Barbados – Scott # 244

Description

This Barbados definitive stamp, Scott #244, was issued during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and forms part of the island’s mid-20th-century pictorial definitive series highlighting notable landmarks and institutions. The stamp depicts The Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels, one of Barbados’s most important Anglican structures and a central feature of Bridgetown’s historical landscape.

The design presents a finely engraved view of the cathedral tower and surrounding grounds, emphasizing verticality and architectural solidity. The structure’s clock tower and crenellated details convey both ecclesiastical significance and colonial-era permanence. A cameo portrait of Queen Elizabeth II appears in the upper corner, maintaining the Commonwealth convention of pairing local imagery with the reigning monarch.

Printed in a precise engraved style, the stamp demonstrates the technical clarity and balanced composition characteristic of British Commonwealth definitives of the period. The monochromatic color scheme enhances detail and legibility while reinforcing the formal, documentary tone of the issue.

This example is offered mint never hinged (MNH), with full original gum and no hinge marks. Well-preserved MNH examples of higher-denomination Barbados definitives are particularly attractive to collectors assembling complete Queen Elizabeth II reign sets.

Scott Catalog Number: 244
Denomination: 48 cents
Design: The Cathedral (St. Michael and All Angels)
Condition: Mint Never Hinged (MNH)
Country: Barbados