Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about 483 km east of South America's southern Patagonian coast, and about 1.210 km from the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, at a latitude of about 52°S. The archipelago, with an area of 12.000 km², comprises East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 smaller islands. As a British overseas territory, the Falklands have internal self-governance, and the United Kingdom takes responsibility for their defence and foreign affairs. The Falkland Islands' capital is Stanley on East Falkland.

Controversy exists over the Falklands' discovery and subsequent colonisation by Europeans. At various times, the islands have had French, British, Spanish, and Argentine settlements. Britain reasserted its rule in 1833, although Argentina maintains its claim to the islands. In April 1982, Argentine forces occupied the islands. British administration was restored two months later at the end of the Falklands War. Almost all Falklanders favour the archipelago remaining a UK overseas territory. Its sovereignty status is part of an ongoing dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

The population (3.398 inhabitants in 2016) primarily consists of native-born Falkland Islanders, the majority of British descent. Other ethnicities include French, Gibraltarian and Scandinavian. Immigration from the United Kingdom, the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena, and Chile has reversed a population decline. The predominant (and official) language is English. Under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983, Falkland Islanders are British citizens.

The islands lie on the boundary of the subantarctic oceanic and tundra climate zones, and both major islands have mountain ranges reaching 700 m. They are home to large bird populations, although many no longer breed on the main islands because of competition from introduced species. Major economic activities include fishing, tourism and sheep farming, with an emphasis on high-quality wool exports. Oil exploration, licensed by the Falkland Islands Government, remains controversial as a result of maritime disputes with Argentina.

I sent six envelopes to the Philatelic Bureau of the Falkland Islands, one for the Fakland Islands, one for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and four for bases in the British Antarctic Territory. I left it to the Bureau staff to choose the stamps and just charge my credit card.

All envelopes eventually returned by normal mail, only the one from the Falkland Islands was sent to me in a cover together with the invoice. The stamp on the envelope was from the first series of Falkland Islands Wrecks, issued on 27 March 2017. On the outer envelope were two stamps from part 4 of the Penguins, Predators & Prey series, Magellanic Penguins, issued on 21 August 2015.

Stamps can be bought through the website of FPS, Falklands Post Service Limited (also for BAT and SG&SSI stamps): falklandstamps.com.

Date sent: 13 April 2017

Date postmark: 11 May 2017

Date received: 30 May 2017

Number of days: 47

Envelope in collection: 127