Stop Press: March 2024 journal now online
Subjects (click name)
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British POs Abroad
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Greater Antilles
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Maritime
- Montserrat
- Netherlands WI & Suriname
- Saint Kitts Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent
- Thematics etc
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks Caicos Is
- Virgin Islands
Meeting News
View on YouTube: Click Here
The Anguilla Story by Susan Taylor & Graham Stockdale Tickets, Tue 2 Apr 2024 at 15:00 | Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-anguilla-story-by-susan-taylor-graham-stockdale-tickets-795442117787
Free to register & view
Most philatelists are aware of Anguilla’s 1967 Revolution and its Overprints – still the most sought-after set of Commonwealth stamps of the QEII era. However, this does not reflect the richness to Anguillian philatelic material since or before, or to the central role that postal services have played throughout the island’s history. This presentation covers the wider philatelic story of the island.
Settled as a British Colony in 1650, Anguilla was forcibly united with St Kitts, under the control of the latter island’s Governor, in 1825. Fifty years later, Anguilla became part of the Federated Colony of the Leeward Islands. Mail from the pre-Leeward Islands period is very rare, and an example of an entire date 1837 will be shown. Prior to 1900, there are no examples recorded of stamps used on covers originating from Anguilla, but postcards are known. From 1900, the stamps of St Kitts and the Leeward Islands were used on Anguilla, and an airmail service began operations in 1930.
Anguilla’s strategic location on the world’s shipping lanes became highly important during WW2.
A mail censor possibly operated on Anguilla, but initially all mail from the island was routed via St Kills, where it was censored. In 1952 Anguilla’s name was added to a new union – styled ‘St Christopher (i.e. ‘St Kitts’) Nevis Anguilla’, - which became a Crown Colony as part of the West Indian Federation in 1958. In 1966, the British proposal of Associated Statehood for this unhappy union met with strong resistance from Anguillians, which led to the secession of 1967. St Kitts then blocked all postal and banking channels. Emergency arrangements were established via St Martin and St Maarten and supplies of the St Christopher Nevis Anguilla stamps were overprinted ‘Independent Anguilla’ before being released for sale on 4 September 1967. Only 100 full sets of this issue were produced, and they are highly sought after. Anguilla then issued its own definitive stamps on 27 November 1967.
In January 1969, dissatisfied with progress, Anguilla reaffirmed its independence by overprinting a set of the 1967 first definitives with ‘Independence January 1969’. Talks to resolve the situation broke down, and on 19 March 1969. Anguilla was invaded by British paratroopers, marines, and a British police force - ‘Operation Sheepskin’. A new constitution arranging for Anguilla’s separation from the tripartite Associated State was signed in 1976, but separation was only finalised in late December 1980.
Anguilla’s last new set appeared in 2016, bringing the total number of stamps issued to 1293.
Stamps continue to provide a vital insight to the island’s quest for identity,
August 16 to 18 2024 - A meeting of WIPSG members at the Great American Stamp Show. Contact sec@wipsg,org if you would like to be involved.
North America Events See APS Events Calendar
UK Events See ABPS list
Exhibit News
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, is situated 6.8 (11 km) miles off the coast of Venezuela and 81 miles (130 km) south of Grenada. The capital is Port of Spain and the country has a population of about 1.4 million.
Trinidad became a Spanish colony with the arrival of Columbus in 1498. It was surrendered to a British fleet in 1797. Tobago switched several times between France and Britain from 1763, but remained British from 1803. Trinidad and Tobago were ceded to Britain in 1802 as separate states and unified in 1889. Independence was achieved in 1962, and the nation became a republic in 1976.
Unlike the normal reliance on tourism of most Caribbean countries, Trinidad and Tobago’s economy is primarily industrial with an emphasis on petroleum and petrochemicals. The country is well known for its African and Indian cultures, and Trinidad is the birthplace of steelpan, the limbo, and music styles such as calypso, and soca.
