Bahamas Philately: 1967 Diamond Jubilee of World Scouting 1907-1967

In 1960, there was half a million Scouts in the United Kingdom and over ten million throughout more than 100 countries. These figures established Scouting as the largest youth movement in the free world.

Scouting grew from a experimental camp held by Robert Baden-Powell for just 20 boys at Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset during the first nine days of August 1907. The training methods employed at this camp formed the basis of Scouting for Boys, first published in 1908 in a series of fortnightly booklets. Their success was immediate.

Details

Date of Issue: 1 September 1967
Date Withdrawn: 1 December 1967*
Date Invalidated:
Designer: Richard Granger Barrett
Printer: Joh. Enschedé En Zonen Hollande
Process: Photogravure
Paper:
Watermark: Block CA (sideways)
Perf: 14 x 13 (comb)
Plates: None
Sheet: R5 x 10
Quantity: 100,000 (2,000 sheets) of each value was sent to the agents for distribution.
- 3c – 1,275,000 (25,500 sheets) sent to the Postal Services in Bahamas.
- 10c – 750,000 (15,000 sheets) sent to the Postal Services in Bahamas.

On the 15 August 1967, the Minister of Communications , the Hon. Curtis McMillan, signed a five year contract (with a five year option) with the Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation in New York where the corporation would handle all stamp sales for new issues of the Bahamas. First Day Covers would still be serviced from Nassau General Post Office (G.P.O.).

The Crown Agent’s in London, upon announcement of the above contract, announced they would no longer handle distribution of the Diamond Jubilee of World Scouting issue.

Stanley Gibbons lists the date withdrawn as 31 March 1968. The British Caribbean Philatelic Journal Vol 8 No.2 suggests the issue was officially withdrawn on 1 December 1967 but reports the Inter-Governmental Philatelic Agency continued to sell the set after this date which may provide reason for the Stanley Gibbons date.