"The 150th. Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson was celebrated on October 21st. 1955 and as members will know, Lord Nelson used English Harbour, Antigua as his headquarters and base for the British Navy in the Caribbean. Nelson's Dockyard, as it is known, is preserved as a showplace to this day. The 1906 Commemorative stamp of Barbados claims that the monument depicted is the first to be erected, but five years earlier (1808) a statue was erected in Montreal, Canada. Before this, however, a monument to his memory was erected on the top of Angel's Hill, TAYNUILT, North Argyll as soon as the inhabitants received the news of the victory and his death. TAYNUILT must, therefore, be given the credit of being first in 1805. The Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square, London, was not erected until 1843. The 1863-67 issue of Antigua stamps are found cancelled 'A18' English Harbour. The stamps of Great Britain: 1d, 2d & 6d values were cancelled 'A02' and I have a nice pair of the 6d. on entire dated 1869. Up to 1878 only 1d & 6d values were available but they are found in a variety of papers, perforations and watermarks and in a wide range of shades. I have a complete sheet of the 1d. value showing the positions of three major varieties:-
The 6d stamp has a larger number of varieties but they are not so clear -
When the 2½d postage rate was introduced there was a spate of bisects of the 1d. stamp but in 1879 a 2½d stamp in brown was issued followed by a 4d blue, both with Crown CC wmk. Both these stamps are scarce. In 1882 the 1d value in pale green appeared, followed by the 2½2d and 4d all on the new Crown CA. wmk. paper. The 1d. and 6d continued in the same design, first with no wmk, then on Crown CC and Crown CA winks. Later, the 2½d brown changed its colour to blue and, in consequence, the 4d blue had to change to brown. This 2½d surface printed stamp provided a variety known as the 'slanting foot to 2' but it was only recently that it was proved that there are three variations which appear in the three different positions in the complete sheet in my possession. To complete the series a 1/- stamp in mauve appeared, but in good condition this stamp is very hard to find." (To be concluded).
(NOTE: While there are other minor re-entries and varieties in the 6d, value it is believed this is the first time all five recognisable re-entries have been correctly plated. They are given in the order in which they came to light and not in the order of the number in the sheet, which is given in brackets on the right. - Editor).