THE COELACANTH - An Exhibition of Postage Stamps

complete coelacanth exhibit This is my award-winning single-frame coelacanth stamp exhibit.

(Scanning has distorted the colors, all pages have identical beige backgrounds.)

Click on the image to view each page in detail.

The complete exhibit consists of 16 pages based on only SIX (6) coelacanth stamps from the Comoro Islands. It is fleshed out with proofs & trials of those stamps, 3 other Comoro Islands stamps, and related co-lateral material such as the 1952 postcard and the photocopy of a cancel on the title page. Now that the South African embargo has been lifted, more stamps from the FIRST country in which it was seen can aid in telling the story.

In 1988, in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Living Coelacanth, it was invited to be displayed at the annual meeting of the Society for the Protection Of Old Fishes (SPOOF) in Seattle, WA. There it was heavily scrutinized for inaccuracies by biologists and university professors alike and it passed swimmingly!

It is now of gold medal caliber and has won several philatelic awards including Best Topical, Best Single Frame Exhibit, Reserve Grand, and, in 1993, the American Topical Association Gold Award, a rarity for a single frame/one country exhibit. It has been invited to other shows, but currently does not travel. I'm thinking of changing that though...


coelacanth cancellation

This elusive cancel is the only coelacanth philatelic item missing from my exhibit. A photo copy is all that I have of it. If you happen to have a copy of this cancel that you would like to part with or sell, please contact me at [email protected]



coelacanth commemorative cover One of my most prized pieces, a South African commemorative cover, autographed by M. Courtenay-Latimer, who still lives in East London, RSA. I look forward to including this, the individual stamps and the accompanying Souvenir sheet and information card in my exhibit.



Society for the Protection of Old Fishes

This membership certificate for S.P.O.O.F. is highly prized as it is signed by the three most well-known celebrities in coelacanth history:

But, not just anyone can join this exclusive organization. You must show a true knowledge of Old Fishes. My first interview to be a member was turned down. Two years later, I re-interviewed and presented a photocopy of my exhibit as my credentials, and was accepted! I am the only non-biologist in the membership, thanks to my stamps and love of this marvelously unique fish.


coelacanth keyring

Click here to go to the definitive Coelacanth website!

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Updated: November 10,1998