Additions and corrections for December 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 --
AJMAN

-- B --
BATUM

-- C --
CAYMAN ISLANDS

-- D --
DAGESTAN (DAGHESTAN)
DOMINICA

-- E --

-- F --

-- G --
GRENADA
GUYANA

-- H --
HONDURAS

-- I --
INGUSHETIA

-- J --

-- K --
KABARDINO BALKAR
KALMYK REPUBLIC (KALMIKIA)
KARAKALPAKIA
KOMI REPUBLIC
KOREA, NORTH
KOREA, SOUTH

-- L --
LAOS

-- M --
MALAYSIA
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MAURITANIA
MAYOTTE
MOZAMBIQUE

-- N --
NEW ZEALAND
NICARAGUA
NIGER
NORFOLK ISLAND

-- O --

-- P --
PARAGUAY

-- Q --

-- R --
RIO MUNI

-- S --
SAKHALIN ISLAND
SEYCHELLES
SINGAPORE
SWITZERLAND

-- T --
TANNU TUVA (TOUVA)
TANZANIA
TATARSTAN
TRANSDNIESTRIAN MOLDOVAN REPUBLIC

-- U --
UNITED NATIONS (NEW YORK)

-- V --

-- W --

-- X --

-- Y --

-- Z --
ZAMBIA


AJMAN


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
N/A 30np 1963 Testudo graeca Pink and pale blue essay for a stamp that was never issued. Tortoise is main design feature w/ portrait of sheik in upper left corner. Designed by M. Arthur and produced by NCR litho at the same time as the first issue of Dubai.


BATUM


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC 45 -52 Various 25 Jul 95 Unidentified Sea Turtle Head-on view of turtle in center of se-tenant sheet of eight stamps. Turtle image overlaps onto four different stamps. Stamps on which parts of the turtle appear are CTC 47, 48, 49, and 50.
CTC 47 675 25 Jul 95 Unidentified Sea Turtle Part of the turtle from CTC #45-52 appears on this stamp.
CTC 48 900 25 Jul 95 Unidentified Sea Turtle Part of the turtle from CTC Batum 45-52 appears on this stamp.
CTC 49 1200 25 Jul 95 Unidentified Sea Turtle Part of the turtle from CTC Batum 45-52 appears on this stamp.
CTC 50 1800 25 Jul 95 Unidentified Sea Turtle Part of the turtle from CTC Batum 45-52 appears on this stamp.
CTC 105 -110 Various 10 Jan 96 Chelonia mydas Sheetlet of six stamps, each w/ a different denom. Sheet depicts turtle, polar bears, cetaceans, and seal (all photos).
CTC 108 2100 10 Jan 96 Chelonia mydas Single stamp w/ turtle from CTC Batum 105-110. Turtle is swimming underwater.
CTC 262 -271 Various 12 Mar 97 Unidentified Tortoise Sheet of ten stamps depicting endangered species. Crude, stylized image of tortoise at bottom of sheet. Tortoise spans two of the stamps.
CTC 270 1300 12 Mar 97 Unidentified Tortoise Anterior half of tortoise is on this stamp. Single stamp from CTC Batum 262-271.
CTC 271 1400 12 Mar 97 Unidentified Tortoise Posterior half of tortoise is on this stamp. Single stamp from CTC Batum 262-271.


CAYMAN ISLANDS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
10c 25 Aug 00 Chelonia mydas Silhouette of turtle swimming to right. From four-value Wildlife Heritage Issue.


DAGESTAN (DAGHESTAN)

Dagestan is an autonomous republic of Russia on the Caspian Sea.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC 55 950 08 Feb 97 Geochelone elegans Photograph of adult. From CTC Dagestan 55-58. WWF symbol in lower left corner.
CTC 55 -58 Various 08 Feb 97 Four Species of Turtles Imperf. sheet of four stamps, each w/ a different species of turtle. WWF symbol in lower left corner.
CTC 56 1300 08 Feb 97 Kinixys erosa Photograph of adult. From CTC Dagestan 55-58. WWF symbol in lower left corner.
CTC 57 2500 08 Feb 97 Terrapene carolina Photograph of adult. From CTC Dagestan 55-58. WWF symbol in lower left corner.
CTC 58 3000 08 Feb 97 Heosemys grandis Photograph of adult. From CTC Dagestan 55-58. WWF symbol in lower left corner.
CTC 190 -198 Various 01 Feb 98 Five Freshwater Turtles Perf. sheet of nine stamps forming an underwater and above-water panorama in a freshwater swamp. Painting depicts scores of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
CTC 193 300 01 Feb 98 Unidentified Turtle Small freshwater turtle basking on stump. Part of turtle is in selvedge of sheet. Stamp is from CTC Dagestan 190-198.
CTC 194 500 01 Feb 98 Unidentified Turtle Small freshwater turtle, completely underwater. From CTC Dagestan 190-198.
CTC 195 750 01 Feb 98 Two Unidentif. Turtles Small turtle, partially out of water on lily pad, and large turtle floating, partially submerged, at surface. Large turtle looks very much like Chelydra serpentina. Fron CTC Dagestan 190-198.
CTC 196 800 01 Feb 98 Unidentified Turtle Large turtle, which looks very much like a tortoise, but it is submerged, walking on the bottom. From CTC Dagestan 190-198.


DOMINICA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
$6 2000 Eretmochelys imbricata From "Caribbean Wonderland" and "Animals of the Caribbean and Central America" issue.


GRENADA

(NOTE: See also, GRENADINES OF GRENADA)


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 2965 $1 08 Aug 00 Eretmochelys imbricata Tropical fish pane of nine $1 stamps. This is pane 1 of two panes issued at the same time. Turtle on one stamp only. Date also reported as June 2000.
SC 2965 a $1 08 Aug 00 Eretmochelys imbricata Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Grenada 2965. Date also reported as June 2000.


GUYANA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
MI 3830 B $600 16 Jun 92 Unidentified Tortoise Identical to Michel #3830BA, but imperf.
MI 3830 BA $600 16 Jun 92 Unidentified Tortoise Embossed on gold foil. Depicts a small tortoise and many other animals. Die-cut wavy perfs. Inscribed "World Thematic Exhibition".
MI 3831 B $600 16 Jun 92 Unidentified Tortoise Identical to Michel #3831BA, but imperf.
MI 3831 BA $600 16 Jun 92 Unidentified Tortoise Embossed on silver foil. Depicts small tortoise and many other animals. Die-cut wavy perfs. Inscribed "World Thematic Exhibition".
MI BL 191 B $600 16 Jun 92 Unidentified Tortoise MI Guyana #3830B on s/s w/ night view of Genova in border. Inscribed "World Thematic Exhibition".
MI BL 192 B $600 16 Jun 92 Unidentified Tortoise MI Guyana #3831B on s/s w/ night view of Genova in border. Inscribed "World Thematic Exhibition".
MI BL 385 $600 1994 Unidentified Tortoises s/s w/ Flemish Painting: Noah's Ark, w/ tortoises in foreground. No turtles on stamp. A flown cover is postmarked 17 Mar 94. Stamp embossed on Gold Foil. Inscribed "The Year of the Dog".
MI BL 386 $600 1994 Unidentified Tortoises s/s w/ Flemish Painting: Noah's Ark, w/ tortoises in foreground. No turtles on stamp. A flown cover is postmarked 17 Mar 94. Stamp embossed on silver foil. Inscribed "The Year of the Dog".
SC 3373 $100 01 Mar 99 Cartoon Turtle S/S of five $100 stamps in a horiz. row. Inscribed "Robin Hood Train" and "A Philatelic Ride Through Sherwood Forest". Disney characters.
SC 3373 e $100 01 Mar 99 Cartoon Turtle Turtle and rabbit family riding in a railroad car w/ a thatched roof and a chimney. Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Guyana 3373.
SC 3374 $100 01 Mar 99 Cartoon Turtle S/S sheet of five stamps in a horiz. row. Inscribed "Diamond Mine Railroad" and "Snow White's Ride Through the Diamond Mine". Disney characters.
SC 3374 d $100 01 Mar 99 Cartoon Turtle Turtle and other characters from Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" riding on a railroad car. Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Guyana 3374.


HONDURAS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC C 1073 Various 07 Apr 00 Rhinoclemmys? sp. Sheet of twenty stamps depicting various musical instruments. Sheet inscribed "Instrumentos Musicales" and "Autoctonos Mesoamericanos". Turtle shell on one stamp only.
SC C 1073 c 1.40l 07 Apr 00 Rhinoclemmys? sp. Single stamp w/ turtle shell instrument from Scott Honduras #C1073. Stamp inscribed "Ayotl".


INGUSHETIA

An area in the central Caucasus closely allied to Chechynia.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC 28 -36 Various 01 Feb 98 Gopherus agassizzi Sheet of nine stamps w/ a continuous scene of a Southwestern American desert. Tiny tortoise on stamp in upper right corner.
CTC 30 250 01 Feb 98 Gopherus agassizzi Single stamp w/ tiny tortoise from CTC Ingushetia 28-36. Jackrabbit in foreground.


