Saint
Vincent, a volcanic island in the Caribbean located between Saint Lucia
and Grenada, has a total land area of 133 square miles and a population
of around 120,000. St. Vincent is a beautiful volcanic island with
waterfalls, wind-swept beaches, nature trails and gardens. It is
classified as a lower middle-income economy. Agriculture (banana) and
services (tourism) are the major sectors of its economy. To combat
unemployment the government attempted several new industries.
Construction, small-scale manufacturing and offshore financial sectors
are starting to gain traction. Whale hunting is permissible for the St.
Vincent natives under the subsistence quota.
Travel Resources:
November through February is the best time to visit this island nation. The filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean has given the country some spotlight and the tourism sector is poised for considerable growth. An international airport is in the works and should aid tourism. Kingstown, Fort Charlotte, St. Vincent Waterfalls, Vermont Nature Trails are some attractions. Breadfruit, coconut and the readily available ‘Catch of the Day’ are the main ingredients of its cuisine. Conch Souse, Roasted breadfruit with fish, and Callaloo soup are some island specialties.
Philatelic Profile:
The first stamps of St. Vincent were a set of two stamps released in 1861 showing Queen Victoria (QV). The set (Scott #1 to #1B) catalogs for around $7.3K mint and around $265 used. Most of the value is for #1B (yellow green) which is very rare. The QV design was used in a few other sets during the period till 1880. Another QV design along with a Seal of Colony design was issued in a set of six stamps during the period from 1880 to 1881. That set (Scott #24 to #29) is also very rare and valuable cataloging for around $4.5K mint and around $1.7K used. Surcharge overprints on the first QV design formed the primary stamp issues of St. Vincent during the period till 1898. The stamps of St. Vincent until the turn of the century are all sought after and very collectible. The territory was ceded to the British by the French in 1783. It gained independence on October 27, 1783. The island along with the Northern two-thirds of the Granadines forms the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
St. Vincent issued a set of nine stamps showing King Edward VII in 1902. The set (Scott #71 to #79) catalogs for around $160 mint and around $300 used. A variety on chalky paper was also released between 1904 and 1911. That set (Scott #82 to #89) catalogs for around $115 mint and around $250 used. St. Vincent released a set of fifteen stamps in original design during the period from 1938 to 1947 showing local scenes and King George VI (KGVI). The set (Scott #141 to #151) catalogs for around $50 MNH and around $35 used. The designs show Seal of the Colony, Young’s Island and Fort Duvernette, Kingstown and Fort Charlotte, Villa Beach, and Victoria Park in Kingstown.
Other issues of St. Vincent enjoying good philatelic interest include:
Travel Resources:
November through February is the best time to visit this island nation. The filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean has given the country some spotlight and the tourism sector is poised for considerable growth. An international airport is in the works and should aid tourism. Kingstown, Fort Charlotte, St. Vincent Waterfalls, Vermont Nature Trails are some attractions. Breadfruit, coconut and the readily available ‘Catch of the Day’ are the main ingredients of its cuisine. Conch Souse, Roasted breadfruit with fish, and Callaloo soup are some island specialties.
Resource | ISBN or ASIN | Best Price | Description |
St. Vincent and Grenadines by MacMillan Caribbean | 978-0333934159 | $12 | An Introduction of 30 pages followed by sections on St Vincent, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union Island, Palm Island, and Petit St Vincent. |
St. Vincent and Grenadines Map | B001KWERAQ | $15 | Street Plan of Kingston at 1:10,000 Scale. |
St. Vincent Grounded Adapter Plug – GUD | B001FD7CQG | $8 |
Philatelic Profile:
The first stamps of St. Vincent were a set of two stamps released in 1861 showing Queen Victoria (QV). The set (Scott #1 to #1B) catalogs for around $7.3K mint and around $265 used. Most of the value is for #1B (yellow green) which is very rare. The QV design was used in a few other sets during the period till 1880. Another QV design along with a Seal of Colony design was issued in a set of six stamps during the period from 1880 to 1881. That set (Scott #24 to #29) is also very rare and valuable cataloging for around $4.5K mint and around $1.7K used. Surcharge overprints on the first QV design formed the primary stamp issues of St. Vincent during the period till 1898. The stamps of St. Vincent until the turn of the century are all sought after and very collectible. The territory was ceded to the British by the French in 1783. It gained independence on October 27, 1783. The island along with the Northern two-thirds of the Granadines forms the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
St. Vincent issued a set of nine stamps showing King Edward VII in 1902. The set (Scott #71 to #79) catalogs for around $160 mint and around $300 used. A variety on chalky paper was also released between 1904 and 1911. That set (Scott #82 to #89) catalogs for around $115 mint and around $250 used. St. Vincent released a set of fifteen stamps in original design during the period from 1938 to 1947 showing local scenes and King George VI (KGVI). The set (Scott #141 to #151) catalogs for around $50 MNH and around $35 used. The designs show Seal of the Colony, Young’s Island and Fort Duvernette, Kingstown and Fort Charlotte, Villa Beach, and Victoria Park in Kingstown.
