Page 2 - Falkland Islands King George VI Definitive Issue, 1938-1950

FALKLAND ISLANDS

“Falkland Islands - The King George VI Era”
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This display is formed of two parts ‘Stamps’ and Postal History. As was the policy at that time of colonial postal
administrations, Falkland Islands [FI] procured their postage stamps using Crown Agents’ [CA] services who
undertook to procure, purchase, placing contracts with English based specialist printers, arrange security
standard paper and supply, … and finally, quality control and despatch/ship to country. In the late nineteen-
thirties, it became common practise to number all sheets of stamps despatched to the colonies. During World
War II, CA established a bureau in London for servicing the needs of philatelic traders. [Sheets supplied for
sale to traders via CA were not numbered.]

There were understandings established between the Colonial Administrations and Crown Agents so that
philatelists, and traders alike, could be assured that all values of stamps of a printing and all printings of each
denomination would be offered for sale in colonial post offices, but not necessarily all offices, as well as from
CA London. Usually the time of release was co-ordinated. Some particular printings might be offered in small
quantities be it in country, or from London.

The typically CA watermarked paper was tightly controlled, printer’s supplies being sufficient, including a margin
for set up and other production losses. It was expensive were additional quantities to be ordered from CA in
order to satisfy contract deliverable quantities. Deliveries had to be numerically within 10% of contract quantity
per face value. It would be at times of potential short delivery that quality inspectors would be pressurised to
review sub standard sheets in an endeavour to pass, if fault free, half or quarter sheets. In such cases, the
sheet number would not be located necessarily in the NE corner, stamped on the margin. Non-typical positions
command a premium, some being rare. Sheets of higher quality were allocated for sale by CA to ‘collectors’.

There were other factors, not discussed here, which could reduce the country allocation of later printings, the
minimum despatched, notwithstanding, to country was set at 10%. . Falkland Islands Local stocks were held at
the Treasury who would supply the Stanley Postmaster as ordered by indent. The Postmaster would also hold
a small stock for supply to clerk’s counter books and other out-lying post offices, Fox Bay and South Georgia
etc. Treasury issue policy was “first in, first out”.
The 1938 - 50 definitive pictorial issue was reprinted many times but when the issue was withdrawn to make
way for the second KGVI issue of 1952, stocks of sheets of all values of the second ‘1938 - Colonial’ printing
had not been exhausted - hence the relative scarcity of some of the later printings of some values.

The KG VI Coronation commemorative set of three was the first Falkland issue to be sheet numbered.

The number of digits comprising the sheet number was related to ordered quantity. If less than 100 sheets
were to be delivered to Stanley then two digits would suffice. If under 1,000 sheets then three and so on.
Different printings of a value might not all have the same number of digits.

During the King’s reign there were two definitive pictorial issue and four omnibus commemorative issues.
Examples of all values of all issues are possible to collect. Exceptionally, some war time printings were not
numbered as well as a few later value/printing combinations.
Research has revealed some printers’ despatch notes /documentation has survived. These notes detailed for
that batch : quantities, and sheet number ranges shipped. Few for the first definitive issue have been found.

The second part of this display features postal history of the King George VI era. The first all new definite issue
of the Elizabethan era was released in February 1960, although there had been six values of the prior, second
definitive issue that had been reprinted from 1954 onwards with the Queens head replacing that of her father.

Some aspects of KG VI FI postal history were shown in an early RPSL display (July/August 2016) and have not
been repeated in this display, in particular, mail from South Georgia prior to the Island having its own stamps
and Operation Tabarin (1944 ~ 45).

Introduction to the static display at the RPSL, June 2017

Falkland Islands King George VI Era