I posted my art to the address shown above and it was just returned to me with the following message: INSUFFICIENT ADDRESS. MUST SHOW DESTINATION IN ENGLISH. ???!!?? I know the United States is pretty insular and monolingual, but it seems that the Post Office doesn't even know its own language. I will try to talk to a real human P.O. official about this next week. In the meantime, does anyone have any other suggestion?
The main problem with the address is not the language, but the format. In all cases (countries) you should put the country LAST. Placing it on the 2nd line of 4 lines is never a good idea. In fact, having "South Atlantic Ocean" in French as the 4th line is superfluous anyway. It should be spelled, "TRISTAN DA CUNHA" for the best result. Some underline the country name once or twice as well, but not necessary.
Actually, that four-line one in French is not mine, Bradford. That one was sent by Sandra Gaches, who lives in France (see below); I don't know if she had any delivery problems. I wrote the address, in English, exactly as instructed at the top of the Tristan da Cunha page. I'll report what the Post Office says after I talk to them.
"Nine scheduled ships a year bring mail from Cape Town to the world's most remote community. The last 2009 ship leaves Cape Town on 26th November. Miss this last post before Christmas and the next post is not due until 3rd March 2010, a gap of three months. So it is hardly surprising that the arrival of post is an important event on the island."
If you go to page 2 of the Comments and scroll down to the bottom, there's a nice email from the postmistress of TDC, saying that she is expecting mail art and intends to exhibit it.
I haven't checked the website yet, but I'm intrigued by the hand knitted penguins!
Postmistress response actually in comment below on page 3. I guess Susan and I have pushed them a bit lower! But they are expecting mail art and planning to display it!
I wonder if it would help to put the postmistresses name on the address?
So the very nice senior clerk at a San Francisco post office thinks this is what happened: apparently my Mail Art to Tristan da Cunha needed 21 cents more postage, even though a post office clerk had told me how much postage to use. As a result, the system thought it was domestic (internal U.S.) mail not international. The address I had written did not make sense as a U.S. destination so it was returned to me. They added the 21 cent postage, covered up all the messages, and stamped it to go forward. Hopefully it will work this time and get to TdC at some point!
Thanks for the invitation. It has caused me to become interested in islands as possible future homes and I've learned that most are either protected by the 'owners' who don't want them crowded or already crowded or so remote that they'd be tough to inhabit.
This is for a permanent exhibition on, Tristan de Cunha, the remotest inhabited island on the planet.
The drawing is based on a still from the movie WINGS OF DESIRE (1987, d. Win Wenders) where the angel, Damiel, comforts a dying man. The man begins to list memories and at one point says, 'Tristan da Cunha'. The title comes from a doco of the island. One local says it's so quiet he can sometimes hear the grass grow.
Yo, below is my contribution to this great endeavor! I believe that this could stand as one of the world's greatest archives of post art on the most extreme art museum in the world. I am honored to submit the work attached.
I went to the post yesterday to post my contribution to this very important event, and I was told that it was not possible to post mail art to Tristan da Cunha as it didn't exist in their country database:(
Hi ThomasB, my post office looked at me sideways when they saw the address but sent it off okay. Tristan da Cunha has a postcode so there's no reason why they shouldn't have accepted it. My only suggestion is you send it to an IUOMA colleague and they send it on for you.
This is the info that the Tristan Da Cunha post office has on its website: Postmistress, Post Office, Tristan da Cunha, TDCU 1ZZ, South Atlantic Ocean, (Via Cape Town, South Africa). Mail is delivered by ship and it arrives only a few times a year (so I've read). Not sure what route the mail takes to get there. While it might travel via South Africa, its phone number is (44) 0203 014 5103. That (44), the country code, is the same as what is used in the United Kingdom. A postal code website also notes this: Tristan da Cunha is part of the British Overseas Territory Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Adam B's advice sounds good, if your local post office rejects your contribution.
I have been unplugged for a few days to take care of making a living so I'm back now but I thought I would update everyone as to the post art that's been dispatched now to the Tristan. The whole journey it's been five months now currently the artwork is in the UK since June 17th awaiting express mail to Tristan via Cape Town. I do hope it makes the next sailing ship post?
Susan Weisberg
My piece going out to Tristan da Cunha this afternoon.
Feb 11, 2021
sandra GACHES
mon mail art partit hier
Feb 15, 2021
Susan Weisberg
I posted my art to the address shown above and it was just returned to me with the following message: INSUFFICIENT ADDRESS. MUST SHOW DESTINATION IN ENGLISH. ???!!?? I know the United States is pretty insular and monolingual, but it seems that the Post Office doesn't even know its own language. I will try to talk to a real human P.O. official about this next week. In the meantime, does anyone have any other suggestion?
