__ê 1- CU^ T r - d ! ^ COUNTRIES AND STAMPS. COUNTRIES AND STAMPS. TH E BRITISH EMPIRE. BV HARRIET^ COL VILE {Author of “M î G randmother's A lbüm,” etc., etc., etc.) B oscombe, Bournemouth : CHAS. J. ENDLE & Co L ondon : W. J. P. M onckton & Co., F l e e t St r p ě t , E.C, 1906, PREFACE. T he collecting of Postage Stamps has become so universal a hobby that it is regarded in some families as a phase through which each boy-member passes in turn, selling his collection— perhaps to his life-long regret— when the mania subsides, or when he happens to be in want of a little ready cash. For this reason, and because stamps are too often regarded solely at their commercial value, philately, or stamp collecting, is perhaps underrated as a means of education. If there is not much to be learnt of the history of some countries by their postage stamps, that of many others may be clearly traced in the pages of a well-arranged stamp album, even apart from the extremely interesting ■** commemoration ” issues occupying an important place in modern philately. It is, however, obvious that such a collection in­ terprets history only to the student already acquainted with the facts it suggests. Stamp catalogues and works dealing with technical philatelic details abound, but there exists, apparently, no simple historical guide by which the young collector can interpret the stories told— in how many languages !— by the world’s postage stamps. Having access to a good library, the present writer has gleaned from various sources information not found in any single book ; and trusts that these briefly-told histories of British Colonies and their adhesive postage stamps may find a welcome amongst young philatelists throughout the vast Empire to which they are proud to belong. , H. Е. C. I ( I* ‘ I ü, .li ■ t.. : л if . « COUNTRIES & STAMPS The Adhesive Postage Stamps of Great Britain. N 1837, the year of the Queen’s accession to the I Throne, Mr. (afterwards Sir Rowland) Hill pub­ lished, in the form of a pamphlet, his scheme for a cheap prepaid postage. On July 2nd, 1890, the “ Post Office Jubilee of Uniform Penny Postage ” was celebrated at the South Kensington Museum, a penny commemorative envelope being issued, ornamented with drawings of “ The North Mail (coach) making for Highgate, 1790, at 8 miles an hour” ; “ The North Mail (train), 1890, approaching Carlisle at 48 miles an hour ” ; a postman of 1840 demanding letter-rates varying from 4d. to 2s. 6d. ; and the modern postman, bearing letters that have been carried from all parts of the British Empire for the prepaid sum of one penny ! The card enclosed in this envelope bore a portrait of Sir Rowland Hill above the grateful words : “ He gave us penny postage.” The “ gift” appeared in two forms : (1) An envelope designed by Mr. Mulready, r.a., which was quickly ridiculed to death ; (2) an “ adhesive label,” ij., the black penny stamp of 1840, bearing the pretty portrait of Queen Victoria— adapted from a 'medal commemo- 3 Countries and Stamps. rating her entrance into the City in 1837— which continued to frank letters in Great Britain until the end of the year 1901. A 2d. Mulready envelope and a 2d, blue stamp also appeared in 1840, this last being distinguished from later issues by the absence of the white lines running under the word “ Postage,” and over the value. In 1841 the colour of the stamp was changed to red, as the black postmark, which succeeded the easily- removed red obliteration, proved too indistinct on the black stamp. Between 1847 and 1854 three higher values were issued, in which the Queen’s Head is embossed within an octagonal frame. They are of some historical interest, the green is. value marking the then postal rate to many of the British Colonies ; the iod. brown, to France; and the 6d. violet, to Belgium. The two first are on “ Dickinson ” paper with silk threads. The minute plate numbers on these stamps are difficult to detect'; they occur on the base of the bust by the initials of the engraver, William Wyon. Up to this time all stamps were imperforate, having to be cut from the sheet. In 1848 Mr. Henry Archer suggested the method of separating the “ adhesive labels ” by a perforating machine, which led to his receiving ^4,000 from the Government for his invention and to the issue of the first perforated stamps in 1854. These were similar in value and design to the imper­ forate id. and 2d. “ labels,” having stars in the upper corners and letters in the lower corners of the stamps ; but, in 1855, the watermark at the back of the stamp was changed from a small to a large crown. These so-called watermarks, which can generally be G reat Britain. 3 detected by wetting the stamp and placing it against a dark object, are of great importance to collectors in deciding the date of issue. The number of perforations should be observed for the same reason ; hence a per­ foration-gauge is indispensable for the general collector, although, after the changes between 16 and 14 had occurred for a few months, the latter perforation came to stay, in the case of British stamps. Certain variations in the colour of the paper, and the difference between Die 1 and Die 11— this last being the original plate retouched by the engraver, Mr. William Humphrys — are also to be observed in the stamps of 1854. Those of 1856 and 1857, also the pennies of 1855, are all of Die 11. In 1858 the stars in the upper corners of the stamps were abolished, check letters being introduced in each angle. The “ penny red ” remained in circulation until 1880, the shades of colour varying from a deep red­ brown to pale rose. The plate numbers on these “ line engraved” id. and 2d. stamps are to be found in the border; the numbers extend from 71 to 225 (omitting 75, 126, and 128) in the penny, and from 7 to 15 (omitting 10 and 11) in the twopenny values. In 1855 the first of the “ surface-printed” stamps appeared in the 4d. rose, on blue or white paper, water­ marked a small garter. In 1856 the watermark was a medium garter, and in 1857 a large garter, whilst the 6d. and is. values of that year were watermarked four flowers. The stamps issued in 1863 are distinguished by small white letters in the four corners ; and, in the second plates of the 4d., 6d., and gd. stamps, by a tiny white “ hair line ” across each corner. u 4 Countries and Stamps. In 1865-7 large white letters took the place of the small. Some of the designs, as that of the 3d. rose, were continued a long time, and the date of issue is determined by the plate number, which, in these designs is plainly visible. The little line-engraved ^d. stamp (white corner letters) of 1870 requires more attention, the number being involved in the border. The i£d. lake of the same date (coloured corner letters) is found with only one plate number, 3 ; apparently the second plate was not issued, and the first issue is un-numbered. Coloured corner letters next appeared on stamps of the old designs, and on the new id. Venetian red of January ist, 1880 ; this stamp remained in circulation only eighteen months ; it was succeeded by the id. lilac which was still in use, although of a deeper colour, when on January 22nd, 1901, the British Empire mourned the loss of its beloved Queen ; the first lilac stamp is dis­ tinguished by 14, instead of 16, dots in the corners. The gd., ijd., 2d. and 3d. stamps of 1880 have no check letters. In 1883 the 3d. and 6d. stamps had their values sur­ charged in carmine as an additional protection against cleaning. The 2^d. lilac-rose stamp of 1875 marks the foundation of the Postal Uuion ; the colour was changed to blue in 1880. The inharmonious little “ Unified Series” (inscribed Postage and Revenue) of 1883-4 gave place to the pretty “ Jubilee” issue in 1887. The young collector should obtain the bi-coloured 4^d. stamp which, although not issued till 1892, is classed with the latter series, as its withdrawal marked the change in the parcel post rates in 1897. In 1900 the $d. orange was changed to green, and the is. green to green and red. Great Britain. 5 The first four values bearing the portrait of King Edward VII. (£d., id., 2^d. and 6d.) appeared on January ist, 1902, the remaining values being issued in the course of that year. Towards the end of 1904, the Jd. blue green— being too easily confused with the 2jd. blue by artificial light—was changed to pale yellow green. Several values appeared in 1905 on what is known as “ Safety” paper— i.e. a paper with a chalked surface. It is recognised by the additional thickness and bright colouring of the stamps, which cannot be cleaned with­ out injury ; consequently great care is needed in removing a used specimen from its envelope. This slight sketch would be incomplete without some allusion to the Official Stamps* withdrawn in May, 1904. They date from the year 1882 when I. R. Official (Inland Revenue) was surcharged on the current £d. green, id. lilac, and 6d. grey ; to be followed hy the id. slate, 3İd. lilac, and several higher values in 1885, and later on some of the Jubilee issues.