MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands dedicates new stamp issue to five penguin species

The five species of breeding penguins in the Falkland Islands will soon be winging their way through letter boxes, appearing on a new issue of postage stamps – Breeding Penguins – which were released this week by the Falkland Islands Post Office.

Available to visitors to the Islands, including cruise passengers, and to collectors worldwide, the colourful set of six stamps comprises head profiles of each type of the five breeding penguins found in the Falklands – Magellanic, rockhopper, macaroni, king and gentoo. An unusual picture of the rare albino rockhopper penguin also features. The official first day cover and the background for the sheetlet show king penguins waddling along one of the many white sand beaches found in the Falklands archipelago, which is made up of over 700 islands. The stamps are illustrated by local photographer Alan Henry and Reinhard Mischke. Penguins are generally regarded as being synonymous with the Islands and it comes as no surprise since an estimated 770,000 penguins have their natural environment in the Falklands. However it must be said that the Falkland Islands are not just about penguins, there are also the spectacular black-browed albatross, southern sea lions, leopard seals and elephant seals, plus its stunning scenery and fascinating history. The stamps, Airmail Postcard rate stamps (currently 55p), are available singly in sheetlets of 10 and combined in a souvenir sheet. They can be purchased online from the Philatelic Bureau in Stanley (visit Falkland Islands Philatelic Bureau), or contact John Smith, General Manager, Pobjoy Mint on jcs137@pobjoy.com for details of dealers who stock the stamps.