Tercentenary of the Eleutherian Adventurers

Philatelically, the Bahamas Islands were not well served in the reign of George VI. While other territories got long sets of bi-coloured, recess printed stamps, the Bahamas got a set of key and duty plate designs printed letterpress. These were fascinating for the specialist but no good for showing off the attractions of the islands. Three pictorials followed – but one of them was a re-issue. And the most important anniversary – 450 years since the Landing of Columbus – coincided with the middle of the war. So it had to be commemorated with a set of overprints knocked out by the local newspaper.

But after the war, there was another opportunity. Three hundred years earlier, in 1647, the Company of the Eleutherian Adventurers had been formed in London. The island had been