Nevis marks the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar with stamp issue

Stamps commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar

Souvenir Sheet – Battle of Trafalgar

Souvenir Sheet – Marriage of Nelson to Frances Nisbet

Friday, August 12, 2005

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: The Nevis Island Administration in conjunction with the Nevis Postal Authorities is celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar (also the 200th anniversary of the death of Admiral Horatio Nelson), with a special stamp issue.

According to Mrs Patricia Blake, acting manager of the Nevis Philatelic Bureau, the Battle of Trafalgar marked the overwhelming victory over the French and Spanish fleet off Cape Trafalgar on October 21, 1805, by the British Royal Navy, under the command of Admiral Nelson.

“This battle also immortalised the memory of Viscount Horatio Nelson, who was shot and died of his wounds at the moment of his greatest victory,” observed Mrs Blake. “This year marks the Bicentenary of the death of Lord Horatio Nelson at the famous Battle of Trafalgar.”

To honour the historical occasion, the Nevis Philatelic Bureau issued a mint set of four stamps, and a Souvenir Sheet in May this year. First Day Cover for the mint set is on sale at EC$6.90, while the First Day Cover for the Souvenir Sheet is selling at EC$6.50.

The Souvenir Sheet has an EC$5.00 stamp that features Richard Earl Howe on the quarterdeck of his flagship “Queen Charlotte”. The salvage area renders portraits of Admiral Sir Edward Hawke (1710-1781) and Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson (1758-1805).

The 30 cents stamp has the image of Admiral Sir Cornwallis, who was a friend of Nelson, while the 90 cents stamp shows Captain Maurice Suckling, who was Comptroller of the navy and Patron of Nelson.

The EC$1.20 stamp has the image of Richard Earl Howe, who held high rank in the British Navy, while the EC$3.00 stamp features Sir John Jervis, First Earl of St. Vincent from a painting by Francis Cotes.

The stamps were designed by Mr Joel Iskowitz and printed by BSP Beijing Stamp Printing House. Stamp size is 50.80mm x 38.10mm, printed multicolour offset lithography on 102 gm2 unwatermarked PVA gummed paper.

Meanwhile, the Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) will celebrate October 9 – October 16, 2005 as Nelson Week. “As part of our Nelson In Nevis activities we will be highlighting many aspects of Life in Nevis during the time of Nelson, through education and cultural events, exhibitions and other exciting and unique celebrations,” says a release by the NTA

Nelson has a special place in Nevis’ history, where his legend began in 1784, when as a staunch enforcer of England’s Acts, began tracking illegal trading between the English colonies in the Caribbean and traders from the Unite States. His early assignment to Antigua, in command of H.M.S. Boreas, first brought him to Nevis.

“It was there that the drama began – with Nelson forcefully seizing ships and imprisoning trading offenders,” reports the NTA release issued by Cheryl Andrews Marketing. “But it is the story of Nelson’s romance with a young widow named Frances (Fanny) Nisbet, whom he met at Nevis’ beautiful Montpelier estate, which has become the subject of much lore.”

The two got married on March 11, 1787 at Montpelier in Nevis with the future King of England Prince William Henry IV standing in as Fannie’s father and doing the honours of giving her away. Their marriage certificate is still on display at the St. John’s Anglican Church, Fig Tree.

Acting Manager at the Nevis Philatelic Bureau, Mrs Patricia Blake, told Government Information Service that a stamp issue commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Nelson wedding was issued on March 11, 1987. The mint set is still available and is on sale at the Bureau for EC$6.00 or US$2.25.

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