One day, when I was just a laddie, I was watching "Mutiny on the Bounty" on television. My father passed by, and quipped, "You know that's based on a true story."
I was enthralled. Ever since, I have been enamored with the story. I have all movie iterations of the tale, read the books and what else I can find. I have been a regular visitor on the Pitcairn Islands web site, and read their newspaper. Of course, I collect Pitcairn stamps as part of my world wide collection, but this is an area that has a special place for me.
A visit to the island is an item in my short bucket list. Don't know if that will ever happen. They have been looking for people to relocate there to live as the population is dropping. There are less than 50 people living on the island now. Sounds exciting, but new residents are expected to work, and the work isn't easy. If I were younger and single, maybe it would have been something I would have considered. Still, I like to travel about and see new things. Not so sure how one can spend years on a piece of rock that is only two miles big. Ah, but one can dream...
For those who also share the curiosity and intrigue of Pitcairn and its history, here is a link to the island's web site. The page provides images of all Pitcairn's stamps from beginning to date:
Pitcairn is one of my collecting interests. A fascinating story, a fascinating island group and fascinating postal history!
There is a wonderful book called "Serpent In Paradise" (C.1997)by British travel writer and journalist Dea Birkett that tells a wonderful true story of a woman who visited the island and was accepted into their "inner circle", so to speak.
It's a fascinating modern glimpse into life on the island a a curious look into the lives of the islanders.
2000 mile from anywhere - how remote can you get!? LOL
I recently purchased an older year set still available from the Pitcairn Philatelic Bureau. I wanted to see how long it would take to get the stamps. Well, they arrived today (from New Zealand). Here is the cover. It is too large to fit fully on the scanner.
I wonder if it was actually cancelled (i.e. 'serviced') on Pitcairn or in New Zealand, which is where their mail is actually serviced to the rest of the world.
Pitcairn mail has, in the past, been handled by N.Z. and sometimes philatelic mail never actually was even on the island.
No, Randy, it was serviced and posted from New Zealand. It is stated underneath the seal for the Pitcairn Islands Philatelic Bureau. The envelope was just too big to show the entire cover.
As a result, it only took two weeks to get the stamps from New Zealand. If it had been posted from Pitcairn, it could have taken up to six months to get to me.
They have an island newsletter. It can be subscribed to in digital and hard print. I have been tempted to subscribe to the hard print. It is posted from the island. That would be kind of cool to get. I wonder if they would use Pitcairn stamps, or if they would use a meter or other mailing indicia?
Thanks for sharing this, Michael. I find this absolutely fascinating!
I would never have known all this about Pitcairn if it wasn't for stamp collecting!
"they have strict regulations about who can visit there"
The Pitcairn web site lists the rules. It's very restrictive for those wanting to live there (temporary or permanently).
Randy, you're right about it being something to get a piece of mail from the island. That's why I keep getting pulled into almost subscribing to their newsletter. I probably will subscribe one of these days. It's interesting reading about what they're doing on the island.
Okay. I indulged myself. I subscribed to their newsletter. Been wanting to do that for a number of years... I'll just have to wait for the first one to arrive (three are sent at the same time), and see how they post it.
So far, not a word about the Bounty mutineers or Capt. William Bligh! (Perhaps so well-known as not to warrant reference here?) The Tahiti connection is direct - the Tahitian Polynesians accompanied the mutineers on Pitcairn. Or, if you prefer, the Lewis Milestone film of Mutiny on the Bounty was set in Tahiti and Brando's third wife was the Tahitian girl who was his co-star!
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 04 Dec 2015 12:04:07am
re: Pitcairn Islands
I've always had an interest in Pitcairn Islands as well. Thankfully they have not gone crazy in the printing of new issues, however there are around 15 times more stamps printed than the number of people who typically live on the Islands.
I was trying one time to figure out what country/colony had more stamps printed per person than any other. Can't remember what I came up with but it was probably Pitcairn.
Another likely candidate would be Vatican City but only has 1:1.5 stamps per person.
Anyone know any other country or stamp issuing authority with a high ratio?
The annual subscription to the hard copy (monthly) costs $40.00 NZD (about $27.00 USD), postage included. They send three issues at a time. The annual online subscription is $20.00 NZD. With the hard copy subscription, the online version is not included. That surprised me.
Since I didn't win the Powerball, I can't buy the Pitcairn Islands.
I have been buying the Pitcairn annual year sets that are available through its philatelic bureau (in New Zealand). Takes about two weeks to get each package from there. Each has been franked with Pitcairn stamps, and nicely canceled to boot!
I received a package today with two more packs. There was a little surprise that they included:
Randy, I'm still waiting to receive my first set of newsletters.
As for the stamps, I have caught up with the new issues through 2015. Since I bought the new definitive set, I didn't want to buy the year set, which includes the definitive set. So, I bought separately each of the sets that I needed to complete the year. Interesting that each set came enclosed in the corresponding four page new issue stamp bulletin. The bulletin provides the data for the stamps, and also includes historical information about the issue.
If anyone would like these bulletins, sans stamps, drop me a message with your address, and I'll send them to you.
Today, I received my first set of the quarterly shipment of the monthly newsletter from the Pitcairn Islands. It was posted on March 1, so it took 6 weeks to arrive. The newsletters are from November 2015, December 2015 and January 2016.
This was my first direct mailing received from the island. Mail from the island philatelic agency comes from New Zealand and takes two weeks to arrive.
Interesting to note is the postal code for the Island: "1ZZ". I guess by the "ZZ", it means one can't go any farther!
A quick flip through the newsletters looks like these are going to be enjoyable to read. Each contains a capsule of the activities on the island, including special events, weather and even new stamp issues information. Each are around a dozen or so pages, and there are plenty of color pictures, drawings and charts. I'm really looking forward to reading the December issue, which has a feature article on the island Christmas celebrations. I have always been curious as to how people celebrate and live their lives.
The newsletters were mailed in a large envelope. Here is the franking:
When I receive mailings from the Pitcairn Islands Philatelic Agency (based in New Zealand), the envelopes have all sorts of different Pitcairn stamps on them.
Not a philatelic reference, but being aware of Bligh I have a family contact with Adventure Bay in Tasmania where Bligh also visited.
I read the book by Kathy Marks about the awful abuse that took place on Pitcairn (not acceptable on any level but not completely surprising in such a closed society) and formed an interest.
I believe the stamped ones were stamped on the island. My dad brought these back for me when I was at school so many years since. He also had letters stamped on the island sent to my mum. Don't know where they are. I guess my mum threw then away.
Login to Like this post
Please Note: Postings that were loaded from the old Discussion Board cannot be edited.