Susan Taylor presents a broad perspective of the philatelic story of the islands, including:
- Early ship letters from both islands from those working on the plantations or as traders.
- The early stamps of Trinidad and Tobago, including provisionals.
- The numbered postmarks of the early post offices
- The early postage due stamps - Trinidad was the first place in the Empire to introduce these.
- The first joint Trinidad and Tobago stamps of 1913, often overprinted for war taxes or to raise Red Cross funds during WW1.
- Events leading up to the declaration of Independence
- ‘An Old Tin of Stamps’ display that shows how much interest one can find in just one definitive series…in this case the QE2 series of the 1950s.
- The people featured on the islands’ stamps; from Britannia and the Royals to calypso artists, the Pope and even beauty queens.
- The first 100 postal slogans of Trinidad and Tobago, and how they illustrate social change over the years.
- An insight into the life of Edgar Tripp, an early trader .
The display aims to bring some Caribbean sunshine into the depths of our winter and to give a broad understanding of the country’s culture and history.
Click here to view and subscribe to our YouTube channel
James Podger's zoom session: West Indies Postal History A to V
RPSL Devonshire Competion entry.
Click here to view the exhibit.
21 May 2023, 7:00 pm BST - 8:00 pm BST
Link to YouTube coming shortly..
A tour around the West Indies with pre-stamp, Ship Letters, GB used abroad, Crown Circles and early adhesive use.
Antigua 1758 entire to London rated at 3/- for 2 sheets
Journal News
The March 2024 Journal is now online members can be downloaded from here
The printed edition will be in the post at the end of February, together with the auction catalogue.
Click here to view the index (to December 2022) compiled by Peter Fernbank.
Publication News
New publication (Oct 2023), available for £25 to members at Pennymead, click here to purchase.
The hardbound version is sold out and a softback version is now available.
This book contains a fascinating insight into the Philatelic History of Anguilla. The events of the 1967 revolution are well known and many former Philatelists have written articles on the stamps and history of the Island however, this is the first attempt to bring its Philatelic history into a single reference point.
Anguilla’s Postal History is interwoven with the economics, political and Government events of the day and explains why the Anguillians, through years of neglect by controlling authorities, wanted Independence. To see a clear philatelic history of the Island the authors have extensively researched the events, people, covers and stamps to produce a comprehensive review of Anguilla’s Philately.
It is hoped that this captivating book will stimulate interest and further research from other Philatelists.
Susan Taylor, Graham Stockdale and Julian Waldron presnting the book to Nicola Davies, RPSL Librarian (2nd from right).
In order to reduce stock of books held, several publications have been reduced in price - See publications page.
Jazad Ali (Jazz) has been researching and building a collection of Trinidad and Tobago Postmarks for over 40 years. Jazz is a WIPSG member and a longstanding member of the Philatelic Society of Trinidad and Tobago. In 1997 he and Ronald Wike established a Trinidad & Tobago slogans numbering system, at which time they published 'Machine Cancellations of Trinidad& Tobago'. The publication, a longstanding item of pride for the Philatelic Society of Trinidad & Tobago, won several international awards at the time. Ron Wike died in 1999, but Jazz has continued to collect and research, amassing thousands of covers. This book, published this month, is the result of a lifetime's work. It beautifully displays the postmarks, slogans, cancels and cancelling machines over the 1923-2023 period, and gives an informed insight to the social history that influenced each of the slogans over the years. A highly recommended read for all Trinidad and Tobago collectors.
Copies available from theblueedition.com Email blueeditiontt@gmail.com
This new Study Paper delves into the intertwining of political and postal history from the early 18th century until the first part of the 20th.
Price: £16, BWISC Members’ discount £2.
