This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Dominica , an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Claimed by France in the 17th century, it was later awarded to Great Britain, becoming independent in 1978.
Until December 31, 1939, Dominica was one of the Leeward Islands; it was then transferred to the Windward Islands.
The GPO in London established a branch at Roseau in 1845, using a handstruck mark reading "Paid at Dominica". [1] Between 1858 and April 1860, British stamps were used in Dominica, and these are identifiable through a coded postal obliterator reading A07. [2]
Later, colonial officials took charge of the posts and used their own handstruck postal markings. [2]
On 4 May 1874, Dominica issued its first stamps, with a set consisting of 1d, 6d, and 1 shilling values. The design was a profile of Queen Victoria in an oval frame with "DOMINICA POSTAGE" in the band of the frame. The same design continued in use, with additional values and changes of color and watermark, through a 1/- magenta in 1890. [3] Provisional issues included a half-penny surcharge on bisects in 1882–1883, and surcharges in 1886. [2]
The general issue of stamps for the Leeward Islands superseded Dominican stamps on 31 October 1890, but concurrent Dominican issues resumed in 1903, and continued through 31 December 1939. [4]
Dominica adopted the British West Indies dollar in 1949, and the first issue denominated in the new currency was the Universal Postal Union 75th anniversary commemorative in October of that year. This was followed up in 1951 with a new series of 15 pictorials that included a full-face portrait of George VI.
The pictorial set was reissued in 1954 with a profile portrait of Elizabeth II, along with four additional designs.
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the Falkland Islands.
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of German East Africa.
The British Leeward Islands - Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Christopher, and the Virgin Islands all used postage stamps inscribed "LEEWARD ISLANDS" between 1890 and 1 July 1956, often concurrently with stamps inscribed with the colony's name.
Originally mail from British Somaliland used postage stamps of Egypt, then India. In 1903, about 30 types of stamps of India were overprinted "BRITISH / SOMALILAND".
The Straits Settlements of the Malayan Peninsula have a postal history distinct from the other Malayan areas.
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the postal areas Netherlands Antilles as well as its predecessor Curaçao. The area consisted of the islands Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius as well as Sint Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba.
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Macau.
Each "article" in this category is a collection of entries about several stamp issuers, presented in alphabetical order. The entries are formulated on the micro model and so provide summary information about all known issuers.
The postal history of the Bahamas begins in the 18th century, with the first post office operating since 1733. The earliest known letters date from 1802. In 1804 a straight-line "BAHAMAS" handstamp came into use. The Royal Mail Line initiated a regular mail service in 1841, and from 1846 used a "Crown Paid" handstamp along with a dated postmark for New Providence.
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Jamaica.
Antigua was discovered by Christopher Columbus, in 1493, and was named after the church of Santa Maria la Antigua in Seville. It was first settled in 1632. By the Treaty of Breda in 1667 it became a British Possession.
Belize started as the colony of British Honduras, formally established in the 17th century but disputed through the 18th century.
The colony of the British Virgin Islands has issued its own stamps since 1866. The first Post Office was opened in Tortola in 1787. At the time postage stamps were not yet invented, and it was not until 1858 that a small supply of adhesive stamps issued by Great Britain depicting Queen Victoria were utilized by the local Post Office. These stamps were cancelled by an A13 postmark and are extremely rare so cancelled.
Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory in the Leeward Islands.
Nevis, a British colony in the Leeward Islands, began issuing stamps in 1861.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is an island country in the Leeward Islands, consisting of the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1883, St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla were united into one colony. Anguilla formally separated from the union in 1980.
Trinidad and Tobago, formerly divided as two separate colonies, issued revenue stamps from 1879 to around 1991.
British postal agencies in Eastern Arabia issued early postage stamps used in each of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat and Qatar. Muscat and Dubai relied on Indian postal administration until 1 April 1948 when, following the Partition of India, British agencies were established there. Two agencies were opened in Qatar: at Doha and Umm Said. In Abu Dhabi, an agency was opened on Das Island in December 1960 and in Abu Dhabi City on 30 March 1963. The agencies also supplied stamps to Bahrain until 1960; and to Kuwait during shortages in 1951–53.
Revenue stamps of the Leeward Islands were issued by the British Leeward Islands between 1882 and the 1930s. They were used on Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis, all of which also issued their own revenue stamps before, during or after they used common issues for the Leeward Islands.
Revenue stamps of Dominica were first issued in 1877, when the island was under British rule. Dominica issued very few revenue stamps, but dual-purpose postage and revenue stamps were widely used for fiscal purposes.
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