Van Diemen’s Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania in 1642. Landing at Blackman Bay and later having the Dutch flag flown at North Bay, Tasman…
View More Van Diemen’s LandAuthor: thedigitalphilatelist
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia. The Colony of New South Wales was founded as a British penal colony in 1788. It originally comprised more than half of the Australian mainland in 1825. The colony then also included the island territories of New Zealand, Van…
View More New South WalesNorfolk Island
Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean. Together with the neighbouring Phillip Island and Nepean Island, the three islands collectively form the Territory of Norfolk Island. The first known settlers in Norfolk Island were East Polynesians but they were long gone when Great Britain…
View More Norfolk IslandHeard Island and McDonald Islands
Heard Island and McDonald Islands is an external territory of Australia comprising a volcanic group of mostly barren Antarctic islands. The islands are among the most remote places on Earth and are currently uninhabited. Discovered in the mid-19th century, the islands have been an Australian territory since 1947 and contain…
View More Heard Island and McDonald IslandsGay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands
The Coral Sea Islands Territory is an external territory of Australia which comprises a group of small and mostly uninhabited tropical islands and reefs in the Coral Sea. The territory includes Heralds Beacon Island, Osprey Reef, the Willis Group, and fifteen other reef/island groups. The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of…
View More Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea IslandsCocos (Keeling) Islands
Cocos (Keeling) Islands is an external territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean, comprising a small archipelago. The territory consists of two atolls made up of 27 coral islands, of which only two – West Island and Home Island – are inhabited. The territory’s dual name (official since the islands’…
View More Cocos (Keeling) IslandsChristmas Island
Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia comprising the island of the same name. It is located in the Indian Ocean. The first European to sight the island was Richard Rowe of the Thomas in 1615. The island was later named on Christmas Day (25 December) 1643 by Captain…
View More Christmas IslandMy Stamp Stories: Stamps of the Rome 1960 Summer Olympic Games
Part 2 of MyStampStories series on stamps of the Summer Olympic Games. In this video, I discuss stamps issued by the host and other nations for the Rome 1960 Olympics. Link: Stamps of the Rome 1960 Summer Olympic Games
View More My Stamp Stories: Stamps of the Rome 1960 Summer Olympic GamesMy Stamp Stories: Stamps of the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympic Games
Part 3 of MyStampStories series on stamps of the Summer Olympic Games. In this video, I discuss stamps issued by the host and other nations for the Tokyo 1964 Olympics. Link: Stamps of the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympic Games
View More My Stamp Stories: Stamps of the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympic GamesThematic: First Issues
First issues relates to collecting the first postage stamp issued by any nation, province, city, army or other entity. The first postage stamp ever issued is considered the Penny Black. Prior to 1840, postage costs were very high and they were usually paid by the person who received the mail. The…
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