Maps and Scenes: 1976 to 1979

50c Pole fishingTuvalu's first permanent definitives were issued on July 1, 1976, replacing the provisional overprints issued in January. The first ten low values feature maps and insets of local subjects, while the remainder depict scenes of Tuvalu. The map of Nui on the 4c stamp is extremely inaccurate. Some of the values were reprinted later on, and three new values added. In 1978, six values were overprinted to commemorate the independence of Tuvalu.

Images: 1c / 2c / 4c / 5c / 6c / 8c / 10c / 15c / 20c / 25c / 30c / 35c / 40c / 50c / $1 / $2 / $5 /

  Regular Issue
Technical Details		  
  Date of Issue: 1976-07-01, unless noted otherwise  
  Designer: John Cooter  
  Printer: Questa Security Printers  
  Perforation: 14 x 14  
  Process: Offset Lithography  
  Paper: CA Spiral, greenish gum (originals)  
    CA Spiral, white gum (reprints)  
    Unwatermarked, white gum (reprints)  
    Unwatermarked, greenish  gum (reprints)  
  Format: Sheets of 50
(2 x 25 with gutter between)		  
  Size: 32mm x 48mm (Vertical)  
    48mm x 32mm (Horizontal)  
       
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1976.D02.01 1c Niulakita map and Leatherback Turtle (V) 23 30
  a) as above, unwatermarked, white gum
(Sept 1977)		 58 58
1976.D02.02 2c Nukulaelae map and pandanus mat (V) 24 31
  a) as above, unwatermarked, greenish gum
(March 1978)		 59 59
1976.D02.03 4c Nui map and talo vegetable (V) 25 32
  a) as above, unwatermarked, greenish gum
(March 1978)		 60 60
1976.D02.04 5c Nanumaga map and grass dancing skirt (V) 26 33
  a) as above, unwatermarked, white gum
(Sept 1977)		 61 61
  b) as above, unwatermarked, greenish gum
(March 1978)		 - -
1976.D02.05 6c Nukufetau map and coconut crab (V) 27 34
  a) as above, unwatermarked, greenish gum
(March 1978)		 62 62
1976.D02.06 8c Funafuti map and banana tree (V) 28 35
  a) as above, unwatermarked, white gum
(Sept 1977)		 63 63
  b) as above, unwatermarked, greenish gum
(March 1978)		 - -
1976.D02.07 10c Map of Tuvalu (V) 29 36
  a) as above, unwatermarked, white gum
(Sept 1977)		 64 64
  b) as above, unwatermarked, greenish gum
(March 1978)		 - -
1976.D02.08 15c Niutao and flying fish (V) 30 37
  a) as above, white gum (Sept 1977) - -
1976.D02.09 20c Vaitupu map and Maneapa (meeting hall) (V) 31 38
  a) as above, white gum (Sept 1977) - -
  b) as above, unwatermarked, white gum
(Oct 1978)		 64 64
1976.D02.10 25c Nanumea map and palu fish hook (V) 32 39
  a) as above, unwatermarked, white gum
(Sept 1977)		 64 64
  v1) as above, inverted watermark - -
1976.D02.11 30c Fatele dancing (19 April 1978) 68 68
1976.D02.12 35c Te Ano game 33 40
  a) as above, white gum (Sept 1977) - -
1976.D02.13 40c Pandanus tree (19 April 1978) 69 69
1976.D02.14 50c Pole fishing from canoe 34 41
  a) as above, white gum (Sept 1977) - -
1976.D02.15 $1 Reef fishing by flare 35 42
  a) as above, white gum (Feb 1977) - -
1976.D02.16 $2 Tuvaluan House 36 43
  a) as above, white gum (Feb 1977) - -
1976.D02.17 $5 Ship M.V. Nivanga (Sep 1, 1976) 37 44
  a) as above, unwatermarked, white gum
(Sept 1977)		 72 72
  • Specimen stamps produced for all original printings only, including the 30c, 40c and $5 additional values.
  • The 25c value, v1, with the inverted watermark is an error, not a reprint.
  • The 15c and 35c are reported to exist on unwatermarked paper with white gum, but there is no evidence they were placed on sale in Tuvalu. It is believed that they came on the market after liquidation of the former agents, Philatelists (1980) Ltd., in 1987.
 
Independence Overprints
Technical Details		  
  As above except:  
  Date of Issue: 1978-10-01, unless noted otherwise  
  Paper: Unwatermarked, white gum  
  Overpint: INDEPENDENCE 1st OCTOBER 1978  
    3 lines on vertical stamps
1 line on horizontal stamps		  
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1976.D03.01 8c Funafuti map and banana tree (V) 85 94
1976.D03.02 10c Map of Tuvalu (V) 86 95
1976.D03.03 15c Niutao and flying fish (V) 87 96
1976.D03.04 20c Vaitupu map and Maneapa (V) 88 97
1976.D02.05 30c Fatele dancing 89 98
1976.D02.06 35c Te Ano game 90 99
1976.D02.07 40c Pandanus tree 91 100
  • Specimen stamps produced for all values
  • The 15c and 35c on unwatermarked paper were not regularly released without the overprint. See note under regular issues above.

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