The Bel Air Post Office, located three miles from Georgetown on the East Coast of the Demerara River, opened on July 1, 1878, within the East Coast Demerara Postal District. Initially situated at the railway station, the office was moved to Kitty Village in 1895, resulting in the closure of the Bel Air location on May 1, 1895.

The following are the Date Stamps used at Bel-Air 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.

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→ Panda Type # E  4.3 -1 – Bel-Air

T&H – Type 3a p. 300 ; Proud – Bel-Air D2 p. 144

EKD: 19 Apr 1880 / LKD: 30 Apr 1895

The Bel-Air Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E4 postmark.  The Panda Type E5 is Double Ring (D.R.), 22.5-24mm, 2 line date (2 L.D.) with year abbreviated (Y.A.).  Colony not shown.

The Panda Type E4.3-1 is cataloged as Type 3a and is listed as “Scarce” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.

The EKD strike of 19 Apr 1880 is in the Panda Collection. See image below.