Queen Elizabeth II 25th Anniversary Coronation First Day Cover, Tristan Da Cunha postmarked on April 21, 1978.
Tristan Da Cunha
Winding 12,000 miles from the Greenland Sea to the Southern Ocean lies the Mid- Atlantic Ridge, half way between the New and Old Worlds. At several points the earth's mantle has broken through, forming by continued volcanic action such islands as Iceland, the Azores and Ascension Island. Tristan da Cunha, its steep, often snow covered cone rising to 7,640 ft. is another.
Although discovered three hundred years before, permanent settlement only dates from 1816, when the British garrisoned the island to prevent it being used as a base to rescue Napoleon from exile on St. Helena, 1500 miles NNE. The male ancestors of the present population of about 300 were white Europeans and Americans, but the women, in addition to coming from Europe, also included many of Negro or Malay origin. This rich mixture produced a people known for their spirit of partnership and respect for the individual, and an island where crime is unknown. Their determination can also be gauged from the fact that having been evacuated from the island when threatened by an erupting volcano in 1961, the large majority had returned to start anew in 1963.
The Islanders speak English with some 19th Century characteristics, such as pronouncing Vs like 'w's. A slight Australian-like accent is also noticeable. From their village of Edinburgh, the population grows potatoes, and rears sheep, cattle and fowl. The Crawfish, depicted in this issue, is found off the coast and has become essential to the fishing and pro- cessing industries since a canning plant was built in 1949.
The other animal in this set is the King's Bull, seen here supporting the Tudor Rose. Its original can be found guarding the entrance to Hampton Court Palace. This use of heraldic supporters to decorate roof parapets, flying butresses, and even tent poles was very common in the reign of Henry VIII, whose love of display was well known. The bull has been a symbol of power and divinity in many cultures throughout the ages. It can be traced all the way back to the time when farming brought civilisation to Sumer more than 5000 years ago, appearing for example in the wall paintings of Minoan Crete and as the Biblical Golden Calf.
