Covers sent from the small insular states that dot the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, are not that common on my letterbox, so whenever my friend Mr. Postman therein drops one of these I feel particularly happy.
Although the postmark bears no date of expedition, I would expect it to have undergone a lengthy journey. In fact, the other cover I have from Samoa took about a month and a half to reach me, so I would be surprised if this one had a faster transit.
Again, a friend and a friend's friend (who, according to a Portuguese saying is therefore my friend also, for “o amigo do meu amigo meu amigo é”) were instrumental in making sure I got this nice surprise from Polynesia.
Eric, my generous Flying Dutchman friend, was the kind soul behind this operation who also enrolled the help of his friend Wolfgang.
My most sincere thanks goes out to the two of them!
Stamps:
The theme for the Europa Stamps this year is 70 years of the first Europa stamp. Curiously enough, the first stamp on this cover is the one issued by Samoa in 2006 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Europa stamp.
Strangely enough, quite a few non-European postal administrations issued stamps on this occasion. Samoa's issue, which saw the light of day on 07DEC2005, consisted of a four stamp set, available as individual stamps or included in a souvenir sheet, with 60 sene; 3; 4 and 10 tālā denominations.
The graphic conception of the four stamps followed the same principle: a blue background with the white stars of the Southern Cross, as featured in the top left quarter of Samoa's flag, with the Earth superimposed on it, being circled by a carrousel of Europa stamps from several years and countries.
As can be seen on the 4 tālā stamp on the cover, the CEPT and the 50th anniversary of the first Europa stamps 1956-2006 logos are also featured.
Samoa was known until 1997 as Western Samoa, that is “Samoa I Sisifo”, in Samoan.
Such is the country's identification on the 8 sene stamp issued on 09MAR1973, featuring a Hawker Siddeley 748 of Polynesian Airlines, flying out of Samoa's international Airport.
The stamp is part of a four stamp set (8;10;12; 22 sene) dedicated to "Planes at Faleolo Airport". As a matter of curiosity three of the stamps are illustrated with the HS 748, while the one with the highest face value features a BAC One-Eleven.
William Willis (1893 – 1968) was an American sailor who became famous for his oceanic journeys on balsa rafts.
In 1963 -1964 he single handedly sailed his raft Age Unlimited (he was 71 at the time) across 10,000 miles of Pacifc Ocean, from Peru to Australia with a stop in Apia, Samoa's capital.
Sadly he would lose his life in 1968, at 74, as he tried to cross the North Atlantic on a small sail boat.
This great seafaring feat was chosen by the Samoan Postal Administration to be remembered on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Union Postale Universelle, highlighting in the 50 sene stamp encapsulated in a souvenir sheet issued on 04OCT1974, which occupies most of the face of the cover.
The stamp features Willis Effigy and an image of his raft, while the souvenir sheet frame is illustrated with a map showing the portion of Pacific Ocean between South Africa and Australia. Age Unlimited's journey path is also inscribed on the stamp, which features the legends; “Universal Postal Union centenary 1874-1974” and "Willis Raft mail Samoa-Australia"
The 60th anniversary of Elizabeth II, was celebrated by Samoa with a set of 5 stamps (32, 48, 56, 67 sene; 2 tālā) issued on 21APR1986. While all stamps are illustrated with photographs of Queen Elizabeth, the 32 sene stamp on the cover also features Prince Phillip.
Pietà paintings by celebrated artists were chosen to illustrate a same denomination (2.70 tālā ) four stamp set, issued on 02AOPR2015, on the occasion of the year's Easter.
On the cover the Pietà of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, by French Illuminator and Painter Enguerrand Quarton (c. 1410 – c. 1466).
Postmark from Apia, Samoa's Capital.
