Tristan de Cunha – 1960 Sealife Definitives (Set of 14) Part II of II

In continuation from Friday’s post….

Healthcare is free to the island’s residents. They are limited to services by only one South African doctor and five nurses. IBM and Beacon Equity Partners have set up a Web system with the University of Pittsburg Medical Center. This system provides the resident doctor with long distance tele-medical help with instant consultations available in other countries. If an island resident is seriously injured, signals are sent to fishing boats so that residents can be transported to Cape Town, South Africa.

The islands economy is based on fishing and farming to provide the islanders with their food. Islanders also appreciate the sales of their lobsters (crawfish) to outside countries. It is not uncommon for islanders to have two occupations. You may find them working for local government and in the lobster factory. Another source of income for the island is their sales of postage stamps and coins, especially to philatelists and collectors around the globe. Often times, post office staff will board cruise liners to enable passengers, who would otherwise not be able to come ashore, the opportunity to purchase the sought-after stamps from the island.

If you are interested in purchasing 14 interesting and colorful stamps from Tristan de Cunha, visit www.stampcenter.com. These beautiful stamps are the 1960 Sealife Definitives featuring whale, lobster, fish and shark.

Tristan de Cunha 1960 Sealife Definitives Part I of II

Tristan de Cunha is a group of very remote islands located in the Atlantic Ocean between South American and South Africa. They are considered the most remote group of islands in the world. These islands are currently an overseas territory of Great Britain. They are part of the British Crown Colony of St Helena. The territory consists of a main island, Tristan de Cunha, and 3 remote uninhabited islands; Gough Island, Inaccessible Island and Nightingale Island.

Tristan de Cunha is an active volcanic mountain. In 1961, the island was evacuated because of eruptions. The local lobster (crawfish) factory was destroyed, but rebuilt soon afterwards. Crawfish is one of the main sources of revenues for the island. They have exclusively been exported to Japan and the United States. Currently, there is less demand in the U.S. and the Tristan de Cunha economy is suffering as a result.

There is no airport on the islands and therefore it is difficult to transport to the outside world. Fishing boats from South Africa service the island on a regular basis. Television arrived on the island in 2001. There is only one channel available; The British Armed Services Broadcast. The resulting education on the island is poor. Children are allowed to leave school at 15 years of age.

Currently there are only 275 residents on the island. All residents are descendants of the original settlers. There are only seven surviving family names living on the island today; Glass, Swain, Green, Rogers, Hagan, Repetto and Lavarello. Patterson was the last name added in 1986, bringing the total to only 8 families inhabiting this remote island. Only a few expatriate members and their families may live on the island at a time. They are only allowed to live there for a short period of time (from a week to a couple of months). Priests, doctors and dentists fall into this category.

Check back on Monday for the conclusion to this post.

Bald Eagle Soars Out of Extinction

Peering through binoculars into the distance, we found the eagle's nest. It was in the middle of a blue heron rookery, one of dozens of massive twig nests perched high in the branches of a grove of swamp-washed trees. Built of sturdier stuff than the heron nests, it had a heavier, more constructed look to it. And it was bigger, like a large, shallow dish made of thick branches.

We could see a bird perched on the side of the nest but it seemed too small to be an eagle and it's head was brown, not the snowy white of the adult bald eagle. For one brief magical moment it spread and flapped its wings -- its wingspan was massive! Then it slowly folded its wings and settled back down into the nest again. We had seen a baby bald eagle. Apparently the snowy cap doesn't grow in until the bird matures in its second year. For us it was an amazing moment during our visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park in northeastern Ohio.

The status of America's bald eagle has been steadily improving. When the US Fish and Wildlife Service began monitoring eagles in 1974, there were 791 pairs nationwide. Today there are 9,789 recorded pairs, a real comeback for a species in danger of extinction. This beautiful stamp issued by Liberia as part of a Wildlife Atlas of the World series shows the majestic bald eagle in all its glory. Click the post title to order from County Stamp Center.

Visit the County Stamp Center website to view the complete Wildlife Atlas of the World Series. You'll be delighted by these beautifully drawn pictures of the world's most majestic beasts in their native habitats. Visit County Stamp Center for all your philatelic needs.