Like much of the West Indies, St. Kitts and Nevis has gone through a number of iterations in its history since being colonized by the Europeans, including historically having Anguilla be part of the federation (until it seceded at the time of independence to remain a British Overseas Territory). Saint Kitts (also known as Saint Christopher) appears to have misnamed on early maps [likely it was supposed to have been Saint James, named by Columbus, but was misprinted as San Cristóbal, which name stuck with early English colonists who, as we know, take delight in nicknames, Kitt being a favorite shortening of Christopher], while Nevis is a mistransliteration of the Spanish Nieves (for Our Lady of the Snows). St. Kitts and Nevis gained Associated State status in 1967, then full independence in 1983, but remains a part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Stamp details: Top left: Issued on: July 19, 1862 From: Charlestown, Nevis MC #1
Top middle: Issued on: April 1, 1870 From: Basseterre, Saint Christopher MC #1
Top right: Issued in: 1903 From: Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis MC #1
Second row: Issued on: February 27, 1967 From: Basseterre, Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla MC #177
Third row left: Issued on: September 4, 1980 From: Basseterre, Saint Kitts MC #39
Third row right: Issued on: September 4, 1980 From: Charlestown, Nevis MC #38
Fourth row left: Issued on: September 19, 1983 From: Basseterre, Saint Kitts MC #111
Fourth row right: Issued on: September 19, 1983 From: Charlestown, Nevis MC #100
Bottom left: Issued on: April 14, 2016 From: Basseterre, Saint Kitts MC #1541
Bottom right: Issued on: April 1, 2016 From: Charlestown, Nevis MC #3143
Recognized as a sovereign state by the UN: Yes (since September 23, 1983) Official name: Saint Kitts and Nevis; Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Member of the Universal Postal Union: Yes (since January 11, 1988)
