The New Amsterdam Post Office, also known as the Berbice Post Office, was established on March 4, 1813, as a packet office. It operated under this designation until April 1, 1860. On January 1, 1879, the post office was relocated to a new building on the Strand, opposite the Police Station.
A letter box was installed at the Steamer Stelling on June 9, 1888, with mails for the Georgetown and Berbice Steamers being cleared just five minutes before their departure. The post office initially used the “Berbice” postmark and later adopted a code “A04” starting in 1858, with the first recorded circular date stamp (C.D.S.) bearing “New Amsterdam” appearing in 1880.
The following are the Date Stamps used at New Amsterdam 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.
(T&H NA Fig. 5, S?)
→ Panda Type # E 5 . 1 – New Amsterdam
T&H – New Amsterdam Type 4 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam D4 p. 172
EKD: 2 Jul 1879 / LKD: 4 Aug 1880
This New Amsterdam Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E4 postmark. The Panda Type E4 is D.R. 22.5 / 13.5 mm with dividing bars separating office from county. 2 L.D. with Y.A. Berbice at foot. Colony not shown.
The Panda Type E5.1 is cataloged as New Amsterdam Type 4 and noted as rare in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
In 1879, the Post Office moved to a new building in the Strand, opposite the Police Station (Proud, p. 220). A triple strike of this postmark on a 1c. slate strip of 3 dated 29 July 1880 also exists in the Panda Collection.
→ Panda Type # 7. 2 3 -M. O. O. New Amsterdam
T&H New Amsterdam Fig. N.A.M.O. 1 p. 372; Proud Unlisted
EKD: 7 Aug 1895 / LKD: 5 Nov 1895
The M. O. O. New Amsterdam 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 E7.23 is cataloged as New Amsterdam Fig. N.A.M.O. 1 and is listed as “Scarce” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 7. 2 5-1 – New Amsterdam
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 5 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam D5 p. 221
EKD: 27 Jan 1882 / LKD: 28 Mar 1890
This New Amsterdam Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E7 postmark. The Panda Type E7 is D.R. 23 – 24.5 / 13 – 14.5 mm. 2 L.D. with Y.A. B. Guiana at foot
The Panda Type E7.25-1 is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure 5 and noted as Rather Common in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe. This date stamp was used later in 1898-99 (Type E7.25-2).
→ Panda Type # E 7. 2 5-2 – New Amsterdam
(Later Usage)
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 5 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam D9 p. 221
EKD: 28 Jan 1898 / LKD: 11 Apr 1899
This New Amsterdam Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E7 postmark. The Panda Type E7 is D.R. 23 – 24.5 / 13 – 14.5 mm. 2 L.D. with Y.A. B. Guiana at foot
The Panda Type E7.25-2 was used earlier between 1882 to 1890. It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure 5 in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe, however, the distinction of the early and later usages is not noted. In The Postal History of British Guiana by Edward B. Proud, the early and later usages are noted as two separate entries – D4 and D5 “used later on cleared stamps”.
→ Panda Type # E 1 1. 5-a – New Amsterdam A
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 6 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam Unlisted
EKD: 5 Dec 1892 / LKD: 20 Jul 1895
This New Amsterdam Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E11 postmark. The Panda Type E11 is Double Ring (D.R.) 23.5 – 24.5 / 13.5 – 14.5 mm with dividing dots separating office from colony. 2 L.D. with Y.A. B. Guiana at foot.
The Panda Type E11.5-a was used earlier between 1892 to 1895. It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure 5 in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe, however, the distinction of the early and later usages is not noted. In The Postal History of British Guiana by Edward B. Proud
→ Panda Type # E 1 1. 5-b – New Amsterdam B
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 6 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam Unlisted
EKD: 17 Aug 1893 / LKD: 9 Jul 1895
This New Amsterdam Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E11 postmark. The Panda Type E11 is Double Ring (D.R.) 23.5 – 24.5 / 13.5 – 14.5 mm with dividing dots separating office from colony. 2 L.D. with Y.A. B. Guiana at foot.
The Panda Type E11.5-b was used earlier between 1892 to 1895. It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure 5 in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe, however, the distinction of the early and later usages is not noted. In The Postal History of British Guiana by Edward B. Proud
→ Panda Type # E 1 1. 5-c – New Amsterdam C
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 6 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam D7 p. 221
EKD: 25 May 1893 / LKD: 16 Jul 1895
This New Amsterdam Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E11 postmark. The Panda Type E11 is Double Ring (D.R.) 23.5 – 24.5 / 13.5 – 14.5 mm with dividing dots separating office from colony. 2 L.D. with Y.A. B. Guiana at foot.
The Panda Type E11.5-C was used earlier between 1892 to 1895. It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure 5 in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe, however, the distinction of the early and later usages is not noted. In The Postal History of British Guiana by Edward B. Proud
→ Panda Type # E 1 2.8 – New Amsterdam
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 7 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam KD5 p. 221
EKD: 16 Apr 1884 / LKD: 12 Jun 1891
This New Amsterdam Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E12 postmark. The Panda Type E12 is Single Ring (S.R.) 22 – 23.5 mm with Protective Corners. 2 L.D. with Y.I.F. British Guiana at foot.
The Panda Type E12.8 was used earlier between 1884 to 1891. It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure NA-7 in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 2 1 .3-a – New Amsterdam
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 8 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam Unlisted
EKD: 30 Nov 1895 / LKD: 18 Aug 1899
This New Amsterdam Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E21 postmark. The Panda Type E21 is Single Ring (S.R.) 24 – 24.5 mm. with dividing dots separating office from colony. 2 L.D. with YIF. B. Guiana at foot
It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure NA-8 and Common in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 2 1 .3-b – New Amsterdam
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 8 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam Unlisted
EKD: 3 Feb 1896 / LKD: 30 May 1899
This New Amsterdam Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E21 postmark. The Panda Type E21 is Single Ring (S.R.) 24 – 24.5 mm. with dividing dots separating office from colony. 2 L.D. with YIF. B. Guiana at foot
It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure NA-8 and Common in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 2 1 .3-c – New Amsterdam
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 8 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam D8 p. 221
EKD: 21 Dec 1895 / LKD: 2 Aug 1899
This New Amsterdam Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E21 postmark. The Panda Type E21 is Single Ring (S.R.) 24 – 24.5 mm. with dividing dots separating office from colony. 2 L.D. with YIF. B. Guiana at foot
It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure NA-8 and Common in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 2 5 . 2 – New Amsterdam
T&H – New Amsterdam Fig. 9 p. 368; Proud – New Amsterdam D12 p. 222
EKD: 7 Nov 1899 / LKD: 2 Jun 1904
This New Amsterdam Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E25 postmark. The Panda Type E25 is S.R. 26.5 – 28.5 mm. with time added. 2 L.D. with Y.A. B. Guiana at foot.
It is cataloged as New Amsterdam Figure NA-9 in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
The Panda British Guiana Postmark Catalog 