VANUATU

VANUATU.

Map of Erromango island (native name: Nelocompne).
First stamp in a set of 13, issued on 30.07.1980 (issue in French language).
Face value: 5 New Hebrides francs.
Printing: Offset lithography.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 574.
- Scott No. 280a.
- StampWorld No. 14.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 287F.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 583.

Erromango, Nelocompne in the native language, covers an area of 891.9 km² (344.4 sq mi). Is the fourth largest island in the Vanuatu archipelago. The island, in the Coral Sea, is an ancient underwater volcano that rose above sea level due to tectonic movements. It was colonized by the Lapita people from Southeast Asia about 3,000 years ago. James Cook was the first European to set foot on the island on August 4, 1774, and from 1804 whalers were regular visitors. The discovery of large sandalwood reserves attracted many outsiders, and during the 19th century this sparked conflict between indigenous people and traders. The missionaries had great difficulty establishing themselves on the island. Before Vanuatu's independence (July 30, 1980) Erromango was part of the Franco-British condominium of the New Hebrides.