Category:Samoa

Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa (Samoan: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Sāmoa), formerly known as Western Samoa, is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in Polynesia, Savai'i. The capital city, Apia, and Faleolo International Airport are situated on the island of Upolu.

Samoa was admitted to the United Nations on 15 December 1976. The entire island group, inclusive of American Samoa, was called “Navigators Islands” by European explorers before the 20th century because of the Samoans' seafaring skills.

Earlier events relevant to philately: The Samoan Civil Wars of 1886–1894 and 1898-1899 was resolved by a partition in the Tripartite Convention signed by the United States, Great Britain and Germany. Germany controlled Upolu on 1 March and Savai'i on 8 June 1900. British troops occupied the islands in 1914 (G.R.I. overprints on 3 September).

Samoa issued own stamps in the 1877-1899 period.