Barbuda – Scott # 384

Description

This Barbuda commemorative stamp, Scott #384, was issued in 1979 as part of a set honoring the death centenary of Sir Rowland Hill (1879–1979), the British postal reformer who introduced prepaid postage and laid the foundation for the modern postal system.

The design depicts mail leaving St. Martin’s-le-Grand Post Office, London, the headquarters of the British General Post Office during the 19th century. Horse-drawn mail coaches, crowds, and classical architecture are shown in a busy urban scene, emphasizing the scale and organization of postal operations in the era following Hill’s reforms.

This example is offered in mint never hinged (MNH) condition and consists of a control block with selvage, including color registration dots, marginal inscriptions, and an attached vignette of the Penny Black–style Queen Victoria profile, referencing the world’s first adhesive postage stamp introduced under Hill’s system. These production elements add significant interest for collectors of postal history and printing varieties.

The issue is particularly appealing to collectors focused on Sir Rowland Hill, early postal reform, classic mail transport, and philatelic production features.

• Scott Catalog Number: 384

• Denomination: $2.00

• Design: Mail Leaving St. Martin’s-le-Grand Post Office, London – Death Centenary of Sir Rowland Hill

• Condition: Mint Never Hinged (MNH)

• Format: Control block with selvage and Penny Black vignette

• Country: Barbuda