First discovered by Pedro Fernandez de Quiros in 1606, Henderson, which is located 170km north-east of Pitcairn, was named after the Captain of the Hercules that visited in 1819. An American vessel the Elizabeth visited soon after and Henderson was renamed, only to have the name restored by the Pitcairners in 1851.


The largest of the four islands in the Pitcairn group, Henderson is 7.3km long by 4.8km wide. The coastline is steep except in the north where a fringing reef runs in to a sandy beach and a narrow coastal plain, covered with dense bush.


Henderson is a World Heritage Site because of its unique flora and fauna. It is one of the few atolls in the world whose ecology has been practically untouched by a human presence. It is particularly notable for the 10 plants (especially Bidens hendersonensis) and four land birds that are endemic to the island.



The birds are: the endangered Henderson Rail (Chicken Bird), the Fruit Dove, the Henderson Island Warbler and the Stephens Lory. Other wildlife includes Boobies, gannets, three species of petrel, land crabs and the Polynesian rat. Fish abound on the reef.


The Miro tree from which the Pitcairners carve their magnificent handicrafts is in good supply (thanks to replanting) and is collected by the longboat voyagers once a year.


The stamps are available as sets in mint or CTO as well as on First Day Cover. The issue is on sale from 15 February, 2006 and is available from the Pitcairn Philatelic Bureau or Pitcairn’s appointed agents worldwide.