Pirates on Bahamian Stamps.
A Treasure Worth More Than Doubloons
I recently stumbled upon what can only be described as philatelic gold—a magnificent set of Bahamas stamps celebrating the rogues and heroes of the Golden Age of Piracy. Now, I'll freely admit that pirates have held me in their thrall since childhood, so discovering stamps that marry my twin obsessions of postal history and buccaneering was rather like finding a perfectly preserved treasure map in the attic. But this particular quartet isn't just thematically appealing; it features some of the most exquisite artwork I've encountered on any stamp. Each piece is a miniature masterpiece, filled with detail and layers of depth.
The Pirate “Anne Bonney”
Anne Bonny was one of history's most famous female pirates. Married in 1715 to a small-time pirate named James Bonny, she moved to the pirate sanctuary of Nassau in the Bahamas and later met Calico Jack Rackham and became his pirate partner and lover. She operated during the height of Nassau's pirate republic period.
Cpt. Edward England
Captain Edward England was another significant pirate captain of the period, operating in the Caribbean and later the Indian Ocean.
The Notorious “Blackbeard”
Edward "Blackbeard" Teach was perhaps the most notorious pirate of the era. Blackbeard was later voted by the pirates of Nassau to be their "Magistrate" and to be in command of their "Republic" and enforce law and order as he saw fit. The Governor of Bermuda stated that there were over 1000 pirates in Nassau at that time, showing the scale of the pirate presence.
My fascination with pirates was forged in the crucible of Mrs. Barker’s history class, where we spent what felt like an entire term immersed in the world of the Golden Age of Piracy. We studied the political machinations, the economic forces that drove ordinary sailors to turn pirate, and the eventual restoration of colonial order—a comprehensive exploration that seemed perfectly natural at the time. It wasn't until decades later, during a casual conversation about childhood memories, that a friend expressed genuine bewilderment at my pirate-heavy education. His amazement matched my own incredulity that pirates had somehow sailed past his curriculum entirely. However, this may well go some way in explaining why I can only collect squares of gummed paper now instead of Porsches…
Cpt. Woods Rogers.
The Pirate Hunter:
Captain Woodes Rogers represents the other side of the story - he was the islands' first appointed Royal Governor who arrived in the Bahamas on July 25, 1718. Piracy grew rampant in the untamed colony, and Rogers' official mission was to stamp it out. Rogers is one of the key figures during the so-called Golden Age of Piracy and was the nemesis of such notorious pirates as Charles Vane, John Rackham ('Calico Jack') and Anne Bonny.
Scott Catalogue #629
The four pirate stamps were issued in 1987 and are cataloged as Pirates and Privateers. The Scott catalog #s are 625-628. This large collector’s sheet has a catalog # of 629 and has an inset stamp showing the Islands that feature heavily in the “Golden age of Piracy” I only saw this at a later date as it did not feature prominently in the listings of the Pirates and Privateers sets. It is surely part of the set though and was issued at the same time and has the same designation, albeit separate from the four pirates.
Overall, this is an exceptional collection of stamps. The artwork is truly outstanding, and the addition of the piratic theme adds a delightful element that resonates with the adventurous spirit of my younger self.
