Coelacanth Stamps

The coelacanth appears as one of a set of six stamps (see the miniature sheet) depicting prehistoric animals.

The coelacanth appears as one of a set of eight stamps (see the miniature sheet) depicting prehistoric animals. The design of this coelacanth stamp and some of the others in this set are nearly identical to those issued by Tanzania shown below.

A fossil of the rhipidistian crossopterygian Eusthenopteron foordi appears as one of a set of four stamps depicting fossils found in Canada. Eusthenopteron lived in the Devonian period.

This was the first stamp ever issued depicting a coelacanth. You can also see the deluxe souvenir sheet.

First of three postage due stamps in this set showing the coelacanth head-on. All three stamps show the same pose but are different colors and denominations.

Second of three postage due stamps in this set showing the coelacanth head-on. All three stamps show the same pose but are different colors and denominations.

Third of three postage due stamps in this set showing the coelacanth head-on. All three stamps show the same pose but are different colors and denominations.

This stamp bears an air mail surcharge of 120F overprinted on the top value of the 1968 fish issue showing a Yellow-banded Sweetlips.

This stamp commemorating the 1975 coelacanth expedition shows a diver photographing a coelacanth.

This stamp has the same design as stamp #130 but bears the overprint "Etat Comorien".

This airmail souvenir sheet depicting the coelacanth is the highest value in a set of seven stamps showing fish. This sheet also exists in imperforate form.

Also see the maxicard, the first day cover, and the deluxe proof for this stamp. The individual proof and the deluxe proof showing all four stamps, the perforate block of four, and the imperforate block of four bear a different denomination from the stamps as issued.

Also see the maxicard, the first day cover, and the deluxe proof for this stamp.

Also see the maxicard, the first day cover, and the deluxe proof for this stamp.

Also see the maxicard, the first day cover, and the deluxe proof for this stamp.

This sheet combines the displays the logo of the World Wildlife Fund. This sheet was also released in imperforate form.

In January 1999 the Comoro Islands issued this souvenir sheet which displays several coelacanths in the background. The main subject is the extinct freshwater reptile Mesosaurus brasiliensis. Mesosaurus was a small crocodile-like reptile about one meter in length which lived during the Triassic period. Mesosaurus fossils are found in Africa and South America. In the early 1900s this distribution was offered as support for the idea that these two continents were once joined together as part of the super-continent Pangaea. The coelacanths depicted here are presumably one of the miniature freshwater species. This sheet is one of four which are part of a series depicting prehistoric animals.

In 2006 the Comoro Islands issued this stamp depicting a coelacanth. The symbol of the World Wildlife Fund appears in the upper left-hand corner. The stamp is part of a four-stamp series commemorating thirty years of Chinese/Comoro Islands diplomatic relations. The other three stamps show the Presidents of China and the Comoro Islands shaking hands, the radio and television center at Moroni, and the Palace of the People at Moroni. The stamps are also available on a minisheet.

In 2009 the Comoro Islands issued six stamps depicting fish of the Comoro Islands including the coelacanth. The stamps also appear on a first day cover.

In 2009 the Comoro Islands issued another five stamps depicting the coelacanth. In addition, a minisheet reuses an image from the set with a high denomination. This minisheet is also available on a first day cover.

This stamp is part of a sheet of twelve stamps depicting endangered species. Another stamp on this sheet shows the Congo peafowl.

A souvenir sheet of prehistoric animals includes the coelacanth.

This souvenir sheet of twelve stamps about deep ocean exploration includes the coelacanth and the giant squid. The coelacanth appears in a panel with a goblin shark.

A souvenir sheet about prehistoric marine life includes this image of the coelacanth.

Indonesia issued this miniature sheet depicting the Indonesian coelacanth Latimeria menadoensis for the London Stamp Show in May, 2000. The brown color and golden flecks of this species contrast with the blue color without flecks of Latimeria chalumnae. The native name of the coelacanth which appears on the sheet is "Raja Laut" meaning "King of the Sea."

This stamp shows a coelacanth swimming. So far no coelacanths have been found off the Ivory Coast.

Kuwait issued this miniature sheet depicting a coelacanth as part of a set commemorating the silver jubilee of Educational Science Museum.

