THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-1915. CHECK-LIST OF NEW STAMPS.
At New Year, 1915 it is too early to show more than a few of the first
philatelic signs of the great world war which is being waged between
Great Britain,
France,
Russia,
Japan,
Belgium,
Serbia,
Montenegro,
Germany,
Austria-Hungary,
Turkey.
But the developments are already full of significance, and the
stamps of each of the countries at war acquire a new interest in the
occasions for their extra-territorial use as the armies invade the
territories of their opponents. At the beginning of August the Germans
invaded France and Belgium, accompanied, or followed shortly, by field
postal organisations, of which few particulars are yet available.
By the middle of August the French had entered Alsace and German
Lorraine, and the Russians having invaded East Prussia set up posts
there in which they used the current Russian stamps. The British
Expeditionary Force, with its well-equipped Army Postal Service, was
in France by the 16th. About this period the Germans invaded Cape
Colony. The Tsar's promise of autonomy to Poland may ultimately
demonstrate its fulfilment in the issue of new stamps for Poland.
France issued its first Red Cross stamp, and similar war charity
stamps have since appeared in Monaco, French Morocco, Russia, Austria,
Hungary, and Bosnia. Japan's declaration of war, and successful attack
on Kiaochow, probably led to the use of Japanese soldiers' stamps
(_Figs._ 201, 202) by the forces engaged, possibly along with Indian
stamps overprinted C.E.F. (China Expeditionary Force, _Fig._ 61),
for the use of the co-operating British land forces. On the 26th the
British along with the French took Togoland, and have already issued
stamps of the Anglo-French occupation of that former German colony
(_Figs._ 384-386). Prior to their issue the British Gold Coast stamps
were used in Togo for a time (_Fig._ 370). Towards the end of the
month the bombardment of Malines destroyed the Belgian State
Stamp-printing works, rendering it necessary to create an entirely
new series of Belgian stamps when the Government finds itself in a
position to do so. On the 29th Samoa was taken by the New Zealand
forces, and English stamps have been used there (_Fig._ 371), and
already a provisional and a definitive set of British Samoa stamps
have appeared (_Figs._ 382, 383).
[Illustration: 370 370A. 370B. 371 372 373]
German attacks in September on various British and French colonial
possessions may in some cases leave philatelic records, chiefly in
the way of war postmarks which may be looked for from the affairs in
Nyasaland, British East Africa, Zanzibar, German South-West Africa,
etc. Postmarks, too, record the withdrawal of the French Government
to Bordeaux (_Figs._ 155, 156), and the sending of great loyal
contingents from Canada (_Fig._ 372) Australia, and New Zealand
(_Fig._ 373). The effect on stamp issues caused by Turkey's abolition
of the capitulations has already been referred to as rendering a
considerable number of stamp issues obsolete, and this event has been
commemorated on the Turkish issue, which, by the way, was printed
in London. Australia's capture of German New Guinea and the Bismarck
Archipelago, is already reported to have been followed by the re-issue
of the German colonial stamps of New Guinea (_Figs._ 370A, 370B) with
a British "G.R.I." overprint.
Some postal aspects of the retirement of the Belgian Government to
Havre in October (_Fig._ 216) and the issue of German stamps for
Belgium (_Fig._ 209) have already been referred to.
Turkey's entry into the war in November may have the effect of
removing Turkey from the list of European stamp-issuing States, and
has already led to the long anticipated proclamation of a British
protectorate over Egypt, and the annexation of Cyprus. The fall
of Tsingtau renders obsolete the German colonial type of stamp for
Kiaochow, although there may have been some interesting provisional
issue here, and also possibly in the Marshall and Marianne Islands.
All these and many more happenings of the past few months will leave
their traces in new stamps, or in new uses for stamps, and when at
last the enemy shall be vanquished and Peace reigns once more, one of
the most fascinating histories of the great War will be that recorded
in the pages of the stamp album.
The following is a synopsis, or check list, of distinctive postage
stamps already issued in connection with the war. Issues reported but
not yet seen by or satisfactorily vouched for to the present writer
are not included.
AUSTRIA.
October 4, 1914. War Relief stamps. Current design adapted (_Fig._
258) sold at 2 heller over face-value.
5 heller green.
10 " carmine.
BELGIUM.
October 2, 1914. Red Cross Stamps. Lithographed on white wove
unwatermarked paper. Perf. 13-1/2. White gum.
