The early Packet Offices at CARRIACOU in the GRENADINES In Mr. Robson Lowe's book on Handstruck Postage Stamps it is stated that a Packet Agency was opened at Carriacou in 1842, but no history of its working is known. I have in my possession correspondence dealing with the Mount Pleasant Estate in Carriacou, amongst which is a letter written at Carriacou on January 24th, 1842, There is no Carriacou strike on it, but it is backstamped at GRENADA (RL. Type P.J., Charlton
Type A6, which he states is known for 1832-1839 only). Another letter, dated February 14th, 1842, is struck with a straight line Carriacou (Charlton A12). It would therefore seem that the Agency opened between these dates. This Carriacou strike is not found in the records of the G.P.O., although a Carriacou Ship Letter (RL, Type S.C.) was registered there on August 27th, 1841, which has not to my knowledge been recorded. The size and lettering of the word Carriacou are identical in both strikes, and it seems that the Ship Letter part had been cut off before use.
In the G.P.O. records on November 13th. 1846, a Crowned Circle 'Paid at Carriacou' and a circular stamp of Carriacou were registered. To my knowledge the former has not been recorded, but the latter (RL. Type P.L, Charlton Type A14) occurs twice in this correspondence dated July 9th; 1847, and July 8th, 1848. Unfortunately there are no more letters until 1858 and 1859, both of these having G.B. stamps; the farmer being sent via ST. VINCENT (A10) and the latter via GRENADA (A15). There being; no Carriacou strikes, it would seem that the Packet Agency must have closed by then, yet in 1861, when GRENADA Post Office issued Parish marks, F was allotted to Carriacou.
I should be grateful to hear, whether any member has any information concerning the working of the Agency, and in particular anyone who has seen the unrecorded strikes.
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