Tristan da Cunha: The Stampless Island (1909)
William Cochrane
As a member of the West Africa Study Circle, I was pleased to find this interesting article, which originally appeared in The Postage Stamp (October 9, 2909).
It will come as a surprise to stamp collectors, who have often heard of the lonely island of Tristan d’Acunha that the inhabitants know what it is to be ‘busy.’ In a communication to the Daily Express Mr. Arthur B. Atkinson encloses a letter explaining how the islanders got their books and parcels in answer to an appeal in the press, by the SS PANDORA.
The letter is unstamped (for they have no stamps on the little island), and bears many queer postmarks, including the dateless stamp “Tristan da Cunha.” It is signed by A. Repetto.” He says:
“As I received the parcel of books, which kindly you sent to me for the use of the island, and many thanks of it, and I should say they are very useful.
The parcels arrive to the island on the 29 of April, and land on the 2nd of May on account of the bad weather. They are sent out by the schooner GREYHOUND, which sails from the Cape of Good Hope, and this letter gone back by her.
“I wish to write more but I am very busy at present anyhow may thank you for your kindness and interest you took to this lonely island.”
