Bahamas Philately: 1964 – 1954 Definitive Series (Olympic Games Overprint)

The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honour was subsequently passed to Helsinki due to Japan’s invasion of China, before ultimately being cancelled due to World War II. Tokyo was chosen as the host city during the 55th IOC Session in West Germany on 26 May 1959.

The Bahamas took a team of 11 athletes to Tokyo, competing in two sports, sailing and track and field. Sailors Durward Knowles and Cecil Cooke won gold in the Star event. The Star was a sailing event in Enoshima in Sagami Bay. Seven races were scheduled. 34 sailors, on 17 boats, from 17 nations competed; these took place from 12 to 23 October 1964.

The Bahamas were the only Caribbean nation to win gold medals at the games, finishing 22nd amongst the competing countries.

Details

Date of Issue: 1 October 1964
Date Withdrawn: 11 December 1964 (believed to have sold out earlier)
Date Invalidated:
Designer:
Printer: Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd, New Malden, Surrey, England
Process: Recess
Paper:
Watermark: Multiple Script CA
Perf: 11 x 11.5 (comb)
Plates: Printed in two panes of 120, separated by a gutter. Guillotined through gutter into two single panes.
- 1 (Olive-Brown) 1 (Ultramarine) : 1a (Olive-Brown) 1a (Ultramarine) [Left pane : Right pane]
Sheet: (R10 x 6).
Quantity: