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Pitcairn Islands Study Center

Norfolk Island Philately

(This page is updated by the assistance of Bounty Saga specialist Ron Edwards of Norfolk Island.)

            The stamps of Norfolk Island have long enjoyed a favored place in the world of philately – some of the island’s stamps are among the most attractive in the philatelic world.

            A change came to the publishing of Norfolk Island stamps on June 30, 2016, when the Norfolk Island Philatelic Bureau ceased operations, and Australian Post took over the issuing of all stamps of Norfolk Island.  The first ‘Norfolk Island-Australia” stamp, “Sea Birds,” was issued on September 20, 2016.  All Norfolk Island stamps are now printed by Australian Post, each new issue being printed in Australia and the stamps shipped to Norfolk Island for sale.  Norfolk Island stamps may now be used for postage with any mix of Australian stamps.

Lizards of Norfolk Island

            Norfolk Island is home to two native species of land reptile, both of which are also evident on Lord Howe Island.  Neither species inhabits Norfolk’s main island, probably due to the presence of the Polynesian, and Black rat.  Both reptiles are found on Norfolk’s Phillip Island.

            First described on Lord Howe Island in 1873, and initially found in the Norfolk group in 1978, the Lord Howe Skin lizard grows to around eight centimeters (slightly over three inches), and is a rich, metallic bronze-to-olive color, with small brown flecks along its body.

            First described on Lord Howe Island in 1885, the Lord Howe Gecko is heavily built and grows to around eight centimeters.  This smooth-scaled gecko is peppered with darker spots and a series of W-shaped markings that fade toward its flanks.

Norfolk Island Stamp Issues

Norfolk stamps of recent date are listed here with their date of release. More images of these stamps can be seen below. Additional release dates and a history of Norfolk philately may be seen by clicking here

  • 2021
    • Lizards, February 9
    • Land Snails, June 22
  • 2020
    • Early Botanic Art, January 14
    • Cattle Breed - Norfolk Blue, June 2
    • Ocean Oddities, July 14
    • 75th Anni: Peace in the Pacific, Sept 1 
  • 2019
    • Pitcairn Settlement, January 22
    • Tree Ferns, April 2
    • Phillip Island Landscapes, July 9
    • Mutiny on the Bounty, Sept 24 
  • 2018
    • Norfolk Island Golf, February 27
    • Norfolk Island Wrasses, April 30
    • Crystal Pool, July 17
    • Cruise Ships, September 18
  • 2017
    • Norfolk Island Waterfalls, Jan 17
    • Norfolk Island Flowers, July 18
    • Convict Heritage, September 19
  • 2016
    • Norfolk Island Challenge, Jan 14
    • Diverse Phillip Island, February 22
    • 165th Anni: Landing of Pitcairners, June 7
    • Norfolk Island Seabirds, September 20 
  • 2015
    • 225th Anni: Sinking of Sirius, March 19