Other issues of St. Vincent enjoying good philatelic interest include:
- A set of sixteen stamps released between 1965 and 1967 showing Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) and local scenes. The set (Scott #226 to #240) catalogs for around $30 MNH and around $20 used. The designs show boat building in Bequia, Friendship Beach in Bequia, Terminal Building, woman carrying bananas, Crater Lake, rock carvings at Carib Stone, arrowroot, Owia Saltpond, ship at Deep Water Wharf, Sea Island Cotton, Map of St. Vincent and Neighboring Islands, breadfruit, Baleine Falls, St. Vincent Parrot, and Coat of Arms.
- A set of sixteen stamps released on January 12, 1970 in the Birds theme. The set (Scott #279 to #294) catalogs for around $30 MNH and around $20 used. The designs show green heron, house wren, bullfinches, St. Vincent parrots, St. Vincent solitaire, scalynecked pigeon, bananaquits, purple-throated carib, mangrove cuckoo, black hawk, bare-eyed thrush, hooded tanager, blue-hooded euphonia, barn owl, yellow-bellied elaenia, and ruddy quail-dove.
- A set of eight stamps released on July 29, 1988 showing Cricket Players. The set (Scott #1108 to #1115) catalogs for around $10 MNH or used. The designs show Lillee (Australia), Gooch (England), Kapil Dev (India), Gavaskar (India), M.W.Gatting (England), Imran Khan (Pakistan), Botham (England), and Richards (West Indies). The West Indies cricket team which includes representation from St. Vincent and Grenadines was a dominant team in the 70s and 80s.
- A set of eight stamps, two sheets of twelve stamps and two souvenir sheets released on April 12, 1999 showing Flora and Fauna. The set (Scott #2675 to #2682, #2683a-l, #2684a-l, #2685, and #2686) catalogs for around $20 MNH or used.
Numismatic Profile:
The first coins of St. Vincent were British Colony Countermarked Coinage (6 Black Dogs = 4 Stampees = 1 Bit = 9 Pence) Billon Black Dogs issued in 1797 with the S countermark. Countermarked Cut or Holed Spanish Colonial Coins were used between 1811 and 1814. In the modern era, British Colony Modern Coinage (100 Cents = 1 Dollar) East Caribbean Dollar currency debut in 1970 with the introduction of Copper-Nickel Dollars in the FAO series. The issue has low mintage (13K) and catalogs for around $30 in BU. Gold Proofs were first issued in very low mintage (250) in 1985 and they trade at a premium to bullion value.
Collectible Memorabilia:
Postage Stamps, and art are the typical souvenirs of St. Vincent.
Last Updated: 12/2015.
The first coins of St. Vincent were British Colony Countermarked Coinage (6 Black Dogs = 4 Stampees = 1 Bit = 9 Pence) Billon Black Dogs issued in 1797 with the S countermark. Countermarked Cut or Holed Spanish Colonial Coins were used between 1811 and 1814. In the modern era, British Colony Modern Coinage (100 Cents = 1 Dollar) East Caribbean Dollar currency debut in 1970 with the introduction of Copper-Nickel Dollars in the FAO series. The issue has low mintage (13K) and catalogs for around $30 in BU. Gold Proofs were first issued in very low mintage (250) in 1985 and they trade at a premium to bullion value.
Collectible Memorabilia:
Postage Stamps, and art are the typical souvenirs of St. Vincent.
Resource | Price Range | Description |
Miscellaneous Collectibles | $3 and up | Stickers, pin-button badges, etc start around $3. 19th century poster prints start around $20. |
Last Updated: 12/2015.
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