Liberia issued several souvenir sheets to commemorate the International Year of the Ocean. The coelacanth appears in a panel marked "twilight and deep seafish" on a souvenir sheet depicting ocean creatures.

A fossil of a crossopterygian fish, possibly Paleochromis rouseleti, appears on one of a set of three stamps depicting fossils found in Libya.

The miniature sheet on which this stamp appears depicts the coelacanth swimming in its natural habitat.

This miniature sheet of the coelacanth belongs to a set of six stamps depicting marine topics. While the sheet bears an issue date of 1989, it was actually released in 1990.

This coelacanth stamp appears on a souvenir sheet of sixteen stamps depicting other marine life.

This coelacanth stamp appears as one of a set of three stamps. The other two stamps depict a sea turtle and an octopus. The three stamps also appear on a souvenir sheet which additionally features fishermen, a lobster, a crab, and a sirenian (presumably a dugong).

In August 1991 a single female coelacanth was netted off the shores of Mozambique near Pebane. This coelacanth was 179 cm in length and weighed 98 kg, the second largest ever caught. This stamp may commemorate that event. The stamp was issued for Expo '98, the world's fair held in Lisbon, Portugal.

This stamp is one of a set depicting stages in Earth history. A crossopterygian (presumably a rhipidistian) is leaving the water near an early amphibian -- perhaps Icthyostega or another member of the Labyrinthodontia. The stamp also festures the fossil skeleton of a rhipidistian along with a dragonfly. This stamp image was reused on a miniature sheet (Scott #123) issued in 1989. You may view a black and white proof of this sheet.

This stamp appears as one of a se-tenant pair on a miniature sheet. The other stamp depicts Lampris guttatus, the Spotted Moonfish.

This sheet issued in honor of Charles Darwin shows a rhipidistian at the top along with five stamps depicting five different types of vertebrates (birds, bats, dolphins, horses, and humans). Above each stamp is an image of the corresponding vertebrate's limb structure. Lines descend from the lobe fins of the rhipidistian to the limbs of the other vertebrates, demonstrating the evolutionary relationship. The sheet is available in both perforate and imperforate varieties.

This stamp appears on a Millennium souvenir sheet of seventeen stamps commemorating undersea history and exploration. You can also view the first day cover for the sheet.

This stamp depicts Rhipidistia eusthenopteron, an extinct representative of the "other" group of lobe-finned fish. The coelacanth probably evolved from a Rhipidistian ancestor. The Rhipidistians were probably directly ancestral to all later land vertebrates.

This stamp is the first in a set of four stamps commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of a living coelacanth. You may also view the block of four and the maxicardfor this stamp. A postcard with this stamp features a coelacanth cachet and is signed by Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer. The first day cover for the four stamp set is also signed by Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer. Another cover features a different cachet of the coelacanth seen head-on. The East London Museum also issued a gold seal to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary.

This stamp is the second in a set of four stamps commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of a living coelacanth. It shows the discoverers of the coelacanth in 1938, J. L. B. Smith and M. Courtenay-Latimer. You may also view the block of four and the maxicard for this stamp.

This stamp is the third in a set of four stamps commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of a living coelacanth. It shows the J. L. B. Smith Institute of Icthyology in Grahamstown. You may also view the block of four and the maxicard for this stamp.

This stamp is the fourth in a set of four stamps commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of a living coelacanth. The stamp depicts a coelacanth along with a two-man research submarine. Also see the block of four; one stamp souvenir sheet and a cover bearing this sheet; a two stamp souvenir sheet; the first day cover signed by Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer; and the maxicard for this stamp.

In 2007 the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Prîncipe issued this stamp showing the modern-day coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae along with another fish named Chlorostigma. A minature sheet (here shown on a first-day cover) presents the coelacanth stamp along with three other stamps depicting fish. The sheet commemorates the one hundredth anniversary of the Boy Scouts.

In 2009 the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Prîncipe issued this sheet showing the modern-day coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae along with a number of other fish. The stamps also appear on a first day cover.

The coelacanth appears as one of a set of four stamps depicting prehistoric sea life. Several of the stamp images in this set are nearly identical to those from Buriatia above, so this may not be a legitimate stamp issue.

This stamp appears on a souvenir sheet showing German scientists using a submersible to study the coelacanth underwater and the cause for its decline. Part of a series on underwater exploration and photography.