Canada-2 Postage Stamps from the 1908 Tercentenary of Quebec Set-Illustrated

Illustrated below are the 1 Cent value and the 2 Cent value of the 1908 Canadian stamp set commemorating the Tercentenary of Quebec. The set consisted of a Half Cent (sepia), 1 Cent (blue-green), 2 Cent (carmine), 5 Cent (indigo), 7 Cent (olive-green), 10 Cent (violet), 15 Cent (brown-orange), and 20 Cent (dull-brown). The British monarch of the time was Edward the 7th, the 2 Cent value bears his portrait with that of his wife Mary.

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

Illustrated below is the 1935 Silver Jubilee stamp set of George the 5th. The set consists of a 2 Penny (scarlet), 3 Penny (blue) and 2 Shilling (bright violet). The 3 Penny (blue) and  2 Shilling (bright violet) issues are more highly valued postally used in very fine condition. The King is shown riding the horse "Anzac".

France-The 1871 Ceres Head-Two 25 Cent Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below are two examples of the 1871 "Ceres Head" designs(Ceres was the Roman Goddess of plant growth) of the earliest French postage issues. Originally issued in the mid 19th Century. Then re-issued in 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War. The examples show early dot and post office number cancellations used in France at the time.

New Zealand-A 1920 Halfpenny Victory Postage Stamp-Overprint-Illustrated

Below is an example of the Halfpenny Victory stamps overprinted with the value of Twopence. This was done in 1922. As the CDS shows plainly.

New Zealand-Two Varieties of the 1920 1 Penny Victory Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below are two varieties of the 1920 "Victory" stamp.The design shows "Peace" and a Lion part of a set issued for the end of World War 1. The set consisted of a Halfpenny (green), 1 Penny (carmine-red + bright carmine-illustrated below), 1 Penny/Halfpenny (brown-orange), 3 pence (chocolate), Sixpence (violet) and 1 Shilling (orange-red).

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

Illustrated below is the 1935 George the 5th Silver Jubilee stamp set. The set consists of a Halpenny (green), 1 Penny (carmine), and Sixpence (red-orange). The set is more highly valued in a very fine lightly used postally condition.

New Zealand-Queen Victoria Sixpence (Brown)-1896 Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated is the Die 2 version of the 1896 New Zealand Queen Victoria issue Sixpenny (brown). the design was issued from 1882-1900 and multiple varieties exist. Die 1 was thought be unsatisfactory in some respects, the hair at the top of the head being badly defined. In 1891 advertisments were applied to the back of the issue, the ndiscontinued in 1893. Some colour and paper variations also exist.

The First Ethiopian Postage Stamps-2 Examples-Illustrated

Illustrated below are two of the first postage stamps issued in Ethiopia. A set of seven stamps were designed by the French engraver Louis-Eugene Mouchon. Four bore the portrait of Menelik the 2nd, the ruler of Ethiopia at the time, three bore the heraldic "Lion of Judah" emblem of the Ethiopian state since ancient times. Delivered to Ethiopia in 1893 the stamps were issued in 1895. The two examples below are of the portrait of Menelik.

Kingdom of Burundi-Tribal Costume Postage Stamp Set-Illustrated

Illustrated below is a stamp set issued in the early 1960's when Burundi first became independent. Formerly part of the Belgian Colony of Ruanda-Urundi. The first Burundian stamps used the stamps of Ruanda-Urundi with the overprint Royaume de Burundi. Thereafter they produced their own stamps. The country became a republic in the 1970's. The details are of the 1 Franc and 20 Franc values.

CHINA-Peoples Republic-An Old Album Page of Early Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below is an old album page of early Chinese Peoples Rublic stamps. With details of some of the stamps. To enlarge the album page click on it then back page to return to the blog.

Great Britain-The Clydesdale Bank 1 Pound Banknote-1967-Illustrated

Illustrated below is an example of the 1 Pound note issued by the Clydesdale bank of Scotland. Founded in Glasgow in 1838 the bank is one of three Scottish banks with the right to issue banknotes. Now however it has become a subsiduary of a large multi-national bank. The Clydesdale bank ceased issuing 1 pound notes in 1980 some commemorative notes of higher values are still issued in its name.

China-The 5000 Custom Gold Unit Note-1947-Illustrated

(See details of the history of the "Custom Gold Unit 500" blog post). Illustrated are the obverse and reverse of the 5000 Custom Gold Unit. The second issue of CGU's were printed by many different banknote printing companies in China and overseas. This example was printed by the Chung Hwa Book Company.

China-The 1000 Custom Gold Unit Note-1947-Illustrated

Below are the obverse and reverse of the 1000 Custom Gold Unit used originally for payment of custom duties at Chinese ports. Later used as currency from 1942 onwards. (See history of Custom Gold Units "500 CGU's" this blog).

China-500 Customs Gold Unit-Note-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the obverse and reverse of the Custom Gold Unit note. The notes were not originally an issue of banknotes but were used to pay customs duties at Chinese ports. This 500 CGU note was issued in 1947 during a period of inflation. Values went very high as inflation progressed starting at 500 and progressing to 250,000. Originally issued in 1930 in values of 0.10, 0.20,1, 5,10, 20,50,100, and printed by the American Bank Note Company Custom Gold Units were issued as currency in 1942 and thereafter printed by a variety of British, American and Chinese note printers. This example was printed by the Security Banknote Company. The obverse bears a portrait of Sun Yat Sen the Chinese Nationalist leader and the reverse an illustration of the Shanghai Customs House.

Two Designs of the British 10 Shilling Banknote-Illustrated

Illustrated below are the obverse and reverse of the British 10 Shilling banknote. The first 10 Shilling note was introduced in November of 1928 and the upper illustration is the same design. The 10 Shilling note was not dated and year of issue is determined by the signature of the Chief Cashier in these examples L.K. O'Brien. The design of the first example was discontinued in October of 1961 and thereafter the a new design was introduced bearing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd. This design continued until the note was withdrawn in November 1970 after the introduction of decimalization and the 50 Pence coin.

A Queen Elizabeth 50 Cent Bahamas Banknote-1974-Illustrated

Illustrated is the obverse and reverse of the Queen Elizabeth 1974 issue of the Bahamas 50 Cent banknote.

Two Banknotes of the Dutch East Indies-Issued During World War 2-Illustrated

Illustrated below are the obverse and reverse of two banknotes with values of a Half Gulden and 1 Gulden. The notes were printed in America in 1942 and dated 1943 by the American Bank Note Company (see detail). Although the Japanese had by 1942 occupied the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) the notes were printed on the orders of the Dutch Government in Exile for their return to Indonesia. The notes were known as NICA Gulden (Netherland Indies Civil Adminstration Gulden). The notes bear a portrait of Queen Wilhelma the 2nd the reigning monarch of Holland.

Japanese Invasion Money-Dutch East Indies-1,5,10 Cent Notes-Illustrated

Illustrated below are the obverse and reverse of three banknotes issued by Japanese occupying forces during World War 2. These notess were current for the islands of Indonesia, then known as the Dutch East Indies.

NAWANAGAR-1893 Postage Stamp Issue-Old Indian Princely State Stamps-Illustrated

Issued in 1893 during the reign of Jam Vibhaji (1882-1895) and in values of Docras. The set consists of a 1 Docra (black), 2 Docra (deep-green), and 3 Docra (orange-yellow/with orange shades). The stamps were issued without gum and are more highly valued in a very fine used state. Intaglio seals were used in postal cancellations (three examples are shown here). Nawanagar stamps become obsolete in 1895.

SIRMOOR-Indian Princely States-The 1892 Stamp Reprints of the First Issue-Illustrated

Illustrated below are the reprints of the original stamp issue of 1878. MAde about 1891 the reprints were issued in 1892 to supply stamp collectors but little interest was shown at the time and the stamps were used postally within Sirmoor. The reprint had the same colour and value as the originals (a 1 Pice deep-green also exists as a reprint) but can be identified by the outside edge that mimics stamp perforations, the printers copying the designs from a stamp dealers catalogue. The two details below compare the original and the reprint.

SIRMOOR-1878-The First Postage Stamps-Indian Princely States-Illustrated

Illustrated below are the first postage stamps issued in Sirmoor during the rule of Raja Shamsher Parkesh (1886-1898) they were issued between 1878 and 1880. Their values were 1 Pice (pale-green) issued in 1878 and 1 Pice (blue) in 1880. They are more highly valued in a very fine postally used state than mint.

2 and a Quarter Anna Postage Stamp Issues-Cohin Maharaja Stamps-Illustrated

Below are some of the 2 Annas and a Quarter (yellow-green) issued by the Cochin Maharajas. Examples shown are of Sri Rama Varma the 3rd, Kerala Varma the 2nd and Ravi Varma. The detail shows the striking difference between the recees printing in London by Perkins Bacon and the litho printings of Associated Printers of Madras. The clarity and colour of the recess printed stamp is very obvious.

The 2 Anna (grey)-Cochin Maharaja Postage Stamps

Illustrated below are some of the 2 Anna issues of 4 of the Cochin Maharajas. From upper left are Sri Rama Varma the 1st, 2nd and 3rd with an examples of the Kerala Varma the 3rd and Ravi Varma issues. the details are of the Rama VArma the 2nd and blow that Ravi Varma,

Early Indian Stamps-The 1 Anna 8 Pies Issue of Sri Rama Varma the 3rd-Illustrated

Below are some of the varieties of the 1 Anna 8 Pies issue of Sri Rama Varma the 3rd, Maharaja of Cochin 1932-1941. The stamps were issued between 1933 and 1938. Many of the stamps were overprinted for official use and/or surcharged also, with others with altered overprint values. Four of the varieties are shown.

2 Varieties of the 1 Anna 3 Pies Postage Stamp Issue of Sri Ravi Varma of Cochin

Below are two varieties of the 1 Anna 3 Pies (magenta) issue of Sri Ravi Varma, Maharaja of Cochin 1943-1946. Issued with 2 varieties of portrait between 1944 and 1948.

Cochin Postage Stamps-The 1 and a Half Anna-Sri Rama Varma the 2nd-Illustrated

Below is an example of the 1and a Half Anna (purple) stamp of Sri Rama Varma the 2nd. Maharaja of Cochin 1914-1932. See this blog for other issues of the Cochin Maharajas.