Collecting stamps from the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines can be a lot more involved, and absorbing, for philatelists than you might think. There are a lot of variations of stamps available, with different inscriptions, issuing bodies, and even limited-number local stamps. St. Vincent stamps can even become the main focus of a collector’s attention, with covers, full sheets, and other related postal collectibles rounding out the collection.
The country is made up of a larger island, St. Vincent, and several of the Grenadines Islands, which are smaller and lie to the south. (The Grenadines that aren’t part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines make up the separate country of Grenada.) St. Vincent stamps reflect the history of the country, which used to be in British hands, became independent, and remains part of the British Commonwealth.
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St. Vincent Stamps: Early Issues
The first St. Vincent stamps came in 1861. They were inscribed ST. VINCENT and featured Queen Victoria, as did most British colonial stamps. This inscription would last several decades before a variety of others was tested.
In early 1974, the Grenadines part of the island group began adding an overprint to ST. VINCENT stamps. This overprint, reading GRENADINES OF, created a makeshift “GRENADINES OF ST. VINCENT” stamp. These versions of St. Vincent stamps spoke to the desire of Grenadines residents to be considered along with the main island and the stamps are of course very collectible. Very soon afterwards, in May 1974, new stamps actually inscribed GRENADINES OF ST. VINCENT were issued for the smaller islands – another variant for modern-day collectors.
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Stamps from Independent St. Vincent
In 1979, St. Vincent and the Grenadines became independent of Britain. (It remains, however, a part of the British Commonwealth.) The dual issues of ST. VINCENT and GRENADINES OF ST. VINCENT stamps continued. Complete sets from these years will include both versions.
Bequia and Union Island Stamps: Local Issues
In 1984, the Grenadine islands of Bequia and Union Island issued their own stamps. Each version would be inscribed with the name of the island plus GRENADINES OF ST. VINCENT.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Stamps: Full Inscription, Finally!
In 1992, national stamps using the full inscription ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES were finally issued for use among all the islands of the nation. Collectors of different inscriptions from different years should note that, occasionally, the shorter ST. VINCENT would still be used. Sometimes, an ampersand (&) is used instead of AND.
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Canouan, Mustique, and Mayreau Stamps: More Local Issues
The final stamps inscribed only with GRENADINES OF ST. VINCENT were issued in 1994. But the story of those issues doesn’t end there. Beginning in 1997, the islands of Canouan and Mustique issued stamps similar to the 1984 island stamps described above, using the island’s name and GRENADINES OF ST. VINCENT. The island of Mayreau followed suit beginning in 2006.
Cinderella Stamps: Young Island, Palm Island, and Tobago Cays
Palm Island, Young Island, and Tobago Cays released stamps that might be called cinderellas that appeal to some collectors. Not officially sanctioned, these pieces occupy an important place in many St. Vincent stamps collections due to their uniqueness and proud local origins.
With all of these various stamps and inscriptions and types of issues available, St. Vincent stamps are clearly a busy part of the stamp-collecting hobby. Sellers all over the world offer some great examples and the selection of what’s available to buy online changes daily. Watch listings carefully and wait for the St. Vincent stamps and postal collectibles that you like best.
