British Guiana Post Offices: Agricola
The Agricola Post Office, situated on the East Bank of the Demerara River, two miles south of Georgetown, was established sometime before June 16, 1877, as mentioned in a Gazette Notice dated June 17, 1877. The office was initially closed on January 1, 1880, with its operations transferred to the nearby offices at Grove and Providence. It later reopened on April 1, 1893.
The post office served the area via the East Bank Road, which was later extended during World War II beyond Little Land of Canaan to the American base at Atkinson Field, the colony’s main international airport. This road extension provided enhanced access for mail delivery in the region.
Agricola’s postal markings are notable for the use of a coded postmark “DRE 1” even after the introduction of named date-stamps. Initially, the Agricola named date-stamp (E1.1) was used from March 28, 1878, to December 16, 1878. However, in an unusual departure from the norm, the coded “DRE 1” postmark (C3.4-1) was used afterward, from May 8, 1879, to October 26, 1879. The reasons for this switch remain unclear. Upon reopening in 1893, the office began using a new Agricola date-stamp (E19.1).
The following are the Date Stamps used at Agricola with EKD prior to 22 January 1901, the day marking the end of the reign of Queen Victoria. In addition to listing the Panda Type #, for reference, we also list the T&H Type from The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe, the Type and referenced page from The Postal History of British Guiana by Edward B. Proud, and the referenced pages from British Guiana Coded Postmarks – Study paper No 3 by Michael Rego, for coded postmarks.
(Click on stamp below for more information on each Type)
(Click to see the Agricola display page by Derek Nathan (1929-2008) currently in the Panda Collection.
The Nathan pages are organized using T&H Types)
→ Panda Type # E 1 . 1 Agricola
T&H Type 1 p.298; Proud Agricola D2 p.128
EKD: 27 Mar 1878 / LKD: 16 Dec 1878
This Agricola Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E1 postmark. The Panda Type E1 is Single Ring (S.R.), 21-22mm, 2 line date (2 L.D.) with year abbreviated (Y.A.). Colony not shown. It is similar to the Demerara postmark Panda Type B3 without the code.
The Panda Type E1.1 is listed as Type 1 and noted as “Exceedingly rare” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe. In 1970, when this book was published, there was only one known strike dated 6.3 with no year shown. It is noted that “Mrs. Taylor of Florida records the only strike of Agricola, with an AO3 ‘killer’ on an 1876 adhesive” (p. 298).
To date, there are at least seven known strikes.
- One strike dated 16 December (18)78 (LKD per Peter Ford) in the Medlicott Collection.
- A strike dated 5 April also in the Medlicott Collection,
- On a 1c. slate with date unclear in the late Simon Goldblatt’s Collection. See image below.
- One dated 24 JU (18)78 which sold in the 2015 BWISC Auction for £180 and currently in the Bush Lot Collection. See image below.
- The March 6 strike referenced by Townsend & Howe which was most recently sold in an Auction in 2006.
- A strike on a 12c with date unclear in the Wood Collection. See image below.
- The EKD strike of 27 March (18)78 (ex-Nathan and ex-Freeland aka Foxley) and currently in the Panda Collection. See image below.
According to the article British Guiana Village Postmarks: An Update on Townsend & Howe by Peter Ford published in the British West Indies Study Circle (BWISC) bulletin No. 199, December 2003, the earliest know date of this postmark is 27 Mar 1878 and the last known date is 16 Dec 1878. However, if it can be assumed that the cancellations with no year listed are from 1879, then the 5 April (1879) strike may be the last known date.
This postmark is rated (E)xclusive in the Panda British Guiana Postmark Catalog with a catalog value of £400 for a complete clear strike.
Collection
→ Panda Type # C 3. 4-1 DRE 1
(Used at Agricola)
T&H Series II Coded postmark Fig. 15 p.263; Proud Agricola D3 p.128; Rego pp. 37-40
EKD: 8 May 1879 / LKD: 28 Oct 1879
The DRE 1 C.D.S. is a Panda Type C3 postmark. The Panda Type C3 is S.R. 21 – 21.5 mm. 5 Lines. B.G. at top followed by code-mark on lines 2 and 3 and 2 L.D. Year in Full (Y.I.F.) All in sans-serif capitals.
Typically, named date-stamps of the Panda E-Series replaced the coded postmarks of the Panda C-Series for the District Post Offices. However, in the case of Agricola, the DRE 1 coded postmark (Panda Type C3.4-1) was used at Agricola after the named date-stamp (Panda Type E1.1).
The Type E1 Agricola date-stamp has recorded dates from 28 Mar 1878 to 16 Dec 1878. The recorded dates for the Type C3 DRE 1 date-stamp are 8 May 1879 to 28 Oct 1879. It is unclear as to why the use of the named date-stamp ceased in 1878 to be replaced by the coded date-stamp in 1879.
→ Panda Type # E 1 9. 1 Agricola
T&H 6d pp.380-81; Proud Agricola D4 p.128
EKD: 1 Feb 1894 / LKD: 9 Feb 1904
This Agricola Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E19 postmark. The Panda Type E19 is Double Ring (D.R.) 24 – 24.5 / 15.5 – 16 mm. with dividing dots separating office from colony. Larger spaced font. 2 L.D. with Y.I.F. B.Guiana at foot.
The Panda Type E19.1 is listed as Type 6d and noted as “Scarce” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
Photos
The Panda British Guiana Postmark Catalog 