Feb 21, 2021
Mim Golub Scalin
Feb 21, 2021
Bradford
The main problem with the address is not the language, but the format. In all cases (countries) you should put the country LAST. Placing it on the 2nd line of 4 lines is never a good idea. In fact, having "South Atlantic Ocean" in French as the 4th line is superfluous anyway. It should be spelled, "TRISTAN DA CUNHA" for the best result. Some underline the country name once or twice as well, but not necessary.
Feb 21, 2021
Susan Weisberg
Actually, that four-line one in French is not mine, Bradford. That one was sent by Sandra Gaches, who lives in France (see below); I don't know if she had any delivery problems. I wrote the address, in English, exactly as instructed at the top of the Tristan da Cunha page. I'll report what the Post Office says after I talk to them.
Feb 22, 2021
Jeff Bagato
Not sure if this helps, but here is the Tristan Da Cunha post office website and the info they give there: https://www.tristandc.com/postoffice.php
The settlement there is called Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, but that doesn't seem necessary.
Feb 22, 2021
Jeff Bagato
And from the TDC philatelic store page:
"Nine scheduled ships a year bring mail from Cape Town to the world's most remote community. The last 2009 ship leaves Cape Town on 26th November. Miss this last post before Christmas and the next post is not due until 3rd March 2010, a gap of three months. So it is hardly surprising that the arrival of post is an important event on the island."
Feb 22, 2021
Jeff Bagato
It sounds like getting any mail onto the island will be an accomplishment!
Feb 22, 2021
Susan Weisberg
Thanks for all this information, Jeff. It sounds as if my Mail Art will have just missed a March delivery!
Feb 22, 2021
Jeff Bagato
Your welcome, Susan. The TDC website is a real rabbit hole. they sell stamps, postcards, even hand knitted sweaters and penguins!
Not sure who exactly is expecting mail art on the island! There's no info about any collection.
Feb 22, 2021
Susan Weisberg
If you go to page 2 of the Comments and scroll down to the bottom, there's a nice email from the postmistress of TDC, saying that she is expecting mail art and intends to exhibit it.
I haven't checked the website yet, but I'm intrigued by the hand knitted penguins!
Feb 22, 2021
Jeff Bagato
Postmistress response actually in comment below on page 3. I guess Susan and I have pushed them a bit lower! But they are expecting mail art and planning to display it!
I wonder if it would help to put the postmistresses name on the address?
Feb 22, 2021
Susan Weisberg
So the very nice senior clerk at a San Francisco post office thinks this is what happened: apparently my Mail Art to Tristan da Cunha needed 21 cents more postage, even though a post office clerk had told me how much postage to use. As a result, the system thought it was domestic (internal U.S.) mail not international. The address I had written did not make sense as a U.S. destination so it was returned to me. They added the 21 cent postage, covered up all the messages, and stamped it to go forward. Hopefully it will work this time and get to TdC at some point!
Feb 22, 2021
Daniel de Culla
Hello, Tristan. My teeth have fallen out and they have created this figure.
A cordial greeting.
Mar 4, 2021
Ficus strangulensis
Thanks for the invitation. It has caused me to become interested in islands as possible future homes and I've learned that most are either protected by the 'owners' who don't want them crowded or already crowded or so remote that they'd be tough to inhabit.
But thanks anyway.
Mar 6, 2021
Margaret Jeddry
Will take my piece to the post office this week. Should be interesting....
Mar 7, 2021
Margaret Jeddry
The postcard is in the mail!
Mar 16, 2021
Darryl Vance
Sent mine in for the second time last month. Whether it gets there or not, at least the adventure is fun.
Mar 17, 2021
Ifé Niklaus
Mar 21, 2021
Margaret Jeddry
Thank you for the map.
Jun 27, 2021
maha
i wish i visted this cool place
Jun 30, 2021
Paulo Alexandre Rocha Teles
Send today hope that arrive...
Jan 12, 2022
Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)
Wondering IF and WHEN this might arrive on Tristan Island?
Jan 23, 2022
Margaret Jeddry
I’m not sure there’s any way to tell. They have a webpage, and I was told that the postmistress posts arrivals.
Jan 23, 2022
Carmela Rizzuto
Sending mail art tomorrow! Image posted in MyPhotos.
Feb 21, 2022
ThomasB
I will get a post art off today -
Thomas Burola
PO Box 413
Phnom Penh, Cambodia 120000
Feb 16, 2023
Daniel de Culla
Season's Greetings¡ with Lutz & Daniel
Feb 16, 2023
Ramailart (Gianni Ramacciotti)
I will send you a postcard. The back will be a surprise. Right now, for me too :)From Italy to Tristan da Cunha
Feb 16, 2023
CtlAltDel
In Win Wenders' wonderful film, Wings of Desire, a dying man recollecting the things that have apparently meant most to him mentions Tristan da Cunha.
Feb 16, 2023
CtlAltDel
'I Can Hear the Grass Grow' (2023). ink on paper
This is for a permanent exhibition on, Tristan de Cunha, the remotest inhabited island on the planet.
The drawing is based on a still from the movie WINGS OF DESIRE (1987, d. Win Wenders) where the angel, Damiel, comforts a dying man. The man begins to list memories and at one point says, 'Tristan da Cunha'. The title comes from a doco of the island. One local says it's so quiet he can sometimes hear the grass grow.
Feb 17, 2023
ThomasB
Yo, below is my contribution to this great endeavor! I believe that this could stand as one of the world's greatest archives of post art on the most extreme art museum in the world. I am honored to submit the work attached.
Thomas
Feb 17, 2023
ThomasB
I went to the post yesterday to post my contribution to this very important event, and I was told that it was not possible to post mail art to Tristan da Cunha as it didn't exist in their country database:(
Suggestion?
Feb 19, 2023
CtlAltDel
Hi ThomasB, my post office looked at me sideways when they saw the address but sent it off okay. Tristan da Cunha has a postcode so there's no reason why they shouldn't have accepted it. My only suggestion is you send it to an IUOMA colleague and they send it on for you.
Feb 19, 2023
John Gayer
This is the info that the Tristan Da Cunha post office has on its website: Postmistress, Post Office, Tristan da Cunha, TDCU 1ZZ, South Atlantic Ocean, (Via Cape Town, South Africa). Mail is delivered by ship and it arrives only a few times a year (so I've read). Not sure what route the mail takes to get there. While it might travel via South Africa, its phone number is (44) 0203 014 5103. That (44), the country code, is the same as what is used in the United Kingdom. A postal code website also notes this: Tristan da Cunha is part of the British Overseas Territory Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Adam B's advice sounds good, if your local post office rejects your contribution.
Feb 19, 2023
Mikel Untzilla
Feb 19, 2023
Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)
If your post office does not send to Tristan da Cunha,
ask if they send to South Africa and address it this way:
No need to mark it "air mail" as there is no airport on the island.
Travel is from Cape Town via ship:
"Tristan da Cunha Ferries operates a ferry from Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha once a week. Tickets cost €467 and the journey takes 6 days" .
It is an absolutely Covid free place, not one case in three years.
Feb 20, 2023
Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)
Feb 20, 2023
ThomasB
I gave it another run at the main post office in Phenom Penh and my contribution was routed through the UK? They said it would take 4 weeks?
Feb 20, 2023
ThomasB
Mar 10, 2023
ThomasB
I have checked with the Post in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and they are in the process figuring out where TRISTAN DA CUNHA is? I will keep everyone advised!
Mar 10, 2023
ThomasB
It's very unfortunate but the Cambodian post cannot find the island;)
Apr 11, 2023
CtlAltDel
Hi Thomas, maybe like I suggested earlier, send it to an IUOMA member and they can send it on for you.
Apr 11, 2023
ThomasB
News! The Cambodia Post informed to me today, July 7th that my post art contribution is on the move!
Jul 7, 2023
John Gayer
Hope springs eternal!
Jul 7, 2023
ThomasB
The post art has made it to the UK and is awaiting transport to Tristan! I will keep you updated:)
Jul 22, 2023
maha
suggestion if they can (administration )print the digital photograph of the art and included at the upcoming exhibition
i did not mail mine and wanted it to be printed and included
it is in this post blog group
Jul 24, 2023
maha
earth laugh /acrylic paiting with gliding
Jul 24, 2023
ThomasB
Aug 12, 2023
ThomasB
I have been unplugged for a few days to take care of making a living so I'm back now but I thought I would update everyone as to the post art that's been dispatched now to the Tristan. The whole journey it's been five months now currently the artwork is in the UK since June 17th awaiting express mail to Tristan via Cape Town. I do hope it makes the next sailing ship post?
Aug 12, 2023