Look for Aitutaki 1920 Capt. James Cook set

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Aitutaki is a small island with 15 smaller islets in the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands are in Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand.

The total population of the Cook Islands is about 15,000, but there are approximately 80,000 people of Cook Islands descent in New Zealand and 28,000 in Australia. With a population of about 1,700, Aitutaki is the second most populated island in the Cook Islands after Rarotonga.

Aitutaki was first settled by Polynesians, probably from Tahiti or Samoa, around the 13th century. Aitutaki was not visited by Capt. James Cook for whom the Cook Islands are named; however, Capt. William Bligh and the HMS Bounty did call there on April 11, 1789.

The Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888 and were attached to the colony of New Zealand. Today the Cook Islands is a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand. Cook Islanders have dual citizenship in New Zealand.

The first postage stamps for Aitutaki were produced in 1903 by overprinting “Aitutaki” on stamps of New Zealand. Prior to that, stamps of Cook Islands were used. In 1932, stamps of Aitutaki were superseded by Cook Islands stamps. The Aitutaki postal service was revived in 1972, and it has issued its own stamps since that time.

Look for the set of six Aitutaki stamps issued in 1920 (Scott 28-33) commemorating Capt. Cook’s arrival in the islands. The stamp designs depict the landing of Capt. Cook, Avarua waterfront (on Rarotonga), Capt. Cook, a palm tree, houses at Arorangi (on Rarotonga) and Avarua Harbor. Stamps with the same designs were also issued for the Cook Islands and Niue. The Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940 values the Aitutaki set at $33 in unused, hinged condition.

This beautiful, engraved bicolor set is popular with collectors of the British Empire, Polynesia and New Zealand, and Capt. Cook topical collectors. It is a good buy in very fine grade and unused, hinged condition at up to $20. A set in mint, never-hinged condition is a good buy at around $30.

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