As stated in Part 1 of this series, it was not until 1913 that British Guiana postage stamps began bearing the head of the reigning British monarch. Thus, unlike possibly all other British colonies that issued postage stamps during Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901) British Guiana does not have a postage stamp that bears her image. Further, we have no postage stamp bearing the image of King Edward VII, who later reigned, from 1901 to 1910. This move to depicting the reigning monarch's head, says Townsend & Howe, in their book The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana (1970) was as a result of instructions to all British colonies and Protectorates in 1911, from the then Secretary of State in Britain (L Harcourt) that "… each stamp shall bear the head of His Majesty the King." After at least twice ignoring suggestions to depict Queen Victoria's head on its postage stamps, the colony complied with this 1911 instruction, but maintained the popular "ship and motto" as part of the new design, albeit at a smaller scale.
To stamp collectors, these 1913-1927 stamps can be divided into two issues: those issued between 1913 and 1916, and those issued between 1921 and 1927. The first set (1913-1916) comprised 11 duties: 1 cent, 2 cents, 4 cents, 5 cents, 6 cents, 12 cents, 24 cents, 48 cents, 60 cents, 72 cents and 96 cents, and have the Multiple Crown CA watermark first used in 1905. Some of the higher duties (from 24 cents) were printed on chalky paper for better security, whilst the 96 cents duty was printed on both surface coloured paper and paper coloured right through. The second set (1921-1927) comprised 10 duties, all as before except the 5 cents, and the watermark was changed. During World War 1 (1914-1918) many British colonies issued special War Tax stamps to financially assist with the war costs, and British Guiana was no exception: the 2 cents duty of 1913-1916 was overprinted WAR TAX in 1918.
On July 21st 1931, a special issue of postage stamps celebrated the centenary of the union of the counties of Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo, as British Guiana. Various local sceneries and industries were illustrated in five denominations: 1 cent (emerald green) depicting the ploughing of a rice field; 2 cents (brown) depicting an Indian (Amerindian) shooting fish; 4 cents (carmine) and 1 dollar (violet) depicting Kaieteur Falls; and 6 cents (blue) depicting thePublic Buildings. Townsend & Howe describes the designs as attractive, and so they are. A return to the London printers of Waterlow and Sons was made for this issue and there was a change of the printing process from typography to the very artistic "recess printing" or engraving. (Without describing the recess printing process here, it is my opinion that the postage stamp reached its highest level as an art form with this type of printing.) One stamp of this issue merits more discussion. Townsend & Howe says of the 2 cents stamp, inscribed "Indian Shooting Fish," that the image may be that of a member of the Wapisiana tribe. However, a letter in the Sunday Stabroek of June 19, 2005, details a discussion in which there was a suggestion that a Caucasian may have been the original model for that stamp. More research needs to be done to clarify this, but whatever the answer this stamp is the first British Guiana stamp to depict a personage (albeit unknown) other than the reigning monarch.
In May 1934 it was announced that British Guiana was to have a new issue of postage stamps and that all denominations would be in a pictorial design. Thirteen stamps in the set were issued, ranging from 1 cent to 1 dollar, in various colours, and depicting various sceneries and industries. Some scenes from the Union issue of 1931 were repeated (excepting the Public Buildings) and new ones added, such as the Stabroek Market (12 cents, orange). An interesting stamp in this issue is the 96 cents (black) duty that depicts Sir Walter Raleigh (c 1552-1618) and his son, the first British Guiana stamp to portray an identifiable person other than the reigning monarch. Why Sir Walter Raleigh? Probably, he was depicted because of the El Dorado tale we have all learnt in school.
The following year (1935) a new species of postage stamp appeared - the omnibus issue. Peculiar to the British Common-wealth Colonies and Dependencies, these issues are usually common to all the colonies and depict some event of importance to the British Commonwealth specifically or to the world generally. Thus in May 1935 the Silver Jubilee (1910-1935) of King George V was celebrated with the issue of four stamps (2 cents, 6 cents, 12 cents and 24 cents) depicting King George V and Windsor Castle (Great Britain). The second of the Commonwealth omnibus series celebrated the Coronation of King George VI on May 12, 1937: a set of three stamps depicting the new King and Queen, following the death of King George V. Other omnibus issues during the reign of King George VI are: 1946 - World War II Victory; 1948 - Royal Silver Wedding; 1949 - 75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union; 1951 - University College of the West Indies (a regional issue).
On the death of King George V in 1937, British Guiana requested a supply of stamps with the portrait of the new monarch, King Edward VIII, to reach the colony by the end of 1937 - 2 cents, 4 cents and 6 cents. The order was cancelled however, on the abdication of King Edward VIII and accession to the throne of King George VI. In 1938 a new set of stamps was issued for the reign of King George VI, similar in design to that for King George V, but some with alterations. Twelve stamps were issued in this set, including two new duties - 2 dollars depicting Mount Roraima and 3 dollars depicting the Victoria Regia lily. During the reign of King George VI another type of postage stamp, the "Postage Due" stamp, was introduced in British Guiana (1940 - 1952). This stamp was affixed, by the Post Office, to letters indicating how much had to be paid by someone receiving a letter that had no postage stamp or stamps of inadequate duty. This first issue of Postage Due stamps were of the following values: 1 cent, 2 cents, 4 cents and 12 cents.
Following the death of King George VI in 1953, a new omnibus stamp, celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was issued. Then in 1954, a new set of stamps was issued, all having a left-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Fifteen stamps are in the set ranging from 1 cent to 5 dollars. Some previous scenes were re-used and some new subjects were included in this issue: I will highlight two of these. Firstly, the 1 cent duty, which depicts the new General Post Office building that was built in 1952 after the disastrous fire of 1945 destroyed the earlier building. Secondly, the 5 dollars duty that depicts the Arms of British Guiana: according to Townsend & Howe, this stamp, which bears the familiar sail-ship seal and Latin motto, was designed by Vincent Roth. A stamp collector may separate these stamps into two distinct sets: firstly, the 1954-1961 printings by Waterlow and Sons; and secondly, the 1961-1963 printings by De La Rue. Nine of the duties (3 cents to 2 dollars) were later re-printed (1963-65) but having a different watermark, constitute a separate issue.
The reign of Queen Elizabeth has its own omnibus and special British Guiana commemorative issues. Of the eight omnibus or special issues between 1961 and 1966, I will highlight two. Firstly, the issue of 1961 commemorating the 4th annual History and Culture Week in British Guiana, in duties of 5 cents, 6 cents and 30 cents. These stamps depict six interlinked hands of varying skin tones representing the six races in Guyana and the motto "One People One Nation One Destiny," which is now the national motto inscribed on Guyana's Coat-of-Arms. The other interesting issue is that celebrating the 1964 Olympic Games that was held in Tokyo, Japan, and which features a weightlifter: there is no name of the person depicted, but it is believed by some that the stamp celebrates a national weightlifter, Martin Dias; again more research is needed to clarify this. The last British Guiana postage stamps were issued on February 4, 1966: the two stamps (3 cents and 25 cents) celebrate the Royal Visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to this country just before Independence in May 1966.
This article completes the three-part series highlighting our colonial postage stamps from the first issue in 1850 to independence in 1966. The book The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by W A Townsend & F G Howe, published in 1970 by The Royal Philatelic Society of London, is the main source of information for this series of articles. The interested reader may be happy to know that a copy of the book is in the University of Guyana Library.
