Hamilton’s Postmaster, William B. Perot lived in “Par-La-Ville” at the bottom of the Reid Street and operated his service from the same little building that is the oldest post office in Bermuda today, Perot’s Post Office.

In 1842 Bermuda’s legislature passed an act reducing the inland postal rate to one penny per ounce for letters, following the lead of the mother country. Since 1818 the Postmasters of St. George’s and Hamilton had been allowed to pocket the money paid upon receipt of local letters, in return it was their duty to deliver mail around the island promptly. With this new regulation, Mr. Perot had to sell his services harder to avoid being out of pocket. He continued to receive letters, striking them with his Hamilton date stamp to signify the day of deposit and payment of a penny had been made. In an effort to grow his clientele, Perot cut a slot in his post office door so letters and pennies could be deposited when he was out on his deliveries or after hours. However, he was not able to determine who paid and who hadn’t, and was bound to deliver the letters anyway.

He mentioned this situation to his friend Heyl, the chemist and seems likely he came up with the idea of making provisional “stamps” that could be sold for posting when the Post Office is closed. Mr. Perot began producing “stamps” in limited quantity. He then knew when letters dropped through the slot with the “stamp”, his services were paid for. Perot even gummed the backs of the “stamps”, which he cut in squares and sold individually or in parcels of 12, which sold for a shilling. In 1897 his “stamps” were noticed internationally and the rest is history!

Any collector fortunate enough to have one of the 11 know examples is sitting on a veritable gold mine. The Royal Collection has three. In 1972 the “Postmaster” was worth £7000, in 1972 £125,000 and in 1991 for £184,000! A large plaque by the entrance to “Par-La-Ville” Museum commemorates Postmaster Perot and his “stamps”.
(information from “Counting his Pennies” by Colin Benbow)

Museum open from 10am - 3pm Monday thru Saturday; closed Sundays & Public Holidays.
Located at the junction of Queen Street and Reid Street in Hamilton.