Western Samoa 1939 Scott 182 "Map of Western Samoa" Quick History The Tripartite Convention of 1899 divided the Samoan archipelago into two parts: the eastern group (Tutuila with the important harbor of Pago Pago, and Manu'a) became a U.S. protectorate and territory, while the larger land mass western group ( Upolu with Apia Harbor, Savai'i) became German Samoa. Samoa Islands Britain vacated her claims on the islands, but was given compensation, as Germany ceded any rights to Tonga, among other concessions. The Samoan Chiefs and natives had little to say about this. The coaling station at Pago Pago was converted into a U.S. Naval Station. In 1911, the U.S. territory was officially renamed American Samoa. American Samoa has never had their own stamp issues, as U.S. stamps were used from the beginning. During the 1918 flu pandemic, the Governor of American Samoa, John Poyer, had quarantine ships surround the territory. Hence, American Samoa had no pandemic deaths. In contrast, the occupied (by New Zealand) "Western" Samoa had 8,000 Samoan deaths, over 20% of the population. This was the worst of any Pacific island group. The cause was a New Zealand trading ship Talune, which docked in Apia in 1918 carrying people infected with the flu. Margaret Mead American Samoa is also known as the seminal workplace of Margaret Mead, who helped develop the science of Anthropology through her fieldwork methods. Coming of Age in Samoa, published in 1928 Her "Coming of Age in Samoa" became the mostly widely read book in Anthropology, and catapulted her to fame of the first rank. French Oceania 1934 Scott 89 30c yellow green "Tahitian Girl" I had to go to a French produced stamp to find a portrait of Polynesian beauty and island languor that would be in keeping with Mead's thesis of a rich variety of adolescent experience within the native culture. ;-) Saluafata Harbor, 10 miles east of Apia, Hellgrewe, 1908 From "Das Buch von unseren Kolonien" German Samoa came into existence in 1900, and with typical German efficiency, roads, schools, and a hospital were developed. By 1908, German Samoa was a self supporting colony. Two thousand Chinese laborers were imported to work the plantations. Stamps, typical for a German colony, were issued. With the onset of WW I, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (at the request of Great Britain) invaded unopposed on August 29, 1914. Germany had no armed forces on the islands. In 1914, German stamps were overprinted "G.R.I." for "Georgius Rex Imperator", and surcharged in pence/shilling. New Zealand occupied the former German colony through 1920. Stamps of New Zealand were overprinted "Samoa". New Zealand then governed the islands through a League of Nations (later United Nations) mandate until 1962. Population of (western) Samoa was 38,000 Samoans and 1,500 Europeans in 1918. Samoa stamps proper were issued in 1921, and in 1935 the stamps were inscribed "Western Samoa". Western Samoa gained independence in 1962, and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. In 1997, the "Western Samoa" name was changed to "Samoa", which was protested by American Samoa, as it was felt it would lead to confusion, and reduced identity for American Samoa. Falefa Valley, Upolu, (Western) Samoa Although the culture of (Western) Samoa and American Samoa were identical initially, the influence of New Zealand and America, respectively, has widened the culture gap between the island groups. For instance, (Western) Samoa sports interest is rugby union and Samoan cricket. American Samoa is interested in American Football and the NFL. Thirty ethnic Samoans currently play in the NFL, about 40 times more representation than what one would expect, based on population. German Samoa 1915 Scott 72 10pf carmine "Kaiser's Yacht"; Wmk 125 "Lozenges" Into the Deep Blue The 2014 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Samoa 1900-1952, 23 stamps for German Samoa (1900-1915); 13 stamps for overprinted stamps of Germany "G.R.I"- "Georgius Rex Imperator" (1914) during the invasion of British Empire (New Zealand) forces; 28 stamps of New Zealand overprinted "Samoa" (1914-25); 23 more stamps during the New Zealand mandate (1921-1935); and 46 stamps during the "Western Samoa" proper era (1935-1952). The stamps from a CV perspective are inexpensive to moderately expensive, except the "G.R.I." overprinted German Samoa stamps are expensive. American Samoa: Pago Pago Postmark, December 13, 1966 There are no separate stamps for American Samoa, as U.S. issues were used there. A closer look at the stamps and issues 12 Pence = 1 Shilling 20 Shillings = 1 Pound 100 Pfennig = 1 Mark (1900) German Samoa 1900 Scott 54 20pf ultramarine Stamps of Germany, Overprinted The first issue for German Samoa consisted of six stamps of Germany that were overprinted "Samoa": by presumption in time for the opening of the German Post Office in Apia on March 1, 1900. German Samoa 1900 Scott 62 30pf orange & black/salmon "Kaiser's Yacht"; Unwmk A nine stamp set with the colony design was issued in 1900. German Samoa 1900 Scott 67 2m blue "Hohenzollern" The mark denomination engraved stamps (four of them) were also issued in 1900. This design is right at the top for my all time favorites during the classical era. Four more stamps of these designs were released in 1915 with watermark "Lozenges". They only exist unused in the catalogue, as they were never placed in use ( WW I occupation in 1914 of Samoa by New Zealand). When New Zealand occupied German Samoa in August, 1914, the German colony stamps were overprinted "G.R.I."- Georgius Rex Imperator) and surcharged in pence/shillings. The CV ranges from $10+-$3,500, and I don't have any at the moment. 1914 Scott 115 1p carmine Stamps of New Zealand Overprinted in Red or Blue New Zealand stamps (six) were overprinted in red or blue, as shown, on September 29, 1914, and issued for occupied Samoa. 1918 Scott 130 2p yellow, Red Overprint Between 1916-19, a nine stamp set of New Zealand George V issues were overprinted in red or blue. CV ranges from