Guyana was one of the first areas in the Western Hemisphere to be settled by Europeans. Christopher Columbus once sailed along its coast in 1498. The Dutch founded what is now known as Guyana, and Sir Walter Raleigh searched for the El Dorado, the legendary city of gold in 1595. Guyana became an independent nation in 1966, and Georgetown is not only the capital but the largest city. East Indians, and Africans make up for most of the population. Both were brought over to work the plantations as slaves. The Amerindians, Europeans, and Chinese make up the balance of people that live and work in Guyana. Guyana is broken up in three different regions: the coastal plain, inland forest, and the highland. About 95% of the people live on the coastal plain.

The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc., Chicago, 2000, pgs. 445-446.

Guyana began printing stamps in 1966, and stamp on Mary began in 1970.