COVER N. 315 - FRANCE - WALLIS ET FUTUNA

Postmark: Mata-Utu Wallis et Futuna  04.09.2023

Posted on the 4th September; Received on the 24th September 2023

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Stamps and letters really know no boundaries, and that's a great part of the enchantment they carry. I would never expect that my first cover from such an unusual place as the French Overseas Territory of Wallis et Futuna right in the middle of the Polynesian South-Pacific, would carry on its back a Polish address, but that is so and I can't say how thankful I am to Roman for this.  Dziękuję bardzo, Roman!

Wallis et Futuna have been under French Administration since 1888, following an agreement with the kings of the three kingdoms into which the islands were divided, which put an end to the conflict between the French missionaries that first set foot on the territory in 1837 and the local populations... At first the colony was administratively integrated into the colony of Nouvelle Caleonie, but from 1961 on, the islands were awarded individual administrative status, being thenceforth classified as a French Overseas Territory.

Today, further to the French High Administrator, appointed by the French Government, local populations have their say through the election of their representatives for the Territorial Assembly. A Territorial Council integrating the three kings (kingdoms of Uvea, Alo and Sigave) and  three other members appointed by the high-representative on the advice of the Territorial Assembly is also part of the Administrative structure of the territory.

Total population on the Islands was 11,558 in 2018 and the economy rests heavily on Agriculture and Fishing.

The first stamp on the cover was issued on 17OCT2019, in remembrance of the 180th anniversary of the last territorial battle fought between the local kingdoms, of Sigave and Alo in the island of Futuna in 1939.

As I understand King Vanai (on the stamp illustration)  was the leader of the Sigave forces but he  would be killed during the  battle.

Of note is the fact that both adversaries were armed with firearms which had been bought from an Australian merchant ship in trade for pigs...

The second stamp was issued on 25JAN2020, celebrating the Chinese new year for 2022, the year of the rat.

The postmark hails from the Islands capital Mata Utu on the island of  Wallis.