HILARY
ROOTS (or Cleo) 
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PHILATELY.
Stamp
collecting is the stuff of dreams, travels,
history and geography lessons. And New
Caledonian stamps are no exception. Indeed
the small country of only 216,000
inhabitants has a reputation for
extraordinary stamps, known not only for
their size, but also for their quality and
variety. There are about 15 new issues every
year.
Isle of Pines features as a subject from
time to time. One recent issue concerns a
French Navy corvette that charted the
island’s waters in the mid-19th century,
before subsequently being shipwrecked on New
Zealand shores. The vessel’s name, Alcmene,
is the official name of a beautiful small
island 7-km from Kuto, more commonly known
as Brush Island.
Another series issued in June this year,
features the locally-produced New Caledonian
coffee.
Three stamps represent the different phases
of production: the flowers and berries of
the Le Roy bush, the roasting process, then
finally – a steaming cup of freshly brewed,
fragrant smelling coffee. Yes, surprising as
it may seem, the stamps actually give
off a strong coffee aroma!
To find out more about New Caledonia’s
Philately Service and the possibility of
subscribing to new issues, see
www.opt.nc or contact e-mail: philatelie@opt.nc
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Version
française
