Sandafayre Stamp Auctions | Stamp Atlas

Nauru

FIRST STAMPS NW Pacific Islands overprinted 1914-16.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1916.

CURRENCY
1889 - 1914, German (mark).
1914 - 1941, British (sterling).
1941 - 1945, Japanese (yen).
1945 - 1966, British (sterling).
1966 to date, Australian (dollar).

Island in the Pacific just south of the Equator, famous for its phosphate deposits. Discovered by Captain Fearn of the Royal Navy in 1798 but in the 1880s annexed by Germany and administered as part of the Marshall Islands (q.v.). Captured by the Australians in September 1914. Granted a temporary British mandate in 1916 and became a mandate under the League of Nations in 1919. Was placed jointly under Australian, British and New Zealand control because of its importance as a supplier of phosphates, but was administered by Australia until 1968. Occupied by Japan during World War II. Nauru became a United Nations trusteeship territory in 1945 and became independent on 1 February 1968.

Postal History
No PO on the island until 1905 when the stamps of Marshall Islands were released. When the Australians conquered the island in 1914, stocks of stamps were sent to New Guinea to be overprinted GRI. None of these were returned to the island and Australian stamps overprinted 'North West Pacific Islands' were used until 1916. Then control passed to the British government and stamps overprinted NAURU were issued in October 1916. They remained in use until 1924 when a series of stamps produced in Australia was issued.

Special stamps have been used in Nauru ever since and overprints for the Republic of Nauru were issued a day before the actual date of independence on 1 February 1968.

North Pacific to 1919 (incl. Hawaiian Is.)
Click map for larger view