Cayman Islands are a set of three islands located in the Western Caribbean Sea, 400 miles South of Miami, 180 miles south of Cuba, and 200 miles northwest of Jamaica. 
The islands are Grand Cayman (75 square miles), Cayman Brac (14 square miles), and Little Cayman (10 square miles). The islands are flat coral heads covering peaks of an underwater ridge standing 8000 feet from the sea floor. The highest point is just 140 feet above sea level. The islands were sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1503 and the first recorded western visitor was Sir Francis Drake in 1586. It remained largely uninhabited until the seventeenth century when pirates, refugees, slaves, deserters, and shipwrecked sailors settled in. Cayman Islands and Jamaica were ceded to England following the Treaty of Madrid of 1670. Jamaica gained Independence in 1962 while Cayman Islands opted to become a separate British Overseas Territory the same year. The total land area is just over 100 square miles with a population of around 60,000 making it a densely populated area at over 360 per square mile. Much of the area lies unprotected at sea level thus making it the most vulnerable area for hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin. The climate is tropical with a wet season of warm, rainy summers followed by a dry season of comparatively cool winters. Limestone base surrounded by coraf reefs form the landscape. Cayman Islands has the highest standard of living in the Caribbean with a per-capita GDP (ppp) of around $50,000. The area is a major international financial center – there is no direct taxation on residents as well as Cayman Islands companies and so major financial firms find it beneficial to register themselves offshore in the Cayman Islands. Government finances are supported through indirect taxation – there is a duty on most imported goods and tourist accommodations.
The first stamps of Cayman Islands were Queen Victoria Keytypes issued in 1900. The set of two stamps (Scott #1 & #2) catalogs for around $10 MNH and $20 Used.
This issue was followed by a series of King Edward VII keytypes issued 1901 (Scott #3 to #7), 1905 (Scott #8 to #12), and 1907 (Scott #13 to #16). These sets are very valuable and catalog for $130, $90, and $350 respectively for MNH and $250, $130, and $600 respectively for Used. These stamps along with some varieties that have new denominations overprinted continued until 1908 when another issue (Scott #31) with a simple crown design with the denomination in the middle appeared. This was followed by a set of thirteen stamps (Scott #32 to #44) issued between 1912 and 1920 in the King George V (KGV) theme. The set is very valuable at around $400 for MNH and $675 for Used. Lower denominations can be had for a few dollars but the 5sh & 10sh denominations run into the $100 range.
Below are other relevant stamp issues of Cayman Islands over the years:
Last Updated: 07/2011.
The islands are Grand Cayman (75 square miles), Cayman Brac (14 square miles), and Little Cayman (10 square miles). The islands are flat coral heads covering peaks of an underwater ridge standing 8000 feet from the sea floor. The highest point is just 140 feet above sea level. The islands were sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1503 and the first recorded western visitor was Sir Francis Drake in 1586. It remained largely uninhabited until the seventeenth century when pirates, refugees, slaves, deserters, and shipwrecked sailors settled in. Cayman Islands and Jamaica were ceded to England following the Treaty of Madrid of 1670. Jamaica gained Independence in 1962 while Cayman Islands opted to become a separate British Overseas Territory the same year. The total land area is just over 100 square miles with a population of around 60,000 making it a densely populated area at over 360 per square mile. Much of the area lies unprotected at sea level thus making it the most vulnerable area for hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin. The climate is tropical with a wet season of warm, rainy summers followed by a dry season of comparatively cool winters. Limestone base surrounded by coraf reefs form the landscape. Cayman Islands has the highest standard of living in the Caribbean with a per-capita GDP (ppp) of around $50,000. The area is a major international financial center – there is no direct taxation on residents as well as Cayman Islands companies and so major financial firms find it beneficial to register themselves offshore in the Cayman Islands. Government finances are supported through indirect taxation – there is a duty on most imported goods and tourist accommodations.The first stamps of Cayman Islands were Queen Victoria Keytypes issued in 1900. The set of two stamps (Scott #1 & #2) catalogs for around $10 MNH and $20 Used.
