Tonga Sc 39, 56 on 1937 Tin Can Mail Cover to California

Description: Tonga, Scott 39, 56 on 1937 Tin Can Mail Cover. Bold strike of NIUAFOOU / 31 JUL 37 / TONGA CDS tie ½p Coat of Arms & 2p Queen Salote, TIN CAN - CANOE MAIL : ISLAND handstamp & 3-line circular TIN / CAN / MAIL also ties ½p stamp, 2 additional handstamps & dispatch cachet, addressed to La Canada, California, USA. 5 different handstamps indicating Tin Can Mail, Oceanic Line imprint on sealed backflap, fresh & VF. Tonga is an archipelago in in the South Pacific Ocean comprising 176 islands, lying to the Southwest of American Samoa, Since the 3½" mile wide volcanic island of Niuafo'ou with 1,100 inhabitants, also known as Good Hope Island and Tin Can Island, lacked a beach and a harbor, mail was originally transferred from passing ships via tin cans to native swimmers who brought the mail ashore. In the 1930s, a swimmer was killed by a shark after which the mail was collected by outrigger canoe. Postmasters Walter Quesnell and later John Malikamu of Tonga arranged to provide "Tin Can Mail" covers to passing ships and philatelists worldwide. A volcanic eruption brought Malikamu's enterprise to an end on December 21,1946 when the island was completely evacuated. Powered by eBay Turbo Lister The free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. View more great items

Price: 47.5 USD

Location: Fountain Hills, Arizona

End Time: 2023-11-19T17:26:18.000Z

Shipping Cost: 2.95 USD