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Sunday 6 November 2011

Tax Haven and A Naval Base - Sunday Stamps


Cayman Islands
 The islands were sighted by Columbus in 1503 and named Las Tortugas after the large number of sea turtles swimming in the sea. A 1523 map called them Las Largartos (after alligators or large lizards). In 1530 the name became Caymanes after the Carib word caimán for the marine crocodile.

The Cayman Islands are a British oversea territory and formerly a dependency of Jamaica. Their first constitution was drawn up in September 1959.

Of course they are now noted as a tax haven.

Ceylon
Ceylon is the large island to the South of India, now called the Republic of Sri Lanka. Ceylon was an important naval base for Britain during WWII.

To see what others have chosen for this week's open theme visit Viridian's Sunday Stamps 43.

9 comments:

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

Two more new pieces of information today - Cayman Islands are a tax haven, Ceylon was a naval base. I wonder which two pieces of information are being pushed out of my mind to make room...

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Bob .. interesting the name change for the Cayman Islands .. while Ceylon - that tear drop nation .. with its naval base .. on the way east too ..

Interesting - thank you .. Hilary

Joy said...

Nice idea to have a celebration of the constitution with a bird, looks as though they changed the currency at the same time. Nice island stamps.

Little Nell said...

I always learn something from a visit to you Bob! That stamp with the bird is lovely.

Postcardy said...

I learned a couple of new things from you too.

Lisa B said...

It's lovely the variety of stamps that are posted and the information and history which arise from each stamp.

viridian said...

Thanks for participating, with island nations.

Sreisaat said...

I like your theme for this week, Bob. Cayman Islands is a choice for off-shore accounts of many Hollywood movie crooks :D I love the curvaceous script of the local Sinhala languahe :) I've been to Sri Lanka in 2003 and I've seen a bit of British influence there especially in the province of Nuwara Eliyah which was called the "Little England".

Postcards Crossing

Alfandi said...

Wow..so much stories of crooks with Cayman Islands especially with company set up and banking accounts..but nothing to do with the stamps though..