BARBADOS 1892
QUEEN VICTORIA
ONE FARTHING

This 1892 Barbados stamp is one of the stamps representing the continental island in the North Atlantic Ocean. “As the easternmost isle of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies, Barbados lies 160 kilometres (100 mi) east of the Windward Islands and Caribbean Sea.” (wikipedia/Geog.) Between all the islands from Puerto Rico south to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados is the one that is furthest east on the curved chain of islands.

The history of the inhabitants of the island of Barbados dates back around 350-650 A.D. from the South American peoples who migrated to the island who were later to be called Amerindians. It is stated that, “The arrivals were a group known as the Saladoid-Barrancoid from the mainland of South America. A second wave of settlers appeared around the year 800 (the Spanish referred to these as "Arawaks") and a third in the mid-13th century (called "Caribs" by the Spanish).” (wikipedia/history).

As slave traders continued to travel across the oceans and up through the islands it is said that, “Frequent slave-raiding missions by the Spanish Empire in the early 16th century led to a massive decline in the Amerindian population, so that by 1541 a Spanish writer claimed they were uninhabited.” (wikipedia/history).

In the history of sailing exploration by the English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese, it is said that the English were the first to establish a lasting colony on Barbados. The official first English ship that landed there in 1625 claimed the island in the name of King James I of England and they began the colonization by 1627.

Throughout the history of the islands from Trinidad/Tobago to the Caribbean some of the European nations paid sailor known as Privateers. History documents the type of work the Privateers performed. To other European nations that were not allies to the payees the Privateers were considered Pirates. It is said that, “In 1670, the Royal Navy had just two ships in the Caribbean, by 1718 the presence had swelled to 124 and piracy had become a shadow of its former self.” (rmg.co.uk/explore).

It seems possible that with Barbados being claimed in the name of the King of England in 1625, it could have provided a southern port for England’s ships as they gained dominance in the area. During the time of 1670-1718 there were several kings of England that increased the number of Royal Navy sailing ships in the Caribbean. It is stated that, “The accession of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837 was the last occasion on which a new British monarch inherited a fleet made up almost entirely of ships built of wood and propelled by sails.” (navel-history.net). During her reign 1837-1901, the Royal Naval Fleet had moved into the age of steam power and iron hulls.

This 1892 One Farthing stamp pictures Queen Victoria in a large seashell type of carriage that is being pulled by two mythical seahorses, known in Greek as hippocampus. “The hippocampus has typically been depicted as having the upper body of a horse with the lower body of a fish.” (wikipedia.org/Hipp..). The mythology dates to the 4th century B.C. in Tyre with coins showing images of the patron god Malqart. Another well-known mythology figure is, “Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, known as Neptune to the Romans, [who] traveled in a chariot drawn by fierce seahorses with heads of a horse and tails of a fish. For more than 2,000 years, sculptures, drawings, paintings, and mosaics have depicted Poseidon’s seahorses with glorious imagination.” (aquarium.ucsd.edu..).

It is noted that, “As the god of earthquakes, Poseidon was also connected to dry land, and many of his oldest places of worship in Greece were inland, though these were sometimes centered on pools and streams or otherwise associated with water.” (britannica.com). The similarity with Victoria living on the island nation of the United Kingdom surrounded by water could be why the connection to Poseidon was chosen.

Interestingly, there is a correlation with Queen Victoria and her grandson King George V who is also depicted in a similar image on a stamp created for him during the years 1913-1918. It is stated in an article on the Stanley Gibbons website referring to King George V that, “Some have suggested that the stamp might have been a response to German threat posed to Britain at sea, with the Seahorses testifying to Britain’s naval domination.” (stanleygibbons.com).

With the Victorian age of warships and this new power on the sea it seems to be what is symbolized by the image on the Barbados stamp and later also to be used by King George V. (reference – historicengland.org).

In the image Victoria is holding a trident in her right hand, similar to Poseidon’s trident, the Royal orb in her left hand and she is wearing the crown. The Crown Chronicles website explains the symbolism of the Royal Orb and the scepter. It states that, “The Sovereign’s sceptre is one of two sceptres used in the coronation ceremony, and is also known as the Sovereign’s sceptre with the cross, representing the temporal power of The King or Queen, and is associated with good governance.” Of the Orb it also states that, “The Sovereign’s Orb, as this part of the Crown Jewels is officially named, is a symbol of Godly power. A cross above a globe, it represents ‘Christ’s dominion over the world’, as the Monarch is God’s representative on Earth.” (thecrowncronicles.co.uk).

