Sometimes colonial stamp issues can stay around a long time, in this case becoming completely anachronistic. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
The stamp today features the then seal of the then British Crown Colony of Barbados. It looks dramatic and mythical, like something from the 17th century. Which it probably was. The World Wars changed markedly British attitudes on maintaining far off colonies. The shameful legacy of slavery also meant that the views of many on the island were not being represented in the countries administration. When a basic stamp issue lasts from 1916 all the way to 1948, the upshot can be a period piece. Great for the stamp collector. For commonwealth issues are a popular collector interest. Whether the collector longs for Pax Britannica or is revolted by the audacity of it all. One cannot deny the eye candy.
The stamp today is issue A19, a two and one half penny stamp issued by the Crown Colony of Barbados in 1925. This is from the middle period of this long issued stamp. The words postage and revenue mark it as from the middle period. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $1 used. The one to look for in this issue is the 3 shilling version from 1918, which is worth $180 used.
Barbados was originally settled by Indians from Venezuela before Christ. The first British landed in 1625. At first the economy was tobacco based with the labor being handled by indentured servants from Britain. After a period of service they were usually given 10 acres. They did not fare well and many went on to the colonies of North and South Carolina. The few descendants of these indentured servants in Barbados today are known as red legs. Later sugar cane production took over with large plantations and Jewish leadership coming from Spain. The labor was performed by large numbers of African slaves imported from West Africa. The trade revenue from this period was quite high and Barbados was one of the most valuable British colonies in terms of trade. Bridgetown was then the third biggest British city in the Western Hemisphere after Boston and New York.
The freedom of slaves declared by Britain in 1834 changed Barbados dramatically. Sugar caine production dropped off. Many of the Jews left and the island was demographically dominated by Africans who were still not being represented in the administration of the colony. A wealth test was used to keep them out. This was done locally. The long period this stamp was issued was the period the right to vote was gradually extended to more of the people and Britain was becoming wary of maintaining such far off colonies.
There were two schools of thought of how to proceed. One was a federation of the British West Indies with Canada. This was tried in the 50s still within the empire but under a black Barbun Premier. The majority on most of the islands involved favored independence individually for the various islands. Independence was realized in 1966 and Barbados remained in the British Commonwealth. The main industries now are tourism and offshore banking.
Well my drink is empty so I will toast the period seal of Barbados. Briain managed quite a large realm from such a small island. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.