    • 100th Anni: Gallipoli Campaign, March 14 

    • Norfolk Island Pine Trees, June 14

    • Christmas in July, July 15
    • Christmas, October 1

  • 2014
    • Christmas 2014Norfolk Island Pine Trees stamps
    • Quilts
    • Pine Tree Booklet 
    • 100 Years of Red Cross
    • Quota International
    • Joint Issues100 Years of Red Cross on Norfolk Island stamps
    • Artwear
    • Shorelines of Norfolk II 
  • 2013
    • Trans Tasman FMX
    • Shorelines25th Anniversary of Norfolk Island National Park
    • Christmas 2013
    • 20 Years of Country Music
    • Norfolk Island Church Bell
  • 2012
    • 70 Years of Aircraft Landing on Norfolk IslandNorfolk Island Quota Club
    • Christmas 2012
    • 51 Years of the Sunshine Club
    • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
    • Iconic Activities
    • Overprint SeabirdNorfolk Island Museums' Artefacts stamps
  • 2011 - Christmas Issue
    • 80 Years of Policing
    • World Heritage
    • National Parks
    • Seashells - Island Shores130th Anniversary of St. Barnabas Chapel stamps
    • Definitive
    • Museum Artefacts, 2
  • 2010 - St. Barnabas Chapel
    • World Bowls Champion
    • Christmas 2010Christmas 2010 stamps
    • Species at Risk 
    • Cruise Ships - Norfolk Island
    • They Came Aboard Moyarshire
    • Whaling History of Norfolk
    • World Bowls ChampionshipNorfolk Island Cruise Ships stamps
  • 2009 - Christmas 2009
    • Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly
    • Bush Birds
    • Joint Territories of Australia
    • Fungi of Norfolk IslandBush Birds of Norfolk Islands stamps
    • Cattle Breeds of Norfolk Island
    • Norfolk Island Mosaics
  • 2008 - Ships Built on Norfolk Island
    • Rare Ferns in Norfolk Island
    • St. John's Ambulance, 25th Anniversary
    • Calves of Norfolk IslandRare Endemic and Indigenous Ferns of Norfolk Islands stamps
    • A Jewish Resting Place
    • Faces of Norfolk Island
    • Classic Cars
  • 2007 - Banyan Park 'Friendship' Center
    • Christmas 2007Cattle Breeds of Norfolk Island stamps
    • Bicentennary of 1st Settlement
    • Queen Victoria Scholarship
    • Ghosts of Norfolk Island
    • Palm Seed Industry
    • Adventure Sports
    • Weed FlowersFaces of Norfolk Island stamps
  • 2006 - Christmas 2006
    • Centenary of Middlegate School
    • Dogs Issue
    • Seabirds Definitive - Part 2
    • Traditional Hats1st Convict Settlement Norfolk Island stamps
    • Sesquicentenary Issue
    • Arrival at Norfolk Island
    • Sesquicentenary Issue
    • Departure from Pitcairn
    • Commonwealth Games
    • Queen's BatonGhosts of Norfolk Island stamps
  • 2005 - Christmas 2005
    • Seabirds Definitive - Part 1
    • Hibiscus Flowers
    • Old Island Houses
    • Norfolk Island MuseumDogs of Norfolk Island
    • Centenary of Rotary International
  • 2004 
    • Sharks
    • Spiders of Norfolk Island
    • Werken Dar Shep2006 Commonwealth Games stamps
    • Hippeastrums
    • QUOTA Int’l – Norfolk Island 25th Anniversary Issue
    • New local stamps
    • World Wildlife Fund for Nature
    • 25th Anniversary of Self Government
    • Christmas 2004Norfolk Island Jazz Festival stamps
  • 2003 
    • Horses on Norfolk Island
    • Photographic Scenes of Norfolk Island
    • Lilies Issue – Part 1
    • Writer’s Festival
    • Personalised StampsSeabirds of Norfolk Island stamps
    • 50th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II Coronation
    • 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight
    • Christmas 2003
  • 2002 
    • NuffkaHibiscus of Norfolk Island
    • Cliff Ecology
    • Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee
    • The Age of Steam
    • 6th South Pacific Mini Games
    • Bounty Bowls
    • Philip Island Flowers (Part 1)100 Years Rotary stamps
    • Commonwealth Games
    • Philip Island Flowers (Part 2)
    • Sperm Whale (Joint issue with New Caledonia)
    • Alliance Airlines – First Flight to Norfolk Island
    • Christmas 2002Hippeastrums of Norfolk Island stamps
  • 2001 
    • Norfolk Island Green Parrot
    • Hong Kong 2001
    • Year of the Snake
    • New Zealand Nat’l Stamp Exhibition, Invercargill25 Years of Service on Norfolk Island
    • Bounty Day
    • Tourism Part 1 (Fragrance)
    • Calm Waters
    • Peace Keeping
    • 6th South Pacific Mini Games, Norfolk Island
    • Postage Laels (counter-printed stamps)Werken Dar Shep stamps
    • Christmas 2001
  • 2000 
    • Festivals of Norfolk Island, Part 2
    • Year of the Dragon
    • Ducks & Geese of Norfolk Island
    • ANZAC Day 2000Werken Dar Shep stamps
    • Whaler 2000 Project
    • Bounty Day 2000
    • Eighth Festival of Pacific Arts 2000
    • Olymphilex 2000
    • Canpex 2000
    • Christmas 2000Norfolk Island Spiders stamps
    • Norfolk Island's Personalised Stamps

[Norfolk Island Postcards]

["Stamps of the Australian Territories: Norfolk Island" (By F. Collas, Assistant Controller, Postmaster-General’s Department, Melbourne)]

[Norfolk Island Philatelic Bureau]

