The George the 5th Two Shillings and Sixpence "Sea Horses" An Earlier and Later Printing Compared-Illustrated

First issued in 1913 and printed by Waterlow Brothers and Layton the Sea Horses were subsequently printed in 1915 by De La Rue and Co and again in 1918-19 by Bradbury,Wilkinson and Co. the original Waterlow plates were taken over by De La Rue and some re-working was done resulting in some variation in design details. One very visible difference are the lines behind the profile portrait of George V. Originally only horizontal, reworking added diagonal lines that appear in later printings. The issue at the top of the first illustration is the earliest printing of the stamp. As there were varieties caused by subsequent printings so too in colour. This becomes apparent when two examples of earlier and later printings are placed together. Originally sepia-brown later printings were yellow-brown and olive-brown. The details below show some of these re-engravings that are visible in the later issues.

George the 5th-5 Shilling Sea Horse Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 5 Shilling Sea Horse stamp. With a detail of the portrait medallion.

George the 5th-1935 Silver Jubilee Postage Stamp Set-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1935 George the 5th Silver Jubilee stamp issue. The set consisted of a Halfpenny (green), 1 Penny (scarlet), Penny Halfpenny (red-brown) and 2 Penny Halfpenny (blue). A Prussian blue shade of the 2 Penny Halfpenny is also known and highly valued. Below the set is a detail of the 2Penny Halfpenny.

Queen Victoria-3 Penny 1897- 1892 Jubilee Issue-Yellow Paper

Illustrated below is the 3 Penny value from the Jubilee stamp set of 1897. Of the set three values were printed on coloured paper. The 2 Pence Halfpenny (purple on blue paper), 3 Penny (purple on yellow paper) and 6 Pence (purple on .rose-red paper).

George the 5th-2 Shilling and Sixpence "Sea Horse"-Illustrated

An example below of the George the 5th 2/6 Seahorse issue. Printed between 1913 and 1918 by different printers with corresponding varieties, caused by plate reworkings and colour shades.

Jamaica-Queen Victoria Postage Stamp-1889-1891 1 Penny Issue

Illustrated below are 2 examples of the Jamaican 1 penny (purple and mauve) issue of 1889-1891. One has an interesting cds showing a Half  Way Tree cancellation, a suburb of Kingston still in existence today. The other has a hand cancel of ink pen through the head of Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria-Jamaican Postage Stamp-1883-1897-Type 2 Overprint

Illustrated below is an example of the halfpenny issue from the 1883-1897 set. The set values ran from a halfpenny (yellow-green) to a 5 Shilling (lilac). Only the Halfpenny values were overprinted for official use in 1890-91 and two types of overprint were used. Type 1 with slender letters that measured 17-17and a half mm long. Type 2 in bolder letters measured 15-16 mm. The example below is of type 2 overprint.

A 1983 Solomon Islands Christmas Customs Postage Stamp MInisheet

Illustrated below is the 1983 Solomon Islands issue of  the Christmas Customs minisheet. The Sheet runs in non-consecutive values from 12 Cents to 50 Cents in the centre.

The 1984 Australian Ausipex Postage Stamp Minisheet

Illustrated below is the Australian "Ausipex" Minisheet issued in conjunction with the World Philatelic Exhibition held in Melbourne. There were seven  30 cent values all with reproductions of the first Australian State stamp issues with the seventh stamp the first Federal issue. The details below are of three of the stamps in the sheet.

A South African Stamp Minisheet-South African Workers-1999

Illustrated below is a minisheet issued in South Africa in 1999. It commemorates the manual workers of South Africa.

Queen Victoria Postage Stamps-2 Early Issues from Natal-1870's and 1880's

Illustrated below are two stamps issued for Natal during the reign of Queen Victoria. The first is the 1 penny, part of set issued between 1874 and 1899. The set consisted of the 1 penny (with dull and bright rose shades), 3 penny (blue), 4 pence (brown), 6 pence (bright reddish-violet) and a 5 Shilling value that was issued as (maroon 1874 + 1882),( rose), and (carmine 1889). This example is hand cancelled.

The second example illustrated was issued between 1882 and 1889 with a value of a halfpenny (blue-green). This set consisted of values from a halfpenny to sixpence . The 1 penny (rose/with carmine shades), 3 penny (blue-1884), 3 penny (grey-1889), 4 pence (brown) and Sixpence (mauve).

