The following was first published in the “Philatelic Journal of Great Britain” (June, 1933) and was written by F. F. Lamb.
Like most collectors of British Colonial stamps, I have always had a liking for the stamps of Jamaica, so that, when, six weeks ago, I landed in Kingston from New Zealand, I looked forward to several philatelic rambles. The very names of some of the Post Offices in the island intrigued me immensely, and I made up my mind that I would visit some of them. Two, very familiar ones to all collectors of Jamaican stamps, fell to my share within an hour of landing. They were Constant Springs and Halfway Tree; both outer suburbs of Kingston. Other Post Offices, with, to me, fascinating names-I have not visited them all yet, are Alligator Pond (evidently somebody once got a shock there), Anchovy, Bogwalk and Friendship.
Giddy Hall and Ginger Hill, both in the parish of St. Elizabeth, are probably reminiscent of parties, when rum was the rum of Nelson’s and Rodney’s days.
Lamb’s River, naturally, appeals to me, and Maggoty does not. Runaway Bay reminds one of old slave days. Last, but not least, Wait-a-bit.
There was, before the war, a branch Post Office in Regent street-it is probably still there that should have been so named.
* * *
In no part of the world have I met greater courtesy than I have from the Post Office people here. All the counter-clerks, mail-men, etc., men and women are coloured, and nothing seems to be too much trouble. The first few letters I registered I over-franked, due to the fact that for many years I have been accustomed to a 3d. registration fee. Here it is 2d. On repeating my offence I was lectured by a very charming chocolate-coloured young lady on the sin of wastefulness. On another occasion, doubtful whether I could register a book to Western Australia, and therefore not having the parcel ready, I was cheerfully assisted to wrap it up-string was provided-and five minutes later a comely black damsel was probably wondering whether all visitors from New Guinea were as nice as the sender of the book. (They are not.-Ed., P.J.G.B.)
Writing about postage rates is should be remembered the local charges reflect to a very great extent the relative scarceness or otherwise of low values. The local rate in Jamaica being 1d. per oz., and 1d. for each succeeding oz., weight unlimited, it stands to reason that the 1d. denomination, except wholesale for packets, can have no market value. For letters posted to any British possession the rate is l$d. first oz., with an additional Id. for every extra oz. Conseintrigued quently the 24d. value, especially as it is the rate for foreign letters, can never be scarce. The 3d. value is largely used for local registered letters, also, in conjunction with , a halfpenny label, for Colonial regisand tration. The only low value, therefore, worth troubling about is the 2d., which, although it could be used for double weight local letters, seldom is. More are probably used in conjunction with the 24d. for foreign registration.
* * *
Jamaica is a veritable paradise for air-mail collectors. The following cutting from the local daily newspaper shows how some of the air lines operate:-
AIR MAIL.
TO-DAY.
Mails for United States of America, Bahamas, Canada, Europe, Cuba, Dominicana, Haiti, Porto Rico, will close at General Post Office as follows: Registered letters 4p.m. Ordinary letters 6.30a.m. Friday, June 2nd.
TO-MORROW.
Mail for Argentina, Canal Zone, Chili, Coast Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala (via Guatemala City), Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama. Peru, Salvador, Trinidad, Porto Rico, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, will close at General Post Office.
Only yesterday morning, June 1st, at 9.30 a.m., I received a letter from Montreal that had been mailed in that city on May 29th. Frankly, I do not know how it is done. True, there is a daily service between Miami (U.S.A.) and Canada, and plenty of flying boats between Jamaica and the U.S.A. (via Cuba). Incidentally, the cover was franked with two 20c. and two 10c. A cover received the previous week, over the same route, was franked with a 5c. blue Ottawa, three 5c. brown air stamps, and a 10c. green.
There are quite a number of Canadians in Jamaica. Three out of the four banks in Kingston hail from the Dominion, with the result that a fair number ot high value Canadian stamps come here. Mr. Lumb, the genial manager of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, who worries over my small overdraft-I don’t-showed me a cover franked with twelve one dollar pictorials. Naturally, with so many flying-boats calling here there is a very varied tariff to various parts of the world. A six ounce letter to Brazil costs 37/10d. A letter of similar weight will travel to Uganda for 16/1½d. Why anybody should wish to air mail correspondence to Uganda is another matter that is beyond my comprehension.
* * *
Curiously enough, Jamaica does not seem a good place to buy stamps. I have advertised several times in the local paper, with a very poor return. One collector offered me a specialised collection of Jamaicans. It contained two “dollar” shillings, or at least its owner said it did. Also several weird coloured paper varieties that would have made any chemist elevate his nose. Otherwise nothing out of the way. This does not mean that there are not some fine collections in the Island, but up to date it has not been my good luck to see them. Other offerings were a few mixed lots of current and obsolete Jamaicans, just bread and butter stuff, nearly all of which was bought and is now on the high seas-or I hope it is-en route to happy homes in Australia and New Zealand. At least, I know how pedantic the Editor of this staid journal is, they may not, perhaps, be happy homes now, but they will be when they receive my stamps. (Our old friend has evidently overlooked the fact that our columns are not open to private advertisers-Ed., P.J.G.B.)
