COVER N. 369 - FRANCE - FRENCH POLYNESIA

Postmark: Centre Philatélique - FAAA Tahiti 08.11.2023

Posted on the 8th November; received on the 6th December 2023

_________________________________________________________________________________

Happy New Year to everyone, everywhere!

I could have written a more uplifting entry line, but it only took  turning the tv on to learn that there's not much difference between yesterday and today for a large part of humanity, especially those under the obnoxious threat of bombs and bullets and lack of all the things that we, the lucky ones, always take for granted.

May common sense and humanity prevail as urgently as needed!

Also the news from Japan are not the best, but at least the threat of tsunami seems to be have been downgraded, let's hope for the best.

I start the year with a cover from French Polynesia, another interesting addition to my collection, this time thanks to the efforts of Pierre and Roland. Un grand Merci pour les deux!

Midway between Australia and South America, the Overseas Collectivity of French Polynesia comprises the following five archipelagos with a total of  118 islands ,although only 76 of them are inhabited:

- Society Islands, divided into Windward Islands and Leeward Islands;

- Tuamotu Archipelago;

- Gambier Islands;

- Marquesas Islands

- Austral Islands.

Although the first sighting of any of these islands by westerners can be attributed to Portuguese sailors working for Spanish bosses, namely Fernão de Magalhães, who during the Magalhães/Elcano circumnavigation sighted Puka-Puka in 1521 and Pedro Fernades de Queiros who in 1602 sighted Rekareka (one has to love these names...) they would eventually become a French protectorate  and later a colony by the end of the 19th Century.

Reflecting administrative adjustments to  the colonial status of the  territory so as to meet the growing pressure of pro-independentists, the Islands were designated a French overseas territory in 1946 and in 2003 an overseas collectivity.

French Polynesia, although still under French Administration as an Autonomous region, is today on the UN list of non-self-governing territories working toward self-determination.

Even if French Polynesia is famous amongst sun worshipers for such famous toponyms  as Tahiti, Popaete, or Bora-bora, the star that shone brighter than a thousand suns has sadly also shone upon an atol in the Tumamotu Archipelago, making it also quite a famous name, although for completely different rasons: Mururoa, the site of French nuclear weapons testing, which was last used in 1996.

For me, it is the Marquises, which evoke things I like to remember: Gauguin and Brel.

For me, its the Marquises, which evoke things I like to remeber: Gauguin and Brel.

 

Hinarani de Longeaux was crowned (or Tiarade, more aptly) Miss Tahiti 2012, and although she didn't make it to Miss France, placing as first runner up to the title, she was appointed Miss Universe France, what allowed her to compete for Miss Universe 2013, the contest having been held in Moscow.

Her face graces the 100 Franc stamp part of the eight 100 Franc stamp set themed on "Miss Tahiti through the ages" issued by La Poste for use in French Polynesia on 09-06-2023.

2023 being the year of the water rabbit according to the Chinese Zodiac, la Poste issued a 140 Franc, also for use on French Polynesian mail, on 20JAN2023, illustrated with a nice pair of hares amidst some lotus flowers.

The Stamps are postmarked with the mark of the  Philatelic centre of the commune of Faaa, in the Island of Tahiti, the envelope also carrying a nice cachet from the 76th Philatelic "Salon d'Automne", held from the 8 till the 10th November 2013, illustrated with the Wave of Teahupoo, a very famous wave amongst the surfing community, which occurs offshore of the commune of Taiarapu-Ouest, in Tahiti.