2010s

Norfolk Island Pine Trees stamps

2014 - Pine Tree Booklet

100 Years of Red Cross on Norfolk Island stamps

2014 - 100 Years of Red Cross

Quilts of Norfolk Island stamps

2014 - Quilts

Australia-Norfolk Island Joint Issue stamps

2014 - Joint Issues

Norfolk Island Quote Club

2014 - Quota International

25th Anniversary of Norfolk Island National Park stamps

2011 - National Parks

Seashells of Norfolk Island stamps

2011 - Seashells - Island Shores

Norfolk Island Museums' Artefacts stamps

2011 - Museum Artefacts, 2

Christmas 2010 stamps

Christmas 2010

130th Anniversary Norfolk Island St. Barnabas Chapel stamps

2010 - 130th Anniversary of St. Barnabas Chapel

Norfolk Island Cruise Ships stamps

2010 - Cruise Ships - Norfolk Island

2000s

Species at risk stamps

2009 - Joint Territories of Australia

Christmas 2009 stamps

Christmas 2009

Bush Birds of Norfolk Island stamps

2009 - Bush Birds

Cattle Breeds of Norfolk Island stamps

2009 - Cattle Breeds of Norfolk Island

Ships built on Norfolk Island stamps

2008 - Ships Built on Norfolk Island

Rare Endemic and Indigenous Ferns of Norfolk Island stamps

2008 - Rare Ferns in Norfolk Island

St. John's Ambulance 25th Anniversary stamps

2008 - St. John's Ambulance, 25th Anniversary

Norfolk Island A Jewish Resting Place stamps

2008 - A Jewish Resting Place

Norfolk Island A Jewish Resting Place stamps

2008 - A Jewish Resting Place

Faces of Norfolk Island stamps

2008 - Faces of Norfolk Island

Celebrating 30 years of Banyan Park Play Centre stamps

2007 - Banyan Park 'Friendship' Center

Christmas 2007 stamps

Christmas 2007

1st Convict Settlement Norfolk Island stamps

2007 - Bicentenary of 1st Settlement

Queen Victoria Scholarship stamps

2007 - Queen Victoria Scholarship

Ghosts of Norfolk Island stamps

2007 - Ghosts of Norfolk Island

Kentia Palm Seed Product of Norfolk Island stamps

2007 - Palm Seed Industry

Weed Flowers of Norfolk Island stamps

2007 - Weed Flowers

Christmas 2006 stamps

Christmas 2006

Centenary of Norfolk Island School stamps

2006 - Centenary of Middlegate School

Dogs of Norfolk Island stamps

2006 - Dogs Issue

Seabirds of Norfolk Island stamps

2006 - Seabirds Definitive - Part 2

Traditional Hat Making stamps

2006 - Traditional Hats

Sesquicentenary of Norfolk Island stamps

2006 - Sesquicentenary Issue

Sesquicentenary of Norfolk Island stamps

2006 - Sesquicentenary Issue

2006 Commonwealth Games of Norfolk Island stamps

2006 - Commonwealth Games

Christmas 2005 stamps

Christmas 2005

Norfolk Island Jazz Festival stamps

2005 - Jazz Festival

Seabirds of Norfolk Island stamps

2005 - Seabirds Definitive - Part 1

Hibiscus of Norfolk Island stamps

2005 - Hibiscus Flowers

Old Island Homes of Norfolk Island stamps

2005 - Old Island Houses

Pacific Explorers of Norfolk Island stamps

2005 - Pacific Explorers

Pacific Explorers of Norfolk Island stamps

2005 - Pacific Explorers

Museum Artefacts of Norfolk Island stamps

2005 - Norfolk Island Museum

Centenary of Rotary International stamps

2005 - Centenary of Rotary International

Centenary of Rotary International stamps

2005 - Centenary of Rotary International

Christmas 2004 stamps

Christmas 2004

Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly 25th Year stamps

2004 - 25th Anniversary of Self Government

Hippeastrums of Norfolk Island stamps

2004 - Hippeastrums

Quota International 25th Anniversary stamps

2004 - QUOTA Int’l – Norfolk Island 25th Anniversary Issue

Werken Dar Shep stamps

2004 - Werken Dar Shep

Werken Dar Shep stamps

2004 - Werken Dar Shep

Spiders of Norfolk Island stamps

2004 - Spiders of Norfolk Island

Sharks of Norfolk Island stamps

2004 - Sharks

Christmas 2003 stamps

Christmas 2003

100th Anniversary of Powered Flight stamps

2003 - 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight

50th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II Coronation stamps

2003 - 50th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II Coronation

Norfolk Island Writers' Festival stamps

2003 - Writer's Festival

Day Lilies of Norfolk Island stamps

2003 - Lilies Issue – Part 1

Christmas 2002 stamps

Christmas 2002

Giants of the Deep stamps

2002 - Sperm Whale (Joint issue with New Caledonia)

The Age of Steam stamps

2002 - The Age of Steam

Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee stamps

2002 - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee

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