Great Britain-1841-A Queen Victoria Imperforate 1 Penny (Red) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is an example of the 1 Penny (red) issued for Great Britain in 1841. The stamp had a small crown watermark.The earlier issues of the 1 Penny stamp had letter only in the lower corners of the stamp with the Maltese cross in the upper corners, no identifying plate number and in addition the paper showed a "blueing". This blueing is thought to be the result of prussiate of potash present in the printing ink or paper that altered the colour of the paper when it was damped for printing. Many of the earlier issues can now only be dated by the watermark and type of lettering in the lower corners. Four types of alphabet were used in the lettering. The first used smaller letters that gradually became larger and bolder in subsequent issues of the stamp. The watermark on this example is very difficult to see without a strong light behind the stamp. However the view of the back of the stamp with give an indication of the blueing of the paper.

Australia-Victoria-1860-A Queen Victoria 4 Pence Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Illustrated below is the 4 Pence stamp issued for the state of Victoria in 1860. The stamp was part of a set, all with the same design with values of 3 Pence, 4 Pence and 6 Pence. The stamp was printed in Australia on paper made in Britain. The set was issued on three varieties of paper, the first issue with no watermark, the second ( made by T.H. Saunders of London) with the value of the stamp in words, The third by De La Rue with the watermark as a numeral corresponding to the value of the stamp. The stamp illustrated below is printed on the T.H. Saunders paper with the value in words as the watermark. The watermark is illustrated below the illustration of the stamp face.

Kenya Uganda Tanganyika-1954-A Queen Elizabeth the 2nd 1 Pound (black and red) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1 Pound stamp issued for Kenya Uganda Tanganyika in 1954 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Second. The 1 Pound stamp was the highest value in a set with values from 5 Cents to 1 Pound. This is among the last set of stamps (only two more issues showed the reigning British monarch on stamps for this region) with a portrait of Elizabeth the Second illustrated on them.
In 1963 Kenya Uganda and Tanganyika became independent countries and thereafter Republics.

Canada-Nova Scotia-1863-A Queen Victoria 8 and a Half Cent (deep green) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1863 8 and a Half Cent stamp issued for nova Scotia during the reign of Queen Victoria. Part of set with values from 1 Cent to 12 and a Half Cents. The values from 1 to 5 Cents showed a profile portrait of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem (see the 1 and 2 Cent issues this blog). The higher values of the set showed a full-face portrait of Queen Victoria wearing a crown. The frame design surrounding the 8 and a Half Cent issue was used

again for the 10 Cent issue with a minor variation for the 12 and a Half Cent issue.

Canada-Nova Scotia-1863-A queen Victoria 2 Cent (dull purple) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 2 Cent stamp issued for Nova Scotia in 1863 during the reign of Queen Victoria. (see the 1 Cent issue, this blog, for a fuller discussion of the set and its varieties)

Canada-Nova Scotia-1863-A Queen Victoria 1 Cent (black) Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1863 1 Cent stamp issued for Nova Scotia during the reign of Queen Victoria. The stamp is part of a set with values from 1 Cent to 12 and a Half Cents. The values from 1 to 5 Cents show a portrait of Queen Victoria in side-face wearing a diadem as shown here. However the values from 8 and a Half Cents to 12 and a Half Cents show a full-face portrait of Queen Victoria wearing a crown. (Se the 8 and a Half Cent issue this blog). The set was also issued twice during 1863, the values and designs remaining the same but printed originally on a yellowish paper and again on a white paper. The example shown here is on the white paper. The original printing on yellowish paper is valued more highly.

Newfoundland-1897-A 2 Cent (bright-rose) Commemorative Postage Stamp-Illustrated

Shown below is the 1897 2 Cent stamp issued to commemorate the 400th year of  the discovery of Newfoundland. The stamp bears the portrait of John Cabot who discovered Newfoundland in 1497. The stamp was part of a set with values from a 1 Cent (green) to a 60 Cent (black). The set illustrates the economic activity, wildlife, Newfoundland views with two portraits of British monarchs, Queen Victoria (the year 1897 also marked the 60th of her reign) and the 60 Cent  bore a portrait of Henry the 7th. It was during his reign that Cabot discovered Newfoundland.

Newfoundland-1897-A Queen Victoria 3 Cent Postage Stamp-Overprinted-Illustrated

Shown below is the Queen Victoria 3 Cent stamp issued for Newfoundland in 1890. The stamp was re-issued in 1897 with a surcharge of 1 Cent. There are three varieties of the overprint all of 1 Cent with two horizontal bars and the legend "ONE CENT" however there are slight differences in the letter types. The exampe shown here is the first type used. The overprints were produced locally by the Royal Gazette of St Johns. Of the three varieties of overprint the third is the most highly valued.