I pay for the TV then?

yo lb

i called the royal mail over the phone and they said they would fix the error but nothing has happened

when you go to london complain to the head post master will you they ripped me 30 pounds

and get up from the floor poor las needs our love and understanding :)

ok who wants to buy stamps from vulcan they are going cheap at the moment

I've been to Hutt River Province. Bought some stamps while I was there. They do coins and banknotes, but I didn't get any.
H.R.P. is not recognised by the Aussie government.
Has anyone else been to any Micro-nations?

Steve

It's my understanding that there are no micro-nations that have been recognized by their host countries or any other recognized political entity. There was however a summit of micro-nations held by the governor of Melossia a few years ago, so they could all recognize each other and feel a bit better about it, I guess. I have to say, this has really turned out to be a fascinating subject.

Just out of curiosity, and not to turn the subject to more sobering ends, but I would suppose the Montana Freemen and the Branch Davidians would also have been considered micro-nations. Don't know if either of them issued coins or stamps, though.

-Allen

How about "Her Majesties Principality of Popeye"

very good

now Rod can help design coins and notes for Vulcan with King spock on them?

No one is an Island unto their self or something like that. Well unless you do live on an island by your self. Maybe you have a friend named Wilson.

Hey, I already have my own local post although no denomination. Now I just need to come up with currency and a name for my Micro Nation. A new project begins....

Somebody please tell me he's joking!

Londonbus1.

If anyone gets the chance, they should pick up a copy of a book called "The Defence Diaries of W. Morgan Petty". It's a very amusing book - the fictional eponymous hero declares his house and garden it's own state and a a nuclear free zone and then writes (genuine) letters to (real) politicians and organisations and prints the replies. It was written in the 1980's, so it's in the days of Thatcher and Gorbachev...very very funny.

A modern equivalent, for those that know it, would be the Timewaster Letters by Robin Cooper.

In fact, if there's interest enough then my well-thumbed and very tatty copy of the former may make its way into a charity auction.