British Virgin Islands
Home West Indies Stamps Virgin Is. Books V.I. Postcards
Postage stamps, booklets, flight, censored and maritime mail and philatelic covers of the British Virgin Islands for sale.
Stamp collecting is very much alive in the Virgin Islands with an annual stamp show held in Road Town, a big surprise given the size of the population. The BCPSG held a group meeting here on 1 November 2002 in conjunction with the stamp show which I found most enjoyable being one of the fortunate ones able to attend.
There seem to be few Virgin Islands stamp specialists but then again there is not much material to go round. The classic stamp issues are lovely and rewarding to collect. The small sheet size makes plating an enjoyable task. The later issues are fairly easy to come by and make an attractive collection.
A reasonable number of pre stamp covers exist but few seem to be on the market at the moment. Other than this there is only limited interest for the postal history collector with a distinct lack of village cancels, air mails, maritime and censored mail.
The best work on the classic stamps is R.B. Yardley's 'Virgin Islands issues 1866 - October 1890' but is seldom seen. There is also a small book by Fred Melville but likewise scarce and Vernon Pickering's 'Early history of the British Virgin Islands' which includes a section on philately. A revised edition is now available from the author.
Philatelic Books on Virgin Islands
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'The Seal Of The Court Of Common Pleas' Proof strike in black on card. (101 x 126mm). Endorsed on reverse, ' Adrian Hopkins to R.H. Urwick 27 February 1962. Virgin Islands. Originals strike from the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas, from which the design of the first Virgin Is. adhesive stamps was built up.' (Only 27 impressions taken by Major Hopkins). £80
1873 (10 Dec) mourning cover to England with 1868 1/- (SG21) tied by fine 'A13' obliterator and with London ds at left. Tortola cds b/stamp. Stamp with minute nick at left. Probably the only example used during the correct period. Ex McCann. £2500
1889 reg. O.H.M.S. cover to London with 1887-9 6d dull violet (SG38) cancelled by light 'A91' obliterator. Tortola cds and oval 'Registered London' ds below. Fine. Ex McCann. £700
1889 (17 July) F/S size reg. cover to Germany with 1887-9 6d dull violet (SG38) tied by 'A91' obliterator. Fine 'TORTOLA C JY 17 89' cds at left, 'R' in oval h/s and oval 'Registered London' ds in red. Dresden receiving mark on reverse. Fine. A rare franking. £1200
1889 reg. cover to Germany with 1887-9 1/- brown tied by Tortola cds. Ironed out crease at left. Ex McCann. £1450
1917 reg. cover to U.S.A. with 1916-9 War Stamp 1d and 3d (SG78b, 79a) tied by Tortola cds and with boxed Road Town reg. h/s. Clean. £40
1970 commem. cover for Post Office Packet, Windsor Castle with appropriate 15c tied by Road Town cds. Special cachet 'Mailed by M/V Empress of Tortola from Tortola to St Thomas' in green at right. £4
