Ascension
Quick reference
General issues: Dependency St. Helena 1922-2009, British overseas territory of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha 2009-Present
Country name on general issues: Ascension
Currency: 1 Pound = 20 Shilling, 1 Shilling = 12 Pence 1922-1971, 1 Pound = 100 Pence 1971-Present
Population: 880 in 2015
Political history Ascension
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Ascension is an island located in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Ascension is discovered in the 16th century by the Portuguese. In 1815, the British take possession of Ascension to prevent the French from taking the island. The French might use Ascension as a staging ground to liberate Napoleon Bonaparte, who is confined on St. Helena from 1815 until 1822. The British establish a base on Ascension and the island, at the time, is administered as a British colony by the admiralty. In 1922, Ascension is made a dependency of St. Helena. Ascension being an important relay point in international telecommunication the effective administration of the island is put in the hands of the Eastern Telegraph Company until 1964. In 2009, the status of the dependencies of St. Helena – Tristan da Cunha became a dependency of St. Helena in 1938 – is leveled with that of St. Helena itself when the British overseas territory of St. Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha is formed.
Ascension has long played a role in as a relay station in international communication networks and does so to this day. The island also hosts a space tracking station and an air force base that was extensively used during the Falklands War.
Postal history Ascension
1938 – George Town
On Ascension the stamps of Great Britain have been used since 1867. From 1922, stamps have been issued for Ascension. The first issues being overprints on Saint Helena stamps, the first definitives being issued in 1926.
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