Once in a while the world of collecting intersects with the mainstream media. When Kuwait was invaded by Iraq, there was a run on Kuwaiti stamps and coins. There was similar speculative interest in national collectibles when Kong Kong was reabsorbed by China. When Princess Diana died, the non collecting public snapped up stamps and coins depicting her as keepsakes. When Montserrat was largely evacuated, collectors bought up Montserrat issues, thinking the country might not recover. Just because something is in the news, does not mean collectibles linked to it will forever increase in demand.

Will Iraq be the next speculative collectible as we approach a war to depose Saddam? Or will it be Nauru?

According to the National Post, Nauru, an 8.5 square mile, or 21 square kilometer island, in the central western Pacific Ocean, between the Marshall and Solomon Islands, has suddenly lost contact with the outside world. The 12,000 islanders have not been heard from for several weeks, after Nauru's communications system collapsed. This in itself is odd enough in the 21st Century, but Nauru has an interesting past and recent history, albeit overshadowed by current events in the Middle East, to which it may be oddly linked.

Nauru, was discovered by a British sailor in 1798. It was annexed by Germany in 1888 as part of the Marshall Islands colony. Marshall Islands' stamps were used in Nauru between July 1908 and September 1914. The Australians occupied Nauru from 1914 on, and North West Pacific Islands overprinted Australian stamps were used in Nauru between 6 November 1914 and 2 January 1915. British Mandate stamps exist from 1916 to 1924, then Australian Mandate issues resume between 1924 and 1968. The Japanese occupied Nauru in 1942, and apparently wiped out half of the population while they were there. From 1947 on, Nauru was a jointly administered Australia, Great Britain, and New Zealand territory under United Nations auspices.

Why all this interest in a tiny equator straddling Pacific island? Guano.

The colonial powers have been steadily mining bird droppings, or phosphates, almost since the island's discovery. Nauru gained independence, and began issuing its own postage stamps, in 1968, although it still uses Australian currency. Collector coins exist only from 1993 on.

In January 2003, Nauru's telephone system collapsed, limiting verbal communications to ship borne satellite phones only. Something is very wrong in Nauru. Apparently the country is out of guano, and thus money.

Government workers and others have not been paid since 2002. President Bernard Dowiyoggo may have been deposed in a violent coup. Nauru diplomats stationed in New Zealand claim no recent contact with their island nation.

Past President, Rene Harris, is warring with Dowiyogo after being deposed by him in a non confidence vote early this year. The National Parliament and Presidential Palace are rumoured to have been burned down.

National Post reporter Isabel Vincent says telephone calls to Nauru yield no tone, while phone calls to Nauru's missions in Honolulu and Guam go unanswered. Nauru's U.N. representative in New York did not even know there was no communication with the island. The Nauru Consulate in Melbourne said the satellites that channel the island's communications are under repair.

Once Nauruans enjoyed the world's highest per capita income from their avian neighbour's tailings, now they have run out of the white stuff and thus the green stuff too. Food, water, and fuel must be imported to the island.

Without a mining economy, things seem bleak for Nauru. Recent attempts to diversify into tourism and offshore banking have not been without controversy. International terrorists and Russian mobsters are reported to have bank accounts there. This brings unwanted interest from more international authorities. Might some nations wish to foment domestic strife to once again control Nauru?

Add unwanted Australian-bound illegal migrants to the mix. The Australians have been redirecting undesirable migrants to Nauru to live among the denuded coral atolls.

Will Nauru continue to be shat upon by Colonial Eagles and where will the green stuff come from? If only we could tune in to find out.

And of course, we have a good selection of Nauru stamps spanning the past century. Could be a good investment.

Newsletter #39
Canucks Medallion Mania

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