Postage stamps and postal history of the Cook Islands

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the Cook Islands.

Contents

• First stamps
• Rarotonga
• References

The Cook Islands are named after Captain James Cook, who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777. They became a British protectorate in 1888 and in 1900 administrative control was transferred to New Zealand. In 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The Cook Islands contain 15 islands in the group spread over the South Pacific.