Darwin Stamps
Charles Darwin and Darwinian images have appeared on postage stamps since 1935, in Ecuador. Since then at least sixty countries have now published Darwin stamps.
This online catalogue began with a selection of over 100 Darwin stamps from the collection of the Turkish historian of science Cemil Ozan Ceyhan who kindly shared them with Darwin Online. He aims to create a complete collection of Darwin stamps and hopefully the list on this page will eventually represent a complete catalogue.
Ozan writes that "this collection can also be seen as a tool for a different perspective on how different countries perceive Darwin."
Darwin Online has been the source for a surprising number of stamps- in addition to countless other publications and broadcasts (see here). Those which used Darwin Online images in the list below are marked with *. Those reproduced images with permission are marked with **.
For further details or to assist with the collection, please contact Ozan via email: ceyhanc@itu.edu.tr
More recently (2024) we have received information and images of further Darwin stamps from the collection of Stephen Green, UK.
Green's contributions are distinguished here by a summary of details and are signed Stephen Green, UK.
The terms used in Green's summaries are:
POSTAGE STAMP, where evidence of normal postal use has been found (local or international) or it is considered such use would have been accepted by Postal Authorities.
"STAMPS", postage stamps, issued for postal use, AND similar items, produced for various non-postal uses.
NON POSTAL, where there is no indication of local or international postal services or acceptance.
M/S, Mini Sheet.
GUTTER PAIR, stamps joined by a non postal border, usually where a large sheet of stamps is divided by a margin, horizontally and/or vertically, into 2 or 4 sections.
PERFORATED, where the stamp is bordered by perforations.
IMPERF, where the stamp is issued without any perforations.
CANCELLATION/POSTMARK, an ink impressions is made on the stamp and envelope, usually indicating, date and place used, and sometimes with an explanation of use or illustration.
CTO, Cancelled To Order, quite often indicating issued for non postal reasons, or as an additional interest for stamp collectors.
FDC, First Day Cover, stamps on an envelope cancelled by a postmark that shows the exact date of formal issue and use.
FDI, First Date of Issue, a postmark recording the first day of issue.
With thanks to Michael Kogan for the Albanian stamp and further details on world stamps depicting Darwin.
John van Wyhe
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
COUNTRY: ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
ISSUE DATE: 1982 (on M/S)
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Mint, single, perforated, gummed M/S.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Ascension
Australia
COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA
ISSUE DATE: 15/1/86 (date on fdc)
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Pre-stamped Envelope (Envelope number 100), CTO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Also seen, postally used, fdi, various CTO/SHS/Slogan. Stephen Green, UK.
Austria
Bashkiria, Russia
(commemorative print)
Benin
COUNTRY: BENIN
ISSUE DATE: 2019 (on stamp)
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Mint, perforated, gummed, M/S, containing 1 stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: BENIN
ISSUE DATE: 2019 (on stamp)
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Mint, perforated, gummed, M/S, containing 2 different joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Bosnia
2009
British Indian Ocean Territory
Bulgaria
COUNTRY: BULGARIA
ISSUE DATE: 2009, on label
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: UNKNOWN ? Possibly a facsimile or label
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: no type of postmarked or CTO has been seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Cambodia
COUNTRY: CAMBODIA
ISSUE DATE: 1992, date on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Single, perforated, gummed, Mint stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Cape Verde
COUNTRY: CAPE VERDE
ISSUE DATE: 2009 printed on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: probably postage stamps, removed from a sheet, a strip of 3 perforated, joined, different stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: this may be from what is termed a "sheet-let", postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Chad / Tchad
COUNTRY: CHAD
ISSUE DATE: 2001, on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Single, perforated, gummed, MINT stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: CHAD
ISSUE DATE: 2018, date on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, M/S, including a single stamp, MINT
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: also seen CTO, FDC, and IMPERF, postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
2009
2009 (commemorative print)
COUNTRY: CHAD
ISSUE DATE: 2015 on stamp [12.03.2015 on CTO]
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated M/S holding a single stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: also CTO, postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: CHAD
ISSUE DATE: 2018 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, M/S including 4 different joined Mint stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: CHAD
ISSUE DATE: 2020 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, M/S, containing 4 different joined stamps, CTO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.Cocos (Keeling) islands
**
Comores
Congo
(commemorative print):
COUNTRY: CONGO
ISSUE DATE: 2017, on stamp. Rose.
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, M/S, MINT, containg a single stamp (gummed? Unclear)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: CONGO
ISSUE DATE: 2017, on stamp. Waterfowl.
