As the popularity of recreational boating grew after WWII, so did the demand for docks. The Nassau Yacht Haven opened on 1 May 1949 at a cost of $100,000. It was owned and operated by Robert H Symonette. The original building, which housed the Poop Deck Restaurant, was originally used…
View More Bahamas Philately: Nassau Yacht HavenCategory: Bahamas
Bahamas Philately: Colourpicture Publishers Inc
Colourpicture Publishers, Inc., was a greeting card and postcard printer and distributor in Boston, Massachusetts, on Newbury Street with a factory at 76a Atherton Street. The firm was in business between 1938 and 1969. Colorpicture began using Plastichrome for picture postcards and pictorial reproductions in April 1949. Images printed using…
View More Bahamas Philately: Colourpicture Publishers IncBahamas Philately: The Royal Victoria Hotel
The Royal Victoria Hotel was built in 1861 by the Government of Bahamas at a cost of £20,000. The hotel was built to cater for those seeking to escape from the American Civil War as well as Europeans seeking their fortunes. In 1949, the property was sold to Royal Little,…
View More Bahamas Philately: The Royal Victoria HotelBahamas Postcards: Transcolor Corporation
Transcolor Corporation was established as a graphic arts company by Winthrop P Moore in 1947. Transcolor established a ‘transcolor’ process in which they reproduced four-colour postcards from any colour transparency at a third of the cost used by other four-colour processes at the time. The new products did not sacrifice…
View More Bahamas Postcards: Transcolor CorporationBahamas Philately: The Windsor Hotel
The Windsor Hotel was constructed A. Baker & Sons in the 1930’s and was the first hotel in the centre of Bay Street. The hotel opened for trade in 1938 prior to the outbreak of World War II but did not officially open until 1946, after the end of the…
View More Bahamas Philately: The Windsor HotelBahamas Philately: Eleuthera – Hatchet Bay
Hatchet Bay was named because of its harbour that is shaped like the head of a hatchet, with the handle being cut out by the sea. During the 1940’s, a channel was cut out to facilitate boats coming into the harbour. The Hatchet Bay Plantation was established in 1936 by…
View More Bahamas Philately: Eleuthera – Hatchet BayBahamas Philately: Photosphere – Underwater Post Office
John Ernest Williamson (8 December 1881 – 15 July 1966) invented the “photosphere” from which he filmed and photographed undersea. He is credited as being the first person to take an underwater photograph from a submarine. Williamson created a film company, the Submarine Film Corporation. The equipment was taken to…
View More Bahamas Philately: Photosphere – Underwater Post OfficeBahamas Philately: Ardastra Gardens
The site of Ardastra Gardens was originally designed by Jamaican horticulturalist Hedley Edwards in 1937. He named the gardens Ardastra, from the latin words ardua ad astra, meaning “striving towards the stars” because he felt that it depicted a ‘utopia of peace, beauty and tranquillity’. He developed the picturesque and…
View More Bahamas Philately: Ardastra GardensBahamas Philately: Prince George Hotel
The Prince George Hotel was constructed between 1935-36 on Bay Street, Nassau, by Roland Symonette and was designed by Albert J Lothian. The hotel was known for its Harbour Deck Restaurant and the Maury Roberts Co. Ltd shop. Between 1953-54 the hotel was renovated and extended. In 1964 it was…
View More Bahamas Philately: Prince George HotelBahamas Philately: Maury Roberts Co. Ltd.
Maury Roberts Co., Ltd was originally owned by J Maury (and later by his sons Marcel and Peter Maury) and J W Roberts . It was located on the ground floor of the Prince George Hotel on Bay Street in Nassau. The Maury’s were part owners of the hotel with…
View More Bahamas Philately: Maury Roberts Co. Ltd.