What is the least populated area to have issued its own regular stamps?

Rowena8482

Pitcairn Island has a population of under 50 people and a large part of it's income is from postage stamps for collectors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitcairn Dec 21 07, 5:50 AM

author

Even less populated areas have issued stamps. The question is whether these stamps were ever in regular use. Some examples: British Antarctic Territory, Australian Antarctic Territory, Ross Dependency (an Antarctic territory claimed by New Zealand). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_entities_that_have_issued_postage_stamps#Antarctic_Territories Dec 21 07, 7:38 AM

mctavish99

Hutt River Principality is an area of Western Australia that seceeded in 1970, ,and among other things, does issue its own coins and stamps. However, it lacks the full recognition of various governments to ensure its status as a "proper country". It is small in area - a mere 75 square Km - and the closest reference I can find to its population is "very small but fluctuating". The history of this "mouse that roared" makes interesting reading :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutt_River_Province_Principality Dec 21 07, 7:59 AM

Baloo55th

Lundy Island has a population of under 30 and still issues stamps. Dec 21 07, 6:05 PM

author

I thought some of you you were going to come up with Lundy. With 28 inhabitants they sure beat Pitcairn Islands. Quote: As of 2007, there was a resident population of 28 people, including volunteers. These include a warden, island manager, and farmer, as well as a bar and house-keeping staff. Lundy Island continues to issue stamps with the latest issues being in 2007 featuring Owls in a Souviner Sheet format. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lundy Dec 22 07, 1:26 AM

author

Lundy is still beaten by South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, with a population below 20. Quote: A large source of income from abroad also comes from the issue of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands postage stamps which are produced in the UK. A reasonable policy (few sets of stamps are issued each year) along with attractive subject matter (especially whales) makes them very popular with topical stamp collectors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Georgia_and_the_South_Sandwich_Islands Dec 22 07, 1:45 AM

author

And then there is the British Antarctic Territory, which is only 'populated' by scientists. Here is a list of their stamps up to 2007. http://www.stanleylisica.com/plist_ag/brita.htm Dec 22 07, 1:51 AM

author

And then there is the Australian Antarcitic Territory, likewise just populated by scientists. They don't issue many stamps, but there have been annual sets issued since the 1990s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_of_Australian_Antarctic_Territory Dec 22 07, 1:54 AM

author

Finally, the NZ claimed Ross Dependency in the Antarctica. This area reintroduced postage stamps in 1994, although just populated by scientists. http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-NZ/Stamps/OtherCountriesAndTerritories/RossDependency/ Dec 22 07, 1:56 AM

author

And then there are the bogus stamps issued by uninhabited areas for speculative reasons. One good example, the Scottish island of Staffa, uninhabited since 1800. Quote: During the 20th century there have been issues of bogus postage stamps, created to deceive collectors, bearing Staffa's name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffa Dec 22 07, 2:04 AM