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Redonda is a small island in the Caribbean, and a dependency of Antigua. It
is the third and smallest of the Antiguan group, and is uninhabited. It lies
30 miles from Antigua's nearest point, half way between Montserrat and Nevis
with Montserrat being 13 miles away; about one mile long north to south,
less than half a mile wide; and rises nearly 1000 feet. It was sighted by
Columbus on the same day that he discovered Antigua, and he named the island
"Santa Maria La Redonda" (St. Mary the Round).

Phosphate was mined on the island from the 1860's to about 1920. Redonda was
annexed by Antigua in 1869 and labourers from Montserrat were employed on
the island. The island has been unoccupied since 1930. Goats, rats, crabs
and sea birds only inhabit the island.

In 1865 Matthew Sheill decided to claim the island as a fiefdom for his son,
Matthew Phipps Sheill, who was named King Phillipe I by his father. King
Phillipe soon gave his fiefdom to an English poet who named himself King
Juan I. Dukes and duchesses were created by Juan I who in turn appointed
another Englishman as his successor who now calls himself King Juan II.

Redonda has issued stamps since 1979 in anticipation of commercial and
tourist development. To date, this has not happened and the island remains
uninhabited. The stamps of Redonda are also valid for use in Antigua.The
Scott number 9106 was assigned previously; it is no longer in use.



acknowledgement: The Australian Stamp Monthly, January, 1991





Redonda

Redonda is a 0.5 square mile island in the eastern Carribean between
Montserrat and Nevis. It is owned by Antigua which began issuing stamps for
Redonda in 1979. Although Redondan stamps are postally valid in Antigua and
Barbuda, they are of questionable philatelic validity since Redonda is
uninhabited. Major catalogs do not carry detailed listings of stamps from
Redonda. The Scott number 9106 was assigned previously; it is no longer in
use. The series honors Nobel Prize winners.