Additions and corrections for March 2000

A World-Wide List of Turtles and Tortoises on Stamps

by Donald N. Riemer


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


-- A --
ABKHAZIA REPUBLIC
AUSTRALIA

-- B --
BAHAMAS
BATUM
BRAZIL
BULGARIA

-- C --
CAYMAN ISLANDS
COLOMBIA

-- D --

-- E --

-- F --

-- G --
GAMBIA

-- H --

-- I --

-- J --
JAPAN

-- K --
KARAKALPAKIA
KOREA, NORTH
KOREA, SOUTH

-- L --
LIBERIA

-- M --
MACTAN ISLAND
MALAGASY REPUBLIC
MALDIVES
MAURITIUS
MONGOLIA

-- N --

-- O --

-- P --
PHILIPPINES
PITCAIRN ISLANDS

-- Q --

-- R --

-- S --
SAKHALIN ISLAND
SALVADOR
SARANGARH, STATE OF
SENEGAL
SINGAPORE
SOUTH AFRICA
ST. VINCENT

-- T --
TANZANIA
TUNISIA

-- U --
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

-- V --
VIRGIN ISLANDS

-- W --
WALLIS AND FUTUNA

-- X --

-- Y --

-- Z --
ZAMBIA


ABKHAZIA REPUBLIC

Abkhazia is a breakaway republic from Georgia. It is in a mountainous area on the Black Sea and has existed since June of 1992.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
Various 1999 Unident. Freshwater Turt. Pane of nine stamps w/ dozens of animals in small rectangular "frames" scattered over stamps and selvedge. Background is lush, tropical foliage. A small batagurine turtle (Cuora amboinensis?) is depicted in bottom selvedge.


AUSTRALIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
45c 11 Aug 94 Cartoon Turtles Postal stationery w/ cartoon-like turtles in race w/ hare. Commemorates World Masters Games.
45c 20 Sep 94 Unidentified Tortoise Postal Stationery commemorating the Perth Zoo. Small tortoise along pathway.


BAHAMAS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 956 15c 21 Sep 99 Unidentified Sea Turtles Two sea turtles in a lagoon and tiny turtle emerging onto beach. Inscribed "Environment Protection", "Turtle Pond" and "Part VII".
SC 957 65c 21 Sep 99 Chelonia mydas Four green turtles in sea at base of cliffs. Inscribed "Environment Protection", "Green Turtles and Limestone Cliffs", and "Part VII".


BATUM


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
Various 1996 Chelonia mydas Sheetlet of six stamps, each w/ a different denom. Sheet depicts turtle, polar bears, cetaceans, and seal (all photos).
2100 1996 Chelonia mydas Single stamp from sheet of six depicting polar bears, cetaceans, etc. Turtle is swimming underwater.


BRAZIL


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 2706 31c 05 Mar 99 Unidentified Sea Turtle Pane of six se-tenant 31c stamps w/ turtle on one. Other stamps depict diver, dolphin, etc. Selvedge inscribed "Revizee E Proarquipelago".
SC 2706 d 31c 05 Mar 99 Unidentified Sea Turtle Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Brazil 2706. Inscribed "Tartaruga Marinha".


BULGARIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 4093 10s 08 Oct 99 Testudo graeca Drawing of adult facing right. Scott Stamp Monthly (Jan 2000 issue) incorrectly gives denom. as 8s.
SC 4094 18s 08 Oct 99 Emys orbicularis Drawing of adult facing left.
SC 4095 30s 08 Oct 99 Testudo hermanni Drawing of adult facing left.
SC 4096 60s 08 Oct 99 Mauremys caspica Drawing of adult facing left.


CAYMAN ISLANDS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 372 * 10c 29 May 76 Stylized Turtle Sheet of five Cayman Islands 372's w/ turtle in selvedge. * Sheet is footnoted by Scott but no separate number is assigned. No turtles on individual stamps.
SC 373 * 15c 29 May 76 Stylized Turtle Sheet of five Cayman Islands 373's w/ turtle in selvedge. * Sheet is footnoted by Scott but no separate number is assigned. No turtles on individual stamps.
SC 374 * 20c 29 May 76 Stylized Turtle Sheet of five Cayman Island 374's w/ turtle in selvedge. * Sheet is footnoted by Scott but no separate number is assigned. No turtles on individual stamps.
SC 375 * 25c 29 May 76 Stylized Turtle Sheet of five Cayman Island 375's w/ turtle in selvedge. * Sheet is footnoted by Scott but no separate number is assigned. No turtles on individual stamps.
SC 376 * 30c 29 May 76 Stylized Turtle Sheet of five Cayman Island 376's w/ turtle in selvedge. * Sheet is footnoted by Scott but no separate number is assigned. No turtles on individual stamps.


COLOMBIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 1153 1.300p 1999 Three Sea Turtles Strip of three stamps w/ a different sea turtle on each one. Turtles are: C. mydas, D. coriacea, and E. inbricata.
SC 1153 a 1.300p 1999 Chelonia mydas From Scott Colombia 1153.
SC 1153 b 1.300p 1999 Dermochelys coriacea From Scott Colombia 1153.
SC 1153 c 1.300p 1999 Eretmochelys imbricata From Scott Colombia 1153.


GAMBIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
7dal 18 Feb 00 Geochelone radiata Pane of six se-tenant stamps showing endangered species of the bushveld. Tortoise on one. This is pane 1 of four similar panes ofsix, issued on 18 Feb 00.
SC 1261 c 3d 01 Aug 99 Eretmochelys imbricata Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Gambia 2161. Date also reported as July 1999.
SC 2161 3d 01 Aug 99 Eretmochelys imbricata Sheetlet of twelve 3d values w/ turtle on one. Date also reported as July 1999.
SC 2164 1.50d 01 Aug 99 Chelonia mydas agassizi Sheet of forty se-tenant stamps w/ a turtle on one. Inscribed "Ocean World of the Galapagos Islands". Date also reported as July 1999.
SC 2164 l 1.50d 01 Aug 99 Chelonia mydas agassizi Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Gambia 2164. Date also reported as July 1999.


JAPAN

See End Note #11 for information about Japanese postal cards w/ turtles.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 2686 80y 22 Jul 99 Cartoon Turtles Sheet of ten 80y stamps w/ four colorful cartoon turtles in selvedge. Sheet inscribed "Letter Writing Day" in English. No turtles on stamps.


KARAKALPAKIA

Karakalpakia is a region (and Oblast) south of the Aral Sea and north of the Caucasus Mts.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
Various 1999 Chelonia mydas Sheet of nine stamps of differing denominations, all depicting marine animals. Sheet inscribed "Ocean Life". Turtle on one stamp only.
4.00 1999 Chelonia mydas Ventral view of swimming adult. From sheet of nine.


KOREA, NORTH


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
50 & 80 1998 Cartoon Turtle Block of four se-tenant stamps w/ small cartoon turtle on one of the two 80j stamps. Issued for Year of the Tiger. Line drawings of animals in selvedge.
80j 1998 Cartoon Turtle S/S of one stamp w/ small cartoon turtle. Issued for Year of the Tiger. Animals playing musical instruments in selvedge.


KOREA, SOUTH


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
150w 10 Apr 97 Mythological Turtles Booklet containing ten Scott Korea #1898. Picture of stamp on front cover. No separate number assigned to booklet by Scott.


LIBERIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
$15 20 Dec 99 Eretmochelys imbricata One of ten se-tenant $15 stamps.


MACTAN ISLAND

Mactan is a small island in the Philipines at 10.18 N and 123.58 E.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
6ct Geochelone elephantopus One of a set of ten stamps, all depicting animals and printed in black on light green paper. Design on the tortoise stamp is a line drawing of tortoise, facing right, in the middle of the stamp. Available perf. and imperf. Perforations are very coarse and crude.


MALAGASY REPUBLIC

MALAGASY REPUBLIC is listed under MADAGASCAR in the Scott Catalog.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
4000fmg Three species Sheetlet of four se-tenant stamps w/ a different turtle on each. Mushrooms in selvedge. Species depicted (all photos) are Chrysemys picta (1), Trachemys scripta elegans (2), and Terrapene carolina(1).
4000fmg Trachemys scripta elegans Extremely pale-colored juvenile specimen.
4000fmg Chrysemys picta Hatchling. Subspecies is probably picta.
4000fmg Trachemys scripta elegans Adult specimen. Albino except for red patch behind eye.
4000fmg Terrapene carolina Adult specimen w/ brightly-colored face. Subspecies may be triunguis.


