The idea for how to escape the British Caribbean was to put all the small islands in a federation that Canada might look after. That did not take into account that each island had ambitious politicians. Well when they get uppity, Britain still had the Parachute regiment. 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.
Saint Christopher is usually now referred to as St. Kitts, and that is what it is called on their more recent stamps. Nevis is still a dependant of St. Kitts, but seems to no longer warrant a mention. Anguilla now goes it alone. When this stamp was issued, the place had become an independent state but not enough independent states according to the residents of Anguilla. Yet this stamp may make you believe that tourist may be able to spot a pirate. Well the Private Bankers may want to take your gold from you.
Todays stamp is issue A25, a half cent stamp issued by the independent state in “free”association with Great Britain, of Saint Christopher, Nevis, and Anguilla on Febuary 1st, 1970. It was part of a 17 stamp issue in various denominations giving a romanticized look at the old battles with pirates with a nod toward the kiddies. He we have pirates burying treasure in Frigates Bay, St Kitts. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents whether mint or canceled to order. Nobody would have mailed this stamp.
The otherwise unoccupied islands passed several times between England and France and Spain until becoming British in 1783. The islands were jointly administered from a capital on St. Kitts. Sugar cane plantations were founded and large numbers of African slaves were imported, becoming the majority of the population. The 1830s saw end of slavery and most of the planters left the islands. The islands became desperately poor. Britain tried to evacuate the entire population to British Guyana in the 1840s but the population mostly refused to leave.
In the 1950s-1960s Britain had tired of subsidizing these small islands and proposed a West Indies Federation. It did not pan out as Canada was unwilling to step up as protector and there were more would be politicians on the islands than could be accommodated on the elected council. So colony status ended in 1967. Anguilla had never been satisfied being administered from St. Kitts. They rose up in 1969 and expelled the police from St. Kitts. Anguilla then requested administration from the USA but this was denied. The British met with Anguilla’s rebel leaders in Barbados. At first they agreed to rejoin St. Kitts but then reneged. British Labour politician William Whitlock was sent to Anguilla as an envoy to further negotiate but he was expelled. At this point the British were exasperated and landed elements of the Parachute Regiment and 40 Scotland Yard police. They were not resisted and Anguilla stayed with St. Kitts for 10 more years. The islands now make it on tourism, off shore banking, and low standard medical schools.
With this stamp there must also be a pirate story. An English born pirate Bartholomew Roberts sailed his pirate ship “Fortune” off the new world around 1720. His big victory was when he spotted a large group of Portuguese merchant ships waiting for their naval escort to convoy back to Portugal. He captured one ship and then had the captain tell him which of the other ships was the biggest prize. His take on that ship was 40,000 gold coins and a cross with diamonds intended for the King. Black Bart has he would become known renamed his ship the “Royal Fortune”. He spent booty during a rampage on Devil’s Island off Guyana. Black Bart had further successes off Barbados and Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Heading back to the Caribbean he was becoming infamous and he took up sailing directly into the harbors of places like St. Kitts and Martinique with his black flag flying and his band playing. The islands would pull down quickly their flags in surrender. This couldn’t continue and Black Bart made for Africa. He had a few more successes before being caught and sunk by HMS Sloop off of Gabon. He died in full regalia holding a sword and two pistols and wearing the King’s diamond cross around his neck on a gold chain.
Well my drink is empty and that will be my last so I can stay awake to spot pirates or the Parachute Regiment. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.