#saint helena

Originally uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in the early 1500s, Saint Helena (there are a host of discovery and naming myths associated with Saint Helena, all of which are plausible and none of which are resolutely verifiable, although it is generally understood it was named after Saint Helena of Constantinople) is a tiny volcanic outcropping of stone in the middle of the South Atlantic, over a thousand miles from the coast of Angola and Namibia, 800 miles from Ascension Island, and 1,300 miles from Tristan da Cunha.  It is Britain’s second-oldest possession (after Bermuda), but passed through a number of colonial hands since its discovery, being, as it is, an important stopover for a number of industries in those early days of exploration.

Stamp details:
Top left:
Issued on: January 1, 1856
From: Jamestown, Crown Colony of Saint Helena
MC #1

Top right:
Issued on: July 1, 1982
From: Jamestown, Dependent Territory of Saint Helena and Dependencies
MC #361

Middle stamps:
Issued on: May 21, 2002
From: Jamestown; Overseas Territory of Saint Helena and Dependencies
MC #836-839

Stamp on bottom:
Issued on: February 10, 2018
From: Jamestown; Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
SG #MS1274

Recognized as a sovereign state by the UN: No
Claimed by: British Overseas Territory
Member of the Universal Postal Union: Yes (BOTs joined on April 1, 1877)