Japan-1899-A Partial Set of Definitive Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Shown below are some of the stamps issued in 1899 for Japan. The set consisted of values from 5 Rin (grey) to 10 Yen (violet). Most of the set consisted of engraved designs around the central motif of the Imperial Chrysanthemum except for the 5 and 10 yen that showed a portrait of Empress Jingu as the central motif. Two of the values were also printed in different colours, the 1 and a Half Sen printed in blue and violet and the 3 Sen printed in red and claret.

Japan-1876-A Partial Set of Imperial Japanese Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below are some of the 1876 issue of stamps for Japan. The set had values from 5 Rin to 1 Yen. Many of the values were printed in two or three colours. Some of the colour/value varieties are shown below. The values printed in only one colour were the 5 Rin (grey), 6 Sen (orange),12 Sen (rose), 25 Sen (green), 30 Sen (mauve), 45 Sen (red) and the 1Yen (red).

 

JAPAN-1923-A Partial Set of Imperforate Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below are four of the stamps issued in Japan in 1923. Part of a set with values from a Half Sen (grey) to 20 Sen (blue). For the Half Sen to 8 Sen the design was as illustrated below. For the 10 Sen (brown) and 20 Sen (blue) values the design was the Imperial Chrysanthemum set above two dragonflies facing the Moon . On some of the stamp edges can be seen the red dots for pinpricking the stamp to remove it from the sheet. A detail of the 3 and 5 Sen appears below the first illustration. With the 10 Sen (brown) and 20 Sen (blue) below that.

Australia-George the 5th Definitives-The 1 Penny Halfpenny-Illustrated

Shown below are four examples of the 1 Penny Halfpenny definitive of George the 5th issued for Australia between 1914 and 1936. The Penny Halfpenny was issued in many varieties of colour, paper, watermark and perforation. (See the Halfpenny and 1 Penny issues this blog).

The blackish-purple variety (left) shown below was issued in this colour twice. First in 1918-20 and in 1918 to 1923. To distinguish between the two issues the watermark must be analysed. The original issue was watermarked with "A" under a two pointed crown in multiples the second issue a single "A" under the two pointed crown. The example shown here is the second issue. Concurrent with the black-brown variety the Penny Halfpenny was also printed in a re-brown colour and and again the only way to distinguish between the printings is by watermark since the perforations are the same. The watermark in this example is the "A" under the two pointed crown in multiples dating it to the 1919 printing of the issue.

In 1923 the Penny Halfpenny was issued in green with the single "A" under the two pointed crown (illustrated below).

The Penny Halfpenny was also issued in scarlet twice. Originally in 1924 and again in 1926 and 1928. The later issues were both watermarked with multiples of "A" under a sloping crown. The example shown below is the 1924 issue with a single watermark "A" under the two pointed crown.

Australia-George the 5th 1 Penny Definitive Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Shown below are some of the George the 5th 1 Penny definitive stamps Issued in Australia between 1914 and 1936. (See Halfpenny issues this blog). All the definitives showed a side-face portrait of King George but were issued in a variet of colours, papers.watermarks and perforations. Below are three of the varieties of the 1 Penny issue. zthe 1 Penny began to be issued in a sage-green in 1924 until 1931 when it was issued in green (shown below). The watermark for the sage-green issues was the "A" under the two pointed crown, Multiples of the "A" under the two pointed crown or multiples of the "A" under the sloping crown. In 1931 the 1 Penny was issued in green with a "Cof A" watermark as illustrated here.

The 1 Penny was also issued in many of the red spectrum of colours from carmine-red, scarlet,carmine-pink and carmine many of them very difficult to tell apart. The watermark and perforation being a more reliable method of distinguishing among varieties.The example below has the single "A" under the two pointed crown and this watermark was used on two of the issues in the red spectrum. First in 1914-20 and again in 1916-18. This example seems more in the scarlet range dating it to 1916-18 issue.

The third variety illustrated is the 1918-13 violet issue. Also watermarked with "A" under the two pointed crown.

Australia-George the 5th-Halfpenny Definitive Postage Stamp Issues-Illustrated

Illustrated below are some of the Halfpenny definitive stamps issued during the reign of George the 5th for Australia. The stamps showing a side-face portrait of King George were issued from 1914 until 1936 and were issued in many varieties of colour, watermark,paper and perforation. The earliest issue of the Halfpenny was in bright green (left) in 1915-20 with a watermark of "A" under a two point crown. The second variety of green was issued in 1918-20 with a watermark of "A" under a two point crown in multiples. The third variety of orange was issued in 1918-23 with a watermark of "A" under a two point crown. The Halfpenny was issued again in orange in 1926-30 however the watermark for this variety was "A" under a sloping crown in multiples.Examples of each watermark are shown below the stamp.

Australia-1937-George the 6th-The 5 Shilling and 10 Shilling "Robes" Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Shown below are two examples of the 1937 Australian stamp issue of 5 and 10 Shillings. They show George the 6th and Queen Elizabeth (Queen Mother) in the robes worn on state occasions. There are two varieties of this issue, one on thick and one on thin paper. The thin paper variety is more highly valued.

Australia-Victoria-1901-6 Pence Queen Victoria Definitive-2 Shades-Illustrated

Shown below are the two shades of the Queen Victoria definitive issued from 1901 to 1910.Originally issued in 1901 in emerald-green (illustration 1) in 1904 the stamp was re-issued in a dull-green. The 1904 issued is valued slightly higher than the original issue.

Australia-Victoria-1901-10-4 Shade Variations of the 1 Penny QV Definitive-Illustrated

Shown below are some of the shade varitions of the 1901-1910 Queen Victoria definitives issued in the Australian state of Victoria. Originally issued in rose (extreme right) shades of red and dull-red are known.
A detail of each stamp is shown below the first illustration.

Australia-Victoria-3 1880's Stamp Duty Stamps-Hand Cancelled-Illustrated

Shown below are three types of stamp duty stamps issued in the Australian state of Victoria in the 1880's. All are hand-cancelled with the date of cancellation.

Australia-Western Australia-1912-A 2 Pence "Swan" Postage Stamp Surcharged "One Penny"-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1912 issue of the Western Australia stamp issued in 1912 with an value altered from 2 Pence to 1 Penny. The stamp was originally issued in 1903 and surcharged in 1912. The CDS shows it was used postally in November of that year.

Australia-The 1913 6 Pence (Chestnut) "Kangaroo" Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is an example of the 6 Pence (chestnut) value from the 1913 issue of the newly federated Australia. This example was overprinted for official use.

Australia-The 1913 Halfpenny (Green) "Kangaroo" Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1913 issue of the Halfpenny stamp issued for the newly federated Australia. Until 1913 each Australian state had issued it's own stamps. Many of the stamps in the first issues show minor variations in Dies. Die 1 (of which this is an example) showed a small break in the inner frame line level with the top of the words denoting value. This was later repaired in Die 2.

Australia-The 1932 and the 1937 Versions of the 1 Shilling "Lyrebird" Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below are the two versions of the Australian stamp issue of the 1 Shilling "Superb Lyrebird". The design was issued twice (with minor variations) first in 1932 and again as part of a definitive set in 1937.
While the designs are not easy to tell apart the 1932 version is a larger stamp as can be seen in the illustration below. The 1937 version is also a dull-green, the 1932 a green (with a shade variation of yellow-green).
A detail of each stamp is shown below the first illustration. The earlier version first.