The Bahamas consist of a group of about 700 islands of which some 30 are inhabitated.
The island of San Salvador in the Bahamas was the first land sighted in the "New World" by Columbus on 11 October 1492.
The first settlers, British, arrived in 1629 and settled in New Providence. They were driven out by the Spanish in 1641 who in turn were driven out by the British in 1666.
The Spanish returned in 1703 and held the island till 1783 when they finally ceded to Britain.
The Bahamas was a British Crown Colony until 7 January 1964 when it was given self-government and on 10 July 1973 it became an independent country.
Postal History
The earliest known mail is from about 1760. A straight line BAHAMAS handstamp was introduced in 1804. Regular mail services were started in 1841.
British stamps were supplied for use in 1858 together with an oblitorator A05 which was used in Nassau.
First Bahamas tamps were issued on 10 June 1859
Philatelic Societies for collectors of Bahamas Stamps
British Caribbean Philatelic Study Group The Society covers the
following countries in the British Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua &
Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize (formerly British Honduras),
Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada,
Guyana (formerly British Guiana), Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts &
Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent-Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks
& Caicos Islands. In addition they are also interested in Maritime
Mail and British Post Offices in and around the Caribbean.
New Issues of Bahamas Stamps
Get all the latest new issues and First Day Covers direct from the Bahamas
Postal Services
BAHAMAS Philatelic Bureau
Bahamas Postal Service
General Post Office
P.O. Box N- 8302
Nassau, Bahamas
If you don't want to
take the trouble to go to the main office, try the smaller philatelic
bureau at the Welcome Center, Festival Place, Prince George Dock, open
Monday to Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Selected web pages on Bahamas Stamps and Bahamas Postal History
Censored Mail
by Peter J. Roberts There are two known types of World War I handstamps dated 1918. Seven different types of World War II handstamps are recorded.
Postal Stationery
by Peter J. Roberts Beginning in 1881, the Bahamas has issued a medley of postal stationeries: Envelopes (ca. 11 types and 6 varieties), Registered Envelopes
(ca. 24 types and 6 varieties), Postal Cards (ca. 13 types and 14 varieties), Reply Cards (ca. 6 types and 9 varieties), and Aerogrammes
(over 12 types and 4 varieties).
Bahamas Postmarks
a listing from Stamp Domain The Bahamas are made up of over 700 islands resulting in numerous small post offices. Many of the postmarks from these small post offices are not easy to find.
Books and Literature on Bahamas Stamps and Bahamas Postal History
The Postage Stamps and Postal History of the Bahamas
by Harold G D Gisburn, Stanley Gibbons, 1950, 1998 reprint, 144pp History of the island from the time of its discovery by Columbus; details of the early mail services;
two chapters are devoted to the Chalon stamps; check lists of proof, colour trials and issued stamps. The author had free access to the
wonderful collection of Bahamas of Louis Edward Bradbury. Much new and authoritative information was obtained by the author from the Bahamas
authorities, shipping lines and stamp printers.
The Bahama Islands - Handstamps & Cancellations 1802-1967
by Ludington, M. H. and Raymond, Gale J., published by Robson Lowe, 1968
Bahamas Early Mail Service and Postal Markings
by M. H. Ludington, 1982, 210pp The postal history and postal markings to about 1975
The Postal History of Bahamas
by E. B. Proud, 2000
Bahamas Temporary Rubber Datestamps and Cancellations.
by Gale J Raymond, pub by Bahamas Postal History Society, 1960; 11 pp.
