A rare and valuable collection of Bermuda stamps was presented to the Bermuda Post Office last week. At a ceremony at the Commissioner?s House in Dockyard, Patricia Harding presented Philatelic Co-ordinator Stanley Taylor with her late husband?s collection of Bermuda stamps.

The collection, which includes stamps from as early as 1865, has an estimated value of $5,800.

Mr. Taylor said that the nature of Bermuda?s stamp production adds to their value as the Post Office does not produce a lot of each stamp, making them very rare.

The stamps were the property of Conway Harding, an avid stamp collector who grew up in Bermuda.

Mr. Harding came to Bermuda in 1929 and began collecting stamps as a hobby.

In the 1960s he had a conversation with one of Bermuda?s Post Master Generals and discovered that his collection was far better than the Post Office?s.

He decided then that when he died he would leave his valuable collection to the Post Office.

Honouring her husband?s wishes, Patricia Harding made the presentation last week commemorating what would have been their 50th wedding anniversary.

Her only request was that the Post Office carry the collection on and display it for people to enjoy.

Mr. Taylor said the stamps would be put on display soon.

?This is a first for the Post Office to get a collection of this sort,? said Mr. Taylor adding that it was almost a definitive collection of Bermuda?s stamps.

He said that it would be nice if this donation could be one of many.