Probably not many people have ever received a postcard from Tuvalu, but Tuvalu postage stamps are quite the collectible items if you’re a philatelist. 

Being a tiny island country, Tuvalu has capitalised on its obscurity to issue a wide-range of collectible postage stamps. The stamps are in designs commemorating everything from world historical events, wildlife, and other daily themes.

Ironically, on my visit I found a stamp that celebrated Tuvalu’s .tv domain name – the very thing which is hastening the end of postage stamps.  Poignantly, I also found a stamp quoting Al Gore on climate change.

The Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau is located in Funafuti.  Inside, stamps are laid out on trestle tables under plastic sheets to protect them.  Nominate which ones you want, and the staff will help you.

It seems that there has also been past scandal around fake or forged Tuvalu stamps – including those pictured in the link below.