We were entertained this afternoon by Simon Richards with his display of Dominica, which is one of the most complete collections of Dominica to be seen today. Simon started by giving us a history lesson of Dominica. The island was colonised by Europeans, predominantly by the French from the 1690s to 1763. Columbus discovered the island on Sunday, 3 November 1493, and the island's name is derived from the Latin for "Sunday". Great Britain took possession in 1763 after its defeat of France in the Seven Years War and it gradually established English as the official language. The island republic gained independence in 1978.
Simon showed us a superb and comprehensive display of material form the Island starting with the first known letter to England dated 1763. We were shown scarce postmarks, packet/ship letters, essays, master proofs, die proofs and specimens. GB stamps were made available in 1860 and Dominica stamps were first issued in 1874 by De La Rue. In 1886 the 6d and 1/- stamps were overprinted, but the printers got the overprint the wrong way round, hence some rarities were printed before they realised, Simon showed us one of these.
After the break Simon showed six topics each consisting of around fifteen sheets covering George V, Leeward Islands generic stamps of 1890 1903, censored covers, pre-paid letters and cards, postmarks from the villages on the Island and to finish postcards of the Island.
A marvellous and educational afternoon.