Page 26 - BWISC 60th Anniversary Display at RPSL, November 2014
P. 26
Frames 21 & 22
BERMUDA POSTAL HISTORY (1620 – 1877)
from the collection of David Pitts, FRPSL
Ever since her colonisation in 1612, the first such British extraterritorial acquisition, Bermuda has served as a
major, if not the major, crossroads of the North Atlantic. Until the maturation of the Age of Steam, Bermuda
was essential for all communication and transportation between Great Britain and Europe and the Caribbean and
Spanish Main. She was the principal port of provisioning and fuelling on both outward and inward voyages.
This collection examines how Bermuda fulfilled her role as the nexus of economic and social interaction with the
Motherland as demonstrated by her postal communications. It is the first comprehensive attempt and combines
all known routes, rates and pre-adhesive handstamps.
The Exhibit, as outlined on the Title Page, is divided into five parts. Letter dated 24 September 1620.
The items shown have been carefully selected to show not only the
most important pieces of Bermuda postal history but also with an eye
to telling a complete and comprehensible story of the development of
Bermuda’s postal communications.
I. The highlight of the Introductory period (1620 – 1806) is the
earliest letter in private hands, 24 September 1620. It was released
by the Public Record Office in 1979. Not only is this the earliest letter
from Bermuda but it is also the earliest letter from any extraterritorial
British possession, making it one of the most important letters in all of
British philately. Mail from Bermuda before 1800 is very rare with only
26 covers known among which are only four prior to 1700 (in private
hands).
II. There follows a short presentation of Internal island mail. Most significant is the presence of an example of
all five postmaster stamps created to prove prepayment of postage before the issue of Bermuda’s first stamps in
1865, a rare opportunity to see them all in one place. In addition, the earliest known Bermuda postal marking is
present.
Five types of Postmaster stamps.
III. Bermuda served as the headquarters of the British Atlantic Fleet during the winter months. As a result of
the considerable military presence in the region, there are letters sent from, and very rarely to, soldiers, sailors
and officers with special concessionary rates. The only known letter censored in Bermuda during the War of
1812 is shown as are soldiers’ 1d concessionary covers franked with a rare 1875 provisional overprinted stamp
and the Penny Black, both the only known. A number of American Civil War blockade covers demonstrate that
service including one of seven known to have originated in Bermuda.
BERMUDA POSTAL HISTORY (1620 – 1877)
from the collection of David Pitts, FRPSL
Ever since her colonisation in 1612, the first such British extraterritorial acquisition, Bermuda has served as a
major, if not the major, crossroads of the North Atlantic. Until the maturation of the Age of Steam, Bermuda
was essential for all communication and transportation between Great Britain and Europe and the Caribbean and
Spanish Main. She was the principal port of provisioning and fuelling on both outward and inward voyages.
This collection examines how Bermuda fulfilled her role as the nexus of economic and social interaction with the
Motherland as demonstrated by her postal communications. It is the first comprehensive attempt and combines
all known routes, rates and pre-adhesive handstamps.
The Exhibit, as outlined on the Title Page, is divided into five parts. Letter dated 24 September 1620.
The items shown have been carefully selected to show not only the
most important pieces of Bermuda postal history but also with an eye
to telling a complete and comprehensible story of the development of
Bermuda’s postal communications.
I. The highlight of the Introductory period (1620 – 1806) is the
earliest letter in private hands, 24 September 1620. It was released
by the Public Record Office in 1979. Not only is this the earliest letter
from Bermuda but it is also the earliest letter from any extraterritorial
British possession, making it one of the most important letters in all of
British philately. Mail from Bermuda before 1800 is very rare with only
26 covers known among which are only four prior to 1700 (in private
hands).
II. There follows a short presentation of Internal island mail. Most significant is the presence of an example of
all five postmaster stamps created to prove prepayment of postage before the issue of Bermuda’s first stamps in
1865, a rare opportunity to see them all in one place. In addition, the earliest known Bermuda postal marking is
present.
Five types of Postmaster stamps.
III. Bermuda served as the headquarters of the British Atlantic Fleet during the winter months. As a result of
the considerable military presence in the region, there are letters sent from, and very rarely to, soldiers, sailors
and officers with special concessionary rates. The only known letter censored in Bermuda during the War of
1812 is shown as are soldiers’ 1d concessionary covers franked with a rare 1875 provisional overprinted stamp
and the Penny Black, both the only known. A number of American Civil War blockade covers demonstrate that
service including one of seven known to have originated in Bermuda.