KABARDINO BALKAR

Kabardino Balkar is an autonomous republic of Russia.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC 5 -13 Various 01 Feb 98 Five Freshwater Turtles Sheet of nine stamps forming an underwater and above-water panorama in a freshwater swamp. Painting depicts scores of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
CTC 9 500 01 Feb 98 Unidentified Turtle Small turtle, submerged except for head. Single stamp from CTC Kabardino Balkar 5-13.
CTC 10 750 01 Feb 98 Unidentified Turtle Small turtle submerged near base of tree. Single stamp from CTC Kabardino Balkar 5-13.
CTC 11 800 01 Feb 98 Unidentified Turtle Small turtle swimming upward. Single stamp from CTC Kabardino Balkar 5-13.
CTC 13 1500 01 Feb 98 Two Unidentified Turtles One turtle swimming downward, the other resting on bottom. Single stamp from CTC Kabardino Balkar 5-13.


KALMYK REPUBLIC (KALMIKIA)

An autonomous republic of Russia, south of Kazakhstan, on the Caspian Sea.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC 77 -85 Various 01 Feb 98 Unidentified Tortoise Sheet of nine se-tenant stamps forming a unified desert scene. Tortoise is partially on 1500 value stamp and partially in selvedge.
CTC 85 1500 01 Feb 98 Unidentified Tortoise Single stamp w/ tortoise from CTC Kalmykia 77-85. Tortoise is partially on stamp and partially in selvedge of sheet.


KARAKALPAKIA

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


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC R 19 -R24 Various 15 Feb 98 See "Comment" Column Sheetlet of six stamps (two lizards, two turtles and two frogs). Chelonians are Geochelone radiata & Eretmochelys imbricata.
CTC R 22 20k 15 Feb 98 Geochelone radiata Facing left. Plain background. From CTC Karakalpakia R19-R24.
CTC R 23 25k 15 Feb 98 Eretmochelys imbricata Swimming right. Plain background. From CTC Karakalpakia R19-R24.


KOMI REPUBLIC

The Komi Republic is an autonomous republic of Russia.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC 76 -81 Various 16 Jun 97 Unidentified Softshell Sheetlet of six se-tenant stamps w/ different pictures of crocodiles. On one stamp only, the crocodile has a softshell turtle in its jaws.
CTC 78 1250r 16 Jun 97 Unidentified Softshell Single stamp w/ turtle from sheetlet of six. Turtle is in a crocodile's jaws.


KOREA, NORTH


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
MI 1988 40 30 Apr 80 Unidentified Sea Turtle Small sea turtle near left margin, in front of diver's face. Inscribed "Jacques Costeau - The Conquerer of the Sea".


KOREA, SOUTH


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 1973 170 won 01 May 00 Tortoise Ship S/S w/ five stamps and one label. Tortoise ship on one stamp. Millennium Series V - Events and People of the Choson Dynasty.
SC 1973 d 170 won 01 May 00 Tortoise Ship Single stamp w/ tortoise ship from Scott Korea (South) #1973. Miniature model of ship in foreground, admiral in background.


LAOS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
2300k 01 Jun 00 Childs Drawing Child's drawing of many animals in and near a river. Turtle on land in lower rt. corner of stamp.


MALAYSIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
50 sen 07 Aug 00 Chelonia mydas S/S of five 50 sen stamps plus one label. Stamps depict bird, potto-like mammal, feline mammal, fish and snake. Turtle is in right margin of sheet. Sheet inscribed "Forests and Society: The Role of Research".
30 sen 07 Aug 00 Chelonia mydas S/S of twenty 30 sen stamps depicting fruits and seeds of forest trees. Turtle is in right margin. Sheet inscribed "Forests and Society: The Role of Research".


MARSHALL ISLANDS


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
33c 24 Aug 00 Chelonia mydas Sheet of eight se-tenant 33c stamps. Inscribed "Reef Life".
33c 24 Aug 00 Chelonia mydas Single stamp w/ turtle from sheet of eight issued this date.


MAURITANIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
2000 Unknown "Marine Fauna" strip of three, depicting an octopus, a fish, and a chelonian described as a "tortoise", but probably a sea turtle. No further details are known at this time.
2000 Unknown Single stamp with turtle from Marine Fauna strip of three and also found on "Collector's Souvenir Sheet".
2000 Unknown "Collector's Souvenir Sheet" issued in conjunction w/ Marine Fauna strip of 3. No further details are known at the present time.


