St. Kitts - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Saint Kitts, an Island in the West Indies has a total land area of 64.9 square miles and a population of 35,000.St. Kitts has done an excellent job in preserving its ecosystems. It is the smallest country to ever host a World Cup cricket event. Its economy is dependent on tourism. Other sectors are transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and construction. Another source of income is from their citizenship by investment program.

Travel Resources:

December through February is the best time to visit St. Kitts as most carnivals are held around this time. In order to bring in visitors during the low season, the St. Kitts Music Festival is held in June. Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a World Heritage Site is a major attraction. Its tropical forests, lava formations and lagoons endear to nature lovers. Snorkeling, diving, water sports, bird watching, boating and cruises are some leisure activities to pursue while on the island. Shopping areas amid Colonial architecture is another pastime. Conch Chowder, Pelau, Souse, Goat Water, Johnny Cakes, sugar cake, conkie are some local fares to enjoy while out there.

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
St. Kitts: Cradle of the Caribbean	978-1405066426	$11	Not a travel guide book per se, but a great introduction to the island. It does have descriptions on many attractions, where to go and what to see. 106 pages.
St. Kitts-Nevis Adapter Plug D and GUF	B001FD3KQW	$13

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of St. Kitts were a set of thirteen stamps released on June 23, 1980 that were overprints on stamps of St. Kitts-Nevis. The set (Scott #25 to #37) catalogs for around $5 MNH and slightly more for used. Stamps of St. Christopher were used in St. Kitts until 1890. From 1890 to 1903 stamps of Leeward Islands were used and from 1903 to 1956 issues of both Leeward Islands and St. Kitts-Nevis were used concurrently. From 1957 to 1980, St. Kitts-Nevis stamps were used in St. Kitts. Postal administrations were separated that year and from that point St. Kitts and Nevis started issuing their own separate stamps. The first original issues of St. Kitts were a set of six stamps released on August 8, 1980 showing Ships. The set (Scott #38 to #43) is inexpensive and catalogs for around two dollars for MNH and a little less for used. The Island of Saint Kitts is more formally known as Saint Christopher Island. St. Kitts along with the neighboring island of Nevis constitute the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Other issues of St. Kitts enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A long set of eighteen stamps released in 1981 in the Birds theme. The set (Scott #49 to #66) catalogs for around $20 MNH or Used. The designs show frigatebird, rusty-tailed flycatcher, purple-throated carib, burrowing owl, purple martin, yellow-crowned night heron, bananaquit, scaly-breasted thrasher, grey kingbird, green-throated carib, ruddy turnstone, black-faced grass-quit, cattle egret, brown pelican, Lesser Antillean bullfinch, zenaida dove, sparrow hawk, and Antillean crested hummingbird.
2. A set of fourteen stamps released on July 4, 1984 in the Marine Life theme. The set (Scott #139 to #152) catalogs for around $35 MNH and a little more for used. The designs show cushion star, rough file shell, red-lined cleaning shrimp, bristleworm, flamingo tongue, christmas tree worm, pink-tipped anemone, smallmouth grunt, glasseye snapper, reef squirrelfish, sea fans and flamefish, reef butterfly fish, black soldierfish, and cocoa damselfish.
3. A set of seven stamps released on April 20, 1988 in the Tourism theme. The set (Scott #223 to #229) catalogs for around $14 MNH or used. The designs show Fort Thomas Hotel, Fairview Inn, Frigate Bay Beach Hotel, Ocean Terrace Inn, The Golden Lemon, Royal St. Kitts Casino and Jack Tar Village, and Rawlins Plantation Hotel and Restaurant. Tourism is a growing source of income to the island although arrivals are somewhat less than on other Caribbean islands. Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park which is the largest fortress ever built in the Eastern Caribbean is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island alternated between French and English control until it came under the British in 1783.
4. A set of four stamps released on October 31, 1997 in the Churches theme. The set (Scott #430 to #433) catalogs for around $15 MNH and around the same for used. The designs show Zion Moravian, Wesley Methodist, St. Georges Anglican, and Co-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. There are nine parishes in St. Kitts.
5. A set of three sheets of four and a souvenir sheet of three stamps released on September 21, 2004 to mark the 200th anniversary of Locomotives. The set (Scott #595 to #597 and #598 to #600) catalogs for around $30 MNH or used.

Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of St. Kitts were British Administration Countermarked Coinage (108 Pence = 9 Shillings = 12 Bits = 1 Dollar, 100 Cents = 1 Dollar) Billons with the S Countermark on French Colonies 24 Deniers. The issue is sought after and catalogs for around $150 in VF. St. Kitts and Nevis and now use East Caribbean Currency. A number of Commemorative Proofs with low mintage has however been used from the 1970s onward for the numismatic market.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Art, jewelry, funky clothes, pottery, Nevis honey, local rums, hot sauces and handmade crafts are typical souvenirs from St. Kitts.

Resource	Price Range	Description
Miscellaneous Collectibles	$3 and up	Postcards, Flags etc star around $3.

Last Updated: 12/2015.