Page 19 - South Georgia

Postal History of South Georgia, 1913 ~ 29

The second chapter features the earlier Postal History of the King George V reign, 1913 to 1929
King George V ascended the throne on 6 May 1910. KGV definitive stamps were placed on sale in Stanley,
3 July 1912 in the middle of the Antarctic winter. Stamps for the SG market were transhipped via Buenos Aires
by an early next season, 1912~13, supply ship, KEVII stamps, however, continued in use into 1913
Whaling continued to expand, its output vital to the British war effort, more whales processed, more men, more
mail. A second datestamp, SG2, was supplied. Otherwise, little changed at the post office until postage rates were
revised, UPU letter increased to 3d, UPU postcard to 1½d and registration fee to 3d, effective 1 January 1923.
Three years later, the UPU letter rate reverted to 2½d. Stamp shortages were experienced in March 1923 and
February 1928. Registration labels were not replaced; by 1918, stocks of the second type (SG2) ran out. In
December 1924 SG4 arrived. Meantime, several expedient solutions, collectively known as the SG3 group, were
adopted, using variously redundant New Island and a few Stanley registration labels

THE SOUTH GEORGIA ESSAY
The presence of the whaling community resulted in a large quantity of mail being posted from South Georgia.
James Innes Wilson, the postmaster, proposed in 1911 that the Island issue its own postage stamps. This was

supported by the authorities on the Falkland Islands and a 2½d Essay was produced for the UPU letter rate

South Georgia Essay
1911 Composite printed Essay in Sepia mounted on card dated Sept 8th 1911
and produced by De La Rue for the planned South Georgia KGV 2½d Stamp
Two examples of the South Georgia Essay were produced, both by De La Rue
10,000 copies of each of ½d, 1d, 2d and 2½d stamps were ordered on 12th September 1911
The order was amended to 100,000 copies each of ½d and 1d and 50,000 copies each of 2d and 2½d stamps
The order was cancelled on 19th December 1911 on instructions of the Secretary of State for the Colonies
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