The Skeldon Post Office, located in the Corentyne Coast Postal District, was opened by 1871. Initially housed at the Police Station, it was transferred to the Telegraph Station on December 1, 1877, and became a money order office on September 1, 1882.
Until the 1950s, Skeldon served as the terminus for the Mail Van Service from New Amsterdam along the Corentyne Coast Road, after which the road was extended to Crabwood Creek. Mail from the Corentyne River T.P.A. was landed at Springlands and then transported to Skeldon. The post office also briefly functioned as a service post between Benab and Suriname.
Skeldon was positioned on the left bank of the Corentyne River, 49 miles from New Amsterdam, and served as a border post for Suriname. It is believed to have used the coded postmark “ECB crown 1,” signifying its role as a customs post.
The following are the Date Stamps used at Skeldon 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 . 1 9– Skeldon
T&H Type 2 p. 299; Proud Skeldon D2 p. 248
EKD: 18 Dec 1878 / LKD: 8 Nov 1882 (New LKD)
The Panda Type E2.19 is cataloged as a Type 2 and listed as “Very Scarce” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
Postmarks with year obliterated assumed to be 1882.
→ Panda Type # E 7 . 2 9– Skeldon
T&H Type 5a p. 301; Proud Skeldon D5 p. 248
EKD: 29 Dec 1890 / LKD: 14 Jul 1903
The Skeldon 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 E7.29 is cataloged as Type 5a and is listed as “Scarce” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 12 . 10-1 – Skeldon
T&H Type 8 p. 302; Proud Skeldon D3 State 1 p. 248
EKD: 13 Jul 1883 / LKD: 25 Apr 1889
The Skeldon Circular 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 E12.10-1 is cataloged as Type 8 and is listed as “Common” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 12 . 10-2 – Skeldon
T&H Type 8 p. 302; Proud Skeldon D3 State 2 p. 248
EKD: 15 Apr 1890 / LKD: 21 Oct 1890
The Skeldon Circular 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 E12.10-2 is cataloged as Type 8 and is listed as “Scarce” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
For this Type, the protective corners were removed from E12.10-1.
The Panda British Guiana Postmark Catalog 