Micronesia
Dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, Charles Darwin on stamps of Micronesia
Micronesia, officially the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), is an island country in Oceania.
The states comprise around 607 islands that cover a longitudinal
distance of almost 2,700 km just north of the equator and have a population of about 110,000.
They lie northeast of New Guinea, south of Guam and the Marianas, west of Nauru and the Marshall Islands, east of Palau and the Philippines, about 2,900 km north of eastern Australia and some 4,000 km southwest of the main islands of Hawaii.
In the past, the islands group was ruled by several nations:
The islands first used stamps of Germany for the Caroline Islands and then stamps of Japan from 1914 to 1946. USA stamps were used between 1946 and 1984.
The first stamps of independent Micronesia were issued in 1984 and depicted the four federated states that make up the country, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae, in a se-tenant design. [R2]
Between 1984 and 1992 Micronesia issued only 10 to 50 stamps a year.
Starting in 1993, the amount of stamps produced by Micronesia began to grow every year.
Over 100 stamps were published in 1998, while over 200 were published the next year.
Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice from Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, for reviewing the draft page and his valuable comments.
They lie northeast of New Guinea, south of Guam and the Marianas, west of Nauru and the Marshall Islands, east of Palau and the Philippines, about 2,900 km north of eastern Australia and some 4,000 km southwest of the main islands of Hawaii.
In the past, the islands group was ruled by several nations:
- Captaincy General of the Philippines 1574–1899
- German New Guinea 1899–1914
- Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Navy occupation 1914–1919
- South Seas Mandate 1919–1947
- Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, a United Nations Trust Territory under U.S. administration, 1947–1979
The islands first used stamps of Germany for the Caroline Islands and then stamps of Japan from 1914 to 1946. USA stamps were used between 1946 and 1984.
The first stamps of independent Micronesia were issued in 1984 and depicted the four federated states that make up the country, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae, in a se-tenant design. [R2]
Between 1984 and 1992 Micronesia issued only 10 to 50 stamps a year.
Starting in 1993, the amount of stamps produced by Micronesia began to grow every year.
Over 100 stamps were published in 1998, while over 200 were published the next year.
Official stamps of Micronesia related to Paleontology: Dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, Charles Darwin
| 16.08.1994 "Philakorea '94 World Stamp Exhibition." | 24.05.1999 "Earth Day 1999: Endangered, Extinct, and Prehistoric Species" | 12.08.2001 "Dinosaurs" |
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| 13.12.2004 "Prehistoric animals" | 17.02.2010 "Charles Darwin" | |
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References
- [R1] Micronesia: Wikipedia, WikiTravel FlagCounter
- [R2] Postal History and Philately of Micronesia:
Wikipedia,
Links to official website of the Post Authority, stamp catalog and a list of new stamps of Micronesia are here
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice from Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, for reviewing the draft page and his valuable comments.