Australia-1913-14-A 3 Penny "Kangaroo" Official Postage Stamp With Double Perforation-Illustrated

Illustrated below is an example of the 3 Penny (olive) stamp issued for Australia in 1913-1914. The original method for identifying stamps used officially was by perforating the stamp with "OS". This example of the stamp shows the scarcer variety perforated "OS NSW" (official stamp New South Wales- a state in the Australian Commonwealth). The watermark (a large crown over "A") is shown below the stamp face illustration.

India-Patiala-1885-1890-A Queen Victoria Half Anna (blue-green) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is another variation of overprint issued for Patiala, used during the reign of  Queen Victoria. The spelling of Patiala  (in red) is that of 1885-1890 with the "Service" overprint in black. The "Service" overprint in this variety slightly smaller that that used on the 2 Anna (see 1885-1890 2 Anna (dull blue) this blog). This example also has the local cancel "P" (Patiala)

India-Patiala-1885-90-A Queen Victoria 2 Anna (dull blue)-Illustrated

Illustrated below is another variety of overprint used on the stamps issued for Patiala during the reign of Queen Victoria. Between 1885 and 1890 Patiala was printed as Puttialla. The 2 Anna stamp shown here was also used officially (see 1891-1900 1 Rupee (slate) Patiala stamp this blog).

India-Patiala-1891-1900-A Queen Victoria 1 Rupee Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1 Rupee (slate) issued in 1891-1900 for Patiala, an Indian Convention State during British rule. Indian Convention States were those states of India that came under direct British rule. This distinguished them from states called Indian Native States or Feudatory States  that were still independent but recognized Great Britain as the dominant power throughout India.

Within the Indian Convention States all stamps were issued by Britain but overprinted with the name of the convention state to which they were assigned.  The stamp is also overprinted for official use indicated by the word "Service". The 1 Rupee was the highest value in a set of stamps with nine values from a Half Anna (blue-green) to the 1 Rupee.

Ireland (Eire)-1937-A High Value Postage Stamp Set-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the high value set issued for Ireland (Eire) in 1937. The three stamps were a 2 Shillings and Sixpence (green), 5 Shilling (maroon) and 10 Shilling (blue). The figure represents St Patrick the patron saint of Ireland. The legend "leat-coroin" at the base of the 2/6 value translates as "a half crown", the value of a crown was 5 Shillings in pre-decimal British currency.

India-Gwalior-1903-1911-2 King Edward the 7th 2 Anna Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 2 Anna stamp issued for Gwalior, an Indian Feudatory State during British rule. The stamp was part of a set of twelve values from 3 Pies to 2 Rupees. Within the set some of the values are known with colour varieties and shades. The 2 Anna, 4 Anna and 8 Anna are known to have colour shades. The 2 Anna illustrated below has shades from pale violet to mauve. The pale violet slightly more highly valued used than the mauve but the mauve more highly valued mint than the pale violet.

India-Faridkot-1887-1900-A Queen Victoria 2 Anna (blue) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated is the 1887-1900 Queen Victoria 2 Anna stamp issued for Faridkot, an Indian Feudatory State during British rule. The 2 Anna stamp is part of a set with 8 values from a Half Anna to 1 Rupee. Six of the values however, the 1 Anna. 2 Anna, 3 Anna, 4 Anna, 6 Anna and 8 Anna, were issued in  two colour varieties making a full set of  10 stamps. Many of the stamps in the set are considered of slightly higher value lightly postally used than mint. Some of the values in the set are also mis-printed with letters missing from the overprint (often the "F" of Faridkot left out) making these error stamps of very high value when mint.

India-Jind-1903-06-A King Edward the 7th 4 Anna Postage Stamp-Official Overprint-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1903-1906 4 Anna stamp issued for Jind, an Indian Convention State during British rule. The side-face portrait is of Edward the 7th who assumed the British throne in 1902. The official and overprinted issues for stamps used in India at the time showed some variety in the spelling of Jind, with the name spelled alternatively as "Jeend", "Jhind" and then finally "Jind"the spelling used on the issues from George the 5th onwards.

Soruth-Indian Feudatory State-1923-A 3 Pies (Mauve) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 3 Pies stamp issued in 1923 for Soruth, an Indian feudatory state during British rule. The portrait on the stamp is of Nawab Mahabat Khan the 3rd, ruler of Soruth at the time.
The stamp was quite blurred in appearance and perforated with pin-perforations (approx 12). This was felt to be an unsatisfactory stamp and a new plate was made in 1924 that produced a sharper image. The original issue was then discontinued. The original issue is now considered of slightly higher value than the subsequent issue and is also considered slightly more highly valued when lightly postally used than mint.

Seychelles-1892-93-2 Queen Victoria 4 Cent Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Shown below are two of the varieties of the 4 Cent stamp issued for the Seychelles in 1892 and 1893. This design was first issued in 1890. The issue from 1890 showed a minor difference in the second facet of the diadem (above the Queens eye), with two small lines of shading. This is now listed as Die 1. In the second issue of 1892 (Die 2)  the diadem facet shows no lines of shading. The stamp illustrated is Die 2. Die 1 is considered of higher value than Die 2. In 1893 the same stamp was overprinted locally with a 3 Cent value. Illustrated below. The original issue was part of a set that had values from 2 Cents to 96 Cents, Die 2 part of a set of six values from 2 Cents to 16 Cents,

There is another variety to be found on the issue of the 1893 set with two values (the 10 Cent (ultramarine and brown) and the 16 Cent (ultramarine and brown) both known to have a malformed "S" in the "Postage" legend running down the right side of the stamp.

Great Britain-1939-48-2 Varieties of the George the 6th 2/6 Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below are the two varieties of the 1939-1948 2 Shilling and Sixpence stamp issued for Great Britain. The 2/6 stamp was the lowest value in a high value set. The set has values from 2 Shillings and Sixpence (2 varieties, brown and yellow-green), a 5 Shilling (red) 10 Shilling (2 varieties, dark blue and ultramarine blue) and a 1 Pound (brown). Of the two varieties of 2 Shilling and Sixpence the brown variety is the earliest issue (1939) and more highly valued. The green variety was issued in 1942. Of the two varieties of 10 Shilling ( ultramarine blue and dark blue) the dark blue issued in 1939 is the more highly valued of the two. The ultramarine blue was issued in 1942.

Australia-1915-28-A 5 Shilling (Grey and Yellow) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 5 Shilling (grey and yellow) stamp issued between 1915 and 1928 for Australia. In 1913 the newly federated states of Australia began to issue stamps that were valid for use throughout the whole of Australia. Previous to 1913 individual states issued their own stamps. The 5 Shilling is part of a larger set with values from Two Pence (grey) to 2 Pounds (black and rose). Many of the early issues had the same colour and value as subsequent issues and the only way to distinguish different issues is by the watermark. This example has the Narrow Crown over "A" of the 1915 issue (the first issue had a similar watermark, however the crown is broader) This is called by Australian stamp collectors the 3rd watermark. The watermark is illustrated below the stamp face illustration.

Cochin-1949-3 Pies (Carmine)-"C for G" Variety Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 1949 3 Pies (carmine) official stamp. Unissued stamps of Cochin were often used as official stamps with the overprint "O C G S" (On Cochin Government Service). Occasionally these were misprinted and one of the misprints is the "C for G" variety shown below, paired with a non misprinted version for comparison. Normally printed the stamp would have a "cap" on the "G" when this omitted the "G" appears as a "C". Overprint varieties such as this can make the stamp more highly valued. In this case the overprint variety increases the value considerably.

"Marathon Boy"

Over time surface began to be given greater consideration and by later Classical times culminated in works like "Marathon Boy" thought by some to be the work of Praxiteles the most famous of later classical Greek sculptors. These three examples of Greek sculpture share some fundamental things. Each is a treatment of a male nude. Each could be said to combine naturalistic observation of living models with abstract canons of proportion.

If works like these could be said to be one development from the kouros figure perhaps the sculptural group treating a legendary event is another......See Laocoon and his Sons-A Further Analysis (this blog)

Natal-1876-1 Shiling-(Green)-Postage Stamp-Local Overprint-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1876 Natal 1 Shilling (green) stamp with "Postage" overprint. The stamp was overprinted locally. The overprint is very similar to an overprint used in the first issue of the stamp of 1869, The 1869 overprint is quite rare, only 60 are known to have been overprinted, making the 1869 variety quite valuable. The watermark for both issues of the stamp is a crown over "CC" and both have a perforation of 14. The watermark is illustrated below the stamp face illustration

Great Britain-1969-"Anniversaries of Events Described on Stamps" Postage Stamps Set-Illustrated

Shown below is a set of commemorative stamps issued for Great Britain in 1969. The set commemorates events previously described on issued stamps. The set had five values from 5 Pence to 1 Shilling and 9 Pence. The first two values were multicoloured with the 1 Shilling value issued in claret, red and blue, the 1 Shilling and Sixpence, multicoloured and the 1 Shilling and 9 Pence in turquoise-green, yellow and sepia.

Great Britain-1969-High Value Queen Elizabeth Definitive Postage Stamp Set-Illustrated

Shown below is the set of definitive stamps issued in 1969 of high value stamps. This was the last set of QE2 definitives issued in pre-decimal British currency. The set had four values a 2 Shillings and Sixpence (brown), 5 Shilling (lake), 10 Shilling (ultramarine) and 1 Pound (black). Details of the 10 Shilling and 1 Pound value are shown below the set.

Great Britain-1969-"First Flight of Concorde" Postage Stamp Set-Illustrated

Shown below is the set of postage stamps issued for great Britain in 1969. The set commemorates the first flight of the now defunct Concorde aircraft. The set had three values (multicoloured) all illustrated here. A detail of the 1 Shilling and sixpence value is shown below the set.

Newfoundland-1938-A Partial Set of Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Shown below are three of the values from the stamp set issued for Newfoundland in 1938. the set had four values of 2 Cents (green), 3 Cents (carmine), 4 Cents (light-blue) and 7 Cents (deep-ultramarine). The 2 Cent value has a side portrait of the newly crowned George the 6th. The 3 Cent value shows the Queen Mother (widow of George the 5th) and the 4 Cent value the young Elizabeth (Elizabeth the 2nd). The 7 Cent value had a portrait of Queen Mary (wife of George the 6th). Below the illustration of the partial set is a detail of the 4 Cent value.

Newfoundland-1933-Anniversary of the Annexation of Newfoundland-1 Cent Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1933 1 Cent (slate) stamp issued for Newfoundland. The stamp was part of a set of fourteen values issued for the Anniversary of the Annexation of Newfoundland by Britain in 1583 by Sir Humphrey Gilbert. The designs of the set are of historical scenes of the founding of Newfoundland and historical portraits from the Elizabethan era.