Stamp issue commemorates Cayman Islands National Museum Anniversary

The Cayman Islands Postal Service announces a new stamp issue–25th Anniversary of the National Museum.

The four-set stamp series was released on Tuesday, 3 December and features various artifacts from the museum collection.

The issue is the result of collaboration between the National Museum and the Cayman Islands Postal Service.

“I can say that the Museum Board, Management and Staff are honoured that in recognition of the Museum’s 25th Anniversary the Postal Service is launching a special stamp issue featuring artefacts from the Museum Collection — from a hand-crafted doll figurine to a sextant — showcasing the range of objects held in trust for the people of the Cayman Islands. It is gratifying that these images upon stamps will travel throughout the Cayman Islands and also circle the globe to reach a worldwide audience,” explained Peggy Leshikar-Denton, Ph.D., Director of the Cayman Islands National Museum.

The issue features two 25¢ stamps depicting a Caymanian woman doll and ship sextant.

The Caymanian Woman doll is hand-carved from a single tree limb. This 1960s crude figure of a Caymanian woman was made by Clarice Carter of Bodden Town using guava wood and house paints. The position of the hand position exemplifies the Caymanian friendly disposition for which our people are known.

The Plath Navistar Sextant, an artefact from the 1960s, was owned and used by Capt. Wordal Rankine of East End Grand Cayman, a member of the Home Guard and a Merchant Marine who emigrated to United States of America where he lived and raised his family.

The 75¢ features a cast iron double-wheel Swift Mill Coffee Grinder that was made by Lane Brothers, Poughkeepsie, New York. From the collection of Ira Thompson, this model is complete with wooden drawer to collect the ground coffee beans.

The $1.60 stamp depicts a monkey jar which is a spherical earthenware red clay water container commonplace in the Caribbean. These jars are not made in the Cayman Islands and the origin of the name is unknown. Monkey Jars were popular imports from the island of Jamaica in the early 1900s.

According to Debra Barnes-Tábora, Curations and Collections Manager of the Cayman Islands National Museum, the stamp issue is a “historic milestone in the Museum’s history, we are grateful to the Philatelic Bureau and the Stamp Advisory Committee for their most considerate support of this stamp issue.”

For more information, contact Acting Philatelic Manager Diana Johnson on 946-4757, or view the collection on line at www.caymanpost.gov.ky .