British Guiana Post Offices: Philadelphia

September 4, 2024

The Philadelphia Post Office, located in the West Coast Demerara Postal District, was opened on November 1, 1878, after being transferred from Vergenoegen to the Telegraph Station. The office was moved again in 1883 to Tuschen and subsequently closed on February 12, 1883.

There is a discrepancy in sources regarding its location: Proud mistakenly lists it as being on the East Coast of Essequibo, while Townsend & Howe and Nathan correctly place it on the West Coast of Demerara.

The following are the Date Stamps used at Philadelphia 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 . 16 – Philadelphia

T&H Type 2 p. 299; Proud Philadelphia D2 p. 233

New EKD: 27 May 1880 / LKD: 25 Mar 1881

This Philadelphia 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 E2.16 is cataloged as a Type 2 and listed as “Exceedingly Rare” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe. Dates without year assumed to be 1881.

The New EKD is a strike in the Panda Collection (see image below).

**New EKD 1880** – *From the Panda Collection*

**1880** – *From the Goldblatt Collection*

→ Panda Type # E 7. 26 – Philadelphia

T&H Type 5b p. 301; Proud Philadelphia D3 p. 233

EKD: 1 Feb 1882 / LKD: 8 May 1882

This Philadelphia 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 E7.26 is cataloged as a Type 5b and listed as “Exceedingly Rare” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.