Turks and Caicos

The "Dependency's Badge" definitive design of 1900-1908
features an image of salt being loaded on a sailing ship offshore.

The exploitation of salt on the islands of Grand Turk and Salt Cay began in the middle of the seventeenth century. At first passing ships would stop to rake naturally occuring salt but by the early 1700's settlers from Bermuda arrived and built a small harbour on Salt Cay. The American Revolution brought more loyalist refugees to the islands but efforts to grow cotton and other crops on the islands were not very successful. Salt was the primary source of revenue for the islands with their salt ponds, hot sunny climate and convenient location close to navigation routes. The importance of salt to the islands is reflected on their stamps.

King George VI pictorial definitive designs of 1938-1945
depicting "Raking Salt" and "Salt Industry".

King George VI pictorial definitive designs of August 2, 1950
depicting "Bulk Salt Loading", "Salt Cay", "and "Salt Loading".

"Salt Cay" Queen Elizabeth II definitive design of 1957.

"Salt Industry" Queen Elizabeth II pictorial definitive design of 1967 featuring salt raking
with a windmill in the background.This design was overprinted (1969) and reissued (1971) with decimal denominations.

Commemorative set honouring the salt industry issued October 16, 1975. The designs depict "old windmill at Salt Cay",
"pink salt pans", "salt raking at Salt Cay" and "unprocessed salt waiting for shipment".

Go to the Salty Stamps Home Page.

© Derrick Grose, 2023