Do you ever wonder exactly where Norfolk Island is? The island hangs out in the Pacific all on its own. 

Norfolk Island

It looks a bit forlorn out there, but wow does it produce a spectacular program each year. Norfolk post has some of the best designers in the world at their disposal, and to prove it, 2024 begins with the incredible Jo Muré, one of Australia’s premier stamp designers. With hundreds of stamps created for Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos Island and AAT, as well as Norfolk, a person could devote an album to just Jo’s stamps and have a brilliant collection.  

Norfolk Island specialises in strong botanical and wildlife stamps, often reaching back to historical illustrations. This year’s Humpback Whales makes a big splash at the start of the year. Hey, come on, you put up with an entire year of rabbit jokes for the Year of the Rabbit, you can’t tell me you weren’t expecting a whale joke or two. With 2 stamps already issued, there should be one, possibly two more to complete the year. Norfolk is parsimonious in its releases, which is what makes them so wonderful to collect. 

Enjoy
Catpaw

January

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel
offset

• Humpback Whale breaching
• Humpback Whale with calf

Conservation Advice Megaptera novaeangliae (environment.gov.au)

Designer: Jo Muré

Release date: January 8, 2024

March

Norfolk Island 1974 Royal Visit

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel
offset

• Her Majesty at Queen Elizabeth Lookout
• The Queen at Golf Clubhouse 

This was the Queen’s first visit to Norfolk Island (the Duke’s third) and it was the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook arriving at the island on HMS Resolution, naming it Norfolk Island, after Mary Howard, Duchess of Norfolk. The visit took place on 11 February 1974.
Norfolk Island 1974 Royal Visit – Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)

Designer: Jo Muré using photos by Donald Marshall, courtesy Murray Marshall; (R) courtesy Norfolk Island Museum

Release date: March 19, 2024 

June

Norfolk Island Fishing

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 sheets of 20
offset

• Shoreline Fishing – Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi)
• Deep-water Fishing – Redthroat Emperor (Lethrinus miniatus

Fish illustrator: Roger Swainston 
Swainston’s art has been featured on Australian, Christmas Island and Norfolk stamps. He is a naturalist and zoologist as well as underwater artist. He has developed a system that allows him to draw while underwater. If you flip to his page Underwater Drawing – Roger Swainston, you can see photos of Swainston with his unique drawing setup.

Previous stamp for Norfolk Island Norfolk Island Wrasses (2018)
 

Designer: Simone Sakinofsky

Release date: June 11,2024