Omnibus Issues

ADEN

A strongly fortified rock peninsula to the south-west of Saudi Arabia. It was captured in 1839 and until 1937 was administered by the Presidency of Bombay. It was formerly a Crown Colony and used Indian stamps prior to its first stamps issued in 1937. Independence was granted by the British in 1967 and later issues were superseded by those of the South Arabian Federation in 1963 and then Yemen in 1968.

1949 Silver Wedding

ADEN - KATHIRI STATE OF SEIYUN

One of the former Eastern Aden Protectorate States, Kathiri State of Seiyun used the stamps of Aden prior to its first issue in 1942. In 1967 it became independent and part of People's Republic of Yemen.

1949 Silver Wedding

ADEN - QU'AITI STATE OF SHIHR & MUKALLA

One of the former Eastern Aden Protectorate States, Qu'aiti State in Hadhramaut used the stamps of Aden prior to its first issue in 1942. In 1967 it became independent and part of People's Republic of Yemen.

1949 Silver Wedding

ANTIGUA

Discovered by Columbus in 1493. Antigua was first settled in 1632 by a few British families. It is the most important island of the Leeward Group in the British West Indies. Stamps of Great Britain were used from 1858-1860 prior to the issue of its own stamps in 1862.

1935 Silver Jubilee

1949 Silver Wedding

ASCENSION

A British Colony situated in the South Atlantic, 700 miles north-west of St Helena. First occupied in 1815, it was retained as a Royal Naval Base from 1816 until 1922 when it became a dependency of St Helena. Stamps first issued in 1922 prior to which British stamps were used.

1935 Silver Jubilee

1948 Silver Wedding

1949 UPU

AUSTRALIA

Australia was discovered by the French in the first half of the 16th Century but the first Englishman to land there was William Dampier in 1688. In 1788 the British took formal possession and established their first settlement at Port Jackson on which Sydney is built. A self-governing Dominion of the British Commonwealth, Australia includes the former British Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia. The Commonwealth of Australia came into being in 1901. The first stamps inscribed "Australia" were issued in 1913.

1935 Silver Jubilee

BAHAMAS

A former British Crown Colony, the Bahamas Islands are the most northern group of West Indian Islands stretching from Florida to Cuba. The Bahamas have been independent since 1973. Stamps of Great Britain were used prior to the first issue in 1859.

1935 Silver Jubilee

1948 Silver Wedding

BAHRAIN

An archipelago some 20 miles off the coast of Saudi Arabia, about half way down the Persian Gulf. An independent Sheikdom, it had an Indian postal administration from 1884 until 1948 during which time stamps of India were used and then later overprinted for use from 1933. A British postal administration operated from 1948 until 1965 overprinting and surcharging the stamps of Great Britain up until 1960.

1948 Silver Wedding

1949 UPU