Bahamas
Chapter overview
- Impressed revenue stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed Z)
- Labels (catalogue numbers prefixed L)
- National Insurance (catalogue numbers prefixed N)
- Postal orders (catalogue numbers prefixed P)
- Revenue usage of Postage stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed R)
- Savings stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed S)
Acknowledgments for the Bahamas section can be found on the main West Indies page. I am grateful to Jon Levy for sending me scans of the impressed stamps on document.
Currency
- (Until 1966) 20 shillings = 1 pound sterling (12 pence = 1 shilling)
- (1966-present) 100 cents = 1 Bahamian dollar (equal in value to the US dollar)
Impressed revenue stamps
Z1/9
1954-56 (recorded usage). 26 x 32 mm. Crown and badge of the colony in oval frame, inscribed BAHAMAS STAMP DUTY. No date plugs or check letters.
Z1. 3d vermilion
Z4. 1s vermilion
Z6. 5s vermilion
Z7. 10s vermilion
Z8. £1 vermilion
Z9. £5 vermilion
Notes:
1. Barber also lists a stamp as Z1 but colourless (blind-embossed) and a similar 2d, plus 10 further values in a slightly different blind-embossed type. I have not seen any of these.
2. Barber lists several types of impressed revenues which seem to have been applied by handstamp to cheques during the 1950s-70s. I would be very interested to hear from any reader who has further details of these.
Z1. 3d vermilion
Z4. 1s vermilion
Z6. 5s vermilion
Z7. 10s vermilion
Z8. £1 vermilion
Z9. £5 vermilion
Notes:
1. Barber also lists a stamp as Z1 but colourless (blind-embossed) and a similar 2d, plus 10 further values in a slightly different blind-embossed type. I have not seen any of these.
2. Barber lists several types of impressed revenues which seem to have been applied by handstamp to cheques during the 1950s-70s. I would be very interested to hear from any reader who has further details of these.
Labels
L1 and L3/6
1944. Propaganda labels similar to contemporary postage and revenue stamps of Great Britain but incorporating Communist and/or Jewish symbols, overprinted LIQUIDATION OF EMPIRE BAHAMA Is in rectangular frame. Printed in Germany under the authority of the Nazi government.
L1. ½d green (opt in red)
L3. 1½d red-brown
L4. 2d orange
L5. 2½d ultramarine (opt in red)
L6. 3d violet
Note: a 1d value was also printed but I have not seen an example with Bahamas overprint.
L1. ½d green (opt in red)
L3. 1½d red-brown
L4. 2d orange
L5. 2½d ultramarine (opt in red)
L6. 3d violet
Note: a 1d value was also printed but I have not seen an example with Bahamas overprint.
National Insurance
N5
c1980s. 11½ x 19 mm. Flamingo (national bird of the Bahamas). Inscribed BAHAMAS NATIONAL INSURANCE STAMP. Denomination in dollars, and additionally indicated by a group code in Roman numerals at top left. Perf 12 x 12½. No watermark.
N5. $7.95 bright magenta (Group V)
Note: I presume there must also be stamps for other insurance groups (at least I to IV) but I have not seen these. The stamp illustrated at right is the only example of this issue I have seen to date.
N5. $7.95 bright magenta (Group V)
Note: I presume there must also be stamps for other insurance groups (at least I to IV) but I have not seen these. The stamp illustrated at right is the only example of this issue I have seen to date.
Postal orders
Illustrated above are two British postal orders overprinted for use in the Bahamas. The first order has a face value of 6d, and poundage of 4d has been collected. The second order shows a face value in sterling (5 pence) with a poundage in Bahamian currency (12c). British postal orders were issued in a wide range of values and it is likely that many of these were overprinted for the Bahamas. Such items are not listed on this website but further information can be obtained from the Postal Order Society.
Revenue usage of Postage stamps
Note: for ease of reference, numbering follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 catalogue throughout this section. Values listed here are those recorded as having been used for revenue purposes.
