Falkland Islands Stamps and Falkland Islands Postal History
History
The Falkland Islands were first discovered on 14 August 1592 by Captain John Davis and they were first settled in 1764. The islands were variously held in turn by
France, Britain, Spain and Argentine until 1832 when the British again took possesion and commenced to establish the first permanent settlements.
A naval admistration was established in 1833. In 1842 the islands became a British Crown Colony and a civil admistration took over.
South Georgia, a dependency of the Falkland Islands, is some 800 miles to the south-east and was probably discovered by the London merchant, de la Roche in 1657.
It was formally annexed in 1775 by Captain Cook, who named it in honour of King George III. That same year Cook also discovered and took possession of the South Sandwich
Group.
On 21 July 1908 South Georgia, South Orkney, South Shetlands, South Sandwich Islands and Graham Land were made dependencies of the Falkland Islands.
In 1962 South Orkney, South Shetlands and Graham Land were constituted as a separate colony of British Antarctic Territory.
Postal History
Prior to 1852 the mail service depended on occasional calls by ships connecting to the Brazil packet via Montevideo.
The first postmaster was appointed in 1861 and the first stamps were issued on 19 June 1878.
From 1880 till 1900 a regular two monthly service
was contracted to the German Kosmos Line, which operated steamships on a route from Hamburg to Callao, Peru. At the same time it was made mandatory
for any ship calling at Stanley to carry mail.
From 1900 till 1914 there was a regular monthly service by the Pacific Steam Navigation Co which operated between Liverpool and Valparaiso.
On 1 January 1891 a need for ½d stamps resulted in the authorization of bisection and surcharge of existing 1d stamps. A supply of ½d stamps arrived in September 1891,
but the bisects were allowed until 11 January 1892.
During the Falklands War of 1982, stamps of Argentina were used postmarked with the wording "Islas Malvinas".
On 1 August 2014 the Falkland Islands postal and philatelic bureau services were privatised as the Falklands Post Service Ltd.
Philatelic Societies for collectors of Falkland Islands Stamps and Falkland Islands Postal History
The Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain The Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain was founded in late 1952 and has about 300 members from all over the world. The society's objects
are to promote the general study of the postal history of the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
New Issues of Falkland Islands stamps
Falkland Islands Philatelic Bureau The Philatelic Bureau was established in 1978. Situated next door to the Post Office on Ross Road, it handles stamps for the Government of South Georgia
and the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory as well as for the Falkland Islands.
Selected pages on Falkland Islands Stamps and Falkland Islands Postal History
Falkland Islands Stamps
by Alan Barasch The Exhibit covers the years 1878 to 1902 or more appropriately, the issues of the Queen Victoria era.
Antarctic Philately This site is dedicated to the heroic explorers of our polar regions and the surrounding islands. The tales of these brave souls were often related in
expedition mail sent home to anxious loved ones and beneficiaries.
Identifying the King George VI Stamps of the Falkland Islands from the 1937 Set The first Falkland Islands King George VI set was printed by Bradbury Wilkinson, and was issued from 1937 through 1949. Most of the issues were printed
four times. Each of these printings has visible traits that may help you identify your stamps. This article attempts describe these characteristics for
King George VI collectors.
Books on Falkland Islands Stamps and Falkland Islands Postal History
The 1933 Centenary Issue of the Falkland Islands
by R N Spafford, 1933
The Black & Red Postal Franks 1869-1878
by Robert Barnes, 2000
The Cancellations of the Falkland Islands and the Dependencies
by James Andrews, 1956
The 1933 Centenary Issue of the Falkland Islands
by Major R N Spafford, 1972
Conflict: The Falkland Islands postal service 30th March - 14th June 1982
by Kim Stuckey, Wilf Vevers and Gerald Marriner, published 2015 by Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group
De La Rue Definitive of the Falkland Islands 1901-1929
by J P Bunt, 1986, 100pp
Evacuee Mail in the Falkland Islands
by Mike Roberts, published by the Falkland Islands Study Group, 24pp, 2015 During WWII there were fears of an invasion by the Germans and later by the Japanese. This monograph give details of evacuations during the Second World War,
the ships involved; the destinations; lists of parents, children and teachers. A small amount of mail has survived and and these are illustrated in the book.
The Falkland Islands - The 1891 Provisonals
by Malcolm Barton, 2002, 183pp
ISBN 0-9542032-0-8
Falkland Islands History through Philately
by G D Moir, 1993
Falkland Island Mails The Kosmos Years 1880-1900
by Rev Jeremy Howat, 1989, 144pp The sailings of all 265 contract mail voyages are detailed along with the contracts and known covers.
Falkland Islands Philatelic Digest
A compilation from the UPLAND GOOSE for the 1970-1975 period.
No. 1 edited by Malcolm D Barton, 1975, 1983 reprint , 184pp.
No. 2 edited by Major R N Spafford, 1979, 200pp
The Falkland Islands: Printings of the Pictorial Issue of 1938-1949
by C E Glass, 1979
The Forces Postal History of the Falkland Islands & the Task Force
by J A Daynes, 1983
The Postage Stamps of the Falkland Islands
by B W H Poole, 1909, 44pp
Postage Stamps of the Falkland Islands
by F C A Goodman, 1926
The Postage Stamps of the Falkland Islands and Dependencies
by B S H Grant, 1952, 1998 reprint, 140pp
Postal Cancellations of the Falkland Islands
by Robert Barnes, 1982, 144pp
Postal History of the Falkland Islands Dependencies
by R Bagshawe, 1947, 13pp+plates
Postal Service of the Falkland Islands
by Robert Barnes 1972, 1980, 104pp
The Printing of the Pictorial Issue of 1938-1949
by C E Glass, 1979
A Short History of the Falkland Islands and its Stamps
by D O Sloan & F C A Goodman, 1927
South American Packets
by J N T Howat, 1984
Specialised Stamp Catalogue of the Falkland Islands and Dependencies
Written and published by Stefan Heijtz, 2000, 4th Edition
The "Travis" Franks & Covers
by A Norris & D Beech, 1977, 28pp
The War Stamp Overprints of the Falklands 1918-1920
by J P Bunt, 1981, 1987, 28pp
DEPENDENCIES
Postmarks and Cachets of British Antarctic Bases and South Georgia
by J H Youle, 2001, 188pp
published by J H Youle
Postmarks of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey Bases
by A G Fisher, 1961
Falkland Islands Dependencies: The 1946 Thick Map Issue
by Larry Goldberg
The Falkland Islands were first discovered on 14 August 1592 by Captain John Davis and they were first settled in 1764. The islands were variously held in turn by
France, Britain, Spain and Argentine until 1832 when the British again took possesion and commenced to establish the first permanent settlements.
Falkland Islands Stamps
The 1933 Centenary Issue of the Falkland Islands
Falkland Island Mails The Kosmos Years 1880-1900 
The Printing of the Pictorial Issue of 1938-1949