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This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation state since 1978, formerly a British protectorate known as the British Solomon Islands. They comprise nearly 1,000 islands and lie to the south-east of Papua New Guinea.
Contents
Pre-stamp era
The first mails from the islands are believed to be those sent by the British Resident Commissioner, Charles Woodford, who was appointed in 1896 and established an administrative centre at Tulagi. Letters were sent in a sealed bag to Sydney where New South Wales stamps were affixed. Later, a stock of New South Wales was kept at Tulagi and the stamps were cancelled in Sydney. From April 1906, Woodford used a paid handstamp instead and stamps were again added in Sydney.
First stamps
The first stamps of the Solomon Islands were marked British Solomon Islands Protectorate and were issued on 14 February 1907.
From 1913, stamps were inscribed just British Solomon Islands.