The Bermudas or Somers Isles is the official name of Bermuda, which issues its own stamps and is an overseas territory of Britain. The history of Bermuda postage stamps mirrors the history of Britain, in both the monarchs depicted on its stamps and in the advancement of its stamp printing technology.
The first Bermuda stamps were issued in 1848, but these were unofficial local stamps. Known as Perot Provisionals, after Postmaster William B. Perot, these stamps used the legend “Hamilton Bermuda” and are very rare these days. Other local stamps followed in 1860 under the direction of Postmaster James H. Thies. These too are vanishingly scarce.
The first official national postage stamps of Bermuda came in 1865, showing a portrait of Queen Victoria and with the name “Bermuda” as their inscription. Victoria’s successor, King Edward VII, issued Bermudan stamps during his relatively short reign.
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King George V, ruler of Britain from 1910 through World War I and until 1936, appeared himself on several Bermuda postage stamps, as did King George VI. Currently, Queen Elizabeth II has appeared on many different commemorative Bermuda stamps.
There have been special stamps in Bermuda’s history, such as the war tax stamps of 1918, as well as many philatelic collectibles that excite collectors these days: maximum cards, first day covers, full sheets and minisheets, and many others. Check the current Bermuda stamps for sale here. Listings are added daily.
