1957 Falkland Islands De La Rue Definitive Set: Remote Empire Philately

The Falkland Islands occupy a unique position in the geography of stamp collecting: a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, remote, sparsely populated, and associated with a particularly dramatic recent history (the 1982 war with Argentina). Falkland Islands stamps have fascinated collectors since the territory's first issues in the late 19th century, and the 1957 De La Rue definitive set represents one of the most attractive and well-produced sets from the British colonial era.

The Falkland Islands as a Collecting Area

The Falkland Islands have been a British possession since 1833 and have issued their own stamps since 1878. The combination of remote location, dramatic wildlife (penguins, albatrosses, seals, whales), and distinct geographical character gives the stamps a consistently appealing quality.

De La Rue (Thomas De La Rue and Company) was the preeminent security printer for the British colonial stamp program. Their production values were consistently high: excellent engraving, quality paper, reliable perforation, and careful quality control. A De La Rue-printed set carries an implicit guarantee of production quality.

The 1957 De La Rue Definitive Set

The 1957 definitive set featured the established pattern of the colonial era:

Portrait: Queen Elizabeth II (new portrait replacing the earlier George VI portrait after the 1952 accession)

Designs: Scenes of Falkland Islands life, wildlife, and landscape. The classic combinations typically feature penguins, ships, agricultural scenes, and landscapes.

Denominations: A range covering the postal rates of the period, from halfpenny through several shilling values.

Production quality: De La Rue engraved intaglio printing on high-quality paper with well-executed color work.

The 1957 set was one of the transitional sets following the design changes that accompanied Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and the subsequent philatelic program across all British colonies.

Condition Grades and Value

For the complete 1957 De La Rue definitive set:

Individual high-value denominations (the top shilling values) command premiums within the set.

Why Collect British Colonial Stamps?

The British colonial stamp collecting category is one of the richest in philately:

• Consistent production quality: De La Rue and other approved printers maintained high standards

• Fascinating geography: Stamps from remote territories document the geographic extent of empire

• Wildlife and landscape art: Many colonial stamps feature beautiful engraved imagery

• Historical context: The post-1952 Elizabeth II definitive program coincides with decolonization, giving stamps significant historical resonance

• Complete sets possible: Unlike some areas where key values are prohibitively rare, many colonial sets can be completed at reasonable cost

The Falkland Islands specifically attract collectors for the wildlife imagery (particularly the penguin subjects), the remote geographic charm, and the 1982 war context (Argentine occupation issues, liberation issues, and related material form a significant specialized collecting area).

The De La Rue Difference

Thomas De La Rue's printing reputation was built on security and quality. Their colonial stamps were produced using fine-line engraving that captures detail invisible in cheaper printing processes. Under magnification, De La Rue stamps show crisp, precise line work that remains impressive.

For collectors interested in the craft of stamp production as well as the thematic and historical aspects, De La Rue-printed sets represent some of the finest stamp printing available.

Falkland Islands Dependencies

Related to the 1957 Falkland Islands issues are the stamps of the Falkland Islands Dependencies (South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, South Shetland Islands, and Graham Land). These dependency stamps, also produced by De La Rue in matching designs, form a logical extension of Falkland Islands collecting and are pursued by completists.

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