R25, R31, R33, R42
1863-77. Small key types featuring Chalon portrait of Queen Victoria, the 1d value inscribed INTERINSULAR POSTAGE. Wmk Crown CC. Printed (recess) by De La Rue using Perkins Bacon plates.
a) Perf 12½
R25. 1d vermilion
R31. 6d deep violet
b) Perf 14
R33. 1d scarlet-vermilion
1882. As previous issue but wmk Crown CA. Perf 14.
R42. 1d scarlet-vermilion
a) Perf 12½
R25. 1d vermilion
R31. 6d deep violet
b) Perf 14
R33. 1d scarlet-vermilion
1882. As previous issue but wmk Crown CA. Perf 14.
R42. 1d scarlet-vermilion
R44
1882-98. New design featuring motifs of pineapple and conch shell. Inscribed in white on coloured background. Perf 14. Wmk Crown CA. Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
R44. 1s green
R44a. 1s blue-green (1898)
R45
1883. Chalon head definitive surcharged FOURPENCE. Perf 12½. Wmk Crown CC.
R45. 4d on 6d deep violet
R48/57
1884-90. Small key type similar to R44/a but now with coloured inscriptions on white background. Perf 14. Wmk Crown CA. Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
R48. 1d carmine-rose
R49. 1d bright carmine
R53. 4d deep yellow
R54. 6d mauve (1890)
R56. 5s sage-green
R57. £1 Venetian red
R48. 1d carmine-rose
R49. 1d bright carmine
R53. 4d deep yellow
R54. 6d mauve (1890)
R56. 5s sage-green
R57. £1 Venetian red
R61
1901-03. Queen's Staircase. Perf 14. Wmk Crown CC. Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
R61. 3s black and green
R62/63 and R71/72
1902-11. Small key type, portrait of King Edward VII. Perf 14. Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
a) Wmk Crown CA (1902-10)
R62. 1d carmine
R63. 2½d ultramarine
b) Wmk Multiple Crown CA (1906-11)
R71. ½d pale green
R72. 1d carmine-rose
a) Wmk Crown CA (1902-10)
R62. 1d carmine
R63. 2½d ultramarine
b) Wmk Multiple Crown CA (1906-11)
R71. ½d pale green
R72. 1d carmine-rose
R75 and R79
1911-19. Queen's Staircase, Nassau. As 1901-03 issue but wmk Multiple Crown CA.
R75. 1d black and red
R79. 2s black and blue (1916)
R75. 1d black and red
R79. 2s black and blue (1916)
R82/88
1912-19. Small key type with portrait of King George V. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Crown CA. Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
R82. 1d carmine
R86. 6d bistre-brown
R88. 5s dull purple and blue
R82. 1d carmine
R86. 6d bistre-brown
R88. 5s dull purple and blue
R90, R97, R100
1917. Queen's Staircase overprinted with red cross and date 1.1.17. Wmk Mult Crown CA.
R90. 1d grey-black and deep carmine-red
1918-19. Earlier issues overprinted War Tax. Wmk Multiple Crown CA.
R97. 1d carmine (King George V)
R100. 3d black and brown (Queen's Staircase) (1919)
R90. 1d grey-black and deep carmine-red
1918-19. Earlier issues overprinted War Tax. Wmk Multiple Crown CA.
R97. 1d carmine (King George V)
R100. 3d black and brown (Queen's Staircase) (1919)
R107
1920. Peace Celebration. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Crown CA (sideways). Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
R107. 1d carmine
R111/3 and R124/5
As earlier issues but changed to watermark Multiple Script CA.
a) Queen's Staircase (1921-29)
R111. 1d grey and rose-red
R113. 2s black and blue (1922)
b) King George V key type (1921-37)
R124. 5s dull purple and blue (1924)
R125. £1 green and black (1926)
a) Queen's Staircase (1921-29)
R111. 1d grey and rose-red
R113. 2s black and blue (1922)
b) King George V key type (1921-37)
R124. 5s dull purple and blue (1924)
R125. £1 green and black (1926)
R150/154b
1938-52. Small key type with portrait of King George VI. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
R150. 1d carmine
R150ab. 1d pale slate (1942)
R152. 2d pale slate
R152b. 2d scarlet (1941)
R154b. 3d scarlet (1952)
R150. 1d carmine
R150ab. 1d pale slate (1942)
R152. 2d pale slate
R152b. 2d scarlet (1941)
R154b. 3d scarlet (1952)
R181
1948. Tercentenary of Settlement of the Island of Eleuthera. Perf 12. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by the Canadian Bank Note Company.
R181. 2d scarlet
R181. 2d scarlet
R203 and R205
1954. Pictorials featuring the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Perf 11 x 11½. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
R203. 1½d black and blue
R205. 3d black and carmine-red
R203. 1½d black and blue
R205. 3d black and carmine-red
Savings stamps
S1
1940s. 25 x 21 mm (perf-tip to perf-tip). Inscribed BAHAMAS WAR SAVINGS STAMP. No watermark. Perf 12 (line).
S1. 6d orange-red
S1. 6d orange-red
