Collection: Bahamas

Bahamas plates come in many varieties.  For many issues, they were made either in the Bahamas or in the United States.  US-made plates are well made, with clean embossing and sharp paint.  Bahamas-made plates tend to be sloppy, with shallower embossing, sloppy paint and crooked dies.  It is not unusual for lost or damaged plates to be replaced with homemade plates.  For several issues, the Bahamian government repainted turned-in plates and re-issued them with the new colors.  You will see examples of all of these here.

Before 1976, Bahamas plates were issued only for Nassau and the Out Islands.  The Out Islands comprised all islands other than New Providence, the island containing Nassau.

The vast majority of these Bahamas plates are from the legendary collection of the late Bob Bittner, who obtained them personally over the course of many trips to the Caribbean.