Samoa (officially the Independent State of Samoa) consists of two main islands, Savai’i and Upolu as well as 4 smaller islands. The country is situated in the Pacific Ocean east of northern Queensland, and north of Tonga. The capital is Apia. In 1900, the eastern islands became part of the United States and the western islands became part of Germany. From 1918 until 1962, western Samoa was controlled by New Zealand. In 1962, it became the first small-island country to become independent. In July 1997, the name was changed from western Samoa to Samoa. American Samoa protested, as it had always been known as Samoa. When looking at an atlas, the islands are referred to as Samoa (independent) and American Samoa. Christianity is a state religion of (western) Samoa.
Samoa issued its first stamps in 1877. The stamps were inscribed “Samoa Express”. Subsequently these stamps were reprinted and forged. In 1886, Germany opened a post office in Samoa and used stamps of the German Empire. In that year with New Zealand support, a competing service was set up servicing mainly British and American interests. These stamps were withdrawn in 1899 when Germany annexed Samoa. The first stamps were overprinted “Samoa” and appeared in 1900. German stamps were used until 1919. Stamps of the New Zealand administration were replaced by those of independent Samoa in 1962. In American Samoa, stamps of the United States are used today.
1886
Various Frames Series
SG # 60
Used (Hinged)
1921
Native Hut Series
SG # 153
Unused (Hinged)
1935
Various Scenes Series
SG # 180
Unused (Hinged)
1946
Peace stamps of New Zealand overprinted WESTERN SAMOA
SG # 215
Unused (Hinged)
SG # 216
Used (Hinged)
SG # 217
Used (Hinged)
1952
Various Scenes Series
SG # 219
Unused (Hinged)
1953
Coronation Series
SG # 229
Unused (Hinged)
SG # 230
Unused (Hinged)
1962
Independence Series
SG # 239
Unused (Hinged)
SG # 240
Unused (Hinged)
SG # 241
Unused (Hinged)
SG # 243
Used (Hinged)
1967
Birds Series (Decimal Currency)
SG # 280
Unused (Hinged)
SG # 281
Unused (Hinged)
SG # 282
Unused (Hinged)
1968
Human Rights Year Series
SG#310
Used (Hinged)
1969
First Man on the Moon Series – Samoa honours U.S. Moon Astronauts
SG # 330
Unused (NH)
1978
250th Birth Anniversary of Captain Cook Series
SG # 512
Unused (NH)
SG # 513
Unused (NH)
SG # 514
Unused (NH)
SG # 515
Unused (NH)