In another article about the Royal Crown it states that, “The Imperial State Crown is one of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and symbolises the sovereignty of the monarch.” (wikipedia.org/Imperial).

The symbolism of the trident in her hand could be to represent her power over the seas and her power she wields on land. The mythology surrounding the trident is said that, “Poseidon's Trident has the power over the sea while it also makes tsunamis and waves, along with sea foam. He can calm the water or make it roar. If Poseidon strikes the Earth with his trident, a catostraphic earthquake will happen. The man or boy who is chosen to control the trident is one with the gods, until the next owner is chosen.” (greekmtythology.wikia.org). In the case of Victoria, it would be a woman who was chosen. The Royal symbols that were drawn to represent the power of Queen Victoria would seem to present a compelling message of England’s supremacy and power to other countries and their leaders.

The seashell that she is sanding in might have represented the idea of “the scallop shell [which] is associated with the goddess Venus “born of the sea” as she was carried to shore on a scallop shell.” (mythsymbolismandplay). The depiction of the Birth of Venus can be seen in the painting by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli around 1480.

A belief by the philosopher Plato about Venus is said to be that “Plato further argued that contemplation of physical beauty allowed the mind to better understand spiritual beauty. So, looking at Venus, the most beautiful of goddesses, might at first raise a physical response in viewers which then lifted their minds towards the godly.” (Wikipedia.org/Birth).

Could the image of the seashell that Queen Victoria was standing in have been symbolic of the Venus goddess? Could it have been a message to indicate that her reign was of a godly level above all others? Since it is said that Queen Victoria was the head of the Church of England it seems likely that a subtle reference to Venus on the stamp could possibly be another symbolic reference to godly reign or power bestowed upon her reign.

Looking at the two different colored seahorses pulling the seashell it also seems likely that they carry some significance in the image. It appears that the creators of the stamp printed it in a pale green color. One seahorse is predominantly white and the second is shaded with the pale green. Although Victoria’s reign was of an earthly human power, with all the subtle references drawn to present Victoria’s reign being symbolic as a godly rule, the color of the seahorses could possibly have another meaning. Similarly, it is written in the Bible in the book of Revelation, chapter 6, that there are four different colored horses. The white horse is symbolic of victory and the pale green horse being the symbol of death.

Could the symbolism of these two seahorses on the stamp have been another message created to evoke Vitoria’s godly power as well as depict the mythological power of Poseidon? The stamp was created nearly 130 years ago, but knowing the history of rulership of the Victorian age around the world, is it possible that the symbolic interpretations that appear to be drawn into the stamps image could be more than coincidence? Could it be more than just an interesting stamp to look at?

In an attempt to share a Shakespearean style thought I wondered WHAT MIGHT SHAKESPEARE SAY

Of earthly power and reign
can man or woman of flesh and bone
truly compare to the illusions of the ancient lore?

Wielding a golden scepter is a valiant effort
offered in stories and legends of creatures of the heavenly realm in battles between giants and beasts.

Whether they set foot on earth
or purged their adversaries in their celestial kingdom
tales of old whilst always encourage
the imagination of the hearer.

Mere mortal man, if even having accepted
symbolic godly power bestowed upon them,
doth pursue a path of governance
that teeters on victory or death
and leaves a story for history.

Dreams of the strength of gods and creatures alike
will forge a common thread of belief amongst man.
Through time they whilst compare their acts of strength
with that of the divine.

Once their reign is complete
and the souls of earthly rulers has expired,
the romances of their métier and power
might exceed the veracity that is whispered
and is hoped to be remembered.

In the end, we are all only human.



Referenced Articles


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Barbados

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Barbados

https://www.rmg.co.uk/explore/who-were-real-pirates-caribbean

https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1837.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocampus_(mythology)

https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/blog/seahorses-in-myth-legend-art/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Poseidon

https://www.stanleygibbons.com/dispatches/KGV-seahorses-art

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/iha-ships-boats-1840-1950/heag133-ships-and-boats-1840-1950-iha/

https://thecrownchronicles.co.uk/explanation/symbols-of-monarchy-sovereigns-orb-and-sceptre/

https://greekmythology.wikia.org/wiki/Trident_of_Poseidon

https://mythsymbolsandplay.typepad.com/my-blog/2016/06/shell-symbolism-.

html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus .