Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Tristan da Cunha - Island Life - Through Their Eyes



 

Issue date: 1st October 2019


First Day Cover

Stamp Design Details
45p -MFV Edinburgh at Anchor by Shannon Swain aged 13

Shannon: "I chose to draw a picture of the MFV Edinburgh being offloaded because it is a very important vessel to the island bringing us many supplies."

The MFV Edinburgh is one of two vessels operated by the fishing factory owners; Ovenstone Agencies. The other is the MFV Geo Searcher. Between them, they make nine return voyages per year between Cape Town, South Africa and Tristan da Cunha, carrying passengers, cargo and mail, and undertaking fishing operations. The drawing shows the MFV Edinburgh at anchor off the settlement - Edinburgh of the Seven Seas - with the motorised raft transporting cargo into Calshot Harbour. The building behind the ship is St Mary's School, and the building to its right is the Residency.

70p - Fishing off Tristan island by Calvin Green aged 11

Calvin: "I drew this picture because here on Tristan da Cunha people go out in fishing boats to catch crawfish. My Dad is a fisherman and I also like going out in the fishing boats."

This underwater view shows a factory boat fishing off Tristan da Cunha island, with the volcanic cone soaring up to Queen Mary's Peak. Traps and nets have been set attached to floats to catch crawfish, and a hooked line (known locally as a long line) is catching Five Finger (named after their vertical markings)), Blue Fish and Steambras. The crawfish fishery is the mainstay of the island's economy, marketed as Tristan Rock Lobster, whereas other white fish are caught for local consumption.

£1.10 - Nightingale Island & the Great Shearwater by Deanna Rogers aged 10

Deanna: "I chose to draw this picture so I can show people one of the islands neighbouring Tristan, what it looks like and the important wildlife that live there."

This drawing shows the Conservation RIB Artic Tern passing in front of Nightingale Island with its distinctive profile. It is the breeding ground for many sea birds such as Northern Rockhopper Penguins, Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Storm Petrels and the Great Shearwater, who nest in their millions.

£1.60 - Old Year's Night Okalolies by Chantelle Repetto aged 13

Chantelle "I decided to draw this picture because I wanted to show everyone how inspiring our traditions are to us as Tristanians. We as the future generation of Tristan want to keep our traditions alive."

No one knows for certain where the names Okalolies or alternatively Oka Bargees came from, but they are unique to Tristan. These names are what islanders call the men who go round the village on Old Year's Night (New Year's Eve) blowing whistles and making friendly mischief. They are masked and totally disquised from head to foot, and woe betides anyone that they catch!

FDC - Four island views by Amber Repetto aged 11

Amber: "I chose to draw these pictures as it is my opinion of the unique culture and hard work of the Tristan community. I feel Tristan da Cunha is a very important and special place."

The first day cover has a picture with four panels - clockwise from top left: Out in the Seaspray collecting trays of crawfish from the fishing boats and fishing. Also showing the different species of fish found in Tristan waters. Climbing to the base of the mountain with dogs. Working in the Potato Patches. Potatoes are an important crop being part of the islander's staple diet. A yacht sailing off Tristan Island. Many yachts call at Tristan for fresh water, food, fuel and a rest.

Tristan da Cunha , is a remote group of volcanic islands in the south Atlantic Ocean which includes Gough Island. It is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying approximately 1,511 miles (2,432 km) off the coast of Cape Town in South Africa, 1,343 miles (2,161 km) from Saint Helena and 2,166 miles (3,486 km) off the coast of the Falkland Islands.

The territory consists of the inhabited island, Tristan da Cunha, which has a diameter of roughly 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) and an area of 98 square kilometres (38 sq mi), and the wildlife reserves of Gough Island and Inaccessible Island and the smaller, uninhabited Nightingale Islands. As of October 2018, the main island has 250 permanent inhabitants who all carry British Overseas Territories citizenship. The other islands are uninhabited, except for the South African personnel of a weather station on Gough Island.

Tristan da Cunha is a British Overseas Territory with its own constitution.There is no airstrip of any kind on the main island, meaning that the only way of travelling in and out of Tristan is by boat, a six-day trip from South Africa.

I am looking at acquiring the stamps.

Stamp details content and image are from website : https://www.tristandc.com/po/stamps201907.php

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