Tuvalu year 1979 200th DAY of DEATH captain James Cook stamps
In 1979, Tuvalu commemorated the Bicentenary of the Death of Captain James Cook (1728–1779). This was part of a major international philatelic event, as many Pacific nations and Commonwealth countries issued similar “Cook Voyage” or “Death Anniversary” stamps that year.
1. The 1979 Bicentenary Set
The set was officially issued on February 14, 1979 (the exact 200th anniversary of his death in Hawaii). It is a colorful, high-quality issue designed by John Cooter.
| Value | Image Subject | Michel / Scott No. |
| 8c | Portrait of Captain Cook & his ship, the Resolution | Mi: 101 / Sc: 114 |
| 30c | The Discovery (Cook’s other ship on the 3rd voyage) | Mi: 102 / Sc: 115 |
| 40c | Death of Captain Cook at Kealakekua Bay | Mi: 103 / Sc: 116 |
| $1.00 | Map of the Third Voyage and navigational tools | Mi: 104 / Sc: 117 |
2. Formats and Variations
Tuvalu utilized several interesting formats for this issue, which are popular with specialist collectors:
- Se-tenant Strip: The four stamps were often printed together in a horizontal strip.
- Sheetlets: The stamps were issued in small sheetlets of 12 (containing three sets of the four stamps).
- Imperforate Proofs: Rare “Progressive Proof” sheets and imperforate (no holes) strips exist. These are significantly more valuable, sometimes selling for $20 – $60 USD depending on the rarity.
- Specimen Overprints: You may find these stamps with the word “SPECIMEN” diagonal across the face; these were sent to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) for distribution to other postal authorities.
Historical Context
James Cook’s connection to Tuvalu is indirect but significant to the region. While he did not land on the Tuvaluan islands himself, his voyages mapped vast sections of the Pacific, and his death in 1779 marked the end of the “Age of Discovery” that brought the Tuvaluan islands (formerly the Ellice Islands) to European attention.
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