Pitcairn Stamp Collecting

by Ralph Badagliacca

The first stamp issue for Pitcairn Islands (part of the British Commonwealth) came on the scene on October 15, 1940. Before that, letters were posted with stamps from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Great Britain, etc. These letters got the New Zealand Postal Agency (NZPA) cancellation, from June 7, 1927 to October 14, 1940, are in great demand...and are difficult to come by. Before the NZPA, letters were sent via passing ships that were good enough to stop and pick up outgoing mail; these bore the rubber stamp message "No Stamps Available". Covers, so marked are very rare, very expensive, and usually are found only through Rare Stamp Dealers or at Philatelic Auctions.

There is no airport or harbor so that mail must be brought out, by longboat, to the waiting ships. Mail, in and out of Pitcairn, is a slow, unpredictable, process. When the weather is bad, or a ship does not choose to stop, there could be long intervals before mail is processed. There are four supply ships that arrive from Auckland, New Zealand, each year, with the new issues that are received from the Crown Agents in England; these ships will pick up the mail and distribute it worldwide. All First Day Covers are canceled on the Island and are distributed many months after the date of issue. Cheques that are received in payment for Pitcairn curios are usually sent undated because of the uncertainty of the time interval between date of mailing and date of receipt.

There is a very modest stamp issuing policy. To date, only 425 stamps and Souvenir Sheets have been issued since October 15, 1940, and a complete collection can be assembled at a relatively inexpensive cost. The issues are almost all related to the Island, its people, history, flora, trees, birds, fish, fruits, ships, etc. There have been only a few Omnibus Issues to commemorate occasions like the American Bicentennial Celebration, Churchill, WHO, etc. Pitcairn stamps are beautifully designed and very attractive.

There have been 8 Definitive Series issued. The Islanders (60 or so descendants of the Bounty mutineers) carry on a considerable correspondence with the outside world so many stamps are used on commercial covers and on the packages of handicrafts that are sold. There are occasional errors and flaws and different cancellations to add interest to a collection. On four separate occasions, mail and covers, with identifying cancellations, was dropped on to Pitcairn by Royal New Zealand Air Craft.

Pitcairn Islands philatelic material is difficult to come by. While the direct purchase of stamps from the Island Post Office is possible, only current stamps are available, and then after the long delays that occur with any Pitcairn mailing. Most dealers are only able to supply new issues, as well. Stamp Collectors can satisfy their needs best through the Pitcairn Islands Study Group (PISG) or the Pitcairn Islands Study Group (UK).

The PISG has a stock of many items, many purchased directly from the Island in quantity, many purchased from other collectors and non-specialist dealers. It conducts a quarterly Mail Bid Auction where the more unusual and "difficult-to-get" items are offered. They also have wonderful bi-monthly newsbooklets with both philatelic and historical articles.