FALKLAND ISLANDS

FALKLAND ISLANDS.

A chart of Thomas Boutflower (1768).
Fourth stamp in a set of 6, issued on 22.05.1981.
Face value: 15 pence.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Printed by Walsall Security Printers Ltd., Wolverhampton.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 323.
- Scott No. 321.
- StampWorld No. 323.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 399.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 321.

The Falkland Islands (claimed by Argentina as Islas Malvinas) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about 483 km (300 mi) east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about 1,210 km (752 mi) from the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The archipelago's area is 12,000 km² (4,700 sq mi). The islands were discovered by Richard Hawkins (from whom they received their first name) in 1594. They are under British rule since January 3, 1833.

Thomas Boutflower (Newcastle, 1732 - Ottery St Mary, Devon, 1775) was an English surveyor and  carpenter. In August 1765 he was appointed purser in the sloop Carcass, which formed part of the flotilla commanded by Captain John McBride which sailed to establish a settlement in the Falklands. It arrived at Port Egmont in January 1766. While in the Falklands prepared a map (A Draught of Falklands Islands) showing West Falkland described as the "Brittish Island" and East as "French Island", the latter very much smaller than the former. His lack of information show in the distorted coastal outlines beyond the northern coast of West Falkland and in the archaic orientation, placing south at the top. (Information taken from the Dictionary of Falklands Biography.)