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, M/S, MINT, containing a single stamp (gummed? unclear)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: CONGO
ISSUE DATE: 2017, on stamp
TYPE ILLLUSTRATED: Perforated, M/S, MINT, containing 2 joined stamps, both stamps have a Perforated "TAB" (probably lightly gummed)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Cuba
Czech Republic
DDR - German Democratic Republic
1959
Djibouti
2009 (commemorative print)
COUNTRY: DJIBOUTI
ISSUE DATE: 2017, on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, MINT, M/S, containing 1 stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: DJIBOUTI
ISSUE DATE: 2017, on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, MINT, M/S, containing 4 different stamps
Top left stamp includes ; "Emma Darwin"
Bottom right stamp includes; "Ceroglossus darwinii" [ = Hope, 1837, Carabidae, beetle, current nomenclature drops the last Latin i]. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: DJIBOUTI
ISSUE DATE: stamp dated 2024
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint M/S holding 3 different joined perforated stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen, also IMPERF variety. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: DJIBOUTI
ISSUE DATE: stamp dated 2024
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint M/S holding a single Perforated stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen, also perforated variety. Stephen Green, UK.
Ecuador
1935
COUNTRY: ECUADOR
ISSUE DATE: 10/6/83 (on fdc)
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: FDC, FDI/CTO, including both stamps and illustrated Envelope.
s/. 5 = 1882 1982 centenary of the death of CD
s/. 3 = 1832 1982 sesquicentennial (150 years) of the National Sovereignty of the Galapagos Is
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Also seen mint, not yet seen postally used. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: ECUADOR
ISSUE DATE: FEB '86 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: single, mint, perforated, postage stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: removed, single, postal use with cancellation/post mark. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY; ECUADOR
ISSUE DATE; 2009, "09" printed on stamp and M/S
TYPE ILLUSTRATED; Mint, perforated M/S, containing 9 separate stamps
AADDITIONAL INFORMATION; Postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: ECUADOR
ISSUE DATE: 2009 (CARTOR 09 on stamp)
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Large single, mint, gummed stamp, with some sheet border. A number (0197) is printed in a box towards the left edge perforation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: stamps with different edge numbers. Not yet seen postally used. Stephen Green, UK.
Falkland Islands
2009
COUNTRY: FALKLAND ISLANDS
ISSUE DATE: 4/11/85 (date on fdc)
TYPE ILLLUSTRATED: Mint, perforated, gummed, block of 4 stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Also seen FDC, with various CDS postmarks. Also various margin and gutter examples. Postal use not yet seen.
The orchid illustrated is named as Calceolaria darwinii (George Bentham), but that identification now seems to be considered a synonym of Calceolaria uniflora. Stephen Green, UK.
French Polynesia
COUNTRY: FRENCH POLYNESIA
ISSUE DATE: 2022, no both the stamp and M/S
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Single, perforated, gummed. M/S, containing 1 stamp
Probably Postage Stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: also seen in partial sheetlet form, multiple stamps with jungle decorated and patterned border, not yet obtained for review.
None have yet been seen postally used. Stephen Green, UK.
Gabon
Germany
COUNTRY: GERMANY
ISSUE DATE: NOT KNOWN
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: 2 single, detached, perforated "LETTER SEALS", showing examples of colour variations [KOSMOS PUBLISHING HOUSE, Stuttgart, Monthly Magazine, Friends of Nature Club]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Not yet seen commercially used on Cover or Correspondence. Date used uncertain. The magazine "Kosmos-Gesellschaft" started in the 1920s. Stephen Green, UK.
Gibraltar**
Grenada*
Guinea
COUNTRY: GUINEA
ISSUE DATE: 2007, on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, MINT, M/S, containing 1 stamp. The stamp is dedicated to Robert Oppenheimer, but there is a large image of CD on the surrounding M/S
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA
ISSUE DATE: 2009 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated M/S holding 6 joined stamps, of which only 2 picture Darwin.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA
ISSUE DATE: 2012, on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, M/S, containing 3 different separated stamps, only 1 of which illustrates CD
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA
ISSUE DATE: 2017 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated M/S, holding a single stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA
ISSUE DATE: 2017 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated M/S, holding 4 joined different stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen, extracted single mint stamps. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA
ISSUE DATE: 2024, date on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, M/S, containing 8 items, (6 of the same Beagle stamps, 1 CD stamp, and 1 label).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Guinea-Bissau
COUNTRY: GUINEA-BISSAU
ISSUE DATE: 2003, on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, MINT, M/S, containing 6 different joined stamps, only 1 stamp illustrates CD (top right)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA-BISSAU
ISSUE DATE: 2011, on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: MINT, perforated, gummed, M/S, including 1 stamp. The stamp shows a Sea Lion and there is an image of Darwin on the M/S border
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA-BISSAU
ISSUE DATE: 2022, on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: MINT , perforated, gummed, M/S, including 4 joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA-BISSAU
ISSUE DATED: stamp dated 2023
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint M/S, holding a single perforated stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA-BISSAU
ISSUE DATE: stamp dated 2023
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint M/S, holding a single perforated stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: GUINEA-BISSAU
ISSUE DATE: stamp dated 2023
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint M/S, holding 3 joined different perforated stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
India
Ireland
Italy
COUNTRY: ITALY
ISSUE DATE: NOT YET KNOWN (possibly 1950s)
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: LETTER SEAL/LABEL, perforated, gummed, Mint. Apparently used for political purposes
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: use on correspondence or documents not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: ITALY
ISSUE DATE: 12:2:2009, on fdi
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Block of 6, MINT, perforated, gummed, POSTAGE STAMP, removed from Sheet, with attached margin and bar code
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Also seen; Posteitaliane filatelia "EMISSIONE" Card, FDC/FDI, SHS/SLOGAN Postmark, and Pamphlet.
