Gombessa: The African Coelacanth Latimeria cltalumnae Synopsis - December 27, 2016 Purpose: This multi-frame display exhibit tells the story of a rare and endangered fish known to Western science as the coelacanth (SEE-luh-kanth). Coelacanths disappeared from the fossil record about the same time as the dinosaurs. In 1938 scientists thought the fish might represent a missing link between fish and the first land vertebrates. They also thought that coelacanths were extinct. Then the unthinkable happened: a trawler netted a living coelacanth off the west coast of South Africa. This is where the exhibit begins. ,• :· .r;..". t.="- - ·1 .. /?. L:.._., LATtM!JUA CHALUhlN'AE, /. L 8. Smith. M111 ....... Treatment: The story unfolds as a series of milestones marking scientific, political and philatelic events that shape our understanding of this big ugly blue fish. There are three types of milestones. Scientific milestones highlight major expeditions and important 'firsts', e.g., first photographs of a living coelacanth, fust discoveries in new places. Political milestones represent historical events that shaped the direction and future of coelacanth research. Philatelic milestones refer to noteworthy sets of stamps associated with specific events in the history of the coelacanth. The exhibit is organized into five chapters. The first four, arranged chronologically, cover discovery of the first living coelacanth (South Africa, 193 8) through discovery of the most recent coelacanth colony (Tanzania, 2003). Chapter Five summarizes current thinking about coelacanth biology, ecology and evolution based on the fossil record, observations made by scientific expeditions in the field and laboratory studies of coelacanth specimens (through 2016). The exhibit uses a range of philatelic and non-philatelic materials (approximately 75% philatelic and 25% non-philatelic). • Stamps, including souvenir sheets, proofs and overprints. Forty-seven official stamps have been issued that depict or are related directly to Latimeria chalumnae. (Indonesia has issued one additional stamp depicting a second species, L. menadoensis, mentioned and shown in Chapter Five.) Examples of all 4 7 official stamps can be found in the exhibit. The majority were issued by the Comoro Islands, often disparaged for issuing an excessive number of stamps with topics unrelated to the country. In this case, however, the large number of stamps is justified. The Comores: 1) are home to the first and largest population of coelacanths, which is also the best studied; 2) have hosted the most scientific expeditions; and 3) have also embraced the coelacanth as a national symbol. • Commercial, event and first day covers. Many signed by the discoverer. See 'Rarity'. • Maximum cards and post cards. These primarily illustrate specimens on display at various museums/aquaria or are included in philatelic milestones. • Original photographs, letters, and coelacanth scales. See "Rarity'. • Other ephemera, such as expedition decals and contemporary news clippings.
Transcript
Gombessa: The African Coelacanth Latimeria cltalumnae Synopsis - December 27, 2016
Purpose: This multi-frame display exhibit tells the story of a rare and endangered fish known to Western science as the coelacanth (SEE-luh-kanth). Coelacanths disappeared from the fossil record about the same time as the dinosaurs. In 1938 scientists thought the fish might represent a missing link between fish and the first land vertebrates. They also thought that coelacanths were extinct. Then the unthinkable happened: a trawler netted a living coelacanth off the west coast of South Africa. This is where the exhibit begins.
Treatment: The story unfolds as a series of milestones marking scientific, political and philatelic events that shape our understanding of this big ugly blue fish. There are three types of milestones. Scientific milestones highlight major expeditions and important 'firsts', e.g., first photographs of a living coelacanth, fust discoveries in new places. Political milestones represent historical events that shaped the direction and future of coelacanth research. Philatelic milestones refer to noteworthy sets of stamps associated with specific events in the history of the coelacanth.
The exhibit is organized into five chapters. The first four, arranged chronologically, cover discovery of the first living coelacanth (South Africa, 193 8) through discovery of the most recent coelacanth colony (Tanzania, 2003). Chapter Five summarizes current thinking about coelacanth biology, ecology and evolution based on the fossil record, observations made by scientific expeditions in the field and laboratory studies of coelacanth specimens (through 2016).
