The Royal Philatelic Collection - A Great Britain Selection
to the Royal Philatelic Society London
By Michael Sefi, FRPSL Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection
and Ian Greig, FRPSL Assistant to the Keeper
17 September 2009
The 2009 display covers a varied selection from the Great Britain material in the Collection. Leading off are the King Edward VII issues, followed by the Postage Due material of 1914 and later to 1936, but not the King Edward VIII series. The display concludes with such material as is held covering private Telegraphs and continues with the Official (GPO) Telegraph material. The display concludes with the Military Telegraphs part of the Collection.
Unless shown in part in the 1954 and 1959 displays of Great Britain surface printed issues (which is doubtful), the King Edward VII material has not been shown since before the First World War; neither the Postage Due nor the Telegraph collections seem ever to have been shown to the Society.
As observed in previous displays, King George V (or possibly/also Sir Edward Bacon) was not much interested in watermark varieties and virtually none are included in the collections.
King Edward VII
By 1901, De La Rue had become well used to designing and producing Great Britain surface printed stamps. The firm provided to the Inland Revenue and the Post Office a "complete" service from design, through die and plate making, to the finished product. However, the authorities felt that they were being overcharged for De La Rue's work - possibly De La Rue felt it had a virtual monopoly - so when the time came to renew the contract in 1910 De La Rue received a nasty shock. The firm resisted attempts by the authorities to reduce its prices and in consequence lost the contract, which was awarded to Harrison & Sons for the values to 1/-, to commence from 1 January 1911. As regards the high values (2/6d to £1) Somerset House undertook their printing. There were some difficulties in the change of contractor; Harrisons had no capability at the time to prepare dies or even printing plates but the events leading to the Downey Head issue are not part of this story. As regards Edward VII issues, Harrisons and Somerset House took over plates from De La Rue and used those for necessary printing in 1911 and 1912.
Many of the specialised varieties for the Great Britain King Edward VII series are of watermarks and not represented; the major variety listed in the SG "Part 1" of the ½d doubly printed can be seen, however.
Frames 1 & 2:
1901 - some thought was given to what design changes were needed for the new Reign. A series of paste ups with various versions of The King's head inserted in existing Victorian designs was submitted by De La Rue; the frame shows Series A & B of this work and Aa and Bb using the 1d lilac, but not C. However, it was decided to use a head design based on a drawing by Emile Fuchs and a photograph of that drawing is shown; Die proofs of the large and small versions of The King's head are shown, followed by a die proof of the proposed design for the ½d, 1d, 2½d and 6d values. Perhaps there was some dissatisfaction with that design and although out of chronological order, also shown are a 1902 frame design using the "Transvaal" head of The King (both types) and the 1903 trials of the "Canada Head" essays (but none of the die proofs of that work, which are not in the Collection).
Frames 3 to 5:
The display now takes each value in turn and the next three frames cover the ½d value. This was first issued on 1st January 1902 in normal Post Office sheets, on watermark Imperial Crown paper. Shown are the die proof of the value and a block said to be an imprimatur, albeit perforated. Frame 3 then has various shade examples of the value and early "control" strips and a block. Space has not allowed inclusion of all the control pieces in the Collection. However, in 1904 a series of colour trials was undertaken leading to the "yellowish green" shade. Also shown are imprimatur blocks of printings in 1906 for booklet stamps (see next frame and frame 7). The frame continues with some of control strips in the Collection in the new shade and concludes with one of the "doubly printed" errors.
In frame 4 are shown two complete uncut sheets of the ½d booklet stamps, which first appeared in 1906. The reason for the "St Andrew's Cross" appearing on every sixth stamp in the second sheet was because the Edwardian booklets had no advertisements and from 1906 were priced at 2/-. To recoup some of the costs of the additional work required to produce booklets, the face value of stamps was in fact 1/11½d.