A 1919 Azerbaijan Democratic Republic Postage Stamp

Illustrated below is an example of an Azerbaijan stamp issued in 1919 during a brief period of independence from Russia. After the First World War when the Russian Empire fell apart many of the smaller satellite states on Russia's border claimed independence with Azerbaijan among them. From 1918-1920 the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was formed and issued a set of 10 stamps known as the Moussavat Set issued in thin white unperforated paper. The example below is of a farmer with wheat crop and has a value of 1 rouble. I have also seen this design with a value of 40 Kop (believed to be a Soviet government re-issue after the Russian take-over of the country)

Republic of Georgia-A 1919 Postage Stamp

Illustrated below is a 1919 issue from Georgia. In the early 19th Century Georgia was annexed by Russia and became part of the Russian Empire. After the collapse of the Empire folowing the Russian Revolution Georgia had a brief period of independence until invaded by Soviet Armies in 1921 and incorporated into the U.S.S.R. During Georgia's brief period of independence stamps were issued with the patron saint of Georgia, St George, as the central motif in their design.

Queen Elizabeth the 2nd-Kenya, Uganda,Tanganyika Postage Stamps

Illustrated below are some of the Queen Elizabeth the 2nd issues for Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika when these now seperate countries were governed as one political entity.

George the 5th and 6th-Continuity of Designs in British Empire Postage Stamps

Illustrated below are two examples of how designs were re-issued for the reigns of different British monarchs with the same value and design with the monarch's portrait the only difference. The examples are of stamps issued for Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika but examples of many British colonies illustrate this. Many of the designs for Elizabeth the 2nd issued for British colonies showed the continuity of design. Psychologically important perhaps for the smooth running of imperial policy even in times of succession and change.

The Last Monarchs of their Countries-Five Portrait Postage Stamps

Illustrated below are 5 stamps each with a portrait of the last monarch of the country. The first example is Queen Liliuokalani last queen of Hawii, below is Czar Nicholas the 2nd last Czar of Russia, below that is Victor Emanuel 3rd, last king of Italy. Hawii became a Republic in 1893, Russia in 1917 and Italy in 1946.

How Postage Stamps Used to be Sold to Collectors-Illustrated

Below are three example of old dealers selling sheets with stamps priced individually and the sheet price.

The stamps were hinged on the sheet and removed  for buyers or sold as a full sheet for a lot price.

Queen Victoria Postage Stamp-The 1878-Plate 16 Sixpence Definitive-Illustrated

Illustrated below is an example of the 1878 issue of the Queen Victoria definitive. In this issue the plate number was indicated in the circle at the corners of the lozenge shape surrounding the portrait. The issue still retained the earlier practice from the  Penny Red of  alphabetic letters in the corners of the stamp. the watermark was a spray of rose.

Queen Victoria-1887-1892-9 Pence Jubilee Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is an example of the 1887 Queen Victoria Jubilee stamp.

Some Edward the 7th 1902-1903 Colonial Postage Stamps

Illustrated below are some examples of the Edward the 7th colonial issues, used throughout the Britain and the Empire, a standard portrait with surrounding design and country of origin different. The sideface portrait is that used in all 1902-1903 issues. Illustrated are issues from The Cape of Good Hope, Fiji, Natal, Transvaal and Ceylon.

Edward the 7th-New Zealand 1909 Halfpenny issue-Postage Stamp

Illustrated below is the New Zealand 1909 Halfpenny issue of Edward th 7th. Issued mainly in booklets some were issued as individual stamps and were not part of a more general issue with a different design and portrait to other Edward the 7th definitives of that year.

New Zealand Postage Stamps-Partial Set of the 1840-1940 Commemorative Issue

In 1940 between the 2nd of January and 8th of March a series of stamps was issued in New Zealand commemorating the Proclamation of British Sovereignty. The values were a Halfpenny (blue-green/above), 1 Penny (chocolate and scarlet), Penny Halfpenny (light-blue and mauve), 2 penny (blue-green and chocolate), 2 Penny Halfpenny (blue-green and blue), 3 penny (purple and carmine), 4 penny (chocolate and lake), 5 Penny (pale-blue and brown), 6 Penny (emerald-green and violet), 7 Penny (black and red) 8 Penny (black and red/issued March 8th with the same design as the 7 Penny value), 9 Penny (olive-green and orange), 1Shilling (sage-green and deep green). (The 7 Penny (black and red) is more highly valued lightly used)