(Continued from page 6 Bulletin No. 8)
"After 1890 the stamps of the Leeward Islands replaced those of Antigua, but about 1903 a new design with the Arms of Antigua came into use. The values were from 1/2d to 2/6, and these were followed by a 5/- stamp of K.E. VII, all on Crown CC watermark paper. The colours were changed in 1908, and at the same time the new Crown CA watermark paper was used. In 1913 the 5/- value was changed from K.E. VII to K.G. V, and two years later the colours of the 1/2d and 1d were made more pronounced. During the period 1916-1918 a series of War stamps appeared, but without varieties. In 1921 a new and smaller design appeared with the head of K.G. V. The first values were 3d, 4d, 1/-, 2/-, 2/6, 5/- and £1. From 1922 the ½d and 1d (two colours and two shades of each), 1½d (three colour changes), 2d and 2½d (two colour changes), 3d, 6d, 1/-, 2/-, 2/6, 3/- and 4/- kept collectors busy. In 1932 the Tercentenary issue appeared in all values to 5/-, and 1935 saw the four values of the K.G. V Jubilee issue. The K.G. VI Coronation issue of 1937 was followed in 1938 by a definitive issue in values up to 5/-. It was not until ten years later that the 10/- and £1 values appeared. The Victory and Royal Silver Wedding Commemorative issues appeared in 1946 and 1948 respectively, each with two values. In October, 1949, in keeping with other colonies, there were four values to celebrate the 75th year of the Universal Postal Union. In 1951 the University College of the West Indies caused two stamps to be produced with the new decimal currency. June, 1953, brought forth a handsome large stamp to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, which was in November of that year followed by the complete definitive set from 1 cent to $4.80.
Other than the Capital ST. JOHN'S, the other Post Offices in Antigua have always been a bit of a problem. The Island is divided into six parishes: St. John, St. George, St. Peter, St. Philip, St. Paul and St. Mary. Four of these provided the name for that parish P.O., but three were later changed to a less Saintly name. "All Saints" is interesting as it is situated at the junction of three parishes.
| Parish | P.O.'s open today |
Approx. date of opening
|
Earlier Name |
Approx date closed
|
| St. John | St. John's | (1 mile S.E. of St. John's) St. Johnston's |
1936
|
|
| Cedar Grove |
1924
|
St. James's | ||
| Gray's Farm | Green Bay |
1945
|
||
| Bendals | ||||
| St. George | Gunthorpes |
1940
|
||
| St. Mary | Old Road |
1951
|
St. Mary's |
1932
|
| Bolans | ||||
| Johnson's Point | ||||
| St. Paul | Liberta |
1940
|
St. Paul's |
1916
(Pmk. dated '61') |
| Falmouth |
1937
|
|||
| Swetos |
1937
|
|||
|
1863 A18
|
English Harbour |
1870
|
||
| St. Peter | Parham |
1938
|
St. Peter's |
1932
(pmk. dated Sept 1927) |
| Pares Village | ||||
| St. Philip | Montpelier |
1940
|
St. Philip's |
1945
|
| Seaton's | ||||
| Freetown | ||||
| St. John) St. Peter) St. Paul ) |
All Saints |
1900-1903
|
(pmks. dated 1911 & 1951)
|
|
| Barbuda Branch P.O. |
1922?
|
I was informed that St. Paul's was closed in 1909, but I have a large red 1d of 1908-12 clearly dated 1961 which, I assume, is in reverse for 1916, but it could be that the "6" is upside down for "9" and that the "1" should be "0" thus making it "09" which would be in keeping with my information of 1909. It would also be a more correct date of use for the large red 1d which would be exceptional to be used as late as 1916.