Pacific Stamp Box

Edited by John Hunter

ON APRIL 28, the Cook Islands released a se-tenant strip of three $1.50 stamps and a $lO miniature sheet to commemorate the 24th Olympiad in Seoul, South Korea. The stamps were also issued to celebrate the Cook Islands’ first participation in the Olympic Games.

The three stamps feature a commem oration coin, a view of the Olympic Games venue and a tennis player: the significance of the tennis player is that the Seoul Olym pics are the first to include tennis as one of the 23 official sports.

FIJI issued a 30c stamp on April 27 to commemorate the Republic’s participa tion in Expo 88. The stamp features a beach scene, and aims to promote Fiji’s troubled tourist industry.

ON MAY 9, Pitcairn Island issued a $3 miniature sheet to commemorate Aus tralia’s bicentenary. The miniature sheet features a Bounty replica that was part of the First Fleet re-enactment voyage.

NEW CALEDONIA has commemorated the 125th anniversary of the International Red Cross with a CFP3OO stamp, issued on April 28. The territory’s first Red Cross Committee was created in 1944.

A BOOKLET of assorted stamps carrying special occasion personal messages was released in New Zealand on May 18. The stamps carry the messages “get well soon”, “good luck”, “happy birthday”, “keeping in touch” and “congratulations” on sepa rate 40c stamps.

On June 8, four stamps were issued fea turing walkways: 70c, Milford Track; 80c, Heaphy Track; 85c, Copland Track; $1.30, Routeburn Track; plus a miniature sheet containing the $1.30 stamp.

A 70c definitive stamp was issued as part of the bird series on June 7, and on June 21 New Zealand issued a joint stamp issue with Australia to mark the Bicentenary.

ON JUNE 15, Papua New Guinea issued a set of four stamps to mark the centenary of the Royal Papua New Guinea Police Constabulary; 17t, pre- and post-inde pendence police; 35t, early Papua police; 45t, insignia of early and recent police; 70t, early New Guinea police.

WESTERN SAMOA issued three stamps on 30 April to commemorate Expo 88:455, Pacific Islands Village at Expo; 70s, a view of the Expo complex; $2, a map of Queensland. □

Above: Papua New Guinea pays tribute to 100 years of police service Above right: Western Samoa celebrates Expo 88 and its involvement in the Pacific Islands Village exhibit.