As observed in the Introduction, from 1st January 1911, De La Rue lost its printing contract and plates for this and other values were handed over. In May 1911 the first printings by Harrisons appeared using De La Rue plates; initially continuing with the perf 14 arrangement used by De La Rue, (a used copy of the ½d sideways watermark is shown.) In October Harrisons went over to a perf 15 X 14 comb. Somerset House stayed with the perf 14 comb for its printings. Harrisons had some difficulty with shade consistency, some of the effects of which are shown for several values.
Frames 6 to 8:
Frame 6 deals with design work for the 1d value in 1901, including some colour trials in lilac on white and red papers, imperforate and perforate. The frame also holds a half sheet plate proof "shewing faulty clichés, which were cut out and replaced". Some of the faults are difficult to spot! The 1d stamp was also issued on 1st January 1902. and frame 7 shows imprimaturs for both Post Office sheet and booklet printings, the latter from 1903 and also an imperforate pair. There is also a half sheet of the 1d booklet stamps; the first booklet containing 24 1d stamps appeared in March 1904, and was priced at 2/0½d. When ½d stamps were included in booklets from 1906 it was possible to reduce the price to a more convenient 2/- (see frame 4 above). The frame concludes with examples of booklets, including one containing all stamps overprinted "Specimen".
Space has precluded including the De La Rue 1d controls from this display.
In May 1911 the Harrisons' printed perf 14 1d appeared and again shade consistency was a problem. Spectacular varieties of aniline pink and aniline rose (written up as scarlet) are shown which are even more startling when viewed under ultra-violet light.
Frame 9:
The 1½d value first appeared in March 1902. Following the same design as that value for the "Jubilee" issue, but with The King's head inserted instead, a die proof and colour trials are shown in various colours on variously coloured papers. In 1905, printing went over to a chalk-surfaced paper; the ½d and 1d values stayed on ordinary paper throughout. In 1911, following De La Rue's loss of the contract, printing of the 1½d value was made at Somerset House, but back on ordinary paper.
Frame 10:
Up to 1910, the pattern of the 2d followed that of the 1½d - although the chalk-surfaced paper printings did not appear until either September 1905 (Bacon) or April 1906 (SG). However, as a fairly extensively used bi-colour stamp, in an attempt to reduce costs of production in 1910 it was proposed to go over to a mono-colour stamp in a modified design, and the frame shows die proofs and some colour trials for the new stamp.
The selected colour is known to philatelists as "Tyrian plum" but it wasn't very stable; added to which The King died around the time the stamp was to be issued. In all the circumstances it was decided to scrap the issue and continue with the existing bi-coloured stamp, printed at Somerset House following De La Rue's loss of the contract. The cover with a used Tyrian plum stamp addressed to The Prince of Wales and which arrived the day he became King George V is understood to be the only used copy known. Whether "illegal" or merely invalid isn't clear - but it was not surcharged To Pay!
Frame 11:
The 2½d stamp was to be of the same design as the ½d and 1d, but various options as to the display of the face value were essayed. There was also a proposal for the stamp to be printed in purple on coloured stock and this went through to printed and perforated sheets. However, a change of mind lead to destruction of that printing and to colour trials in blue on standard white paper. All this material is shown, together with imprimaturs and examples of the issued stamps. Issued on 1st January 1902, printed by De La Rue on ordinary paper, perf 14, plates passed to Harrisons in 1911, and stamps appeared in July of that year, still perf 14 and in October, perf 15 X 14.
Frame 12:
As for the 1½d, the 3d value followed the "Jubilee" design with substitution of the head. Initially printed on ordinary yellow Imperial Crown wmk paper, a mono-coloured stamp, it was first issued in March 1902. Shown are a die proof and imprimatur block together with issued stamps. From March 1906 chalk surfaced paper was used. In 1911 Harrisons took over, using ordinary paper, initially perf 14 and from September perf 15 X 14. The Harrison printings had the alleged "grey on lemon" shade; there is now some doubt that is a genuine shade variety, although the paper colour certainly seems to be slightly different.