The history of the military adventures around Grenada and the early shipping services are investigated with timetables of the sailings as well as postal rates of the time. The text is complemented by illustrations of postal material from the late 1700s to the 1930s. Michael’s researches are extensive and very little has escaped his notice. Although not strictly a purely philatelic publication, it relates the story behind what one normally sees in items of postal history, an interesting story nonetheless. ISBN 978-1-907481-50-5
Early BWI Covers Perkins Bacon Adhesives – Barbados
Compiled by Peter Ford FRPSL; Letter size, perfect bound (softback), (vi) + 236 pages
Price: £28; BWISC Members’ Discount £2.
The original idea of recording as many covers as came on to the market must go to Michael Hamilton; his listing of philatelic events and covers posted at the time is a goldmine!
The next plaudit must go to Fitz Roett; from his lair in deepest Alberta, he has over the years amassed a fine collection of items from the island of Barbados. In 2013, he collaborated with that fine philatelist, the late Charles Freeland FRPSL and Peter Longmuir to produce a book entitled ‘BARBADOS –The Britannia Issues’.
The list that follows emanates mainly from these two sources. Other collectors have contributed as well and I list their names in alphabetical order: Graham Booth FRPSL, Jonathan Guy, Joseph Hackmey RDP FRPSL, Christopher Harman RDP Hon FRPSL, Stefan Heijtz FRPSL, Michael Medlicott FRPSL, Michael Rego, Simon Richards FRPSL, Ray Stanton, Richard Stupples and Takashi Yoshida FRPSL; all of these collectors have fine collections of Barbados covers.
Acknowledgement must also go to dealers and auction houses who have generously supplied me with high resolution scans of covers in their keep. These have been noted beneath the illustrations.
As with all these lists, it is a work in progress and we do not expect that we have listed all covers; others will no doubt exist and we would hope that collectors seeing this list will add to it with items we have failed to record.
The Untold Story of the Lady McLeod by Susan Taylor (December 2021).
https://www.pennymead.com/item.php?id=28417
This well researched book delves inside the prized Lady McLeod covers, untangling the family and business history that seeded their existence. It gives a detailed account of the Lady McLeod Steamer. The study takes a closer look at the contents of Lady McLeod letters, and raises questions about their markings. It links David Bryce, Alexander Taylor, Edward Bacon, James Graham Taylor and even King George V to the Covers, describing the stamp enthusiasts and forgers of the time. Readers are transported to Glasgow and Trinidad in the 1800s, where merchants using the steamer for communications, ran their businesses. There is also an updated census of the covers. A fascinating read for philatelists and a ‘must’ for any cover owner.
Other News
Click here to view WIPSG auction
Preview of our Annual Auction on 11 May 2024
Our 52nd auction will take place at the premises of the Royal Philatelic Society London on the Saturday 11 May.
We have over 750 lots to tempt you with total estimated realisations a tad shy of £48,000, provided by 27 different vendors. Last year we were delighted to sell 80% of the material offered which is available at 80% of estimate. The 70 or so of you who will be successful purchasers have nothing extra to pay in terms of buyers premium – just postage and packing if you are not present on the day.
The bid book opens from the moment you receive the catalogue and tied bids will go to the first received. The book closes at 14.00 on 10 May. The Society received a 10% commission on all lots sold but this is payable by the vendor.
We try to maintain an average estimate per lot of £50 and this year is no exception, estimates range from £8 to £750, with one outlier at £2,000. This year Jamaica is restored to the most offered territory thanks to outstanding initial offering from Paul Hancock’s collection of the numeral cancels; many of which have strong provenances and Paul had a real eye for quality.
Estate sales continue to dominate the proceedings. Besides Paul’s Jamaica, we have over 100 lots from former President Graham Booth’s estate; some lovely material from Antigua and the Leewards Islands from Mike Roberts, British Guiana from Simon Greenwood and items from the estates of Chris May and Simon Goldblatt.
This year single lots have been scanned with an estimate of £30 and above, not all will be in the printed catalogue, so do look on the website too and more scans will be added between now and the end of March.
The deadline for bids is 14.00 on the day before the sale, do please e-mail them to me, they will be acknowledged. If you don’t get an acknowledgement then check!
Simon Richards, Auctioneer, January 2024
Tony Walker's Turks & Caicos is available to purchase from Corbitts..
Price on request and negotiable from info@corbitts.com
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS
A comprehensive quality collection of the Turks & Caicos Islands from pre-stamp to George VI including stamps and postal history. A working collection well written up with pencilled notes and explanatory diagrams and details which includes unique, rare and scarce items, many outside the scope of the catalogue.
STAMPS
Proofs, colour trials, errors, De La Rue archives etc. of particular note include
- Perkins Bacon original QV plate proofs engraved on India card, ditto block of 3x3 on rough wove India paper
- A number of Perkins Bacon coloured Head die proofs
- Two certified examples of SG.6 used, one on piece
- Numerous high catalogue examples of the 1881 Provisionals supported by 17 certificates incl.
- SG.11a (x2), 11c, 13a, 23, 27, 35, 35a, 36a, 37 & 39.
- Full sheet of SG.17/18 – Setting 10
- Block of four SG.42, horizontal strip of three SG.43, horizontal pair SG.44
- Full sheets of 30 stamps of SG.62,63 & 64(x2)
- Used single SG.66
- Original De La Rue Ink Recipe archive sheet for SG.101 to 109 plus Master Die Proofs of issue and set ovpt’d
- SPECIMEN De La Rue Original Appendix Archive Sheet 6436 with nine Letterpress trials with some hand drawing on the essays, one subsequently used as SG.72.
- De La Rue Archive Sheet 6444 (copy) but with original fourteen imperforate colour trials from which SG.112 was selected.
- KGV six number imperforates from first issue April 1913
- Rare KGV WAR TAX items, SG.140c (2x2), 140e and f in SW corner block of 6x2
- Selection of various imperfprate proofs from SG.162 to186
- Set of eleven imperforate colour trials SG.176 to 186
POSTAL HISTORY (various categories)
- SG.3 on commercial cover
- Registered cover to India with rare markings
- Newspaper wrapper to Bermuda, several scarce foreign destinations including British Guiana, Costa Rica,
- Fiji, Montserrat, St. Lucia, Virgin Ilands,
- Mail carried by named ships (19 covers)
- Extensive Registered Mail collection including SG.60 x18 commercial parcel piece to Holland.
- Earliest known use of single ring Registered cancel 15 Dec 1881 (1 of 2 known).
- Earliest recorded date (7 June 1924) Cockburn Harbour cancel
- Two covers censored in the USA (WWII) and one in T&CIls.
- Mail carried by SS Sanguinea, Boadicea and several other ships
- ‘Missent to TIls’ scarce mark
- Selection of M & U PPC’s from T&C Islands including one with rare cachet (1 of 3 known).
- Many stamp multiples are significantly more valuable than the sum of the individual stamps
- (the 1881 WAR TAX overprint and Registered Mail come to mind).
- Similarly postal history covers frequently have individual features that contribute to their particular scarcity, this collection has many such covers.
And the Youtube link is: https://youtu.be/IFnX74YqMuQ
Includes four Trinidad Lady McLeods from the Lady Bridget Blue-Bell collection.
Read about it here: https://www.instagram.com/philatelic_soc_trinidad_tobago/p/C2FupgwLkCp/?next=%2Fwonderfullyartistic%2Ffeed%2F&ref=playak.com&img_index=1
Social Media
About
West Indies Philatelic Study Group
The WIPSG was formed on 1 Jan 2023 when the BWISC and BCPSG societies merged.
The transition of all aspects will take a few months and in the interim period the previous society names will need to continue for certain functions.
British West Indies Study Circle History
The BWISC was formed in 1954 by Philip Saunders.
British Caribbean Philatelic Study Group History
The BCPSG was formed in 1961 by Bob Topaz, Reg Lant and Al Johnson.
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