‘Operation

Pitcairn’S

Pallium’

Pitcairn Islands ‘Operation Pallium’ issue, depicting har

bour development in Bounty

Bay, are both pleasing (for

their colouring) and irritating

(for their lack of distinctness).

Operation Pallium was a team job between the British Army’s 62 (Construction) Company, Royal Engineers and the people of Pitcairn. The four stamps 15,20,30 and 35 cents were designed by Wadding tons Studio, England, and printed in multicolour lith ography by Bruder Rosen baum of Vienna.

Recent Cook Islands issues,

marking the 250th anniversary

of Captain James Cook’s birth and Cook Islands National Wildlife and Conservation

Day, are attractive offerings as are a Solomon Islands issue marking 50 years of scouting and a Papua New Guinea re lease featuring, in a four-stamp issue, indigenous musical instruments.

New Hebrides’ Christmas issue wouldn’t help anyone to guess where the condominium is. It appears unlikely that New Hebrideans have any part in the selection of designs for their country’s stamps.

Solomon Islands and Gilbert Islands have gone hand in hand with their issues commemorat ing Cook’s voyages in the Pacific' but the big format and tasteful design have resulted in handsome stamps.

Western Samoa has followed up its cowry shell issue with a series depicting cone shells.

The shells are enhanced by

pleasing background and a

subtle colour selection.

RH.