Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, measures about sixteen by eight kilometres, and is one of the most remote islands in the world. The British Overseas Territory has been issuing stamps since 1856, the first of which was a portrait of Queen Victoria printed with blue ink.
For my latest in an ongoing series of irregular posts about public telephone boxes on postage stamps, this study of a cardphone box in Saint Helena offers up a remarkable possibility of someone in such a remote place having a chat with a friend or family member many, many thousands of miles away. Because mobile telephony only began on the Island in the past six years or so, there are still 36 booths in operation that use either coin or cards, or a combination of them both, for both local and international calls.
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| Woman in Card Phone Booth, 1990 |
This 20p stamp was issued in a set of four in 1990 commemorating 'Communications' on the Island, and it was designed by the British illustrator Nick Shewring, who has created over 200 sets of stamps for over 40 countries across the world. The sheet edge also included an attractive decorative border depicting pared down versions of the four subjects in the stamps.
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