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Prepaid for airmail in the USA
Swimmer mail This seldom seen 5d stamp is made up of 2d for postage outside the Kingdom and 3d for airmail within the United States. Here it is cancelled with a still pristine 7-bar killer. It probably flew direct from Pago Pago in American Samoa. |
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Eclipse
In 1930 there was a total eclipse of the sun lasting 93 seconds at 09h40 local time) and it could best be viewed from Niuafo'ou. Two expeditions of scientists came, one from New Zealand and another from the USA. They brought 4 telescopes, 9 camaras, a specially created spectograph and a seismograph. Paul Diefenderter, the Director of Education for American Samoa, was invited to join the expedition as official Navy and Smithsonian photographer. |
Cachets
We have to thank Walter George Quensell, a plantation manager and a philatelist, for making cachets to record this strange method of delivering the mail. The US Navy was quick to make a cachet of its own in honour of the Eclipse Expedition. |
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