November
15
British Guiana Post Offices: Mahaica
Located on the East Coast Demerara, the Mahaica Post Office was opened in 1850 initially using the Panda Type C1.10 E5C coded postmark. Recorded dates are 7 Jan 1855 to 4 Feb 1860. The Panda Type C2.10 E5C coded postmark was then used through 1877. In 1878, it was relocated from the Railway Station to the Telegraph Station using the Panda Type E1.2 Mahaica postmark and in 1882, it also became a money order office. From 1864 to 1899, Mahaica was the terminus of the East Coast Railway.
The following are the Circular Date Stamps (C.D.S.) used in Mahaica with EKD prior to 22 January 1901, the day marking the end of the reign of Queen Victoria. In addition to listing the Panda Type #, for reference, we also list the T&H Type from The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe, the Type and referenced page from The Postal History of British Guiana by Edward B. Proud, and the referenced pages from British Guiana Coded Postmarks – Study paper No 3 by Michael Rego, for code-marks.
→ Panda Type # C 1 . 1 0 – E 5 C (Used at Mahaica)
T&H First Series Code-Marks; Proud D1 p.210; Rego pp. 12, 13
EKD: 7 Jan 1855 / LKD: 4 Feb 1860
 1856 – From Christoph Gärtner 34th Auction on 30 May 2016 in New York |
The E5C Coded Postmark used at Mahaica to at least Feb 1860 is a Panda Type C1 postmark. The Panda Type C1 is S.R. 23 mm. 4 Lines. B.G. at top followed by code-mark and 2 L.D. Y.I.F. All in serif capitals. These are referred to as “First Series of Code-Marks” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # C 2 . 1 0 – E 5 C (Used at Mahaica)
T&H Second Series Code-Marks; Proud D2 p. 210; Rego pp. 41-43, 45, 46.
EKD: 23 Oct 1860 / LKD: 14 Feb 1877
 1863 – From the Panda Collection |
 1863 – From the Panda Collection |
The E5C Coded Postmark used at Mahaica after 23 Oct 1860 is a Panda Type C2 postmark. The Panda Type C2 is S.R. 21.5 mm. 4 Lines. B.G. at top followed by code-mark and 2 L.D. Y.I.F. All in sans-serif capitals.
→ Panda Type # E 1 . 2 – Mahaica
T&H Type 1a; Proud D3 p. 210
EKD: 2 Jan 1878 / LKD: 29 Aug 1884
 1878 – From the Panda Collection |
 1879 – From the Panda Collection |
 1881 – From the Panda Collection |
 1882 – From the Panda Collection |
 1884 – From the Panda Collection |
 No Year – From the Panda Collection |
This Mahaica Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E1 postmark. The Panda Type E1 is Single Ring (S.R.), 21-22mm, 2 line date (2 L.D.) with year abbreviated (Y.A.). Colony not shown. It is similar to the Demerara postmark Panda Type 3 without the code.
The Panda Type E1.2 is listed as Type 1a and noted as “Rather Common” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 1 2 . 1 – Mahaica
T&H Type 4; Proud D4 p. 210
EKD: 27 Sept 1884 (New EKD) / LKD: 29 Sep 1898
 1884 (New EKD) – From the Panda Collection |
 1887 – From the Panda Collection |
 1890 – From the Panda Collection |
 1898 – From the Panda collection |
1892 – From the Panda Collection
This Mahaica Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E12 postmark. The Panda Type E12 is D.R. 23 / 15 mm. 2 L.D. with Y.A. British Guiana at foot. It is listed as Type 4 and noted as “Common” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
→ Panda Type # E 2 4 a . 8 -1 – Mahaica
T&H Type 12a; Proud D5 p. 210
EKD: 3 Oct 1898 / LKD: 3 Jun 1902
 1899 – From the Panda Collection |
 1900 – From the Panda Collection |
This Mahaica Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E24a postmark with Mahaica in 3mm font. There is a similar C.D.S. with Mahaica in 3.5mm font (Panda Type E24a.8-2) but the EKD is beyond the date range of our study.
The Panda Type E24a is S.R. 27-28 mm. 3 L.D. with Y.I.F. and Y.A. B. Guiana at foot. It is listed as Type 12a and noted as “Common” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.
British Guiana Postal History (to 1901) 
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