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St Vincent

FIRST STAMPS Britain 1858-60 (oblit. A10 at Kingston).
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 8 May 1861.

CURRENCY
1861, sterling.
1949, 100 cents 1 West Indian dollar.

Discovered by Columbus 28 January 1498; was declared neutral in 1600 and its native Carib population was left undisturbed. Agreed to be awarded to Britain in 1763, but France captured the island in 1779. It was returned in 1783.

In 1795 the French again landed on the island and, with Carib support, captured it. They were driven out in 1796 and the Caribs were re-settled on the island of Roatan in the Bay of Honduras. Village postmarks of St Vincent were issued in the 1880s. The island joined the UPU in 1881.

Ministerial government was introduced in 1963 and associated statehood in 1969. St Vincent achieved full independence within the Commonwealth as St Vincent and the Grenadines on 27 October 1979.

Grenadines of St Vincent

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 14 November 1973.

A group of islands south of St Vincent comprising Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Islands.

Used the stamps of St Vincent until 1973. In 1984 issues for Bequia and Union Is. were prepared and issued. However, there is no genuine philatelic need for these stamps as the mail from these islands is minimal.