Another offering was a parcel of eight to a dozen “splits.” I have been looking for a genuine example of this provisional for many years, I am still looking. Incidentally, the local newspaper, “The Gleaner,” published the following (June 2nd, 1933):-
£1,230 PAID FOR JAMAICA STAMPS.
The “Nottingham Journal and Express” of May 11th says-
“A collection of Jamaican stamps which belonged to the late Mr. L. O. Trivett, of Nottingham, was sold at Plumridge’s, London, Yesterday, for £1,230.
“Several remarkable prices were obtained for stamps which were originally issued at a penny and two-pence each.
“A portion of a penny stamp brought £15 10s.”
The last paragraph is enough to break anybody’s heart. Of course, we know what is meant, but I anticipate quite a number of set-backs from local “Collectors” to whom I have tried to preach the cult of condition.
Writing about Jamaican varieties reminds me that I have been shown a photograph of a pair of the 1d. Llandovery Falls imperforate between. Evidently the bottom row of one sheet (or more than one sheet) missed the pins.
The “dollar” shilling is for me an elusive variety. During many years of my misspent life I have always kept a weather eye open for this stamp. The only one I have ever seen (apart from philatelic exhibitions) was in the album of an Auckland, N.Z., collector, and he knew how rare it was. Am I particularly short-sighted, or only unlucky? Amongst the stamps I have bought locally was a fair-sized parcel of Jamaicans, pines to scripts, nothing rare; the only “find” being a 3d. King’s head with a marked double strike. Particularly noticeable in the value tablets. I sent this to my old friend Mr. Goodfellow, of Manchester. Possibly at some later date he may have something to say about it in these columns.
* * *
As most collectors of Jamaica stamps know, various values of the postage stamps are found overprinted “Judicial.” I came across a big “wad” of strips of paper, probably cut from legal documents, all franked with a 5/- (arms type), 2/-, 1/- and 6d. (Queen’s head). On single specimens the obliterating stamp might easily be mistaken for a postal cancellation.
* * *
Of late years Jamaica has catered for overseas visitors. Quite a number come from Canada, U.S.A. and Central America. English people, too. It therefore surprises me very much that, as far as I know, there is no local stamp dealer here. At least, I cannot find one, although undoubtedly several collectors would be only too pleased to sell their “duplicates.” Certainly the heat, during the summer months, is rather trying (after New Britain I find it quite chilly), but I have never yet met the real collector who was worried by hot weather. Some of them would, I think, go to -, no, Mr. Bluepencil-Hong Kong, in search of stamps. Nevertheless, Jamaica is almost an ideal spot for the jaded collector or dealer. (Our correspondent has been away from England since 1920, when, as our readers will remember, there was some local disturbance in France and Belgium; consequently he is not aware that, with new issues, air mails, commemoratives, and errors, there is not time, nowaday, for any collector or dealer to become jaded.-Ed., P.J.G.B.)
Passage rates are fairly reasonable, the trip likely to be a smooth one, while the hotels are good. The better class ones far too expensive. Quite comfortable boarding-houses cater for visitors at rates varying from three to four guineas a week. More reasonable charges in the country districts. All tropical fruits grow luxuriantly, while the local people, mostly coloured, black, intense black, to plain pale chocolate, are, generally speaking, a happy, contented, picturesque crowd. Very loyal. Last, but not least, Jamaica rum is rum; at any rate, if it isn’t it tastes like it. So what does it matter? And have you eaten black land crabs? If not, come to Jamaica for that tired feeling.
* * *
Mr. Gunter, the energetic Secretary of the Jamaica Philatelic Society, learning, through the press that I was visiting Jamaica, very kindly placed himself and his car at my disposal. He was under the impression that I was merely passing through, on my way to Europe. Unfortunately I was unable to accept this very kind offer, but, next day, had the pleasure of meeting him when my old friend Mr. Asteley Clark rang him up, and the three of us had a good old yarn. Between them they solved a little problem that had always puzzled me. I had often wondered why many of the pictorials (Jamaica) were quoted, before the days of air mails, at such reasonable rates. The solution seems to be that at one time old telegraph forms were sent out to the prison camp at Spanish Town to be destroyed. A funny place to send them (so it seems to me), but that accounts for the fact that these particular stamps are not scarce.
* * *
As previously stated, all the current low values are fairly easily procured here, with the exception of the 9d. denomination, This value, apparently, is seldom used. In the words of the “Seer,” it is my tip for the day.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.