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Cayman Islands

FIRST STAMPS Jamaica from April 1889.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED November 1900 (possibly not put into use before 19 February 1901).

CURRENCY
1900, sterling.
1969, 100 cents = 1 Jamaican dollar.

Ceded by Spain to England in 1670 and colonized from Jamaica in the 18th century, they remained a dependency of Jamaica until granted a new constitution on 1 July 1959. Crown Colony on 28 November 1962 and remains a Dependent Territory of the United Kingdom.

Used stamps of Jamaica from April 1889, before which there were no regular postal facilities. Stamps so used are recognizable by cancellations: Grand Cayman (at Georgetown) and Cayman Brac (at Stake Bay).

There were initially 3 POs on Grand Cayman: Georgetown, Boddentown and East End (closed 1908). From 1908 a rural service was operated by mailcart between the two remaining offices with horseback messengers to East End and, after 1909, to West Bay. The driver and riders collected and cancelled mail until rural POs were re-opened in 1913.