ANGUILLA

Anguilla  is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. The territory consists of the main island of Anguilla, approximately 16 miles (26 km) long by 3 miles (4.8 km) wide at its widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands and cays with no permanent population. The territory's capital is The Valley. The total land area of the territory is 35 square miles (91 km²). The name Anguilla is from the Italian anguilla meaning "eel" (in turn from the Latin anguilla, diminutive of anguis, snake) in reference to the island's shape. It is believed by most sources to have been named by Christopher Columbus. For similar reasons, it was also known as Snake or Snake Island.

Anguilla is noted for its ecologically important coral reefs and beaches. Apart from the main island of Anguilla itself, the territory includes a number of other smaller islands and cays, mostly tiny and uninhabited.

Anguilla has produced its own stamps since 1967. It was formerly part of St. Kitts and Nevis and the islands were granted Associated Statehood on February 27, 1967. Its first stamps in 1967 were those of St. Kitts-Nevis but opted with Independent Anguilla. However, owing to limited stocks available for overprinting, the sale of the stamps was controlled by the Postmaster, and no orders from the trade were accepted. Later in 1967 it produced the first stamps without overprints and displayed notable sites in Anguilla such as Sombrero Lighthouse etc.

In 1968 several issues were produced, Anguilla Ships, Anguillan Birds, the 35th Anniversary of the Anguillan Girl Guides and a Christmas issue. In 1969 the first issue celebrated the Anguillan salt industry, but on July 7, 1969 the Anguillan post office was officially recognized by the government of St. Kitts-Nevis and they issued an official independence issue in January 1969.

These are my latest covers from Anguilla in my collection. The covers sent on July 07, 2016 and i received them on July 22, 2016.Anguilla exhausted their UPU barcode labels, so started to use the chopped marks with handwritten tracking numbers.

 These covers posted on March 30, 2016 and received in my hands on April 11,2016.