The Matangi Island Philatelic Bureau has issued the several stamps since its inception including the examples shown below. The current postal rate is 76 drookmas (the equivilent of 2 coconuts or 33 U.S. cents) for postcards and envelopes under 500 grams. Click on images to see a larger picture.

Food & Drink Series March 2004 TobaFuFu *	Food & Drink Series March 2004 Coffee Cat *
Special Series November 2003 M.I. Wildfire Danger (o)

Tricksters of Matangi November 2003 Matangi Island Diva (o)

Fauna of Matangi Series November 2003 Gizney Crab (o)

Rulers of Matangi Series
November 2002
King Funopaki, Queen Jemuka, Princess Darhi, Chuko (o)

First Official Stamp Series
June 2002 (o)
(also known as the "Sunset" series)

(o) - Out of Print - no longer available

* The following stamp sheets are still available for purchase:

TobaFuFu (15 stamps), Coffee Cat (15 stamps) and Day of the Dead 2004 (15 stamps)

All stamps are high resolution prints (600 dpi) on glossy paper. Stamps sheets are gummed and perforated. Contact me for details.

Official Postmarks

Matangi Island is proud of it's postal system! The entire island and the neighboring islands are served by a modern fleet of banca boats. These wooden hulled boats with bamboo outriggers are sturdy and quick. The postal workers can easily deliver the mail to all the island inhabitants in less than 7 hours. International mail service is provided once a day via airplane.

Prior to the construction of the banca boat fleet, messages were delivered by an elaborate system of drummers who would pound out the "telegraphs" on native drums placed strategically around the coastline.

There was also a small commercial venture named BatGrams which used specially trained carrier bats to deliver small notes between the islands. The company was started by a expatriate Australian man, Charlie Sheean, who was quite successful until the bat plague of 1903 put him out of business.

The modern postal system is a lot more efficient than in the past, with a strong commitment to keeping the communication lines open and affordable. The island postal employees are a courageous bunch who are proud of their slogan:

"Neither rain, nor sharks, nor typhoon gods shall stop the banca-post from making their appointed rounds.”

Web design brought to you by the silly folks at kiyotei's den * Copywrong 2003