Frame 13:
The 4d value was initially bi-coloured, using the "Jubilee" design with The King's head inserted. Shown is the head die proof. The page also shows mono-colour colour trials. These are probably mis-mounted and from 1909, when the stamp changed to a mono-coloured orange, for which a die proof is shown. On ordinary paper initially (March 1902), chalk-surfaced paper from January 1906, the orange version on ordinary paper appeared in November 1909. As for some of the other values, Harrisons took over and the perf 14 version came out in July 1911 and with the perf 15 X 14 comb in November.
Frame 14:
The bi-coloured 5d appeared in May 1902, initially on ordinary paper and then in May 1906 on chalk-surfaced paper. In August 1911 Somerset House printing appeared, back on ordinary paper. The perforation was 14 throughout. A die proof, imprimatur block and issued stamps are shown; the so-called "rough plate proof" on the first page is more likely to be an escaped piece of printing "makeready".
Frame 15:
The 6d value appeared in January 1902, initially on ordinary paper and from January 1906 on chalk-surfaced paper (although Bacon suggests October 1905). Shown are a die proof of the same basic design as the ½d, 1d and 2½d values together with plate proofs, colour trials, imprimatur block and issued stamps. It was printed in a doubly fugitive purple ink as the stamp also had use for Revenue purposes.
After the De La Rue contract ended, Somerset House took over and the stamps initially appeared in markedly different shades of a reddish purple in October 1911, on ordinary paper. By November the ink was back to the more usual colour but there was also an unsatisfactory printing using chalk-surfaced paper, a block of which is shown. Further experiments took place in 1913, in March, on "Dickinson" coated paper and in July on chalk-surfaced paper. See the last page in the frame; these 1913 experiments really should be mounted separately.
Frame 16:
Although a change in Parcel Post rates was made in 1906 and a need for a 7d stamp became apparent, the stamp itself did not appear until 1910, on 4th May. Why the 7d should appear just before The King's death but the 2d suppressed is curious. A mono-colour design in grey, a die proof, colour trials, imprimatur block and issued stamps are shown. Somerset House printings took place in August 1912. As a mono-coloured design, one wonders why the plates were not passed to Harrisons.
The frame also shows the 9d value and was dealt with as for the 1½d. A die proof of the head design is shown and an imprimatur block, together with issued stamps, followed by Somerset House printings from July 1911. Not apparent from the material shown, for reason about which I am currently unclear, the 9d was printed on a different watermarked paper with a different plate layout when compared with the other values to 1/-. This was a carry over from the "Jubilee" printings, but there the eight panes to a Post Office sheet configuration was used for all "fringe" stamp designs - i.e. where the design was not broken between stamps by a gap. In the case of the Edwardian issues, several values continued to be of the "fringe" type but only the 9d plate was in this special configuration and printed on the special paper.
Frame 17:
The 10d is no less complex! Yet another plate layout had to be used, although on the standard paper. Readers are recommended to the Stanley Gibbons Specialised Catalogue as the distinctions are not apparent in the Collection. The 10d appeared in July 1902 followed by chalk-surfaced printings in September 1905 (Bacon) or September 1906 (SG). As for other values, die proofs, imprimatur block and issued stamps are shown. Some of the Somerset House printings from October 1911 are in distinctive scarlet shades.
The treatment of the 1/- value is much the same as the 10d but with slightly different dates of issue.
Frames 18 & 19:
The Edwardian "high values" (the 5/- to £1 were only available for postage use, as before) were similar in design to their Victorian predecessors, but with significant differences, the primary one of which is the omission of letters in the corners.
Frame 18 shows the Edwardian 2/6 and 5/- values. Both were issued initially in April 1902 on ordinary paper watermarked Anchor printed by De La Rue and perf 14. In the case of the 2/6d a further printing on chalk-surfaced paper appeared in October 1905. Both values were printed by Somerset House appearing in September 1911 and February 1912 respectively on ordinary paper. Die proofs, imprimatur blocks and issued stamps of the two values appear.
The 10/- and £1 in frame 19 follow the pattern of the 5/-, showing die proofs and issued stamps of both the De La Rue and Somerset House printings all perf 14 on ordinary Anchor paper (10/-) and three Crowns paper (£1). A forgery is also shown, probably one of the "Lowden" forgeries. Also in the frame, last page, is a die proof of the proposed £5 stamp prepared by De La Rue in 1902, but not proceeded with.
The Postage Dues
In contrast to the specialist complexities of the Edwardian stamps, the Postage Dues of 1914 and on are relatively straightforward. The Post Office had gained control of stamp production and issuing from the Inland Revenue in 1913/14, although Somerset House continued to be used for some printings, and one of the first decisions had been to introduce postage due stamps partly as a means of more efficient accounting. Postage due stamps had long been a feature of other countries postal operations. The arrangement of the display is essentially in value order by printer, not chronologically. Such varieties as are listed in the Specialised Catalogue are watermark varieties, which are not present in the Collection. In view of the die proof material and colour essays which have not been seen before, the postage dues are worth seeing.
Frames 20 & 21:
Bromides and die proofs of several values between 1913 and 1914 are shown, with the four following pages showing all the colour essays for the initial values (½d, 1d, 2d & 5d), with Bacon's annotation of the colour selected for each value. There is also a series of colour trials for the 1915 1/- overprinted cancelled.
The last two pages in frame 21 show the die proofs and colour trials between 1918 and 1922 for the later issued values and the colour trials for the 2/6 value which was issued in 1924.
Frames 22 & 23:
Leading off frame 22 is a Post Office Notice announcing the introduction of Postage Due Stamps. Following on, the two frames cover the ½d, 1d and 1½d values (printed on sideways "Simple Cypher" watermarked paper between 1914 and 1924 and showing all controls used). In the case of Somerset House printings the controls always show a stop between the letter and the number as opposed to the Harrison printings which do not.
Imprimatur blocks for the ½d and 1d are included, but not for the 1922 1½d. On the last page of the 1d value three blocks are shown of the special printing on chalk-surfaced paper; printed by Waterlow, but still on simple cypher paper.
Frame 24:
The remaining values to 1/- issued between 1914 and 1920 on simple cypher paper are shown.
Frames 25 to 27:
As for the definitive series, the contract change to Waterlow in 1924 was implemented for the postage dues, going back to Harrisons in 1934. The watermark for these printings was the "block" cypher watermark. The 1d U34 control block is suggested by Bacon to be a Waterlow provisional and not printed by Harrisons. This is quite possible and a close examination of perforation irregularities may solve this. Likewise for the 5d, 1/- and 2/6 values.
Telegraphs
- Dealing initially with the private Telegraph companies, the extensive nationalised Post Office Telegraph service stamps are then covered. Continuing with Military and Army Telegraph stamps, for use in various campaigns, the final frame shows material relating to the National Telephone Company. The Telegraph Stamps and Stationery of Great Britain 1851 - 1954 by the late Peter Langmead and Alan Huggins and published by the Great Britain Philatelic Society in 2003 was of immense help in preparing these Notes; it would not have been possible to have been able to present more than the barest details of the material in the Collection without that book and I trust Ian Greig and I will be forgiven should it be felt that we have plagiarised any of its work. The Langmead Collection is now in the British Library and students of this material are recommended to seek an opportunity to research there.
The Private Telegraph Companies and their Stamps
Using railway telegraph lines for inland messages, the private telegraph companies offering inland service were essentially restricted to railway coverage and had no right to lay lines on private lands. Companies offering overseas transmission had no such restrictions. All surviving inland private telegraph operators were nationalised in 1870 and their operations passed to the Post Office. Before that, however:
Frames 28 to 30:
The Electric Telegraph Company (later The Electric and International Telegraph Company): In June 1846 the Electric Telegraph Company was incorporated and the International Telegraph Company followed in 1853. Both were amalgamated by the Electric Consolidation Act of 1855. It is believed the first Franked Message Papers were produced for the 1851 London Exhibition and are understood to have been printed by Waterlow and Sons. The original set of three values, 1/-, 2/6d and 5/-, were for various transmitting distances. The 1/- on pink paper with a pale blue seal is shown and is for messages of up to 50 miles. On 1 August 1855 the rates were altered, a 1/6d paper was produced for the same distance (copy shown) and additional value papers were also produced; although examples are not recorded, shown is a copy of the 3/- on blue paper, dark blue seal, for messages of up to 150 miles.
