Guyana

Guyana is the name of the former British Crown Colony of British Guiana. The country became an independent member of the Commonwealth in 1966. The first stamps issued after independence were issues of British Guiana overprinted to mark the event. A big part of Guyana’s philatelic history is the legendary 1856 “British Guiana” (Scott #13), also known as the “1c Magenta”. Only one is known to exist, and it was reproduced on a neat jumbo Guyana stamp in 1967. Guyana issues many stamps with all kinds of topical subjects. Modern standouts include photomosaic stamps of John F. Kennedy, Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II issued between 1999 and 2001.