Montserrat is a lush, mountainous volcanic island located in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea.It is a British Overseas Territory often referred to as the "Emerald Isle of the Caribbean" due to its striking resemblance to coastal Ireland and its strong historical Irish heritage.
Key Facts at a Glance
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Status: British Overseas Territory
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Capital: Plymouth (de jure); government functions and administration have relocated to Brades and the surrounding northern area.
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Population: ~4,300 to 5,000 residents
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Area: Approximately 102 square kilometers (39 sq mi)
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Name Origin: Sighted and named by Christopher Columbus in 1493 after the famous Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey in Spain.
The Volcanic Crisis & Geography
Montserrat is globally famous for its dramatic, active volcanic history:
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The Soufrière Hills Volcano: Located in the southern half of the island, this volcano erupted violently starting on July 18, 1995, after remaining dormant for centuries.
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The Exclusion Zone: The eruptions forced the evacuation of more than two-thirds of the island’s population. The entire southern half of Montserrat—including the former capital of Plymouth—remains an uninhabitable exclusion zone buried under deep layers of ash, rock, and mud (often likened to a modern-day Pompeii).
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Current Living Areas: Life, government operations, and tourism are centered entirely in the safe, picturesque northern third of the island, anchored by towns like Brades, Look Out, and Salem.
Culture, Economy, and Nature
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Irish Heritage: Montserrat is the only place outside of Ireland where St. Patrick's Day is observed as an official public holiday. The celebration also commemorates a historic 1768 slave rebellion on the island.
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Music & Tourism: In the 1970s and 1980s, Beatles producer George Martin founded AIR Studios Montserrat, drawing legendary rock bands (like The Police, Paul McCartney, and Elton John) to record on the island before it was damaged by Hurricane Hugo (1989) and later the volcano. Today, tourism focuses heavily on ecotourism, hiking, diving, and volcano sightseeing via the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO).
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Wildlife: The island is famous for its unique biodiversity, including the critically endangered "mountain chicken" (a large native species of frog) and the endemic Montserrat oriole bird.
Face value | Family number | English name | Scientific name
1970.01
02.07.1970
Birds
Chalk-surfaced paper
1c
66
Red-footed Booby Sula sula
2c
104
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
3c
65
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
4c
70
Great Egret Ardea alba
5c
73
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
10c
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
15c
24
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
20c
57
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
25c
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
50c
21
Green-throated Carib Eulampis holosericeus
1$
21
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus
2.50$
70
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
5$
21
Purple-throated Carib Eulampis jugularis
1971.01
22.01.1971
Birds
Glazed paper
1970.01
2c
104
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
5c
73
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
10c
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
15c
24
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
20c
57
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
25c
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
50c
21
Green-throated Carib Eulampis holosericeus
1$
21
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus
2.50$
70
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
5$
21
Purple-throated Carib Eulampis jugularis
1974.01
02.10.1974
Surcharge on 1970.01
2c
21
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus
20c
21
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus
1974.02
30.10.1974
Birds
10$
226
Forest Thrush Turdus lherminieri
1976.01
12.04.1976
Surcharge on 1970.01
2c
73
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
30c
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
45c
65
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
1976.02
12.04.1976
Overprint O.H.M.S on 1970.01, 1974.02
5c
73
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
10c
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
30c
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
45c
65
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
5$
21
Purple-throated Carib Eulampis jugularis
10$
226
Forest Thrush Turdus lherminieri
1981.01
18.05.1981
