Barbados – Scott # 218, used

Description

This Barbados definitive stamp, Scott #218, was issued during the reign of King George VI and forms part of the colony’s mid-20th-century pictorial definitive series. The issue reflects a period when Barbados increasingly emphasized local scenery and civic identity alongside traditional royal portraiture.

The design features a detailed engraving of public buildings in Bridgetown, shown along the waterfront, highlighting the island’s administrative and architectural heritage. The scene conveys stability and civic order, qualities commonly promoted in British colonial stamp designs of the era. In the upper corner, a formal portrait of King George VI reinforces imperial authority while maintaining visual balance within the composition.

Printed in a finely engraved style with layered line work, the stamp exemplifies classic British Commonwealth aesthetics, combining realism, clarity, and restrained ornamentation. The muted color palette supports legibility while lending the stamp a dignified, documentary character.

This example is offered used, bearing a clear postal cancellation consistent with genuine commercial usage. Used copies are appropriate for this issue and reflect its everyday role in domestic and international correspondence during the late colonial period.

Scott Catalog Number: 218
Denomination: 3 cents
Design: Public Buildings, Bridgetown
Condition: Used
Country: Barbados