The postmaster of Breslau produced a tempory issue of stamps in 1923, during the German inflation period. These stamps consisted of ungummed labels which had the value along with the German and French equivalents of 'charge paid' inscribed on them in four lines of handwritting.

These stamps were only in use for two days and were on sale on the 27 and 28 August 1923.

The Bridgeville postmaster prepared the stamps by ruling the paper into neat squares with red ink. Into each square he applied a woodcut design in black. The design consisted of the figure 5 in a circle summounted by the word paid.

In 1847 stamps were issued in an upright oval design featuring the name of the service and a hand holding an envelope. The stamps were printed in black on buff and also on blue paper. No denomination appeared on the stamps but it is generally thought that they were sold at 2 cents each.

In 1848 another issue was made, this time in a rectangular design. Again these stamps had no denomination and were printed in gold on yellow paper. A later issue of the same design was printed in gold on black glazed paper.

Also in 1848, envelopes and letter sheets which were printed with circular stamps were placed on sale. These impressed stamps had either the word paid or the figure 2 in the centre. Occasionally these stamps were cut out and used as adhesives.

These perforations were applied to the stamps for use in automatic vending machines and were applied by Brinkerhoff Co. of Sedalia, Missouri, who manafactured the machines.

Two main types of the Brinkerhoff perforation have been recorded. In the first type there are four holes whilst the second type has only two holes with an additional one or two slits cut by a knife.

Established as a seperate crown colony in 1885, British Bechunanaland was incorperated with the Cape of Good Hope in 1895. The use of stamps inscribed British Bechunanaland was allowed untill 1897 when the protectorate issued its own stamps.

10 of the 14 islands concerned commerated political unification by issueing stamps in this year.

The federation broke up soon afterwards and the definitive stamps ordered by the crown agents were never produced.

They were issued for a postal service which was organised for the British subjects resident in Madagascar. The stamps were withdrawn in 1887 when the service was suppressed.

The 1 cent black on Magenta is widly regarded as the rearest stamp in the world, and it was issued in 1856.

The only known copy was found by a 12 year old British Guianan schoolboy, named L Vernon Vaughan. To be able to buy more stamps, Vaughan sold the, (rather poor looking), stamp to Neil McKinnon, another local collector, for 1 dollar and 25 cents, the equivalint of about 6 shillings.

In 1878 the stamp was offered to Edward L Pemberton for £110. Pemberton hesitated and the stamp was sold by post to Thomas Ridpath of Liverpool for £120. Shortly after Ridpath sold the stamp to Phillip la Renotiere von Farary of Paris for approx £150.

Farray's collection was sold on the 6 April 1922, and Arthur Hind for the equivalent of £7,343.

In 1940 Percy L Pemberton, (son of Edward), made a bid of £7,500 in an attempt to bring the stamp into his family. The bid was unsuccesful and in 1940 the stamp was sold privatly for about $40,000.

In 1970 this item was brought at auction by Robert A Siegal of New York, (United States of America), for $280,000.

Edward Loines Pemberton.

Ferrary, owner of probably the worlds largest stamp collection.

Arthur Hind was a rich American manufacturer who was anxious to be the owner of the worlds most valuable stamp.

At an auction in 1935, Percy Loines Pemberton bid £7,500 in an attempt to bring the stamp into the family. The stamp failed to reach its reserve and was later sold privatly.

Alfred Loines Pemberton was a direcor with the Robson Lowe Company which unsuccessfuly bid for the stamp at the 1970 auction where it fetched £116,000.

The initials B.R.A. form part of the surcharge on the half cent brown, (Dragon issue of China, 1898), which was used as a late letter fee in 1901.

Although not part of the West Indies geographically, Bermuda and the Bahamas are usually included in this group by collectors.

For the service a one cent printed in black on white paper and a two cent printed in gold on black paper were issued. The design was engraved on wood and the stamps were printed, probably in sheets of 100.

About 1853 or 1854, Benjamin Lockwood took over the post. It has been stated that Charles Miller aquired the service in 1860, but this is unconfirmed.