This issue was followed by a series of King Edward VII keytypes issued 1901 (Scott #3 to #7), 1905 (Scott #8 to #12), and 1907 (Scott #13 to #16). These sets are very valuable and catalog for $130, $90, and $350 respectively for MNH and $250, $130, and $600 respectively for Used. These stamps along with some varieties that have new denominations overprinted continued until 1908 when another issue (Scott #31) with a simple crown design with the denomination in the middle appeared. This was followed by a set of thirteen stamps (Scott #32 to #44) issued between 1912 and 1920 in the King George V (KGV) theme. The set is very valuable at around $400 for MNH and $675 for Used. Lower denominations can be had for a few dollars but the 5sh & 10sh denominations run into the $100 range.Below are other relevant stamp issues of Cayman Islands over the years:
- A set of twelve stamps released on December 5, 1932 showing King William IV and King George V. The release was to mark the centenary of the formation of the Cayman Islands Assembly. The set (Scott #69 to #80) catalogs for around $500 MNH and $750 for Used.
- A set of twelve stamps (Scott #85 to #96) released in 1935 to 1936 timeframe showing KGV and local scenes. The set catalogs for around $350 MNH and $240 Used. The
designs show KGV, Catboat (sail-boat with a single mast carried all the way forward), Red-footed Boobies (large sea bird of the gannet family), Conches and Coconut Palms, and Hawksbill Turtles. This set was followed in the 1938 to 1943 by a sister set of twelve stamps in a similar theme. That set (Scott #100 to #111) catalogs for around $135 MNH and $50 for Used. The designs show Beach View of Grand Cayman, Dolphin, Hawksbill Turtles, Map of the Islands, and Cayman Schooner.
- A set of thirteen stamps (Scott #122 to #134) released on October 2, 1950 showing local scenes. The set catalogs for around $60 MNH and $50 Used. The designs show Coconut Grove, Green Turtle, Thatch Rope Industry, Caymanian Seamen, Map, Parrot Fish, Bluff at Cayman Brac, George Town Harbor, Turtle “crawl”, Cayman Schooner, Boat Building, and Government Offices.
- A set of fifteen stamps (Scott #153 to #167) released on November 28, 1962 showing local scenes and Queen Elizabeth II. The set (Scott #153 to #167) catalogs for around $75 MNH and $50 Used. The designs show Cayman Parrot, Catboat, Orchid, May of Islands, Fisherman Casting Net, West Bay Beach, Green Turtle, Cayman Schooner, Angler with Kingfish, Iguana, Swimming pool at Cayman Brac, Girl and Sailboat, Fort George, Coat of Arms, and Queen Elizabeth.
- A set of fifteen stamps (Scott #210 to #224) released on June 5,
1969 showing more local scenes. The set catalogs for around $10 MNH and a little more for Used. The set is special in that after the currency conversion, the same set was reissued with the new denominations overprinted as a surcharge. That set (Scott #227 to #241) also has similar catalog value. The designs show Grand Cayman Thrush, Brahman Cattle, Blowholes on coast, Map of Grand Cayman, Town Scene in George Town, Royal Poinciana, Map of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, Motor Vessels at Berth, Basket Making, Beach Scene, Rope Making, Barracudas, Government House, Coat of Arms, 
and Queen Elizabeth II. - A set of twelve stamps (Scott #562 to #573) released on September 15, 1986 showing Marine Life. The set catalogs for around $35 MNH and $45 Used. The designs show Rhynchocinetes Rigeus, Nemaster Rubiginosa, Calcinus Tibicen, Rhodactis Sanctithomae, Spriobranchus Gigantea, Diodon Holacanthus, Pseudocorynactis Aribbeorum, Astrophyton Muricatum, Cyphoma Gibbosum, Conolylactis Gigantea, Malacoctenus Boehlkei, and Lima Scabra.
- A set of five stamps (Scott #681 to #685) released on April 21, 1994 showing West Indian Whistling Ducks.
The set catalogs for around $15 MNH and around $10 for Used. The designs show Whistling Ducks in Action: One Standing, Landing in Water, Four Ducks engaged in activities, One Raising Wings, and Adult, Chick.
Last Updated: 07/2011.
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