1903. 2 cents Coat of Arms. Cancelled Christiansted June 4 1903.

Earliest recorded 2 cents Coat of Arms postmark on St. Croix and cancelled on the last day of authorized use of bisects on St. Croix. An unique postmark.

The bisected 4 cents era (January 20 - June 4) was highly influenced by the late arrival of the 2 cents Coat of Arms from Denmark. One could argue that if the 2 cents Coat of Arms had been produced in a timely manner there would have been no era of the bisected 4 cents - so to whoever responsible for that delay we are very grateful.

The production of 2 cents Coat of Arms had been delayed significantly and therefore the Post Offices on DWI had no choice - but to extend the use of bisected 4 cents until the arrival of the new 2 cents stamps.

The earliest reported use of 2 cents Coat of Arms is May 27. The use of the bisected 4 cents came to an end on St. Thomas May 23 - so they would have had to use i.e. 1 cent Coat of Arms and 2 cents cards for a short period of time.

It is stated in DWI literature (Engstrom article) - that the 2 cents Coat of Arms arrived at Christiansted on June 5 and Frederiksted June 8. However - I have a partial with a 2 cents Coat of Arms cancelled Christiansted June 4 (see above photo). To my knowledge the earliest cover with a 2 cents Coat of Arms cancelled Christiansted is June 11 1903.

This June 4 cancelled stamp shows that the 2 cents Coat of Arms was present on St. Croix on the last day of authorized use of bisected 4 cents and not as previously reported arriving on June 5.

Furthermore one could argue that the First day of use of the 2 cents Coat of Arms on St. Croix is June 4 1903.

Please share your knowledge if you have seen 2 cents on covers cancelled earlier than June 11 from either Christiansted or Frederiksted.