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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

BAHAMAS 1901 onwards

Return To Catalogue - Bahamas 1859-1900

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

For stamps of the Bahamas issued before 1901 click here.

1901 Stairways at New Providence

  1 p red and black
  3 p brown on yellow (1917)
  3 p brown and black (1919)
  5 p orange and black 
  5 p lilac and black (1917)
  2 Sh blue and black
  3 Sh green and black

Overprinted 'SPECIAL DELIVERY'

  5 p orange and black (1916, 2 types of the overprint)
  5 p lilac and black (1918)

Overprinted '1.1.17' and red cross

  '1.1.17 +' on 1 p red and black

Overprinted 'WAR TAX'(1918-1919)

  1 p red and black
  3 p brown on yellow (2 types)
  3 p brown and black (2 types)

Overprinted 'WAR CHARITY 3.6.18.'

  1 p red and black

For the specialist; these stamps have watermark 'CC Crown', 'Multiple CA Crown' (1910) or 'Multiple Crown Script CA' (1921).

I have seen postal stationery of the 1 p red (no black colour!).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries:

(Forged double 'SPECIAL DELIVERY' overprint)

1902 King Edward

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 1/2 p blue
  4 p yellow
  6 p brown
  1 Sh black and red
  5 Sh lilac and blue
  1 Pound green and black

For the specialist; these stamps have watermark 'CA Crown' (1 p, 2 1/2 p, 4 p, 6 p, 1 Sh, 5 Sh and 1 Pount) or 'Multiple CA Crown' (1905 onwards: 1/2 p, 1 p, 2 1/2 p and 6 p).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

This looks like a stamp with "SPECIMEN" overprint which was removed (still visible though) and a forged "ACCRA" cancel was applied.

The forger Sperati made a forgery of the 1 Pound value by erasing the design of a 1 p stamp (the BPA handbook says a 4 p stamp...) and printing a new value on it.

Sperati forgery, the differences with a genuine stamp are microscopic. If I'm well informed, there is a green spot of color in the white line to the right of the head of the King (at the level where the shell touches its oval containment).

Sperati forged the following cancels for this stamp: 'BAHAM C JA 12 03', 'NASSAU BAH.. 9-NOV.03' and 'NASSAU 16 JUN.04 BAHAMAS'.

1912 King George

 1/2 p green
 1 p red
 1 1/2 p brown (1934)
 2 p grey
 2 1/2 p blue
 3 p lilac on yellow (1931)
 4 p yellow
 8 p brown
 1 Sh black and red
 5 Sh lilac and blue
 1 Pound green and black

Overprinted 'WAR TAX' (several types)

  1/2 p green (overprint black or red)
  1 p red
  1 Sh black and red (overprint black or red)

For the specialist; these stamps have watermark 'Multiple CA Crown' or 'Multiple Crown Script CA' (1921).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgery of the 1 Pound value. I presume the fiscal cancel has been erased (still slightly visible as a pencancel) and a forged cancel has been applied.

1920 King George V, larger size, peace commemoration

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p grey
  3 p brown
  1 Sh green

For the specialist; these stamps have watermark 'Multiple CA Crown' (vertical).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1930 Commemorative issue '1629 1729 1929'

  1 p red and black
  3 p brown and black
  5 p violet and black
  2 Sh blue and black
  3 Sh green and black

The 2 Sh and 3 Sh were re-issued in 1931 without the '1629 1729 1929' inscription.

These last two stamps exist with overprint '1492 LANDFALL OF COLUMBUS 1942'.

1925 King George V with flying flamingos

  8 p red and blue

1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V, inscription '1910-1935'

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

A 1 1/2 p red and blue, 2 1/2 p blue and brown, 6 p green and blue and 1 Sh lilac and black were issued in a design identical to many other British colonies (Windsor castle).

1937 Inscription '12th MAY 1937' portrait of King and Queen

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

The values 1/2 p green, 1 1/2 p brown and 2 1/2 p blue were issued (design identical to that of many other British colonies).

1938 Definitive set with King George VI (small size)

  1/2 p green
  1/2 p lilac
  1 p red
  1 p grey
  1 1/2 p brown
  2 p grey
  2 p red
  2 p green
  2 1/2 p blue
  2 1/2 p lilac
  3 p lilac
  3 p blue
  3 p red
  10 p yellow
  1 Sh black and red
  5 Sh lilac and blue
  1 Pound green and black 

Surcharged
  '3d.' on 2 1/2 p blue.

Also exists with overprint '1492 LANDFALL OF COLUMBUS 1942': 1/2 p green, 1 p grey, 1 1/2 p brown, 2 p red, 2 1/2 p blue, 3 p blue, 1 Sh black and red, 5 Sh lilac and blue, 1 Pound green and black.

1938 King George VI, large sized stamps, various designs

  4 p orange and blue (underwater life)
  6 p blue and green (Fort Charlotte)
  8 p red and blue (Flamingoes in flight, similar to 1925 stamp)

All three values exists with overprint '1492 LANDFALL OF COLUMBUS 1942'.

