Tonga

Tonga is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean

The postal history of Tonga can be traced to 1886 when the first Tongan stamp, 1 penny, was issued in 1886 which depicted George Tupou I of Tonga.

In the early part of the 20th century, philatelists began seeking out postal cancellations from Niuafo'ou, a volcanic Tongan island. Since Niuafo'ou lacked a deep water harbor to accommodate ships, postal deliveries were received via the so-called "Tin Can Mail", a system of having mail thrown overboard in biscuit tins and retrieved by local swimmers

In 1963, Tonga issued the world’s first self-adhesive stamps. The stamps were circular in shape and printed on embossed gilt-foiled paper, thus matching the design of the coins being commemorated. Subsequent philatelic issues employed other off-beat designs including stamps shaped like hearts, birds and fruit.

Tonga continued to issue self-adhesive stamps printed on paper, however, many of the stamps were too big for placement on conventional mailing envelopes. Tonga’s unusual postage stamps have become popular with philatelists around the world

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  • Tonga 1893 Set of 5 SG01-05 Fine Unused
    Sale
    Regular Price £100.00 Special Price £80.00
  • Tonga 1895 7 1/2d Yellow SG35a Good MM
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • Tonga 1899 1d Black & Scarlet SG54b 'Hyphen 3mm' Fine MM
    Sale
    Regular Price £40.00 Special Price £32.00
  • Tonga 1938 2 1/2d Black & Ultramarine SG73 Fine MM
    Sale
    Regular Price £8.00 Special Price £6.40
  • Tonga 1899 1d Black & Scarlet SG54 V.F.U
    Sale
    Regular Price £40.00 Special Price £32.00
  • Tonga 1963 15s SG017 Proof in Un-Issued Colours Carmine & Gold V.F MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £30.00 Special Price £24.00
  • Tonga 1963 1d Coat of Arms SG129 Proof in Gold V.F MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £50.00 Special Price £40.00
  • Tonga 1963 1s1d SG137 Proof in Black & Gold V.F MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £30.00 Special Price £24.00
  • Tonga 1963 1s1d SG137 Proof in Carmine & Gold V.F MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £30.00 Special Price £24.00
  • Tonga 1963 1s1d SG137 Proof in Emerald & Gold V.F MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £30.00 Special Price £24.00
  • Tonga 1963 9d Violet & Gold SG132 Proof Coat of Arms Instead of Queen Salote Fine MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £80.00 Special Price £64.00
  • Tonga 1963 10d Black & Gold SG135 Proof Coat of Arms Instead of Queen Salote Fine MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £80.00 Special Price £64.00
  • Tonga 1963 10d Carmine & Gold SG135 Proof Coat of Arms Instead of Queen Salote Fine MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £80.00 Special Price £64.00
  • Tonga 1963 10d Emerald & Gold SG135 Proof Coat of Arms Instead of Queen Salote Fine MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £80.00 Special Price £64.00
  • Tonga 1938 Set of 3 SG71-73 Good VLMM
    Sale
    Regular Price £13.00 Special Price £10.40
  • Tonga 1893 4d Ultramarine SG03 Fine Unused
    Sale
    Regular Price £12.00 Special Price £9.60
  • Tonga 1897 2d Grey & Bistre SG41 Type II Good MM
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • Tonga 1897 5d Black & Orange SG46 Fine LMM
    Sale
    Regular Price £17.00 Special Price £13.60
  • Tonga 1897 6d Red SG47a Wmk Sideways Fine MM
    Sale
    Regular Price £5.00 Special Price £4.00
  • Tonga 1897 7 1/2d Black & Green SG48 Fine LMM
    Sale
    Regular Price £11.00 Special Price £8.80
  • Tonga 1921 2 1/2d Black & Blue SG58 Fine LMM
    Sale
    Regular Price £5.00 Special Price £4.00
  • Tonga 1942 3d Black & Yellow-Green SG78 Fine Used
    Sale
    Regular Price £4.00 Special Price £3.20
  • Tonga 1886 1s Pale Green SG4 Good Used
    Sale
    Regular Price £3.00 Special Price £2.40
  • Tonga 1886 6d Blue SG3 Fine Unused
    Sale
    Regular Price £15.00 Special Price £12.00

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