Easter Island stamp set issued in 2002. This set is focused in the flora and fauna of Easter Island.
The first stamp shows a Tapa figure made of bark of Mahute shrub. This Tapa figure is considered to be a model for the traditional tattoo designs used by the islanders. The stamp also shows the flowers of a Toromiro tree. Toromiro was an original species of Easter Island, which was widely used in all kinds of wood carvings in the old times. Toromiros almost disappeared when sheeps were introduced at the arrival of European navigators. The last Toromiro tree in Easter Island was discovered by botanist Scottsberg inside volcano Rano Raraku crater in 1917, and all Toromiros now in existence came from that tree. There are Toromiros in Botanical Gardens in Germany, Australia and in Viña del Mar, Chile.
The second stamp shows a diuca finch bird and a Rapa Nui man dressed as a Tangata Manu (Bird Man).
An Easter Island souvenir sheet matching this set of stamps was issued in 2002.
