Postage stamps and postal history of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a former British colony in the Windward Islands, has produced stamps since 8 May 1861.[1][2] The stamps featured either the British monarch’s head on them or the ER monogram and crown until around 1970.[3] The stamps were printed with just "St. Vincent" until 1992 when the stamps began to print the full country name, "St. Vincent and the Grenadines".
Since around 1988, the country has been a client of the Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation.[4]
Early Issues (1861-1912)
The islands first began to issue stamps in 1861 and featured Queen Victoria. They were followed by the stamps of King Edward VII by 1902, which featured his portrait, then those of King George V in 1912.[4]
King George V, King George VI and early Elizabethan issues (1912-1970)
The King George V of 1912 had just only featured his portrait, later ones featured his portrait with island scenes.
They were followed by stamps of his silver jubilee in 1935.
Coronation issues of
This was followed by the Victory Stamps of 1946, featuring the king's portrait, along with the Tower of Westminster; as well as the Royal Silver Wedding of 1948.
By 1953 stamps of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II were introduced, along with stamps showing her portrait and island scenes.[4]
1970-1988
By around 1970 the portraits and the royal ciphers of the Queen were removed. The number of issues had increased since the 1960s and 1970s, showing both local (such as Carnival events) and international events (such as the American Independence Bicentennial of 1976).
Stamps featuring the American Independence Bicentennial in 1976 and the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 featured portraits of the past monarchs of the
By 1983 the stamps began to show a series of automobile and locomotive stamps, which continued until 1986. As well as showing footballers on the 1986 stamps honouring the
IGPC years (1988-present)
Around 1988 the country became a client of the
A 1992 issue featuring Elvis Presley proved even more popular. Scott Tilson was able to sell 8,000 sets (out of a run of 20,000) before starting an advertising campaign. The general manager of the Philatelic Service, Alphonso Dennie, ranked the Elvis issue as the best selling since its Michael Jackson issue, which sold well in Asia.[5]
By the early-1990s an excessive number of issues arose. In 1994 it began issuing stamps showing Japanese football players and teams (such as
In 1996 it became one of the first countries to issue stamps featuring Star Wars. The following year it began to issue stamps on Star Trek: Voyager.
By 2001-02 it issued stamps featuring Pokémon. As well it was also the first country to issue stamps showing Elvis Presley since 1987. Other stamps showed Popeye and Betty Boop.[4]
References
- ISBN 0356108627
- ^ "Saint Vincent | Stamps and postal history | StampWorldHistory". Archived from the original on 2018-03-03. Retrieved 12 August 2018.[title missing]
- ^ Stamps of the World Volume 4. Stanley Gibbons. 2004. p. 43.
- ^ a b c d e Stamps of the World 2009 Edition Volume 5. Stanley Gibbons. November 2008.
- ^ "Saturday Celebrity". Boston Herald. 1992-08-15. p. 11 – via ProQuest.
[Scott Tilson] said he had sold 8,000 of the 20,000 sets since their printing - his company's quickest-ever specialty stamp sale. Tilson, who has yet to advertise, said he has another 2,000 sets and is negotiating with St. Vincent to buy another 5,000. Alphonso Dennie, general manager of the Philatelic Service of St. Vincent, said [Elvis Presley] has been the island's best stamp-seller since Michael Jackson, whose issue has proven popular particularly among Asian collectors. The former British colony of 107,000 people also issues sets of stamps that show entertainers such as Madonna, politicians such John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower, and famous golfers.
Further reading
- Brown, S.A. The Postage Stamps of St. Vincent. London: Office of "Stamp Collecting", 1917 24p.
- Ishihara, Minoru. The Stamps of St. Vincent 1861-81. Osaka: Foreign Stamp Study Club of Japan, 1975 48p.
- Louka, Michael N. Cancellations on St. Vincent Stamps 1861-97: Obliterators, St. Vincent and Kingstown Datestamps. Alicante: British West Indies Study Circle, 2009 ISBN 978109538804444p.
- Napier, Francis H. and E.D. Bacon. Saint Vincent: with notes and publishers' prices. London: Stanley Gibbons, 1895 107p. Reprinted in 1998.
- Pierce, Arthur D., J.L. Messenger & Robson Lowe. St Vincent: The Postal History 1762-1965: The Postage Stamps 1861-1897: The Cancellations and Handstamps 1861-1915: The Revenue Stamps 1882-1897. London: Robson Lowe, 1971 184p.
- Proud, Edward B. and J. Chin Aleong. The Postal History of St Lucia and St Vincent. Heathfield: Proud Publications Ltd., 2006 ISBN 9781872465487472p.
- Zirinsky, Steven. St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Overprints 1999-2004. New York: The Author, 2007 44p.
