2020 - Falkland Islands - BFPO 655 Post Office

            Many visitors to Stanley, Falkland Islands, particularity those of philatelic persuasion, will visit the local Post Office and mail a postcard to collect the Falkland Island cancelled  postage stamp.

We did not indulge.

HISTORY:
Early mail service depended on occasional calls by ships connecting to Brazil  via Montevideo; the earliest recorded letter dates from 15 February 1800. 

From 1852 to 1880 a schooner (either a government boat or a contractor) called about every two months.

October 1877, the Secretary of State of the Colonial Office, the Earl of Carnarvon began the process of application for the Falkland Islands to join the General Postal Union (renamed Universal Postal Union in 1879). 

In 1880, carriage of mail was made mandatory for any ship calling at Stanley, and regular service was contracted to the German Kosmos Line, which operated steamships on a route from Hamburg to Callao, Peru. 

The first post office opened in Stanley in 1887.

1900, the Pacific Steam Navigation Company got the contract and operated until 1914, when the opening of the Panama Canal made Cape Horn roundings unnecessary, and regular mail service to the Falklands was not resumed until 1927.

1904 new stamps depicting Edward VII, were issued, and likewise after 1912 for George V. 

Shortages of dyes due to World War I led to considerable colour variation in the wartime printings of George V stamps.

1929 the first pictorial design appeared, featuring small images of a whale and penguins beneath the profile of George V. 

This was followed up by the much-admired centennial issue of 1933, a series of 12 stamps featuring local scenes and wildlife evocatively rendered; a full set today is priced at aproximately US$3,000.

Starting in the 1930s, the Falklands took part in  the omnibus issues of the Empire; the Silver Jubilee issue of 1935, Coronation issue for George V in 1937, etc. 

1964, a series of four stamps commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Falkland Islands became notable for the HMS Glasgow error, in which the wrong warship was printed on a few of the six-pence value stamp.

During the Falklands War of 1982, occupied islands used stamps of Argentina, and postmarks with the wording "Islas Malvinas". 

Since 1982 a British garrison has been maintained in Stanley.  While forces mail to home is free, mail to other destinations requires postage franked with British stamps, and as of 2003 was cancelled with two intertwined circles saying "Falkland Islands BFPO 655 Post Office”.

On 1 August 2014 the Falkland Islands postal and philatelic bureau services were privatized by a decision of the Falkland Islands Government as the Falklands Post Service LTD.

STAMP COLLECTING:
A worldwide collection would be enormous, running to thousands of volumes, and would be incredibly expensive to acquire. 

Many consider that Count Philipp von Ferrary's collection at the beginning of the 20th century was the most complete ever formed.

Many collectors limit their collecting to particular countries, certain time periods or particular subjects (called "topicals") like birds or aircraft.

Some rights reserved

Taken in: Falkland Islands / Stanley (show map)

Taken on: March 12, 2020

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2020

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Ted McGrath

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Post Office

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Stanley Post Office

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Stanley Falkland Islands

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Telephone Booth

Fencing

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Stanley PO

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Falkland Islands Post Office

Falkland Islands BFPO 655 Post Office

BFPO 655 Post Office

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Camera:	Apple iPhone X
Aperture:	f/1.8
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/592)
Focal Length:	4mm
ISO:	20
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
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