Once upon a time, the region of the Guianas, as it was called, was governed by the Dutch and included what is now French Guiana, the former British Guiana (now Guyana), and the former Dutch Guiana (now Suriname), and the influence of all three colonial powers remains strong in the whole region. The first European to explore the region was none other than Sir Walter Raleigh, that swashbuckling soldier of fortune. British Guiana is particularly famous for having produced what would become arguably the rarest and most valuable stamp the world has ever known - the 1c magenta, which in its most recent changing of hands in 2014, sold for a mind-boggling US$9.5million. [Gulp.] After gaining independence from Britain in 1966, Guyana declared itself the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in 1970. English is still the official language (the only South American nation of which that’s true), although most Guyanese speak Guyanese creole.
Stamp details: Top left: Issued on: January 1, 1852 From: Georgetown, British Guiana MC #5
Top right: Issued in: 1853 From: Georgetown, British Guiana MC #7
Second row: Issued on: February 4, 1966 From: Georgetown, British Guiana MC #238
Third row left and middle: Issued on: May 26, 1966 From: Georgetown, Guyana MC #261, 263
Third row right: Issued on: February 23, 1970 From: Georgetown, Co-operative Republic of Guyana MC #368
Stamp on bottom: Issued on: June 25, 1991 From: Georgetown, Co-operative Republic of Guyana MC #BL123
Recognized as a sovereign state by the UN: Yes (since September 20, 1966) Official name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana Member of the Universal Postal Union: Yes (since March 22, 1967)
