Haïti, is a country in the West Indies. It covers the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which lies between Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. Most of Haïti is mountainous, and the country's name comes from an Indian word that means high ground. Haïti has been independent since 1804 and is the oldest black republic in the world. Christopher Columbus arrived at Hispaniola in 1492 where the ship Santa Maria ran aground and his crew established a Spanish fort near the city of Cap-Haïtien. The fort was named Fort Navidad in what is now Haïti. Most of the population are descendants of black Africans brought to Haïti as slaves. Most live in the overcrowded coastal plains and mountain valleys. Two chains of mountains run across the northern and southern parts of Haïti and form two peninsulas at the west end of the island. The Artibonite Valley of the Artibonite River lies between the mountains in eastern Haïti. Haïti has a tropical climate with mild temperatures.

The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc., Chicago, 2004, pgs. 14-17.

Haïti began printing stamps in 1881, but didn't print Marian stamps until 1942.