Falkland Islands: Discover the Sights of the Falkland Islands through an ongoing series of stamps

Although the world of communication is shrinking, with email being replaced by social media apps, the Falkland Islands Post Office believes that there is an important place for postage stamps which not only act as an instrument that is recognised on the international stage but are in fact a window on the community itself. 

To this end, the Falkland Island Post Office will be issuing a series of four sets of stamps highlighting sights of interest across the island group. 

Each stamp has been viewed and approved by His Majesty King Charles III and his silhouette appears on all Falkland Island stamps, demonstrating the close relationship the Falklands continue to enjoy with the ‘mother country,’ the United Kingdom. 

Each image is a miniature work of art which demonstrates the attractiveness of this remote South Atlantic archipelago and represents the history of the islands and its mainly local born population of a little under 4,000 permanent residents. 

There will be a combination of stamps, first day covers and special miniature sheets which between them will allow collectors and those who have an interest on the Falkland Islands to create a collection which highlights some of the historic and unique sights that can be found and enjoyed from Stanley, the Lighthouse, Camp and the Coast. 

A specially designed ‘Sights’ logo which changes depending on the topic, appears on each stamp and First Day Cover. 

The first set in the series concentrates on Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands which is situated on East Falklands and consists of four stamps with the values 37p, 84p, £1.15 and £1.48 as well as a single stamp valued at £3.80 which sits within a miniature sheet showing an enlarged image of the Cathedral and the Stanly waterfront. 

The 37p stamp features an aerial view of the capital with the FIPASS floating structure in the foreground. Originally installed by the UK Ministry of Defence in 1984, the Falkland Islands Intermediate Port and Storage System (FIPASS) was designed to offer better port access, refrigerated warehouse space and personnel accommodation and consists of six pontoons connected to a steel causeway to the shore. Having served the islands well for 40 years, a decision has been made to replace the existing structure with a more modern version. 

The 84p stamp depicts the iconic Christ Church Cathedral, constructed on Ross Road overlooking the harbour between 1890 and 1892. It is the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world. Traditionally, in the UK, any area of population which boasts an Anglican Cathedral is considered to be a city, but it was not until June 2022 that having applied for city status as part of a competition to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee that Stanley was granted that honour. 

The £1.15 stamp also features in greater details a view of the Cathedral flanked by the famous whalebone arch made from the jaws of two blue whales, which was erected in 1933 to commemorate the centenary of British rule. 

Until 1978, the role of Bishop of Falkland Islands tended to be undertaken by an Anglican Bishop based in South America but in 1978, it fell under the purview of the Archbishop of Canterbury and has remained with that prelate ever since and he in turn devolves this role to the Archbishop's Commissary in the UK. 

The £1.48 stamp shows one of the many historic artifacts that can be viewed around Stanley and this is the mizzen mast of the SS Great Britain which is mounted proudly on Victory Green in central Stanley. The SS Great Britain, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was at one time the largest passenger ship in the world and the first to combine a screw propellor in an iron-built vessel. In 1855, she was retired to the Falkland Islands where she was used for storage until being scuttled in 1933, but in 1970 was towed back to the UK, completely rebuilt and is now a museum ship based in Bristol Dock. 

The £3.80 miniature sheet (the airmail registration fee) expands on the fantastic view of Stanley from the sea, understandably focussing on the Cathedral but spotlighting the many attractive, multi coloured buildings that make the view so attractive to visitors. 

As well as mint stamps and miniature sheet, it will also be possible to purchase first day covers of both and the design on the envelope depicts the ever growing ‘Totem Pole’ which is situated on the Stanley by-pass, east of the city.