British Cook Islands year 1892 postage stamp

Cook Islands 1892 1 1/2d Lila SG 2 – 48 £ MH stamp

The Cook Islands are a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand, located in the South Pacific Ocean. They issue their own postage stamps, but not under the name “British Cook Islands”.

From 1892 to 1949, the islands used stamps of New Zealand overprinted with “Cook Islands”. From 1919 to 1932, the overprint read “Rarotonga”, after the largest island.

The first stamps inscribed “Cook Islands” were issued in 1949. Since then, the Cook Islands have issued their own distinct stamps featuring local scenes, cultural events, flora, fauna, and notable people.

Some key points about Cook Islands stamps:

• They are denominated in New Zealand currency
• Early issues were printed by firms in New Zealand, but since the 1970s most have been printed in England
• The islands have a philatelic bureau that produces many topical stamps aimed at collectors worldwide
• Cook Islands stamps are valid for postage in both the Cook Islands and New Zealand

So in summary, while the Cook Islands were formerly under direct British rule, their stamps have never been inscribed “British Cook Islands”. The current stamp issuing entity is properly known as just the “Cook Islands”.