Aerial view of Christmas Island

Postcard

Christmas Island is an Australian Non-self Governing External Territory, located in the Indian Ocean, 360km south of Java and 2600 km North West of Perth. The coastline of 73km comprises mostly sheer rocky cliffs 10 to 20 metres high with a few small coral and rubble beaches. 

The island is well known for its annual Red Crab mass migration.

Stamps

All three stamps are part of the Chinese Year of the Goat issue. But it could be the year of the sheep or even the year of the ram. This confusion is caused by Mandarin Chinese character yang: 羊 Its apparent meaning is 'horned animal'.

Thank you so much David!

Read More

Christmas Island Crabs

Postcard

Christmas Island is one of the territories administered by Australia. The remote island is located in the Indian Ocean, 380 kilometres south of Java and 1,565 kilometres to the Australian mainland. The island has a population of about 2,000.

Christmas Island is well known for its red crabs. The annual red crab mass migration to the sea to spawn is one of the wonders of the natural world. This migration takes place each year after the start of the wet season synchronized with the cycle of the moon.

Stamp

A matching stamp!

Read More

Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island

Postcard

Christmas Island, a territory of Australia, is a dot in the Indian Ocean. Its closest neighbor is Java, 360 km away. The island has a population of about 2,000. It is called Christmas Island because it was discovered on Christmas Day in 1643.

Flying Fish Cove is the main settlement of Australia's Christmas Island. It was the first British settlement on the island, established in 1888. The island is famous for the annual red crab mass migration to the sea to spawn.

Stamps

Although Christmas Island was placed under Australian control in 1958, the island remained postally and philatelically independent until 1993 when Australia Post became the island's postal operator.

The island issued its own postage stamps from 1958. Those issued by Australia Post since 1993 are also valid in Australia, as are Australian stamps in Christmas Island.

(left) Christmas Island Fish - Cocos Angelfish, issued in 2013 as part of a set of four stamps.

(right)Christmas Island Christmas stamp: Merry Christmas Island, part of a set of two stamps issued 2013.

(bottom) Nature of Australia, Issue 2, Wetlands: the Saltwater Crocodile, issued in 1997. 

Read More