"A number of contributions to 'Notes and Queries ' in recent Bulletins have dealt with the postmarks of Bahamas, the chief source of which appears to have been the late Mr. Gisburn's book which, in my view, is far from being comprehensive. I hope the following notes on items in my collection will supplement and in a few instances correct some of Mr. Gisburn's statements and what is more important, lead to further information being made available to us by other members similarly interested.
Pre-adhesive Types: (pp. 26-27)
Straight line 'BAHAMAS'. Late use 30th August 1837
Crowned Circle with straight ' PAID '. Late use in red 26th October 1860.
(a) Original crowned circles used in black as 'Official Paid' stamps:
Straight ' PAID ' 29th July 1916
Curved 'PAID' 15th August 1935
(b) New crowned circle stamps:
(i) Single line circle, 20lh May 1933
(ii) Double line circle with smaller crown than originals, c. 9th April 1939 - c. 8th April 1948
Later Types: (pp. 130-136). Mr. Gisburn's Type numbers.
Type 1. Dated 14th March 1864, cancelling l/- Q.V. perf. 14, thin paper, in green (not dark green), unlisted in Gisburn's book or Gibbons' catalogue.
Type 2. Variety dated ' JU 21/8 ', the '8' being centrally placed above the space between the 'A' and 'I ' of 'PAID'. Presumably 1868.
Type 5. 'B' in bars. New type with sans-serif 'B' and single heavy bars on each side in use by 1945.
Type 6. Early date 5th January 1881. Late date 23rd November 1897.
Type 6. Early date 5th January 1881. Late date 23rd November 1897.
Type 7. Late date, 20th February 1911, on cover from Inagua.
Type 8. Approximate date of use 1892-3.
Type 9. Add:
| ARTHUR'S TOWN | (c.1911 - before 1913) |
| BIMINI | (c.1892 - before 1918) |
| CLARENCETOWN | (c.1899) |
| GOVERNOR'S HARBOUR | (c.1898 - before 1906) |
| GREEN TURTLE CAY | (c.1891 - before 1912) |
| GREGORY TOWN | (c.1902 - c.1909) |
| HARBOUR ISLAND | (c.23rd.Feb.l887 - before 1909) Earliest recorded date of this type. |
| HOPE TOWN | (c.1890 - c.1915) |
| INAGUA | (c.1893 - c.1905) |
| LONG CAY F.I. | (c.1889 - before 1904) |
| RAGGED ISLAND | (c.1910 - c. l9th Mar. 1918) Latest recorded date of this type |
| ROCK-SOUND | (c.l890 - c.1906) |
| RUM CAY | (c.1894 - c.1911) |
| SPANISH WELLS | (c.l909 - c.1912) |
| TARPUM BAY | (c.1911 - c.1913) |
| WATLINGS | (c.1893 - before 1912) |
I have an example of George Town in Type II on a Q.V. 1d., with '19' as the year date which might be 1919, but could also be a reversed '91' for 1891; also another 1d. Q.V. with Type II of Savannah Sound with '91' as the year date, which could also be an inverted '16'. However, if they are 1891 they are the earliest of this Type by many years. Gisbum's Type 10 is simply Type 9 with the year omitted, and this Type number could be assigned to the datestamps of Type II with 'BAHAMAS' below, leaving Type II for the datestamps with the name of the islands below. Mention should be made of the 'datestamp' of Acklins Island entirely drawn by hand in ink. My example of this is dated MY 19 97. I also possess another manuscript 'datestamp' consisting of a rough double line circle inscribed in three lines across the centre '. . . PLACE/ . . . ABACO/ . . . 6.10'. The stamp is a K.E. VII 1d. MCA and is further cancelled by Type 5.
Type 10. (new) Single circle, diam. 24mm.. with date in-two lines and 'BAHAMAS' below :
ARTHUR'S TOWN BAHAMAS (c.1930)
NASSAU BAHAMAS (c.1998)
Type 11. Single circle, diam. 24-25mm., with date in two lines and name of island below: :
GEORGE TOWN EXHUME ('19' = 1891 or 1918)
LONG BAY CAY ANDROS ISLAND (c.1912)
NASSAU NEW PROVIDENCE (c.1896 - c.1900)
NICOLLS TOWN ANDROS ISLAND (c.1910 - c.1912)
SAVANNAH SOUND ELEUTHERA ('91' = 1891 or 1916)
Type 12. Add:
FRESH CREEK ANDROS ISLAND (c.1910 - c.1930)
LONG CAY BAHAMAS (c.1904 - c.1930)
SIMMS LONG ISLAND (c.1912 - c.1924)
STANYARD CREEK ANDROS ISLAND (c.1912 - c.1930)