Norfolk Island Butterflies Stamps – September 2021

Each year Australia Post issues postage stamps related to Norfolk Island. The most recent set was Norfolk Island Butterflies stamp issued on 21^st September 2021.

A year ago, Jolene Oliver and I were asked if we could supply photos of Norfolk Island butterflies for an artist to design these postage stamps.

Jolene’s photographs were also used in the design and first day cover.

The postage stamps were issued on 21 September 2021.

A small territory at the juncture of tropical and temperate environments, Norfolk Island, with its mild climate and isolated location, is significant for both vagrant and endemic species. Human occupation, however, has impacted heavily on its native flora and fauna.

Much of Norfolk’s invertebrate fauna is yet to be comprehensively investigated and documented, but 17 species of butterfly have been observed, with two not seen for more than a century. Of the remaining 15, two of these are endemic subspecies:

They are the Norfolk Swallowtail (Papilio amynthor amphiaraus) and Norfolk Island Gull (Cepora perimale perimale). The elegant Norfolk Swallowtail belongs to the family Papilionidae and is fairly common on the island. The much smaller Norfolk Island Gull is the territory’s subspecies of C. perimale, belonging to the family Pieridae. While the subspecies is endemic to Norfolk, the species is found elsewhere. Its host plant is Capparis nobilis, known as Devil’s Guts. The stamp shows a female individual and the minisheet a male, which explains the colour differentiation.

The Stamp illustration by Kevin Stead.

The Mini Sheet Photograph by Jolene Oliver.

Cover and Mini Sheet designed by Jo Mure Australia Post Design Studio.

The Norfolk Island Swallowtail $1.10 postage stamp.

The Norfolk Island Gull $2.20 postage stamp.

The first day cover is a pictorial envelope with the two gummed stamps from the Norfolk Island Butterflies stamp issue affixed and postmarked - First day of issue | 21 September 2021 | Norfolk Island NSW 2899

Envelope size: 190mm x 110mm.

The first day cover is valid for postage only on the day of issue, from the post office named on the postmark.

If you wish to buy a set of the new Norfolk Island Butterflies postage stamps visit your local Australia Post for details. Minisheets and First Day Covers are available, as well as postage stamps. I was able to purchase Norfolk Island Butterflies Stamps First Day Covers last week at the Norfolk Island agency for Australia Post.

Until Australia Post took over the postage system on Norfolk Island in 2016, Norfolk Island Philadelphia issued postage stamps for local and international postage. These Norfolk Island postage stamps were very popular with stamp collectors and visitors as well as the local Norfolk Island community. In the 1970s a set of Norfolk Island Butterflies postage stamps were issued. It is interesting following postage stamps, they share knowledge of the local Flora and Fauna, the local history, events and sharing the talents and skills of local artist who designed many of these stamps.

I feel proud to have been asked to share Norfolk Island butterfly photographs for the design of these new postage stamps, and excited that Joelene’s wonderful image has featured on the Norfolk Island Butterflies Stamps.

Betty Matthews

November 2021