TRISTAN DA CUNHA - THE FAMOUS "POTATO" STAMP - DESIGNED BY AB CRAWFORD & AUTOGRAPHED BY HIM

THE TRISTAN DA CUNHA FAMOUS POTATO STAMP

THE STORY ABOUT THIS IS BELOW

TAKE TIME AND READ IT

THIS SHEET IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF COPIES MADE

AND BEARS THE ORIGINAL AUTHENTIC SIGNATURE

OF THE STAMP DESIGNER - ALLAN BRYANT CRAWFORD

During 1958 - I was fortunate to meet Allan Crawford

Yes this gives my age away but I was doing my Naval Training at Saldanha Bay for 1 year.

I was sent on a frigate SAS NATAL to visit Tristan da Cunha (before the island was destroyed by a volcano)

On the Frigate with me was Allan Crawford.

Robbie

BELOW IS SOME BLURB ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN

 Allan Bryant Crawford
1912-2007

Allan B. Crawford MBE
was the inspiration and driving force behind the formation of the Tristan da Cunha Association, serving as Chairman and Newsletter Editor from 1987-1992. He became the first President in 1992 and Life President in 2003. In his nineties Allan still presided over Annual Gatherings and maintained lively contact with members and islanders.

Distinguished early work
Allan drew the first island map following his surveys as the only English member of the 1937/8 Norwegian Expedition - the first scientific expedition to Tristan da Cunha. Allan returned as a meteorologist in 1942/3 with the Royal Navy as they established the top secret Job 9 or HMS Atlantic Isle on Tristan. Allan was valued for his prior knowledge of the island, and during his wartime sojourn he joined a newly formed Island Council, produced the first Tristan Times (costing 3 cigarettes or four potatoes) in 1943. He returned for eighteen months in 1946/7, during which time he designed a set of 10 stamps as part of a petition for postage stamps to be introduced to the island. Only the 1p stamp (also on sale locally for 4 potatoes) was issued and became the pioneer of Tristan philately. In 1954 Allan was appointed Honorary Welfare Officer to Tristan by the British Government.