• Date of visit: April 10 2019
• Post office visited: Saint Kitts Philatelic bureau, General post office in Basseterre
• Cost of sending postcard: EC$0.50 (regional), EC$0.80 (USA/Canada), EC$1.00 (Europe). Fixed rate: US$1 = EC$2.70.
• Postcards available at: Post office, gift shops
• Delivery time: 17 days to USA, 19 days to Germany

Located in the eastern Caribbean, part of the Lesser Antilles, Saint Kitts and Nevis is a two-island federation and one of the smallest independent states in the Western Hemisphere—and the only one with a population of fewer than 50,000. It was among the first Caribbean islands to be colonized by both the British and the French in the early 17th century, with control shifting between the two before Britain took permanent possession in 1783. This early and contested colonial history made it an administrative center in the region, which was also reflected in the development of its postal services. The country gained independence in 1983 and remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Today, the postal system operates as a single network across both islands, with several post offices on St Kitts and fewer on Nevis. St Kitts and Nevis issues separate stamps for each island, which is somewhat unusual. Even so, it was not a place where we expected to find one of the more memorable post office experiences of the trip.

On the day we arrived, there was an article in the local news, Coconut Cook Off Finalists Revealed, about a local cooking competition centered around coconut-based dishes. It was not something I had heard of before. St Kitts and Nevis had not appeared often in my information flow, and discovering something like this gave a small indication of how different the country felt. As the actual event was scheduled for July, we skipped the culinary experience and continued towards the post office.

In the heat—well over 30 degrees—we walked through the market, passing a small outdoor bar right in front of the Basseterre General Post Office. It turned out to be easy to find. Inside, it was pleasantly cool—and that was not its only advantage.

Despite the fact that St Kitts and Nevis is not a country frequently seen in Postcrossing, where the highest sent number at the time of our visit was KN-49, the selection of stamps was impressive. My personal favorites were those reflecting the country’s ties to the Commonwealth, particularly issues featuring Queen Elizabeth II. Postage rates had remained unchanged since 1998, making the cost of sending postcards remarkably reasonable.

Combined with the availability of good postcards and a very friendly postal clerk—who allowed us to hand-cancel the stamps ourselves—it felt like a small paradise for people like us.

Today, as I write this post seven years later, the highest registered Postcrossing number has reached KN-215, while postage rates appear to have remained the same. St Kitts and Nevis is still not a place many postcrossers pass through.

Also the same postal rates appeared to still be in use today.

I began this post with a local news story from the time of our visit, so it feels fitting to end with another headline from early April this year that caught my attention: St. Kitts and Nevis First in Caribbean to Recognize Rastafarian Faith in Law.

A small island, but one that manages to stand out—with its occasional unusual news and a surprisingly excellent post office. And one we did not expect to remember this well.

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