Tuvalu 1979 DAY of DEATH captain JAMES COOK stamps MNH
In 1979, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu issued a highly collectible set of postage stamps to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Death of Captain James Cook (1728–1779).
The set was officially released on February 14, 1979—the exact 200th anniversary of the day Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii.
The 1979 Stamp Set Breakdown
Designed by artist John Cooter and printed by Format International Security Printers, the standard set consists of 4 stamps (often found printed together in horizontal se-tenant strips or sheetlets of 12):
| Face Value | Subject Matter | Catalog Numbers |
| 8c | Portrait of Captain James Cook alongside his ship, the HMS Resolution. | Michel: 101 / Scott: 114 |
| 30c | The HMS Discovery (Cook’s consort ship during his fateful third Pacific voyage). | Michel: 102 / Scott: 115 |
| 40c | A dramatic depiction of the Death of Captain Cook at Kealakekua Bay. | Michel: 103 / Scott: 116 |
| $1.00 | A map charting Cook’s Third Voyage alongside 18th-century navigational tools. | Michel: 104 / Scott: 117 |
Collector Variations & Market Value
Standard Mint Never Hinged (MNH) sets of these 4 stamps are quite common and very affordable, typically retailing for around $2.00 to $8.00 USD (€2.00 to €7.00).
However, because the printer (Format International) went into liquidation in 1988, unique variations slipped into the philatelic market that are highly prized by specialist collectors:
- Imperforate Proofs: Progressive color proofs and strips printed without perforation holes. These are genuinely rare and command much higher prices (ranging from $20 to $60+ USD).
- Specimen Overprints: Copies featuring a diagonal “SPECIMEN” overprint, which were originally sent to the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
Historical Note: While Captain Cook didn’t personally map or land on the islands that make up Tuvalu (then known as the Ellice Islands), his sweeping Pacific expeditions paved the way for the European cartography of the entire region.
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