BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

The Virgin Islands, commonly referred to as the British Virgin Islands (or BVI), is a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago; the remaining islands constitute the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Spanish Virgin Islands.

The official name of the Territory is still simply the "Virgin Islands", but the prefix "British" is often used to distinguish it from the neighbouring American territory which changed its name from the "Danish West Indies" to "Virgin Islands of the United States" in 1917. British Virgin Islands government publications continue to begin with the name "The Territory of the Virgin Islands", and the Territory's passports simply refer to the "Virgin Islands", and all laws begin with the words "Virgin Islands". Moreover, the Territory's Constitutional Commission has expressed the view that "every effort should be made", to encourage the use of the name "Virgin Islands".

The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke, along with over fifty other smaller islands and cays. About 15 of the islands are inhabited. The capital, Road Town, is situated on Tortola, the largest island, which is approximately 20 km long and 5 km wide. The islands have a population of about 28,000, of whom approximately 23,500 live on Tortola.

The colony of the British Virgin Islands has issued its own stamps since 1866. The first Post Office was opened in Tortola in 1787. At the time postage stamps were not yet invented, and it was not until 1858 that a small supply of adhesive stamps issued by Great Britain depicting Queen Victoria were utilized by the local Post Office. These stamps were cancelled by an A13 postmark and are extremely rare so cancelled. During the early 1800s Tortola became a key port for the postal network in the Caribbean. In fact, Road Town, the main port of the British Virgin Islands, was the last stop on the return leg of the "Leeward Islands Packet" as well as a very important transfer point for mail boats connecting British islands in the Lesser Antilles. In 1871 the British Virgin Islands and five other Lesser Antilles presidencies formed the newly established Federal Crown Colony of the Leeward Islands, which began issuing its own stamps in October 1890. Leeward Islands stamps were meant to replace local issues but for practical considerations were used concurrently with Virgin Islands stamps. In January 1899, the Virgin Islands resumed issuing their own stamps. Between 1903 and 1956, Virgin Islands and Leeward Islands stamps were used concurrently.

After the death of Queen Victoria, a new set of definitive stamps depicting her successor, King Edward VII, was issued by the Virgin Islands post office in 1904. Similarly, definitives for King George V were issued in 1913 and also between 1922 and 1929. The Three Kings era continued in 1937 with the coronation set of three stamps marking the accession of King George VI to the throne. 

The word “BRITISH” was used for the first time in 1951 on Virgin Islands postage stamps issued to salute the restoration of the constitution and legislative council. The subsequent issues feature the traditional "Virgin Islands" inscription. Later on, as a result of a Foreign & Commonwealth Office memorandum, beginning in 1968 and with only two exceptions (1968, Martin Luther King; and 1976, United States Virgin Islands and BVI Friendship Day, stamps) all Virgin Islands issues bear the legend: “BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.”  

It was a surprise when I saw these airmail covers in my post box ! Perfectly postmarked and clearly affixed UPU barcode labels on my pre prepared covers ! My friend had said BVI Philatelic bureau is no longer working, It closed long back. I was very disappointed when I heard the news because I sent these covers for postmarking. surprisingly after 7 months the covers came in perfect condition. The covers posted on July 13 and I received them in my hands on July 28, 2016. I believe a good person from the post office opened and found my covers, he did it in a perfect way. Thank You friend for the  big help!

Even though they are the part of overseas territory of UK, BVI use US Dollar as their currency since 1959. They have issued many beautiful stamps, but the stamps issued after 1990 only valid for postage now.