Montserrat National Trust
50c
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
65c
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
= 50c
and
70
Western Cattle Egret Ardea ibis
1.50$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
= 50c
2.50$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
= 50c
1983.01
24.05.1983
Hummingbirds
35c
21
Blue-headed Hummingbird Riccordia bicolor
75c
21
Green-throated Carib Eulampis holosericeus
2$
21
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus
3$
21
Purple-throated Carib Eulampis jugularis
1984.01
28.05.1984
Birds
5c
70
Western Cattle Egret Ardea ibis
10c
252
Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris
15c
30
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
20c
66
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
25c
161
Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus
40c
223
Scaly-breasted Thrasher Allenia fusca
55c
52
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
70c
69
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
90c
70
Green Heron Butorides virescens
1$
90
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
1.15$
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
3$
104
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
5$
226
Forest Thrush Turdus lherminieri
7.50$
70
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
10$
27
Bridled Quail-Dove Geotrygon mystacea
1985.01
08.02.1985
National emblems
3v set
3$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
1985.02
12.04.1985
Overprint OHMS on 1984.01
5c
70
Western Cattle Egret Ardea ibis
10c
252
Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris
15c
30
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
20c
66
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
25c
161
Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus
40c
223
Scaly-breasted Thrasher Allenia fusca
55c
52
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
70c
69
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
90c
70
Green Heron Butorides virescens
1$
90
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
1.15$
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
3$
104
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
5$
226
Forest Thrush Turdus lherminieri
10$
27
Bridled Quail-Dove Geotrygon mystacea
1985.03
29.11.1985
Audubon
15c
253
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
15c
253
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
30c
252
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
30c
244
Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
55c
244
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
55c
252
Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii
2.50$
240
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
2.50$
255
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea
1987.01
06.04.1987
Surcharge on 1984.01
5c
69
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
1$
66
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
1.15$
252
Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris
1.50$
70
Green Heron Butorides virescens
2.30$
104
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
1987.02
29.11.1987
Royal wedding anniversary
"Edingburgh"
1984.01
5c
70
Green Heron Butorides virescens
1.15$
252
Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris
2.30$
161
Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus
5$
223
Scaly-breasted Thrasher Allenia fusca
1987.03
18.12.1987
Royal wedding anniversary
"Edinburgh"
1984.01
5c
70
Green Heron Butorides virescens
1.15$
252
Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris
2.30$
161
Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus
5$
223
Scaly-breasted Thrasher Allenia fusca
1988.01
02.04.1988
Easter
90c
65
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
1.15$
122
Caribbean Elaenia Elaenia martinica
1.50$
69
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
3.50$
21
Purple-throated Carib Eulampis jugularis
1988.02
02.04.1988
Easter
5$
73
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
MS
1988.03
04.12.1988
Christmas
90c
49
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
1.15$
49
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
3.50$
66
Red-footed Booby Sula sula
1988.04
04.12.1988
Christmas
5$
63
Sargasso Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri
MS
1991.01
29.05.1991
Domestic birds
4v set
1.50$
13
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
3.50$
11
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
1992.01
16.01.1992
Discovery of America
7v sheet
1.50$
107
Scarlet Macaw Ara macao
and
91
Jamaican Tody Todus todus
and
21
Buffy Hummingbird Leucippus fallax
and
21
Amethyst Woodstar Calliphlox amethystina
1992.02
30.06.1992
Montserrat Oriole
1$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
1.15$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
1.50$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
3.60$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
1992.03
03.07.1992
Overprint OHMS on 1991.01
1$
11
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
1.50$
13
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
1993.01
05.10.1993
Inscription ISLAND DECLARED...
