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Antigua

FIRST STAMPS Britain 1858-60 (oblit. A02 St Johns and Al 8 English Harbour).
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED August 1862.

CURRENCY
1862, sterling.
1951, 100 cents = 1 West Indian dollar.

Discovered by Columbus in November 1498, this island of the Leeward group was settled by the English in 1632 from St Christopher. Antigua was held for the Royalists during the English Civil War and was invaded by the French in 1666. It was returned to Britain by the Treaty of Breda in 1667. The British established English Harbour on the island as a naval dockyard in 1725 and it became the base for the Leewards Station throughout the French wars.

Postal communications between Antigua and Britain began early in the 19th century.

The first stamp was a 6d value to prepay the letter rate to Britain. The general stamps of the Leeward Islands were used from 31 October 1890 until separate issues were again issued in 1903. These were used concurrently with the Leeward Island issues until 1956.

Antigua gained ministerial government on 1 January 1960 and associated statehood on 27 February 1967. It became fully independent on 1 November 1981. It has subsequently joined the UPU.

Barbuda

FIRST SEPARATE STAMPS 13 July 1922.

CURRENCY
1922, as Antigua.

Dependency of Antigua. Presumably used stamps of Antigua from 1862. Overprinted stamps of Leeward Islands were issued in 1922. These were soon discontinued and stamps of Antigua were again used to 1968. Since 19 November 1968 has issued floods of unnecessary stamps (which are also valid in Antigua), except for a short period in 1972-3.

Redonda
A dependency of Antigua which is uninhabited. Stamps were issued in 1979 by overprinting stamps of Antigua. Philatelic mail was handled by a bureau in Antigua where, it is understood, the overprints are valid for postage. However, the stamps are not issued by a recognized postal authority.