Boating around The Bahamas
Baja Mar (“Shallow water”) or now, The Bahamas, (with the definite article included - in common with The Gambia), is reputed to be the first landfall for Columbus in the New World. Boasting some 700 islands, cays and islets, there should be several opportunities to find postmarks other than that of the capital, Nassau, (earlier, Charles Town). Some are given below and, again, we are indebted to John Cooper for the examples shown.
Bimini
A chain of islands in the westernmost district - closest to the USA and figuring in the rum-running trade during prohibition. Here, an uprated registered envelope to Memphis (2d registration & 2½d foreign letter) is cancelled Bimini for 18 Nov 35.
Eight Mile Rock
A string of settlements within West Grand Bahama.
This empire rate cover (1½d first oz - or first 2 oz had it been going to Canada) to Norfolk is tied by an Eight Mile Rock cancel for De 17 35.
Governors Harbour
A district in Central Eleuthera described as a gracious seaside town and fishing community. A foreign rate 2½d with Governors Harbour cancel carries this cover to Miami.
Grants Town
With two 2½d values and a definitive 1d, (reflecting the ½ oz airmail rate to Canada), this cover to Montreal was posted at Grants Town - a suburb of Nassau.
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Great Guano Cay
A local letter rate (1½d per 2 oz, within the islands) cover from Great Guano Cay (28 May 35) - a long narrow islet in the centre of the Abaco Islands, which includes Kidds Cove, named after the pirate, William Kidd.
Green Turtle Cay
Named after the abundance of Green Turtles, this cay in the Abaco Out Islands is the origin of this foreign rate (2½d) cover to Los Angeles, tied by Green Turtle Cay cds for 13 May 35.
Hope Town
An airmail cover to England bearing the 6d rate (for ½ oz) and the cachet: “Airmail in United States only”. It has the cancel for De 10 35 of Hope Town - known for its red and white striped and kerosene-fuelled lighthouse.
Inagua
This is the southernmost district of the Bahamas and Great Inagua is the third largest of the islands. An Inagua cancel for 15 Oct 35 ties this 2½d foreign rate cover to the USA.
Rolleville
The same foreign rate is provided by a 1½d with a pair of ½d Coronation values on this 1940 cover to the US, tied by the cds of Rolleville - a town on Great Exuma named after Baron Rolle - a loyalist from the American Revolutionary War.
Some other postmarks...
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And on the move...
Norwegian merchant ship - The Ferry (Exuma) later to hit a mine in Amsterdam Harbour
AJA -March 2014
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