DOMINICA - Commonwealth of Dominica / Dominique/ Wai‘tu kubuli

Dominica (French: Dominique; Island Carib: Wai‘tu kubuli), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically situated a part of the Leeward Islands chain in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The island is located near Guadeloupe to the northwest and Martinique to the south-southeast. Its area is 750 km² (290 sq mi), and the highest point is Morne Diablotins, at 1,447 m (4,747 ft) in elevation. Its name is pronounced with emphasis on the third syllable, related to its French name of Dominique.

Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" for its natural environment. It is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles, and in fact it is still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity, as evidenced by the world's second-largest hot spring, called Boiling Lake. The island has lush mountainous rainforests, and it is the home of many rare plants, animals, and bird species. There are xeric areas in some of the western coastal regions, but heavy rainfall occurs inland. The sisserou parrot, also known as the imperial amazon and found only on Dominica, is the island's national bird and featured on the national flag, which is one of only two national flags containing the colour purple (the other being Nicaragua).

The GPO in London established a branch at Roseau in 1845, using a handstruck mark reading "Paid at Dominica". The first stamps used were British stamps, ca. 1858, with obliteration "A07". Later, colonial officials took charge of the posts and used their own handstruck postal markings. On 4 May 1874, Dominica issued its first stamps, with a set consisting of 1d, 6d, and 1 shilling values. The design was a profile of Queen Victoria in an oval frame with "DOMINICA POSTAGE" in the band of the frame.

The general issue of stamps for the Leeward Islands superseded Dominican stamps on 31 October 1890, but concurrent Dominican issues resumed in 1903, and continued through 31 December 1939.

Dominica adopted the British West Indies dollar in 1949, and the first issue denominated in the new currency was the Universal Postal Union 75th anniversary commemorative in October of that year. This was followed up in 1951 with a new series of 15 pictorials that included a full-face portrait of George VI. The pictorial set was reissued in 1954 with a profile portrait of Elizabeth II, along with four additional designs

 

 Covers received from Commonwealth of Dominica with beautiful fauna stamps. After the hurricane Irma, the philatelic bureau and post office was seriously damaged, so the mails were very much delayed. Now the post office renewed and also new postmarks arrived.

Registered Airmail cover from Dominica Philatelic Bureau, almost 9 months of waiting.

This is another nice Airmail cover I got from Dominica Philatelic Bureau, almost after 9 months of waiting. Dominica issues beautiful stamps especially their flora and fauna thematic stamps are nice to see.

This Registered Airmail cover sent by Holger Kaufhold from Belgium. He sent this cover from  Dominica Philatelic Bureau, I got it as postmarked after 6 months of waiting .