Issue date: 4 July 2026
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Tristan da Cunha has issued a souvenir sheet celebrating American Independence Day. The design features the Statue of Liberty against the Declaration of Independence, alongside a tribute to one of the island's most remarkable historical links with the United States the rescue of the American sailing ship Mabel Clark in 1878.
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on 4 July 1776, proclaimed the thirteen American colonies' independence from Great Britain and established the enduring principles of equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Its influence has inspired democratic ideals around the world.
Tristan da Cunha's connection to the United States began when the Mabel Clark was wrecked on the island's rocks during a storm on 1 May 1878. Islanders risked their lives to rescue the crew, swimming through heavy seas with ropes tied around their waists and caring for the survivors for several months until they could leave the island.
In recognition of this extraordinary act of courage and kindness, the President of the United States presented gifts to the Islanders, including an inscribed gold chronometer for Chief Islander Peter Green. The rescue of the Mabel Clark remains one of Tristan da Cunha's most celebrated maritime stories and a lasting symbol of friendship between the island community and the United States.
£5.00 Souvenir Sheet
2.50 (left) - The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour, set against a background showing the Declaration of Independence document.
£2.50 (right) - The wreck of the Mabel Clark and the gold chronometer given by the US President to Tristan in thanks for the rescue of the crew.