The first adhesive stamps, printed by Perkins Bacon & Co., were issued in June 1854, all values are shown, the difference being the distance distinction. An additional printing of "under 100 miles" were made with no control numbers and these were applied to a memorandum issued to its offices on the 31 May 1854 (copy shown). In 1855 revised stamps were issued with the distances amended to money values, three values were issued but none are recorded of these first printings.
However, further printings were made and additional values added, these are shown in frame 29 with proofs (no control numbers) and issued stamps; for the 3/- value no proofs are recorded and the only recorded example of the issued stamp is shown. Perforated examples are included and these are some of the earliest stamps to be perforated by Perkins Bacon in July 1860. In October 1860 the company tendered for a new design and stamps, this was won by Waterlow and Son. Proofs are shown together with imperforate examples and a 1/- perf 12 with no "numbers" - these are also thought to be of proof status. The issued stamps perf 12 are also included.
In frame 30 further issued stamps are shown including an example applied to a company form.
In 1863 the initials in the design on the stamps were amended to reflect the change of the Secretary, both a die proof and issued stamps are shown as well as proofs with no numbers. A special stamp for "Continental Service" was issued in 1861. Die proofs, plate proofs and some of the issued values are included. The 3d value is one of two known examples. Special stamps for use by the directors are included - several of these are the only recorded examples.
Frame 31:
Submarine Telegraph Company: This company was formed in 1850 to operate submarine cables to the Continent. It worked closely with the British Telegraph Company and its successor the British & Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company. The company had no inland cables so it was able to remain in business after 1870 when the Post Office took over the other private companies. In December 1861 De La Rue printed its first stamps, with two additional values being added later. Die proofs are shown of all values, although it is thought these may have been printed later as samples. The only recorded example of the 8s is shown with two overprints for temporary stamps of 4½d and 4s.
The British Telegraph Company: The company was formed in 1853 by Royal Charter and was an amalgamation of two earlier companies - The British Electric Telegraph Company and The European and American Electric Printing and Telegraph Company. It remained in existence until 1857 when it merged with The English and Irish Magnetic Company. Six copies of 2s and 4s value stamps are known, originally forming irregular blocks, singles of each are shown.
The English and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company: The company was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1851 as the Magnetic Telegraph Company, it later merged with the British Telegraph Company in 1857 forming The English and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company. The stamps are thought have been printed by Mawdesley & Co., Liverpool in 1857. The five values are shown, they are found with and without control numbers. The former are though to be proofs. The sheets were printed in 50s and 100s, the latter issued uncut produced tete-beche pairs and a block of four of the 1/- value is shown. Two sizes of control numbers are recorded on the 1/6d value, although these are not included, examples of the 1/- are.
Frames 32 & 33:
The British & Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company Limited: This Company was registered on 22 April 1857 to amalgamate the British Telegraph Co. and the English & Irish Magnetic Telegraph Co. The company had its head office in Liverpool, sharing offices and working closely with the Submarine Telegraph Co. The stamps were lithographed by Mawdesley & Co. Of the first design the only recorded examples are shown. The 4/- value was printed on the remainders of the paper from the British Telegraph Company. A copy of an unused form is shown. An example of a new design for a 6d value is also shown; it is understood to be the only recorded copy. A further new design was adopted in 1859 similar to the one described above; proofs are shown of most values in singles and a proof sheet in black with all the values in words. Examples of the first issue are shown, perforated 11½-12½, with the 4/- used on a form. Later issues are also shown perforated 13-13½ in the first row of frame 33.
The London District Telegraph Company Limited (later The London & Provincial Telegraph Company Ltd.): This company was established in 1859 and its head office was in the City office of the Submarine Telegraph Company and the British & Irish Magnetic Company through which it passed all its provincial messages. The name change took place in 1867 but the stamps were unaltered. The first stamps, lithographed by Truscott & Sons were issued in 1862 and all values are shown. A new design was produced in 1865, the first two values issued of this series show hand numbering.
Frame 34:
The United Kingdom Electric Telegraph Company Limited: The company started in July 1860 with the objective of establishing a low uniform charge irrespective of distance. Due to competition this was abandoned in July 1865 and a stepped rate adopted. The stamps were designed and printed by De La Rue late in 1861. The first design was in a vertical format and examples of the first issue with no controls are shown. Further deliveries are understood to have controls, examples are shown. In 1864 and 1865 a new design was adopted with additional values - proofs and issued stamps are shown. In 1863 the company had issued bonds and the INT overprinted stamps were used as payment of interest on these and which then would be used for franking messages.
Frames 35 & 36:
The Universal Private Telegraph Company: This company registered in September 1860 provided a direct private telegraph service between locations such as private offices and operated in a number of main cities. The two stamp values issued were lithographed by Waterlow and Son in 1864. The unused examples are mostly from remainders issued later. Although used examples are recorded as not existing an apparently used pair of the 1/- value is shown.
The South Eastern Railway: Although the company's telegraph lines could be used by the public it did not issue stamps until September 1860. The stamps were produced by Charles Whiting, London. Proof sheets of the 9d in red and 1/- in black and yellow are shown. Plate proofs are also shown of all values except the 9d which is not known. The first issue was perf 9, later issues in 1862-3 were perf 12 and the 1868 perf 12½, examples of all these are shown. (Note that these were printed at the same time as the Prince Edward Island stamps and have similar variations in perforations.)
Frame 37:
The General Telegraph Company Limited: It would appear that no company was ever registered in this name and the examples known are understood to be bogus. A single is shown.
Bonelli's Electric Company Limited: This company was established by an Act of Parliament in 1861 to prove, and then to establish a system of typo-electric telegraphy. The intent was to run a service between Manchester and Liverpool with a tariff of 6d. For various reasons no messages were ever transmitted. A set of stamps lithographed by Waterlow and Son was issued in 1868. A proof of the 6d is shown as well as all the issued values. A single example (no 92) of the small "threepence" is shown. A further 3d design was produced for the booklets. Later examples of these, with controls written on the outside, are shown for both 42 and 84 booklets.
The Post Office Telegraph Stamps
Following nationalisation, in February 1870 the Post Office took over all telegraphic business in the United Kingdom. Initially special stamps were not produced and blank forms to which postage stamps would be applied or pre-stamped forms with an embossed 1/- stamp were available.
However, accounting difficulties were such that it was decided to issue special Telegraph stamps; initially 1d, 3d, 1/- and 5/- values were issued in February 1876. Later, additional values were required, and hand painted designs were produced in April 1876, six of these are shown, "C"-3/-, "D"-4d, "F"-£5 , "G"-£1, "H"-10/- and "I"-£5 modified design. "E" is missing but is thought to be for a 6d value. The 4d and 6d were approved on 30 May but further designs in different colours were sent out on 27 June. The final approved hand painted designs of all six values are shown. These final designs appear to have been acquired by the Collection after the initial writing up of the material. The new values were issued in March 1877.
The frames show the material in value order, not chronological. Also shown are examples of die proofs, imprimaturs and the issued stamps.
Finally in 1881 the Treasury authorised the Postmaster General to abolish distinctive telegraph stamps and to collect the revenues by means of postage stamps; no further Telegraph stamps were issued after 31 October 1881.