MAYOTTE


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 136 3.00f 29 Apr 00 Unidentified Sea Turtle Tiny picture of a sea turtle emerging from its egg. Main design feature is an empty boat or canoe. Lagoon Life Issue. Date also reported as 2 May 00.


MOZAMBIQUE


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 1354 3000mt 28 Apr 00 Archelon Sheet of nine 3000mt denom. stamps depicting extinct marine animals. Sheet also depicts Placochelys, a turtle "look-alike". See Appendix III. Archelon is misspelled "Archelone" on stamp.
SC 1354 h 3000mt 28 Apr 00 Archelon Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Mozambique #1354. Archelon is misspelled "Archelone" on stamp.


NEW ZEALAND


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
Feb 2001 Dermochelys coriacea From Marine Reptiles issue w/ two snakes and four turtles. Issued for Year of the Snake.
Feb 2001 Chelonia mydas From Marine Reptiles issue w/ two snakes and four turtles. Issued for Year of the Snake.
Feb 2001 Caretta caretta From Marine Reptiles issue w/ two snakes and four turtles. Issued for Year of the Snake.
Feb 2001 Eretmochelys imbricata From Marine Reptiles issue w/ two snakes and four turtles. Issued for Year of the Turtle.


NICARAGUA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 2334 6cor 22 Aug 00 Eretmochelys imbricata Adult swimming right. From four value Marine Life set.
SC 2337 7.50cor 22 Aug 00 See "Comment" Column Pane 2 of two panes of six se-tenant 7.50 cor stamps each, issued this date. Sea turtles on two stamps of this pane only. The turtles depicted are Eretmochelys imbricata and a "Caribbean Reef Turtle".
SC 2337 a 7.50cor 22 Aug 00 Eretmochelys imbricata From Scott Nicaragua 2337.
SC 2337 d 7.50cor 22 Aug 00 Caribbean Reef Turtle From Scott Nicaragua 2337.


NIGER


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 1033 300f 1999 Unidentified Tortoise S/S of four stamps (Tortoise, Snake, Lizard, Scorpion). Additional large tortoise in bottom selvedge of sheet. Each stamp inscribed "1999". Wooden mask on each stamp in addition to the animal.
SC 1033 b 300f 1999 Unidentified Tortoise Single stamp w/ tortoise from Scott Niger 1033. Wooden mask on stamp in addition to tortoise.


NORFOLK ISLAND


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 708 Various 16 Jun 00 Carved Wooden Turtle Sheetlet w/ four stamps in a horiz. row. Issued for Eighth Festival of Pacific Arts 2000 in New Caledonia. Turtle on one stamp only.
SC 708 a 75c 16 Jun 00 Carved Wooden Turtle Single stamp w/ turtle from Scott Norfolk Is. 708.


PARAGUAY


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 2606 1600g 13 May 99 Geochelone carbonaria From set of four reptiles. Inscribed "Reptiles del Paraguay".


RIO MUNI


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 47 50c 22 Feb 65 Unidentified Sea Turtle Turtle head and coral to left of woman. Inscribed "XXV Anos de Paz". Scott catalog erroneously gives date as "1964" w/o a month or day.


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
CTC 108 -116 1.00 28 Oct 98 Dermochelys coriacea Sheet of nine 1.00 denom. stamps depicting a continuous underwater scene w/ various sea creatures. Second turtle-like animal is actually a pinniped.
CTC 114 1.00 28 Oct 98 Dermochelys coriacea Single stamp w/ turtle from CTC Sakhalin 108-116.


SEYCHELLES

See End Note #4 for further information about SEYCHELLES stamps.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SG SB 2 Various 25 Apr 79 Geochelone gigantea Stamp booklet w/ four each of Scott Seychelles #394, #395, and #397. Tortoises on #394 and also on Coat-of-Arms on cover of booklet.
SG SB 4 Various 26 Oct 79 Eretmochelys imbricata Stamp booklet w/ four each of Scott Seychelles #389, #390, #398, and #431. Hawksbill on #389 and a small tortoise on the Coat-of-Arms on booklet cover.
SG SB 5 Various 26 Oct 79 Geochelone gigantea Stamp booklet w/ four each of Scott Seychelles #392 and #397, and two each of Scott Seychelles #428 and #429. No turtles on stamps inside the booklet, but there is a tortoise on the Coat-of-Arms on the booklet cover.


SINGAPORE


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 947 Various 11 Aug 00 Chelonia mydas Large s/s w/ 4 actual stamps plus images of 40 other stamps in selvedge. One of these is Scott Singapore #909 depicting the turtle. Sheet inscribed "Care for Nature". There are no turtles on the four actual stamps, only on the marginal image of Scott Singapore #909.


