British Guiana Post Offices: Blairmont

September 4, 2024

The Blairmont Post Office, situated on the West Coast of Berbice, began as a Receiving House at the Police Station in 1850 and was upgraded to a District Post Office by 1860. On January 1, 1891, it became a money order office, with T. McRae serving as Postmaster at that time.

In 1900, mail for Blairmont was delivered by wagon from Rosignol, and after the opening of the Berbice Railway T.P.O. to Rosignol on August 1, 1900, mail delivery shifted to road transport. The post office was downgraded to a postal agency and relocated to a new site on March 18, 1963, following the opening of a new post office building at Blairmont Estate on February 1, 1962, which was named Rosignol.

Originally known as “Ferry,” the Blairmont Post Office played a key role in connecting the West Coast of Berbice with New Amsterdam across the Berbice River and initially used the coded postmark “WCB 3.”

The following are the Date Stamps used at Blairmont 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 code-marks.

→ Panda Type # E 2 . 6 – Blairmont

T&H Unlisted; Proud Blairmont D3 p. 148

EKD: 3 Nov 1879 / LKD: 29 Jun 1880

This Blairmont Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S.) is a Panda Type E2 postmark. The Panda Type E2 is Single Ring (S.R.), 26.5 mm. American Type. 3 line date (3 L.D.) B.G. at foot. Known with year missing.

The Panda Type E2.6 is unlisted in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe. However, it is mentioned as a possibility (p.299).

**1880** – From the Goldblatt Collection

**1879** – *From the Greenwood Collection (2024, £600)*

**1880** – *From the Medlicott Collection. Ex. Nathan.*

**1880** – *From the Medlicott Collection. Ex. Foxley (2014, £624).*

→ Panda Type # E 7 . 8 – Blairmont

T&H Type 5b p. 301; Proud Blairmont D4 p. 148

EKD: 9 Oct 1881 / LKD: 7 Mar 1903

This Blairmont Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S.) is a Panda Type E7 postmark. The Panda Type E7 is Double Ring (D.R). 23 – 24.5 / 13 – 14.5 mm. 2 L.D. with Y.A. B. Guiana at foot

The Panda Type E7.8 is cataloged as a Type 5b and listed as “Rather Common” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.