2012 sees the 50th Anniversary of the Granting of Universal Suffrage to Women in the Bahamas and to celebrate this important Anniversary, the Bahamas Post Office is releasing a set of six stamps depicting portraits of some of the main female protagonists in this long struggle.

In February 1961, a Bill entitled "An Act to enable women to have and exercise rights of registration as voters and of voting similar to those accorded to men under the provisions of the General Assembly Elections Act 1959" was passed. It came into effect on June 30, 1962 and the first woman registered to vote just a few days later.

The stamps feature the following major proponents of female suffrage and if a more detailed biography is required on any of these important women, please contact John Smith at Pobjoy Mint.

15c Mary Naomi Mason-Ingraham

25c Georgianna Kathleen Symonette

50c Mabel Cordelia Walker

65c Eugenia Louise Lockhart

70c Dame Albertha Madeline Isaacs

80c Dr. Doris Johnson

The first day cover design shows a female hand placing a vote in a ballot box .

Technical details:

Designer                                Andrew Robinson

Printer                                    BDT International Security Printing Ltd

Process                                 Stochastic Lithography

Perforation                            14 per 2cms

Stamp size                            28.45 x 42.58mm

Sheet Layout                         20 (2 x 10)

Release Date                        10 October, 2012

Production Co-ordination      Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd