Queen Elizabeth II 25th Anniversary Coronation First Day Cover, The Gilbert Islands postmarked on April 21, 1978.

The Gilbert Islands

The Gilberts, with their associated islands, are low-lying coconut palm and pandanus-clad coral atolls straddling the Equator and International Date Line. The predominantly Micronesian population of 52,000 live largely by fishing.

Early European voyages to Oceania were prompted by strategic, mercantile and scientific motives. They included such notable voyages as those of Captains Byron, Cook and Bligh (who was seeking breadfruit plants to supply cheaper food for the slaves in the Caribbean). Other valuable commodities offered by the islands include whales, seals, sandalwood and sea cucumbers.

After the traders came planters, who established plantations of coconut, cotton and sugar. The plantations required forced labour, and to obtain it, such nefarious methods as ramming canoes and 'rescuing' the survivors were employed. Furthermore, as ownership was not an Oceanic concept, the inhabitants offered vehement resistance to intrusions by people claiming exclusive use of territory and using forced labour.

Britain formally annexed the Gilberts in 1892, protecting interests from other European powers, curbing the worst excesses of colonialism, and quelling local resistance. In 1941, the Gilberts were invaded by the Japanese, who were driven out two years later by American forces. In 1974, the associated Ellice Islands voted to secede as the separate colony Tuvalu.

The Great Frigate-bird depicted in this Omnibus issue and imitated in the Gilbertese 'ruoia' dances, is a bird of 7 ft. wingspan with forked tail and long hooked beak. It feeds by snatching flying fish on the wing, by chasing boobies and terns, catching in mid-air the food they disgorge in panic; and by stealing chicks from bird colonies.

The Unicorn has, like the dragon and the bull, a history as long as civilisation. Known to the Chinese in the 27th Century BC (perhaps from second-hand tales of the rhino) it was regarded as a harbinger of offspring and a protector of saints and sages. It appeared later in Assyrian reliefs, and in mediaeval times was associated with the church's view of what was pure and chaste. Of secondary importance in England from the time of Edward III, the Scottish Unicorn joined the Lion as supporter of the royal arms in 1603, when James I brought it south of the border.

Shipping:

We ship via USPS, UPS or FedEx. At this time, we do not offer shipping to addresses with an APO/FPO or outside the continental United States.

Shipping Time:
Orders are normally shipped from our warehouse within 24 - 48 business hours of order placement. Please allow 7 - 10 business days for delivery after your order has shipped. Delivery times are estimated and we do not provide money-back guarantee for any shipping option other than FedEx Express or UPS Next Day.

Terms of Use and Security

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Returns & Replacements 

We accept returns within 30 days of the date of purchase unless otherwise stated on the item's page. In order to return an item, please contact us for a Return Authorization Number.  Once the Return Authorization Number is acquired, you have 30 days to return the item(s). All returned items must be unused and in new condition in their original packaging including all hardware and instructional components. Items are also subject to a 20% restocking fee. Although if you are a repeat customer who purchased from our website before, we are happy to waive the restocking fee.

Any returned item deemed not to fall within the preceding criteria will be returned with no credit issued at the customer's expense. Once your return has been inspected please allow 15 days for the credit to be applied to the credit card used for purchase. The initial cost of shipping is not eligible for a refund. Buyer pays for return shipping. To request your Return Authorization Number, please follow these steps:

1. Read and agree to the Returns Policy and Procedure above.

2. Email us at cs@phenomstores.com. We will need your order number and the Item ID number of the product you wish to return.

Refused Orders - Should you decide that you wish to refuse receipt of an item when delivered by UPS, USPS or any other common carrier and legitimately ordered from us, credit will be issued for the item, minus shipping and a restocking charge of 20%.

Exchanges - In order for us to do the exchange we would need to refund your payment, then you would need to make another purchase transaction with us for the item that you like within 7 days of your exchange request. We're asking that you return the item you bought from us within 30 days along with a tracking number so we both know that your return reached us. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. All returned items must be unused and in new condition in their original packaging including all hardware and instructional components. Any returned item deemed not to fall within the preceding criteria will be returned with no credit issued at the customer's expense. You are responsible for the return shipping cost. We also charge a 10% restocking fee for exchanges. Once we received and inspected the item we will credit** your payment. Please take note, our inventory changes constantly so the item may not be available at the time of your request. 

**A store credit will be issued on orders returned totaling less than $5.   

Damaged, Defective and Wrong Item(s) - It is your responsibility that the item(s) you received are undamaged and the correct item(s). Please examine the shipping box and all contents immediately upon receipt for any signs of damage, defect or wrong item(s). All claims must be initiated within 7 days of delivery and send us an email so we can further assist you.

Still have questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us by sending us an email to cs@phenomstores.com or by phone at 608-571-7033.

FAQ

When do I expect my order to ship out?

Our normal shipping lead times can take up to 72 hours after your order is received. However, due to unprecedented demand brought on by COVID-19 our shipping times have been extended. This is due to logistical issues that our shipping carriers are experiencing that is outside our control. Rest assured, we're doing everything we can to ship your order as soon as it's received.

How will I know my order has shipped?

As soon as your order is packed and labeled, we will email you a shipment confirmation with the tracking number so that you're able to track your order. You can look up the status of your order by entering the tracking number found on the bottom of our web page under "Track Order Status". You can also look up the shipment status of your order by entering your shipment tracking number at USPS.com, UPS.com or FedEx.com.   

How much does shipping cost?

Our shipping costs vary depending on the item you're purchasing. Most items are eligible for our FREE shipping if your purchase totals $59 and over.  And for items that are excluded from FREE shipping like bulk or oversized items, we offer FIXED shipping rate or prevailing market prices. 

Some of the items I ordered are missing. What should I do?

Please reach out to us when you have items that are missing when you originally placed your order. This happens either because,

1. The missing items are on backorder or

2. The missing items are still on its way but due to service delays from our shipping carrier (ie UPS, FedEx) your package may take longer than expected.

How soon after can I cancel my order?

Unfortunately, we cannot cancel an order once an order is placed. This is because your order is automatically placed in queue to ship out once an order is received.  

What is the best way to reach you when I have a question? 

Our customer service phone and chat lines are normally open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm CST. However, there are times when we can't be reached because all our customer service agents are helping other customers. If this happens, please leave us a voicemail at 608-571-7033 or write us a message on our "Contact Us" page and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

What happens when I "Pre-Order" an item?

When you "Pre-Order" an item that is out of stock, you will be notified when we have the item in stock again. Our "Pre-Order" (or Wait-List) doesn't guarantee that your order will be fulfilled but we will do our best to make that happen.

You're also under NO obligation to purchase when you sign up for "Pre-Order".