The Bahamas has issued its own postage stamps since 1859. The country has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since 1974. The circulation of postage stamps began in April 1858 with a batch of British stamps. They were canceled with the postmark “A05” in Nassau. However, British stamps were not used for long; the following year the Bahamas post office became independent from London and began issuing its own stamps on June 10, 1859. The stamps featured the standard portrait of Queen Victoria - the so-called "Head of Chalons", as well as the symbols of the islands and the inscription "INTERINSULAR POSTAGE" ("Inter-island mail"), because at first the stamps had only local circulation, and London continued to be responsible for external mail until May 1860.