Postage stamps and postal history of Kiribati Postage stamps and postal history of Kiribati This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Kiribati. The Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. It is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, and straddling the equator. Kiribati was formerly the Gilbert Islands, part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands which split into Kiribati and Tuvalu upon gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1978 and 1979. The first stamps of Kiribati were a pair issued on 19 November 1979 to
Solomon Islands Independence Medal stripes of blue, yellow, white, yellow, and green. Solomon Islands Independence Medal The Solomon Islands Independence Medal was created in 1978 to commemorate the transition from self-government to the full independence of the Solomon Islands. It is a part of the Solomon Islands honours system. The medal is round, made of silver coloured metal. The obverse bears the Cecil Thomas portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by the inscription "Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina F:D:". The reverse bears the Coat of Arms of the Solomon Islands surrounded by the inscription "Solomon Islands Independence Medal 1978". The medal is held by