1946 Victory issue, identical to sets issued in many other British colonies, inscription '8th JUNE 1946'

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 1/2 p brown
  3 p blue

1947 Tercentenary of settlement of the colony

  1/2 p orange
  1 p green
  1 1/2 p olive
  2 p red
  2 1/2 p brown
  3 p blue
  4 p black
  6 p green
  8 p violet
  10 p red
  1 Sh brown (yacht racing)
  2 Sh lilac
  3 Sh blue
  5 Sh violet
  10 Sh grey 
  1 Pound orange

1948 Royal Silver wedding, identical to sets issued in many other British colonies, inscription '1923-1948', image of King and Queen

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 1/2 p brown (smaller size)
  1 Pound grey

1949 UPU issue (design similar to many other British colonies)

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 1/2 p violet
  3 p blue
  6 p green
  1 Sh red

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, inscription 'CORONATION JUNE 1953', design identical to many other British colonies

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here

  6 p blue and black 

1953 Queen Elizabeth II, large sized stamps

  1/2 p orange and black (infant welfare clinic)
  1 p brown and green (modern agriculture)
  1 1/2 p black and blue (Out island settlement)
  2 p green and brown (native straw work)
  3 p red and black (fishing fleet)
  4 p lilac and blue (water sports skiing)
  5 p blue and brown (modern dairying)
  6 p grey and blue (modern transportation)
  8 p lilac and black (Paradise beach)
  10 p blue and black (modern hotels)
  1 Sh black and blue (yacht racing)
  2 Sh grey and orange (native products - sisal)
  2 Sh 6 p blue and black (shipbuilding)
  5 Sh orange and green (tuna fishing)
  10 Sh grey (modern salt production)
  1 Pound violet and green (parliament building)

These stamps exist with overprint 'NEW CONSTITUTION 1964'.

In 1962, the values 8 p and 10 p were overprinted 'BAHAMAS TALKS 1962'.

In 1964 the 1 Sh was overprinted with Olympic rings and surcharged '8d.'.

1959 Queen Elizabeth, inscription '1859 POSTAL CENTENARY 1959'

  1 p red and black
  2 p green and black
  6 p blue and black
  10 p brown and black

1961 Centenary of the city of Nassau

  8 p green (Christ Church Cathedral)
  10 p violet (the Nassau public library)

1963 Freedom from hunger, design identical to many other British colonies

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  8 p brown

1963 Red Cross issue

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 p black and red
  10 p blue and red

1964 Shakespeare

For stamps in the same design, but for other British colonies, click here.

  6 p blue

1965 ITU issue

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 p red and green
  2 Sh green and violet

1965 International Collaboration Year

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  1/1 p blue and brown
  1 Sh violet and green

1965 Queen Elizabeth with various designs, multicolored stamps

  1/2 p blue, red, lilac and green (arms)
  1 p orange, grey and blue (Out island regatta)
  1 1/2 p brown, red and green (hospital)
  2 p blue, green and black (high school)
  3 p lilac, blue and red (flamingo)
  4 p orange, blue and green (Queen Elizabeth, ship)
  6 p red, grey and blue (development)
  8 p green, violet and blue (yachting)
  10 p violet, green and brown (public square)
  1 Sh green, blue, black and orange (sea garden)
  2 Sh green, brown and blue (old cannons at Fort Charlotte)
  2 Sh 6 p red, blue and grey (seaplane and jet liner)
  5 Sh green, blue and orange (1914 Williamson film project)
  10 Sh grey, blue and lilac (conch shell)
  1 Pound (sailship)

1966 Churchill issue

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1/2 p blue, black, gold and red
  2 p green, black, gold and red
  10 p brown, black, gold and red 
  1 Sh violet, black, gold and red

1966 Royal visit to the Caribbean

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  6 p blue and black
  1 Sh red and black

1966 World Cup Championship England 1966

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here.

  8 c lilac, violet, orange and green
  15 c lilac, grey, orange and blue

1966 WHO new headquarters building

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  11 c green, blue and black
  15 c lilac, orange and black

1966 20th anniversary of Unesco

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  3 c grey, orange and red
  15 c olive, orange and blue
  1 $ lilac, black and orange

Postal stationery

In 1881 an envelope was issued with the portrait of Queen Victoria in an ellipse (4 p violet). In 1891 a surcharge was applied '2 1/2 ' on 4 p violet in red or black in several types. An envelope of 2 1/2 p blue was issued in 1892. In 1894 a registered envelope with value 2 p blue was issued.

A postcard was issued in 1881 (Queen Victoria, 1 1/2 p red). This postcard was surcharged 1 p in 1892. A new postcard in the value 1 p red was issued in 1892.

Example of postal stationery of later date:

War Propaganda Stamp

A 1/2 p Nazi-fake (resembling a genuine King George VI stamp of Great Britain) with additional red overprint 'LIQUIDATION OF EMPIRE BAHAMAS' in a rectangle; such overprints exist for many British colonies. Click here for mor information.

Websites

http://www.gsu.edu/~libpjr/stamps.html by Peter J. Roberts.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer