Great Britain-A Queen Victoria 1870 Halfpenny Postage Stamp-Plate 3-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the Halfpenny postage stamp issued for Great Britain in 1870. A vary small stamp at approx 19mm wide x 16mm high. The watermark was the word halfpenny in flowing script across three of the stamps.The plate number is illustrated below the stamp illustration and can be seen by the "1" on the left margin of the stamp and the horizontal line dividing the Halfpenny value on the right.

Australia-1935-2 Pence-George the 5th Silver Jubilee-A Plate Block of 4-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1935 issue for Australia commemorating the Silver Jubilee of George the 5th in a plate block of four.

Heligoland-2 1875 Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below are two of the postage stamps issued for Heligoland in 1875. Heligoland is an island off the coast of Germany at one time British but ceded to Germany in 1890. Very few stamps were issued for Heligoland and for a brief time stamps were issued with the value in British and German currency. Shown below are the Halfpenny (2 Pfennigs) and the 2 and a Half Farthings (3 Pfennigs). Both are more highly valued in a lightly postally used condition.

U.S.A.-A 1928 Airmail Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1928 5 Cent airmail stamp issued in the United States. The stamp was not part of a set and was the only airmail stamp printed for that year. The design shows an Air Beacon on Sherman Hill in the Rocky Mountains.

Saxony-A 1 Groschen Imperforate Postage Stamp-1851-Illustrated

Shown below is an example of the 1851 stamp issue in Saxony with a side-view portrait of the then ruler Frederick Augustus the 2nd. The stamp was part of a set of four stamps from a Halfgroschen to 3 Groschen each with the same side-view portrait in black then printed on a different coloured paper. the Halfgroschen on grey, the 1 Groschen on rose, the 2 Groschen on blue and the 3 Groschen on yellow.

Egypt-A 1937 Commemorative Postage Stamp-15th Opthomalogical Congress-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 20 Milliemes value from the set issued in 1937 to commemorate the 15th Opthamological Congress held in Cairo. The set consisted of a 5 Milliemes (brown), 15 Milliemes (purple) and 20 MiIlliemes (blue). The design was the same for each stamp and showed Nekhbet, The Sacred Eye of Horus and Buto from ancient Egyptian mythology.

United States-The 1926 Airmail Postage Stamp Set-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1926 airmail stamp set. The set consisted of three values a 10 Cent (blue), 15 Cent (brown) and 20 Cent (green). The design was an aeroplane set over the map of continental United States.

Haiti-1947-J J Desallines-Commemorative Postage Stamp Set-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the stamp set issued in Haiti in 1947 to commemorate the 141st anniversary of the death of Jean-Jacque Desallines the founder of Haitian Independence. The set consisted of 4 postage values and 1 airmail value with 6 stamps in the set.The 5 Cent value was issued in two colours one green and the other violet. The 20 Cent value was used as airmail with the legend "Avion" printed down the left and right edge of the design.

Russia-An 1889 Czarist Postage Stamp-3 Rouble 50 Kopek-Illustrated

Shown below is an 1889 issue of the 3 Rouble 50 Kopek stamp. A copy of an earlier design from 1883 with a change of colours and minor change in design. In the 1883 design the posthorns under the double headed eagle emblem of the Russian Czars has no "thunderbolts". In the 1889 issue there are two thunderbolts running through the posthorns. Originally only issued in grey and black the 1889 issue was printed in both grey and black and in green and claret as shown here. The set had 19 stamps from 1 kopek to 7 roubles, but only 17 values with the 3 R 50 K and 7 R both being printed in 2 colour varieties.

Haiti-A 1933 Air Mail Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 60 Cent value of the 1933 airmail stamps issued in Haiti. The set consisted of  six issues but only three values. The 50 Cent value was issued in four colours of orange, olive, red and black, with a 60 Cent issue in brown and a 1 Gourde issue in blue. This was the second issue of Haitian airmail stamps. the first issue in 1929. The design shows an areoplane flying over the Citadel Christophe. The illustrated stamp is curious in some respects since it was first issued in 1933 with a postmark showing it was used in 1944.

Hyderabad-The 1947 Reformed Legislature-1 Anna Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1947 1 Anna (black) issue for Hyderabad, an Indian Princely State. The stamp commemorates the "Reformed Legislature" of that year and shows the Town Hall of Hyderabad. Valued slightly higher when lightly postally used. (See 1937 Nizam's Silver Jubilee stamp set this blog).

Haiti-1949-A Port Au Prince Bicentennial Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Below are shown some of the stamps issued for the Bicentennial of Port Au Prince (the Haitian capital). All of the stamps issued, with eight in the set, were of the same design and value, 5 cents,  in colours of red, brown, orange,grey, violet, blue,green and black. One example below shows an overprinted legend and value to commemorate the Universal Postal Union of 1874. The design shows portraits of three liberators of their countries, George Washington, Simon Bolivar and Jean-Jacques Dessalines who liberated  Haiti from French rule.

Liberia-A 1918-5 Dollar Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is a 5 Dollar postage stamp issued in Liberia in 1918. The stamps was the highest value in a set with values from 1 Cent to $5.

New Zealand-A 1934 2 Pence "Health" Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1934 issue of the New Zealand "Health" postage stamp. The stamps were issued with a value of 1 Penny with an extra surcharge of 1 Penny for government health programs. The stamp illustration is of Hygeia Greek goddes of health. The stamp is more highly valued lightly postally used than mint.

New Zealand-2 Varieties of an 1898 2 Pence Halfpenny Pictorial Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below are the two varieties of the 1898 stamp issue of Mt Earnslaw and Lake Wakatipu. The stamp was first inscribed "Lake Wakitipu" and issued in a sky-blue then issued again with the correct inscpription "Lake Wakatipu" in blue. The re-printed design was also slightly modified with the Mount Earnslaw inscription along the bottom left out and "Postage and Revenue" formerly under the "New Zealand" inscription put in place of "Mount Earnslaw".

New Zealand-George the 5th-1926-2 Shilling (deep-blue) Definitive-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1926 issue of the George the 5th definitve deep-blue variety. The stamp was reprinted in 1927 in a light-blue.

New Zealand-The 1934 7 Pence Trans Tasman Airmail Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the New Zealand issue of the 1934 7 Pence airmail stamp. The stamp was issued with the same design in 1931 with two values a 3 Pence (chocolate) and 4 Pence (blackish-purple). Reissued in light-blue with a new value of 7 Pence and overprinted "Trans-Tasman Air Mail Faith in Australia". The stamp is slightly more highly valued lightly used than mint.

New Zealand-A 1936 Commemorative Postage Stamp Set-Illustrated

A stamp set issued  in 1936 in New Zealand to commemmorate the Congress of British Empire Chambers of Commerce, held in Wellington in October of 1936. The set consisted of a Halfpenny (emerald-green), 1 Penny (scarlet), 2 Pence Halfpenny (blue),  4 Pence (violet) and 6 Pence (red-brown). The set with a detail of the 1 Penny issue is shown below.

Spain-A 1920 Imperforate Postage Stamp-A 1 Cent (green)-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1 Cent (green) stamp issued in Spain in 1920.

Spain-Four 1930 Airmail Postage Stamps-Centenary of Goya-Illustrated

Illustrated below are four of the stamps issued in Spain in 1930. The stamps were issued in honour of Goya the Spanish artist and feature reproductions of some of his etchings called the "Disparates" (Follies) or "Los Proverbios" a series that expressed Goya's increasing disenchantment with humanity. Although Goya died in 1828 the stamps were issued as a centenary issue. The set consisted of  13 values from 5 Cents to 10 Pesetas. The values illustrated here are the two 5 Cents, 10 Cents and 15 Cent values.

South Africa-Postage Stamps Of the Second World War-Illustrated

Illustrated below are some of the Stamps South Africa issued during the Second World War. Stamps issued during 1941 showing South African war personnel. These were re-issued from 1941 to 1946 in a smaller version with some rouletted between the pairs. Shown below are some of the stamps. The first illustration shows a normal sized stamp issued in 1941 . The illustrations below that are the reduced versions and modified versions some perforated and some with the roulette between the pairs some with selvage showing war advertisments.

South Africa-1927-1930 Definitive Issues-2 Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below are two of the stamps issued from 1927 to 1930. The set consisted of values from 2 Pence to 10 Shillings. The set was issued in pairs in both English and Afrikaans, the set issued first in 1927, with a perforation of 14 x 14 then re-issued in 1930 with a perforation of 14 x 13 and a half. Illustrated here are the 4 Pence and 2 Shilling and Sixpence values. The 4 Pence and 2/6 Pence are the Afrikaans version of the stamp.

Malay States-Johore-A 1938 Postage Stamp-Sultan Sir Ibrahim-Illustrated

The only postage stamp issued for 1940 with an up-dated portrait of Sultan Sir Ibrahim was the 8 Cent (black and pale-blue) illustrated below.

Malay States-Johore-3 1904 Postage Stamps-Sultan Sir Ibrahim-Illustrated

Illustrated below are three of the values of the 1904 issue of postage stamps for Johore. The set consisted of fifteen values from 1 Cent (dull-purple and green) to 100 Hundred Dollars (green and scarlet). The 1 Cent, 5 Cent (dull -purple and sage green) and 25 Cent  (dull-purple and green) values are illustrated here. Many of the stamps in this set are more highly valued lightly postally used than mint.

Canada-1908-Tercentenary of Quebec-10 Cent Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1908 10 Cent value of the set commemorating the Tercentenary of Quebec. The set consisted of eight values from a Half Cent to 20 Cent values. Various designs were used in the set with members of the then Royal Family and scenes and figures from Canadian history. The 10 Cent (violet) shows Quebec in 1700. Most of the set has a high value.

Barbados-1916-19-King George 5th Definitive 1 Penny-Deep Red Variety-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1 Penny issue from the set issued in 1916 for the island of Barbados. The set consisted of eleven values from a Halfpenny to 3 Shillings. The 1 Penny is known in three colour varieties a deep red, a bright carmine-red and a pale carmin-red. The deep red is illustrated here and is the most highly valued of the three.

Australia-Tasmania-1880 Postal Fiscal Stamps-3 Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below are three of the values of fiscal stamps issued in Tasmania in 1880. The set consisted of four stamps with values of 1 Penny (slate), 3 Penny (chesnut), 6 Penny (mauve) and1 Shilling (rose-pink). The design was of a Duck-Billed Platypus. The 1 Penny,6 Penny and 1 Shilling are illustrated here. All are hand cancelled.

Australia-Tasmania-Queen Victoria-3 1892-1899 Definitive Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below are three values from the 1892-99 issue of Queen Victoria definitives. The set consisted of ten values from a Halfpenny (orange and mauve) to a 1 Pound (green and yellow-issued in 1897). Below are the Halfpenny (orange and mauve), 2 Pence Halfpenny (purple) and the 5 Penny (pale blue and brown).

Australia-A 1931 Commemorative Postage Stamp Set-Kingsford Smith's Flights-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the postage stamp set issued in Australia in 1931 to commemorate the world flights of Kingsfoed Smith. The set had values of  2 Pence (red), 3 Pence (blue) and 6 Pence (purple). A 6 Pence (brown) was added later in the same year. The two lower values were used for postage but the 6 Pence was used for airmail , each stamp use indicated down the left and right vertical edges of the stamps. The 6 Pence (purple) illustrated here also has a "Registered" cancellation.

Danzig Free State-A 1923 100,000 Mark "Inflation" Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Ilustrated below is a postage stamp issued in Danzig (now Gdansk in Poland) a German city isolated from Germany that was for a time considered a "Free State" within Polish borders but not part of Poland. The 1920's was a period of hyper-inflation in Germany and this also affected Danzig. In 1923 12 stamps were issued with values ranging from 250 Marks to 500,000 Marks. The 100,00 Mark (blue) is illustrated here.

United States of America-A 1939 Airmail Postage Stamp-Overprint Upsidedown

Illustrated below is a 1930 USA airmail stamp. The emblem is an Airmail Pilots Badge. Part of a set of three with values of 5 Cent (purple), 6 Cent (orange) and 8 Cent (olive). Illustrated here is the 6 Cent (orange) with upsidedown airmail overprint.

United States of America-A 1909 Commemorative Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 2 Cent (red) stamp issued for the Alaska-Yukon Exposition of 1909. The portrait is of William H Seward, Secretary of State under President Lincoln and the man who engineered the purchase of Alaska from Russia. One of only 3 postage stamps issued for the year 1909 the other two were a 2 Cent (red) commemorative of the birth of Lincoln ( b. 1809) and a 2 Cent (red) of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration.

A Small Etching From 1978-"Rothko Smoking"-134mm wide x 100mm high-Andrew Highton

Illustrated below is a print from small line etching on zinc plate made in 1978 by Andrew Highton. The subject is Mark Rothko the painter who committed suicide in February 1970. The etching was intended as a personal memorial.