SWITZERLAND


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SUL TS 25 Free 1939-40 Stylized Tortoise Large tortoise in front of a tractor pulling a trailer. Inscribed "1939, 1940" and "Col. de Tracteurs III/4". Gray, black, and red. Provided free franking for mail of Swiss soldiers. Authorized by Swiss postal authorities. Different military units had different stamps.
SUL TS 26 Free 1942 Stylized Tortoise This is SUL TS #25 o/p'd "Releve 1942" in brown.
SUL TS 27 Free 1942 Stylized Tortoise This is SUL TS #25 o/p'd "Releve 1942" in gold.
SUL TS 28 Free 1942 Stylized Tortoise This is SUL TS #25 o/p'd "Releve 1942" in silver.


TANNU TUVA (TOUVA)


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC 40 50 15 Mar 95 Tiny Stylized Turtle Single stamp w/ turtle from CTC Tannu Tuva 40-47. Turtle hard to distinguish w/ naked eye.
CTC 40 -47 Various 15 Mar 95 Tiny Stylized Turtle Se-tenant sheet of eight stamps w/ unified scene of animals leaving Noah's Ark. Tiny turtle in stamp in upper left corner.
CTC 109 300 03 Aug 95 Unidentified Sea Turtle Single stamp w/ turtle from CTC Tuva 109-114. Stamp also depicts numerous fish and seashells.
CTC 109 -114 Various 03 Aug 95 Unidentified Sea Turtle Sheetlet of six different stamps. Five have marine animals and one has a chameleon. Turtle on one stamp only.


TANZANIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 2069 300/ 15 Nov 99 Chelonia mydas Sheetlet of nine se-tenant 300/ denom. stamps. Turtle on one stamp only. Sheet inscribed "The Great Underwater".
SC 2069 g 300/ 15 Nov 99 Chelonia mydas Single stamp w/ turtle from sheetlet of nine. Adult swimming underwater.


TATARSTAN


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC R 5 -R8 Various 15 May 97 Testudo graeca Se-tenant block of four w/ turtle, crested newt, frog and lizard. Species name is misspelled "gaeca" on stamp.
CTC R 7 2000 15 May 97 Testudo graeca Single stamp w/ turtle from CTC Tatarstan R5-R8. Species name is misspelled "gaeca" on stamp.


TRANSDNIESTRIAN MOLDOVAN REPUBLIC

See End Note #8 for further information about TRANSDNIESTRIAN MOLDOVAN REPUBLIC stamps.


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
CTC 29 "A" 28 Oct 98 Caretta caretta Single stamp in "a" position from CTC Transistra 29-40. Stamp is identical to CTC Transistra 34, 39, and 41. One of three identical stamps on the same sheet.
CTC 29 -40 "A" 28 Oct 98 Caretta caretta Perf. sheet of twelve (three each of four different stamps). Turtle on one design repeated three times. WWF symbol and mallard drakes in selvedge. Inscribed "World Wide Found (sic) for Nature".
CTC 34 "A" 28 Oct 98 Caretta caretta Single stamp in "f" position from CTC Transistra 29-40. Stamp is identical to CTC Transistra 29, 39, and 41. One of three identical stamps on the same sheet.
CTC 39 "A" 28 Oct 98 Caretta caretta Single stamp in "k" position from CTC Transistra 29-40. Stamp is identical to CTC Transistra 29, 34, and 41. One of three identical stamps on the same sheet.
CTC 41 "A" 28 Oct 98 Caretta caretta Single sheet w/ turtle from CTC Transistra 41-44. This stamp is identical to CTC Transistra 29, 34, and 39.
CTC 41 -44 "A" 28 Oct 98 Caretta caretta Imperf. sheetlet of four w/ Turtle, Birds, & Dolphin. Selvedge inscribed "World Wide Found (sic) for Nature. Shows WWF symbol. Small songbirds in selvedge.


UNITED NATIONS (NEW YORK)


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
01 Feb 01 Unidentified Tortoise Stamp from set of 12, depicting two tortoises. This is the 9th set of stamps in the UN's Endangered Species Series.


ZAMBIA


Catalog # Denom.      Date      Turtle      Description      Comment
SC 816 50k 27 Oct 99 Dermochelys coriacea Adult swimming upward and to right. Available in mini panes of four identical stamps.


http://www.personal.psu.edu/crr2/turtstmp/ Last updated:   Dec 2, 2000