Jamaica 6d abolition of slavery
Encyclopedia
The Jamaica 6d abolition of slavery was prepared for issue in June, 1921 but as a result of the prevailing political unrest and the controversy surrounding the subject the decision was made to suppress it. By some estimates 416,000 stamps were printed and sent to the island in the form of three shipments. The first two consignments got to Jamaica
around the same time and were incinerated at the General Penitentiary in Kingston on July 2, 1921. The final consignment arriving in October was similarly destroyed. The Crown Agents were then instructed to destroy the 7220 stamps held in their possession along with about 740 stamps distributed via the Universal Postal Union
. Two blocks of four were preserved; one block being given to King George V
while the other became part of the official collection held at the General Post Office in Kingston
. This block mysteriously disappeared from the Post Office's vaults and reappeared sometime later as four singles.
As the stamps were so close to issuance the Universal Postal Union distributed the usual number of specimen copies, a number of which survive.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
around the same time and were incinerated at the General Penitentiary in Kingston on July 2, 1921. The final consignment arriving in October was similarly destroyed. The Crown Agents were then instructed to destroy the 7220 stamps held in their possession along with about 740 stamps distributed via the Universal Postal Union
Universal Postal Union
The Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the...
. Two blocks of four were preserved; one block being given to King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
while the other became part of the official collection held at the General Post Office in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
. This block mysteriously disappeared from the Post Office's vaults and reappeared sometime later as four singles.
As the stamps were so close to issuance the Universal Postal Union distributed the usual number of specimen copies, a number of which survive.