Showing posts with label Staffa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Staffa. Show all posts

Monday, May 9, 2011

Microstates : 05 Staffa (bogus)

Staffa is an island on the west coast of Scotland. It's part of the Inner Hebrids and it's located about 10 kilometres west of the Isle of Mull (western side of Scotland).


The name 'Staffa' was given by the Vikings. In old Norvegian it means 'stave' or 'pillar' as the basalt caves on the island reminded them of their houses, which were built from vertically placed tree-logs.
The island is only 200 by 600 meters and has no habitants.
In 1800 there were  three Red Deer on the island, later replaced by goats and then a small herd of black cattle. Just before the end of the previous century, all animals were removed from the island, to restore the natural vegetation.


The only 'touristic' attractions are the caves, of which the largest one, Fingal's Cave was discovered in 1772, by Sir Joseph Banks, on his way to Iceland.

And yet, the island happens to issue stamps.
They must be designed, printed, distributed, sold and used elsewhere, since no mailbox (not even mentionning the post offices) are found on the entire island.

For the admirors of bogus stamps, some examples of the cinderellas of Staffa.
Nicely cancelled CTO, by ... one of the goats on the island I guess.





Additional pics:

whilst going through my "to be sorted out" albums, i found some aditional stamps items of Staffa.
According the cancellations (and i presume they were printed in blocks of 4) i must still be missing 3 stamps items.