The Jamaica 6d abolition of slavery postage stamp was prepared for issue in June 1921 but cancelled shortly before issue due to political unrest and the controversial subject matter. By some estimates, 416,000 stamps were printed and sent to the island in three shipments. The first two consignments arrived in

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

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 Crown Agents Ltd is a not-for-profit international development company with head office in London, United Kingdom, and subsidiaries in USA and Japan. Crown Agents fully owns Greenshields Cowie, a freight forwarding limited company incorporated in ...

were then instructed to destroy the 7220 stamps held in their possession along with about 740 stamps distributed via the

Universal Postal Union The Universal Postal Union (UPU, french: link=no, Union postale universelle), established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874, is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to ...

. Two blocks of four were preserved; one block was given to

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...

for his collection, 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 stamp was so close to being issued, specimens were sent to the Universal Postal Union as usual, a number of which survive. Stanley Gibbons - listed.

References

{{Reflist Postage stamps Philately of Jamaica Slavery in Jamaica 1920s in Jamaica 1921 in Jamaica

See also

References