Collection: Gilbert and Ellice Islands

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands, a British colony in the central Pacific, began issuing stamps in 1911 with overprinted Fijian stamps marked "GILBERT & ELLICE / PROTECTORATE." Later that year, they introduced their first definitive series featuring the pandanus palm, a vital resource for the islanders. Over the years, the colony's stamps depicted local flora, fauna, and cultural scenes, reflecting its unique heritage. In 1976, the colony split into two separate entities: the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati) and the Ellice Islands (now Tuvalu), each embarking on their own postal journeys.