Bahamas

Quick History

The Bahamas are a group of islands in the West Indies off the coast of Florida. Thirty islands are inhabited with Nassau, the Capital, on New Providence Island. The Bahamas became a British Crown Colony in 1718 when the British drove out the pirates. The population was 70,000 in 1942. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas became an independent nation in 1973, and the economy is supported by tourism and banking.

After the War of Independence, 7000 british loyalists and their slaves left North America for the Bahamas, and set up a plantation culture. The slave trade was abolished in 1807 by the British, and the British navy would often release  the freed Africans from captured slave trade ships onto the Bahamas. Slavery itself was abolished in 1834, and the decendents now make up 85% of the population of the Bahamas.

The the 1p dull lake Queen Victoria stamp was released in 1859. On cover, the stamp is valued at $16,000+!

Big Blue Picture

On 2 pages, Big Blue(1969) has 47 stamp illustration/description spaces, and 5 blank spaces for a total of 52 stamp spaces.
The Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 132 major stamp descriptions.
Coverage by Big Blue is 40%.

No real bargains among the stamps of the Bahamas, as one would expect. The combined popularity of a warm island destination and a British Crown Colony makes for expensive choices.

But I have found some 19 stamps to consider adding in addition to those selected by Big Blue.

1859-82
1p-pick up other choices in checklist (Scott 1 or 11 or 16)
Scott 13 4p rose($70+) -expensive, but a gorgeous stamp!

1912-34 George V
77,78,76 ($1+-$5+)

1901-19
58,34($5+-$10+)

1929
87($5+)

1931-46
90,91($5+)

1938-46
109(<$1)

Special Delivery
1917
E2(<$1)
1918
E3(<$1)

War Tax stamps
MR2,MR3,($1-$2+)
MR5,MR8,($2+)
MR14($1+)

Big Blue Checklist
1859-82
1p :1859 Scott 1dull lake ($70+) or  1863-65 Scott 11 lake ($80+) or 1863-81 Scott 16 vermillion ($20+)

1884-90
27,28 ($2+)
Blank space: suggest Scott 29 4p yellow ($2+)

1902-06  Edward VII
44 ($4)
45 or 37 ($1+-$2+)
Blank space: suggest Scott 38 2 1/2p ultra ($1+)

1912-34  George V
70 or 49 (<$1-$1)
50 or 72 (<$1-$1+)
73($1+)
74 or 50A ($1+-$2+)
75 or 51 ($1+-$5+)
52($3+)
Blank space: suggest 6p blister brn 79 or 53 ($1+-$2+)
Blank space: suggest 1sh blk&red Scott 80($2+) or 1sh blk and carmine Scott 54 ($2+)
Note: consists of Series 1912-19 Scott 49-54, and 1921-34 Scott 70-80 wmk 4.

1901-19
71 or 48 or 33($1+-$3+)
59,60,($2+)

1929
85,86($2+)

1930 King George V and the Seal of the Bahamas
65,66($1+)
67,68($2+)

1935
96($2+)

1935 Silver Jubilee
92,93($1+-$5+)
94,95($5+)

1937 Coronation issue
97,98,99 (<$1)

1938 George VI
100,101($1-$2+)
102,103($1+-$5+)
104,105($1+-$5+)
110(41)
Blank space: consider 101A,103B,104A,105A (<$1-$1+)

(1938)
106,107,108 (<$1-$2+)

1940
115($1+)

Semi-Postal
1918
B1,B2 (<$1)

War Tax stamps
1918-19
MR6,MR7,($2+-<$1)

MR9(<$1)
Blank space: suggest MR10(<$1)

MR11,MR12(<$1)

Kinds of Blue
The 1997,1969,1947 and 1941 editions are identical for content, except the 1940s editions do not have a blank space for the 1938 issue, and consequently have one less space - 51 spaces.

Big Blue Bottom Line

Beautiful classic British Crown Colony stamps in a warm tropical island setting. What more can one ask for? :-)

Note: You will need to consult a Scott catalogue for specific pricing. I only give a very "ball park" price, and never the actual catalogue value.
<$1= less than a Dollar
$1+= more than a Dollar
$2+= more than two Dollars
$5+= more than five Dollars
$10+= more than ten Dollars
$20+..and so on.