MALDIVES


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 2387 10Rf 26 Oct 99 Lepidochelys olivacea Adult on beach facing left. From Marine Environment Wildlife set.
SC 2388 5Rf 26 Oct 99 Eretmochelys imbricata Sheetlet of nine 5Rf values w/ a turtle on one. Inscribed "Nature Wonderland of the Maldives".
SC 2388 g 5Rf 26 Oct 99 Eretmochelys imbricata Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Maldives 2388.
SC 2389 5Rf 26 Oct 99 Chelonia mydas Sheetlet of nine 5Rf denoms w/ a turtle on one. Inscribed "Nature Wonderland of the Maldives".
SC 2389 b 5Rf 26 Oct 99 Chelonia mydas Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Maldives 2389.


MAURITIUS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC J 14 10c 25 Oct 82 Unidentified Turtle Postage Due. This is Scott Mauritius #445 w/ the denomination blanked out and o/p in black: "POSTAGE DUE 10c". Earlier lists were in error because they had incorrect denomination shown for the o/p.


MONGOLIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
300m 12 Feb 00 Geochelone elephantopus Millenium sheet of seventeen 300m stamps. Tortoise on one stamp only. Sheet also depicts Charles Darwin, HMS Beagle, and Many different animals.
300m 12 Feb 00 Geochelone elephantopus Single stamp w/ tortoise from Millenium sheet of seventeen.


PHILIPPINES


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 2554 15p 24 Oct 98 Unidentified Sea Turtle Turtle on beach, plus whale, whale shark, dolphins, and dugong. Inscribed "1998 International Year of the Ocean". Issue date in SG catalog is 7 Nov 98.
SC 2554 a 15p 24 Oct 98 Unidentified Sea Turtle S/S w/ Scott Philippines #2554. Selvedge continues panorama beyond the stamp itself. Selvedge and stamp inscribed "1998 International Year of the Ocean". Issue date in SG catalog is 7 Nov 98.


PITCAIRN ISLANDS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
Various 14 Jan 00 Geochelone elephantopus Strip of four se-tenant stamps w/ a label in the center of the strip. The tortoise is depicted on all four stamps but not on the label. The tortoise depicted is "Mr. Turpen", one of five Galapagos Tortoises brought to Pitcairn by Irving Johnson, skipper of the Brigantine, "Yankee", between 1937 and 1951.
5c 14 Jan 00 Geochelone elephantopus Single stamp from se-tenant strip of four. Depicts rowboat bringing tortoise to shore from brigantine "Yankee", which apprears in background.
20c 14 Jan 00 Geochelone elephantopus Single stamp from se-tenant strip of four. Tortoise being unloaded from rowboat onto beach.
35c 14 Jan 00 Geochelone elephantopus Single stamp from se-tenant strip of four. Tortoise on land, facing left.
$5.00 14 Jan 00 Geochelone elephantopus Single stamp from se-tenant strip of four. Close-up of tortoise's head.


SAKHALIN ISLAND

Sakhalin Island is a large island lying off the eastern coast of Russia, just north of Japan.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
1.00 1999 Dermochelys coriacea Turtle swimming w/ other sea creatures.


SALVADOR


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 1302 2.20c 06 Apr 92 Cartoon Turtle Cartoon turtle, crab, fish, and parrot by unpolluted river.


SARANGARH, STATE OF

Sarangarh is in S.E. India approx. 100 mi. E. of Raipur.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
KM P- 451 1 Anna 1936 Unidentified Tortoise Imperf revenue stamp printed in purple ink on pink paper. Depicts tortoise and the words "SARANGARH", "RECEIPT", "ONE ANNA", and "FEUDATORY CHIEF", plus other indecipherable characters. Although reported to exist only as proofs, used copies on various documents DO exist.


SENEGAL


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
320f 1999 Dermochelys coriacea Large turtle head in foreground, whole turtle on beach, in center of stamp. Inscribed "Tortue Luth" and "Environement Animaux".


SINGAPORE


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 909 None** 13 Oct 99 Chelonia mydas Semi-ventral view of adult swimming underwater. ** This is a nondenominated stamp inscribed "For Local Addresses Only".