The exhibit uses a range of philatelic and non-philatelic materials (approximately 75% philatelic and 25% non-philatelic).
• Stamps, including souvenir sheets, proofs and overprints. Forty-seven official stamps have been issued that depict or are related directly to Latimeria chalumnae. (Indonesia has issued one additional stamp depicting a second species, L. menadoensis, mentioned and shown in Chapter Five.) Examples of all 4 7 official stamps can be found in the exhibit. The majority were issued by the Comoro Islands, often disparaged for issuing an excessive number of stamps with topics unrelated to the country. In this case, however, the large number of stamps is justified. The Comores: 1) are home to the first and largest population of coelacanths, which is also the best studied; 2) have hosted the most scientific expeditions; and 3) have also embraced the coelacanth as a national symbol.
• Commercial, event and first day covers. Many signed by the discoverer. See 'Rarity'. • Maximum cards and post cards. These primarily illustrate specimens on display at various
museums/aquaria or are included in philatelic milestones. • Original photographs, letters, and coelacanth scales. See "Rarity'. • Other ephemera, such as expedition decals and contemporary news clippings.
Research, Personal Study and Rarity: Personal study of the scientific literature on coelacanths has been ongoing since my undergraduate days as a paleontology student, ca. 1970. Philatelic study dates
from roughly 2009. Earlier two-frame versions of this exhibit were shown in 2014-2015. It has A 9L.P been expanded to the current six frames through original research and noteworthy acquisitions,
as follows. Original research marked by the icon at left.
• Chapter One, 1952-This exhibit establishes the provenance of photographs of the second living coelacanth. The photos and story were obtained from the previous owners of the photos - Mr. Dylan Laubscher of Virginia, and his father Dr. Philip J. Laubscher, of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. They, in turn, had acquired the photos and story directly from the photographer.
• Chapter One, 1954 - Presents a mini-study of the Comoro Island's 1954 stamps, the first to feature the coelacanth (one definitive, three postage due). It includes color proofs, an engraver's proof, two first day covers (the only ones seen in eight years' of searching), and a commercial cover sent to an unusual destination - Dakar, Mali (over 90% of covers regularly offered for sale are addressed to France).
• Chapter Three, 1989 - Includes two hand-written letters by Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer (discoverer of the first living coelacanth) expressing her opinions on the subjects and release date chosen for South Africa's set of stamps commemorating the 50th anniversary of her discovery.
• Chapter Three, 1987 and 1991 presents original research into the origin of covers documenting dives of the research submersibles GEO and JAGO. These are one-of-a-kind covers, signed by the pilot (and co-pilot, where applicable) of each dive and posted at sea. The history was obtained through correspondence with biologists and pilots from the expeditions.
References
• W\vw.dinofi sh.corn This website includes timelines, results of research expeditions and descriptions of events and science covered by the exhibit. The link connects to the home page. For an overview, click on 'Recent History' from the menu on the left. For a chronology of expeditions, go to 'Recent History' - scroll to bottom - click on 'Zoological Holy Grail: Expeditions in search of the Coelacanth'. For biology etc. click on 'Biology and Behavior" from the menu on the left. (website active as of 12/26/2016)
• http://www.pibburns.com/cryptost/coelacan.htrn This is the only website that contains images and information for most of the coelacanth stamps issued as of 2010 (including three bogus stamps - Abkhasia, Buriata, Tanzania). It is missing an official stamp I discovered where Latimeria is mislabeled "Lophius'', Uzbekistan stamps (official and bogus) and one from Togo. (website active as of 12/26/2016)
• The Comoro Islands: A Postal History Sketch. R.G. Stone. The American Philatelist: January 1981 (Whole Number 960), Volume 95, No. 1; pages 54-66 and p. 93. This article (in English) traces the history of the Comoro Islands from the 19th century colonial era through the various changes in political status and corresponding name changes reflected on Comorian stamps. Available through the APRL.
