It’s Shark Week!
Video Below.
These stamps were issued by the Pitcairn Islands, British Overseas Territory governed through the British High Commissioner in Wellington, New Zealand, and a local elected Island Mayor.
It is the smallest democracy in the world measured by population, which is about 47.
The island is 18 square miles.
It is the only British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean.
The first stamps issued for Pitcairn were produced in 1940, and a large portion of the island’s income was generated through philately until the 1990s. That revenue substantially dried up with the growth of email, and the decline in popularity of stamp collecting.
The territory was forced into bankruptcy in 2004, in part because of the loss of this philatelic revenue.
This set of four shark stamps were issued 30 June 1992. They are lithographed, watermarked, and have perfs of 15×14 ½.
The 20 cent stamp features the Galapagos Shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis. Despite it’s name it is found around the world in tropical seas. It ranges as far north at the Canary Island and the California Channel Islands. Southward, it occurs off the southern end of Madagascar, and of course, Pitcairn Island.
The Sand Tiger Shark, Eugomphodus taurus, is shown in the $1 stamp. Their large size and the fact some of their teeth protrude outside the mouth, make many people believe them to be dangerous, but they are not associated with attacks on humans and are generally not aggressive.
The $1.50 stamp shows a Blacktip Reef Shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus. They are fairly small “classically” shaped sharks, and fairly easy to keep in captivity. They are frequently seen in public aquariums. I’ve seen them for sale on pet trade lists, but even the smallest sharks should not be kept in a home. I admit a special fondness for these beautiful animals.
The Gray Reef Shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, similar to both the Black Tip and the Galapagos sharks appears on the $1.80 stamp, the highest denomination in this series.
This shark ranges in the Pacific, and Indian Oceans from New Zealand west to Madagascar in tropical and subtropical waters.
None of these sharks are particularly dangerous to humans, though they may approach a diver from curiosity, and attacks are known from all of them when provoked, or while the shark is already feeding.
Leave a Reply