Papua New Guinea – Scott # 440, used

Description

Issued on September 25, 1976, this 60t commemorative stamp marks the 50th Anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s First Survey Flight, which took place on the same date in 1926.

The design depicts a seaplane at rest along a tropical shoreline, with a local canoeist observing from the water—a striking image capturing the meeting of traditional and modern worlds at a pivotal moment in the nation’s aviation history. The original 1926 flight helped chart the rugged interior and coastal regions, laying groundwork for modern air travel and communication across Papua New Guinea’s challenging terrain.

This issue was printed by the Note Printing Branch, Melbourne, and designed to honor the progress made in half a century of aviation in the Pacific. A cleanly cancelled example of this historically significant airmail-themed issue.