The Belle Plaine Post Office, located on the west coast of Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo Estuary, was originally opened at Sans Souci Plantation and transferred to Belle Plaine in 1868. It continued to use the Panda Type C3.15 coded postmark “W2” until the introduction of the Wakenaam 2 postmark.

During the period of the Panda Type C3.15 W2 coded postmark’s usage, the Wakenaam mail-bag seal was occasionally used to cancel stamps. This seal, not originally intended for stamp cancellation, saw rare use—possibly due to the loss or misplacement of the W2 postmark before the Wakenaam 2 circular date stamp (C.D.S.) was issued. On November 1, 1878, the Belle Plaine office was moved to Good Success.

The post office served the Essequibo Postal District, playing a vital role in local mail delivery until its transfer.

The following are the Date Stamps used at Belle Plaine 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.

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→ Panda Type # E 1 . 4 – 1  Wakenaam 2
(Used at Belle Plaine)

T&H Type 1a p.298;     Proud Belle Plaine D2 p. 145

EKD: 1 Dec 1877 / LKD: 30 Jun 1878

A Wakenaam 2 strike within this date rage is needed.  See Good Success for for examples of postmark.

The Wakenaam 2 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 3 without the code.

The Panda Type E1.4-1 was used at Belle Plaine. It is cataloged as Type 1a and is listed as “Very Rare” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe. In The Postal History of British Guiana by Edward B. Proud, it is listed as Belle Plaine Type D2 (p. 145).