Redonda:
"WHERE IN THE WORLD"
Redonda is a small island in the Caribbean, and a dependency of
Antigua. It is the third and smallest of the Antiguan group, and is
uninhabited. It lies 30 miles from Antigua's nearest point, half way
between Montserrat and Nevis with Montserrat being 13 miles away;
about one mile long north to south, less than half a mile wide; and
rises nearly 1000 feet. It was sighted by Columbus on the same day
that he discovered Antigua, and he named the island "Santa Maria La
Redonda" (St. Mary the Round).
Phosphate was mined on the island from the 1860's to about 1920.
Redonda was annexed by Antigua in 1869 and labourers from
Montserrat were employed on the island. The island has been
unoccupied since 1930. Goats, rats, crabs and sea birds only inhabit
the island.
In 1865 Matthew Sheill decided to claim the island as a fiefdom for
his son, Matthew Phipps Sheill, who was named King Phillipe I by
his father. King Phillipe soon gave his fiefdom to an English poet
who named himself King Juan I. Dukes and duchesses were created
by Juan I who in turn appointed another Englishman as his successor
who now calls himself King Juan II.
Redonda has issued stamps since 1979 in anticipation of commercial
and tourist development. To date, this has not happened and the
island remains uninhabited. The stamps of Redonda are also valid for
use in Antigua.The Scott number 9106 was assigned previously; it is
no longer in use.
acknowledgement: The Australian Stamp Monthly, January, 1991
Redonda Post Office:
Posted 04/09/2010 10:44 am
