Postage stamps and postal history of Seychelles

Summary

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Seychelles, a 115 island nation spanning an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar. Seychelles was administered as a dependency of Mauritius from 1810 to 1903. Independence was granted in 1976.

Giant tortoise on a 1977 Seychelles stamp.

First mails edit

From 1848, stamps of Mauritius were used on mail from Seychelles and are found with the cancel B64 from that year.[1]

The first post office in the Seychelles was opened at Victoria, on Mahe, on 11 December 1861 and stamps of Mauritius were used there until 1890. The next post office in Seychelles was not opened until 1901.[1]

First stamps of Seychelles edit

 
A Queen Victoria 2c stamp of Seychelles.

The first stamps marked Seychelles were issued on 5 April 1890[2] and were of a Queen Victoria key type design. A number of different issues followed, all of the same design, including surcharges in 1893 and 1901.[1]

King Edward VII & King George V edit

Further key type stamps were issued for these monarchs from 1906.[1]

King George VI edit

 
Position of Seychelles on a 1952 stamp.

In 1937, Seychelles participated in the omnibus stamp issue for the coronation of King George VI and three stamps were issued. In 1938 a distinctive series of definitive stamps were issued, printed in photogravure by Harrison & Sons[1] which marked a departure in the design of British colonial stamps. The stamps were reissued in 1952 with a new portrait of the King with a crown over it.

Queen Elizabeth II edit

 
The Seychelles 1953 coronation stamp.

In 1953, Seychelles participated in the omnibus stamp issue for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and one stamp was issued. In 1954, the definitive stamps of 1938 were revised to include the head of Queen Elizabeth II. Regular commemorative and definitive stamp issues have followed. The head of Queen Elizabeth II, or the Initials E II R, were dropped from Seychelles stamps on independence in 1976.[1]

Gallery edit

The same stamp of Seychelles as originally issued in 1938 for King George VI, with revised head 1952, and for Queen Elizabeth II, 1954. All photogravure, Harrison & Sons.

Zil Eloigne Sesel, Zil Elwagne Sesel and Zil Elwannyen Sesel edit

 
A 1985 Zil Elwannyen Sesel stamp.

Stamps marked Zil Eloigne Sesel (1980-1982), Zil Elwagne Sesel (1982-1984) and Zil Elwannyen Sesel (1985-1992) were issued for the Seychelles outer islands of Aldabra, Coetivy, Farquhar and Amirante. These islands were served by the travelling post office on the M.V. Cinq-Juin. Issues ceased in 1992.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue: Indian Ocean. 1st edition. London: Stanley Gibbons, 2006, pp. 62-77. ISBN 0852596367
  2. ^ Stamps Collection Seychelles National Archives, 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2013. Archived here.

Further reading edit

  • Farmer, H.V. Seychelles: Postage Stamps and Postal History. London: Robson Lowe Ltd., 1955 123p.
  • Harris, Leslie. The Stamps and Postal History of Seychelles: a colour illustrated handbook. London: G.T. Phillips & Co. (London) Ltd., 1971 44p.
  • Hopson, Sue. Seychelles: Postal History and Postage Stamps to 1976. Weybridge: Indian Ocean Study Circle, 2002 ISBN 0952640716 172p. An update to the volume was published 2002 by the Indian Ocean Study Circle; S. Hopson & B.M. McCloy, co-authors and editors.
  • Poole, Bertram W.H. The Postage Stamps of the Seychelles. London: Oswald Marsh, 1906 64p.

External links edit

  • King George VI stamps of Seychelles