Ordinary Postal use on postcards. Stephen Green, UK.
Ivory Coast
(commemorative print)
COUNTRY: IVORY COAST
ISSUE DATE: 2017 (on stamp)
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Single extracted mint stamp.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Also M/S, postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Kiribati
Liberia*
Macedonia
2009
Madagascar
COUNTRY: MADAGASCAR
ISSUE DATE: 2018 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated, M/S
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: MADAGASCAR
ISSUE DATE: 2016 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated, M/S, with 3 different joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: MADAGASCAR
ISSUE DATE: 2022 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Mint perforated M/S containg 6 stamps (two rows of 3 joined stamps)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: also IMPERF, postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Malawi
(commemorative print)
Mali
2012
(2009 commemorative print)
COUNTRY: MALI
ISSUE DATE: 2019 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Mint perforated M/S containing single stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY; MALI
ISSUE DATE; 2019 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED; Perforated, Mint M/S, containing single stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; Postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Mauritius
COUNTRY: MAURITIUS
ISSUE DATE: 1982, probably 19 April 1982, as per others in the series
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: A set of 4 different, extracted, mint postage stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Also, Gutter Pairs, used and cancelled 18 Nov 1982, issued in a series of Island Nations visited by Darwin and HMS Beagle i.e. St Helena, Ascension and Falkland Islands. Stephen Green, UK.
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montserrat
Mozambique
*
*
Nevis
*
*
North Korea
Palau
*
Pitcairn Islands
Portugal
**
**
**
Romania
Rwanda
(commemorative print:)
St. Helena
1982
Sakhalin
São Tome and Principe
Serbia
Sierra Leone
*
2009
*
COUNTRY; SIERRA LEONE
ISSUE DATE; 2016 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED; Mint M/S including perforated single stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY; SIERRA LEONE
ISSUE DATE; 2016 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED; Mint perforated M/S containing 4 joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; also Mis-Perforated, postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY; SIERRA LEONE
ISSUE DATE; 2020 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED; Mint perforated M/S containing 4 joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; also Mis-Perforated, postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY; SIERRA LEONE
ISSUE DATE; 2020 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED; Mint perforated M/S , containing a single stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; Postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: SIERRA LEONE
ISSUE DATE: 2023 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Mint perforated M/S containing single stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: SIERRA LEONE
ISSUE DATE: 2023 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Mint perforated M/S, containing 9 joined items, being 5 stamps and 4 labels
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Solomon Islands
COUNTRY: SOLOMON ISLANDS
ISSUE DATE: 2017 on stamp
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated, M/S with 4 different joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: SOLOMON ISLANDS
ISSUE DATE: FDI 07.12. 2017
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated M/S, with single stamp
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: FDC/FDI/CTO, postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
Soviet Union
Spain
Togo
*
Turks and Caicos
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
COUNTRY: UKRAINE
ISSUE DATE: 09.07.2018, date in margin
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated M/S, with 6 joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: UKRAINE
ISSUE DATE: 30.10.2020, printed in margin
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: mint, perforated M/S, with 9 different joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: UKRAINE
ISSUE DATE: 08:06:2023, in margin of M/S
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, MINT, M/S, containing 9 different joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
COUNTRY: UKRAINE
ISSUE DATE: 08:06:2023, in margin of M/S
TYPE ILLUSTRATED: Perforated, gummed, MINT, M/S, containing 9 different joined stamps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Postal use not yet seen. Stephen Green, UK.
United Kingdom
2009 **
10 February 1982 Designed by David Gentleman
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Yakutiya, Russia
(commemorative print)
RN27