Frame 38:
Early essays (1868?) of 1/- Telegraph stamps are shown, followed by a die proof and an issued stamp of the circular embossed design used between 1875 and 1881 and a pre-paid stamped form with that circular stamp. After this the original 1/- octagonal design was reintroduced. . The frame continues with the 1d stamp. However, early in 1880, because of the change in foreign telegraph rates a ½d value was required. With the limited use of the 1d value, its Plate 5 was utilised as a duty plate with each of the 240 original values being removed and a new plate made with 240 "HALF PENNY" parts. This thus required a double printing and the movement of the two parts can be seen in the examples shown.
Frame 39:
The 3d value plus the watermark change in 1881. Colour trials were made of the 3d Plate 3 (in 1881 per Bacon); three colours are recorded, all are shown with an additional one with a solid background to the head.
Frames 40 & 41:
The 4d, 6d and 1/- values are shown. Issued in March 1877, the 6d and 1/- had a watermark change in 1881. The 1/- also had a colour change in 1880.
Frames 42 to 44:
These frames show the 3/-, 5/-, 10/-, £1 and £5 values, all issued in March 1877. The 5/- had a perforation change in1880 and a watermark change in1881. Colour trials for the £5 value were carried out; the initial gold colour was estimated to cost between 4d and 6d per stamp so ultramarine was considered. It was then realised that colour had similarity to the Probate stamps so finally vermillion was selected.
Frame 45:
The two pages of lithographed designs are attributed by Bacon to De La Rue, with a presumed date of 1880 as the sheets include a ½d value issued in that year.
The Military and Army Telegraphs
The first use of the telegraph in war conditions was by the British Army in the Crimea in 1854. This and its use during the Indian Mutiny saw the formation of the Field Electric Telegraph Train, Royal Engineers, in 1866.
Frame 46:
The Unappropriated Dies: The Stamp Act 1870 required every instrument to be stamped with an appropriate duty. In 1872 De La Rue produced a series of die proofs in three sizes showing various values 1d to £20; plate proofs are also shown in black, purple and green.
Frame 47:
The unappropriated designs were first issued overprinted "Military Telegraphs" in 1884 and unused and specimen examples are shown. Used examples are also included from the Suakin Expedition of 1885.
Frame 48:
Shown is the provisional set for use in Egypt in 1886 with values overprinted in Piastres. The lower values were intended to be bisected. In 1886 a new overprinted set was considered for Egypt, essay sheets from De La Rue are shown and overprinted specimen and the issued stamps are also included of 1887.
Frame 49:
For the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884-85 the supply of 6d and 1/- stamps ran low and manuscript values were made, all but the 6d on 10/- are shown. After the manuscript provisionals for the Expedition were used up, 6d and 1/- stamps from Cape of Good Hope were overprinted and these are also shown.
In 1895 a new series of stamps was required using the unappropriated design now overprinted "Army Telegraphs" plus the Great Britain definitive ½d also so overprinted and were first used on the Ashanti Campaign; unused examples are shown. In February 1900 there was a shortage of low values in South Africa and the 2/6 and 5/- were overprinted 2d and 1/- respectively and these two stamps are on the last page.
Frame 50:
The frame shows the Orange River Colony stamps overprinted "VRI "over "AT"; all the values are shown from 1d to £4.
Frame 51:
The National Telephone Company Limited: The company was incorporated in 1881 and progressively absorbed most other local telephone companies. It issued stamps to enable non-subscribers to make use of public call-offices. The stamps were affixed to call sheets to record subscribers' accounts. The company was taken over by the Post Office on 1 January 1912. The stamps are understood to have been printed by the photographic gelatine process of collotyping by Maclure, Macdonald & Company of Glasgow. Examples of all values are shown. The stamps were discontinued in 1891, largely due to the improved coin-in-slot technology which allowed automatic payment, though Bacon suggests that the Postmaster General requested withdrawal.
My thanks are due to Ian Greig and Rod Vousden for their help in putting up the display in the frames and standing "guard" and to Ian Greig especially for his assistance in putting the display together and helping with these Notes.
Michael Sefi, September 2009© The Royal Philatelic Society London 2000 - 2009. Top
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