7v sheet
1992.01
1.50$
107
Scarlet Macaw Ara macao
and
91
Jamaican Tody Todus todus
and
21
Buffy Hummingbird Leucippus fallax
and
21
Amethyst Woodstar Calliphlox amethystina
1997.01
28.01.1997
Birds
1$
75
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
1.15$
168
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
1.50$
53
Great Skua Stercorarius skua
3.45$
52
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
1997.02
28.01.1997
Birds
4.50$
75
King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa
MS
1997.03
29.05.1997
PACIFIC 97
9v sheet
3.45$
52
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
1997.01
1997.04
23.06.1997
Active Volcano
9v sheet
1.50$
24
Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
1.50$
21
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus
1997.05
29.12.1997
Royal Albert Hall
9v sheet
1997.04
1.50$
24
Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
1.50$
21
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus
2001.01
26.03.2001
Caribbean birds
1$
190
Golden Swallow Tachycineta euchrysea
1.15$
27
Crested Quail-Dove Geotrygon versicolor
1.50$
226
Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus
5$
102
Fernandina's Flicker Colaptes fernandinae
2001.02
26.03.2001
Caribbean birds
8$
107
St. Vincent Amazon Amazona guildingii
MS
2002.01
29.11.2002
Wild flowers of Montserrat
4v set
1.50$
240
Lesser Antillean Euphonia Chlorophonia flavifrons
2002.02
29.11.2002
Wild flowers of Montserrat
8$
256
Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus
MS
2003.01
01.12.2003
Birds of the Caribbean
90c
90
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
1.15$
253
Mangrove Warbler Setophaga petechia
1.50$
253
Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina
5$
177
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
2003.02
01.12.2003
Birds of the Caribbean
Sheet
Click on thumbnail to launch image in popup 
1.50$
69
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
1.50$
52
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
1.50$
57
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
1.50$
226
Spectacled Thrush Turdus nudigenis
1.50$
21
Glittering-throated Emerald Chionomesa fimbriata
1.50$
252
Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris
2003.03
01.12.2003
Birds of the Caribbean
6$
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
MS
2005.01
25.04.2005
Seabirds of the Caribbean
Sheet
2.30$
73
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
2.30$
57
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
2.30$
68
Neotropic Cormorant Nannopterum brasilianum
2.30$
61
Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata
2005.02
25.04.2005
Seabird of the Caribbean
6$
52
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
MS
2006.01
01.04.2006
Overprint 30th ANNIVERSARY...on previous issues
1$
190
Golden Swallow Tachycineta euchrysea
2001.01
2007.01
11.10.2007
Parrots of the Caribbean
Sheet
3.40$
107
Red-and-green Macaw Ara chloropterus
3.40$
107
Mitred Parakeet Psittacara mitratus
3.40$
107
Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis
3.40$
107
Blue-and-yellow Macaw Ara ararauna
2007.02
11.10.2007
Parrots of the Caribbean
7$
107
Hyacinth Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
MS
2008.01
03.07.2008
Endangered animals
6v sheet
2.25$
78
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
2008.02
30.09.2008
UWI, The University of the West Indies
2v set
5$
73
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
2009.01
01.04.2009
Birds of Montserrat
Sheet
2.75$
24
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
2.75$
104
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
2.75$
30
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
2.75$
70
Western Cattle Egret Ardea ibis
2009.02
01.04.2009
Birds of Montserrat
7$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
MS
2010.01
29.10.2010
WWF
Sheet with 2 sets
1.10$
70
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
2.25$
70
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
2.50$
70
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
2.75$
70
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
2010.02
29.10.2010
WWF
Sheet with 4 sets
Click on thumbnail to launch image in popup 
1.10$
70
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
2.25$
70
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
2.50$
70
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
2.75$
70
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
2011.01
11.11.2011
Fauna of China
4v sheet
1.10$
70
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
2012.01
28.02.2012
Ducks
Sheet
3.50$
8
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
3.50$
8
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
3.50$
8
Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
3.50$
8
Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors
2012.02
28.02.2012
Ducks
6$
8
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata
MS
2014.01
22.04.2014
Hummingbirds
Sheet
3$
21
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer Chalybura urochrysia
3$
21
White-bellied Mountaingem Lampornis hemileucus
3$
21
Olivaceous Thornbill Chalcostigma olivaceum
3$
21
White-bellied Emerald Chlorestes candida
2014.02
22.04.2014
Hummingbirds
Sheet
3.50$
21
Chestnut-breasted Coronet Boissonneaua matthewsii
3.50$
21
Collared Inca Coeligena torquata
2016.01
28.03.2016
Birds of Montserrat
Sheet
3.25$
223
Brown Trembler Cinclocerthia ruficauda
3.25$
20
American Black Swift Cypseloides niger
3.25$
49
Willet Tringa semipalmata
3.25$
52
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
2016.02
28.03.2016
Birds of Montserrat
7$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
MS
2018.01
18.08.2018
Birds
Sheet
4$
21
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl
5$
21
Glittering-throated Emerald Chionomesa fimbriata
6$
21
Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila
7$
21
White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora
2018.02
18.08.2018
Birds
11$
252
Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi
MS
2019.01
15.08.2019
Flamingo
Sheet
4$
35
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
5$
35
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
6$
35
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
7$
35
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
2019.02
15.08.2019
Flamingo
12$
35
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
MS
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