Travel through Philately - Cocos (Keeling) Islands Australia - 50 Years of Stamps

Cocos Islands has as interesting a geography as Christmas Island - they are both part of Australia yet they are nearer to the Indonesian archipelago than the mainland, the latter more so than the former, and larger. Although the island inhabitants, mainly Cocos Malay, maintained a western culture, there are extensive influences from Malaysia and Indonesia due to their proximity. Historically, their geographical location had them placed under the administration of Straits Settlements, which included Penang, Singapore and Malacca, after their annexation by the British Empire in 1857. The islands' control transferred to Australia on 23 November 1955.

When the first pictorial definitives was issued for Cocos Island in 1963, they portrayed life on the islands back in the 60s, showing the copra industry, a constellation aircraft, a map of the island, palms, a Jukong (which is a kind of Malay sailing boat), and a white tern.

This new issue was released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that first release. Just as the predecessor portrayed life in the 60s, this issue showcased life at the turn of the millennium, featuring tourism and environmental aspect of life. 

The new issue released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of stamps in Cocos Islands contained 5 stamps, respectively portraying diving and life on the lagoon, coconuts and wildlife from the isolated island.

View Cocos (Keeling) Islands in Larger Map; if you zoom in to the map, you will realize that you only see the outline of the atoll long after the surrounding landmass has disappeared.

Date of Issue:             4 June 2013

Denominations:           5¢, 60¢, AUD1.00, AUD1.20, AUD2.00
Stamp Size:                26mm x 37.5mm
Minisheet Size:           170mm x 210mm
Perforation:                14.6 x 13.86

Paper:                        Tullis Russell

Printing Process:         Lithography
Printer:                       RA Printing
Designer:                    John White (Australia Post Design Studio)

Source:

1. Wikipedia - Cocos (Keeling) Islands
2. Wikipedia - Culture of Cocos Islands