SOUTH AFRICA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 867 C 10c 1996-98 Geometric Tortoise Single stamp w/ tortoise from Scott South Africa 867p.
SC 867 p Various 01 Aug 96 Psammobates geometricus This strip of five se-tenant stamps plus a label was formerly listed by Scott as 858a, which was deleted in SSM of Dec 99 (pg.81). Stamps in this strip are inscribed "1993" but the Readers Digest label (in either green or orange) is inscribed "1996-11-11". Inscription on tortoise stamp is "Geometric Tortoise" rather than "Psammobates geometricus" which is inscribed on Scott South Africa 849, 853, 854b and 854c.
SC 1145 *** 04 Oct 99 Caretta caretta Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott South Africa 1149a. *** Stamp inscribed "Standard Postage" but no value is shown. At the time of issue, standard postage was R1.20.
SC 1149 a *** 04 Oct 99 Caretta caretta Sheetlet of ten stamps w/ turtle on one. Sheet inscribed "Migratory Species of Southern Africa". Also available as a booklet containing two #1149a, plus two postal cards bound into the booklet. Booklet is footnoted by Scott but no separate number is assigned. *** Each stamp inscribed "Standard Postage" but no value is shown. At time of issue, standard postage was R1.20. Sheet inscribed "1999 08 26" but actual issue date was 4 Oct 99.


ST. VINCENT

Also called ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES. (See separate listing for GRENADINES OF ST. VINCENT).


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
50c 1999 Eretmochelys imbricata Adult swimming underwater. Posterior end of turtle extends slightly onto the next stamp.
SC 2713 $1.10 25 Jun 99 Unidentified Turtle S/S of six $1.10 values. Has turtle on one stamp. Painting of turtle by Japanese artist Hokusai. Painting is entitled "Sea Life" but the turtle is obviously a freshwater species.
SC 2714 e $1.10 25 Jun 99 Unidentified Softshell One of two turtle stamps from Scott St. Vincent 2714.


TANZANIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
400/ 15 Nov 99 Kinosternon flavescens Pane 1, of four panes of six se-tenant 400/ stamps issued this date. Turtle on one stamp only.
400/ 15 Nov 99 Kinosternon flavescens Single stamp w/ turtle from se-tenant pane of ten, issued this date.
SC 1898 100/ 18 Feb 99 D. coriacea & C. mydas Sheet of twenty se-tenant stamps w/ turtles on two. Inscribed "Endangered Species of the World". Date also reported as 09 Feb 99.
SC 1898 i 100/ 18 Feb 99 Dermochelys coriacea Single stamp from Scott Tanzania 1898. Date also reported as 09 Feb 99.
SC 1898 q 100/ 18 Feb 99 Chelonia mydas Single stamp from Scott Tanzania 1898. Date also reported as 09 Feb 99.


TUNISIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 1196 250m 22 Sep 99 Caretta caretta Adult underwater, swimming left. Inscribed "Tortue de Mer".


UNITED ARAB EMIRATES


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
1.50dh 15 Dec 99 Unidentified Sea Turtle Small turtle in child's painting.


VIRGIN ISLANDS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 349 a 22c 10 Feb 79 Eretmochelys imbricata s/s containing Scott Virgin Islands #348. Erroneously identified as Scott Virgin Islands 348a on previous lists.


WALLIS AND FUTUNA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC C 198 1000f 06 Nov 97 Chelonia mydas Single, large, imperf. sheet that goes along w/ Wallis & Futuna #C197. It depicts two views of the earth, a winged statue, and twelve stamps, one of which is Wallis & Futuna #497 which has the turtle. Sheet inscribed "4e Coupe du Monde des Timbres" and "Poste Aerienne 1997".


ZAMBIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
50k 27 Oct 99 Dermochelys coriacea From set of ten, including birds, butterflies, and flowers. Swimming upward and to right.
700k 27 Oct 99 Malaclemys terrapin Pane 1 of three panes of twelve 700k values each, issued this date. Turtle on one stamp only. Swimming underwater.
700k 27 Oct 99 Malaclemys terrapin Single stamp w/ turtle from pane 1 (of three panes issued this date). Swimming underwater.
700k 27 Oct 99 Eretmochelys imbricata Pane 2 of three panes of twelve 770k values each, issued this date. Turtle mostly on one stamp but extends very slightly onto two adjacent stamps.
700k 27 Oct 99 Eretmochelys imbricata Single stamp w/ turtle from pane 2 (of three panes issued this date). Emerging from water onto beach.


http://www.personal.psu.edu/crr2/turtstmp/ Last updated:   Mar 10, 2000