(a) _Head of King Albert (Figs. 210, 211)._
5c. green.
10c. red.
20c. purple (cross in red).
(b) _Monument design (Figs. 212, 213)._
5c. green (cross in red).
10c. red.
20c. purple (cross in red).
BELGIUM (GERMAN ADMINISTRATION).
October, 1914. Current German Empire stamps, overprinted in black
"Belgien," and new value in Gothic type (_Fig._ 209). Perforated 14.
Issued in Brussels.
3 centimes on 3 pfennig, brown.
5 " 5 " green.
10 " 10 " carmine.
25 " 20 " ultramarine.
BOSNIA.
October (?), 1914. War Relief stamps. 5 and 10 heller stamps of the
1906 issue overprinted 7 and 12 heller, respectively.
7 heller on 5 heller, green.
12 " 10 " carmine.
FRANCE.
August 18, 1914. Contemporary 10 centimes stamp, surcharged "+5c." in
red (_Fig._ 150).
10c. + 5c. vermilion.
September 10, 1914. Definitive stamp. Sower design adapted,
inscription reading "CROIX-ROUGE POSTES" (_Fig._ 151).
10c. + 5c. vermilion.
FRENCH MOROCCO.
September 1, 1914. Red Cross stamp. The 10 centimes "Rights of Man"
type, already overprinted "10," and native inscription, further
surcharged "+5c." (_Fig._ 153).
10c. + 5c. red.
HUNGARY.
October, 1914. War Relief stamps. The 5 and 10 filler "inundation"
stamps of 1913 overprinted in black in the centre of the stamp "Hadi
S['e]g['e]ly" (War Relief) and on label at the foot, obliterating the
original inscription, "Ozvegyeknek es arvaknak ket filler" (for the
widows and orphans two filler) (_Fig._ 261).
Seventeen values 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 50 and 60
filler, and 1, 2, and 5 korona.
INDIA EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.
October, 1914. Stamps of India overprinted I.E.F. in seriffed type,
for use with British troops on the Continent (_Figs._ 76-85). Perf.
14.
3p. grey.
1/2a. green.
1a. carmine.
2a. mauve.
2-1/2a. (Die 2) blue.
3a. brown orange.
4a. olive.
8a. purple.
12a. claret.
1r. green and brown.
MONACO.
October, 1914. Red Cross stamp. Current 10 centimes stamp of this
Principality, surcharged "+ 5c." in red (_Fig._ 152).
10c. + 5c. red.
NEW GUINEA.
October, 1914. Provisional Issue. German Colonial (Ship) type for
DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA, overprinted "G.R.I." and new value in English.
(Similar to _Figs._ 374-381.) Perforated 14.
1d. on 3pf., brown.
1d. on 5pf., green.
2d. on 10pf., carmine.
2d. on 20pf., ultramarine.
3d. on 25pf., black and red on _yellow_.
3d. on 30pf., black and orange on _buff_.
4d. on 40pf., black and carmine.
5d. on 50pf., black and purple on _buff_.
8d. on 80pf., black and carmine on _rose_.
RUSSIA.
November 26, 1914. War Charity stamps. Surface-printed at the Russian
Imperial State Printing Works on enamelled surface coloured papers
(_Figs._ 189-192, see frontispiece). Sold for 1 kopec extra per stamp.
1 (2) kopec.
3 (4) kopecs.
7 (8) kopecs.
10 (11) kopecs.
SAMOA (BRITISH).
September 3, 1914. Provisional Issue. German Colonial (Ship) type for
Samoa overprinted "G.R.I." and new value in English (_Figs._ 374-381).
Wove paper, unwatermarked. Perforated 14.
[Illustration: 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381]
1/2d. on 3pf. brown.
No fraction bar to "1/2."
Comma after "G.R.I,"
1/2d. on 5pf. green.
Two small fraction bars to "1/2."
Comma after "G.R.I,"
1d. on 10pf. carmine.
2-1/2d. on 20pf. ultramarine.
No fraction bar to "1/2."
Inverted surcharge.
Comma after "G.R.I,"
3d. on 25pf. black and red on _yellow_.
Double surcharge.
4d. on 30pf. black and orange on _buff_.
5d. on 40pf. black and carmine.
6d. on 50pf. black and purple on _buff_.
Double surcharge.
Inverted "9" for "6."
9d. on 80pf. black and carmine on _rose_.
1s. on 1 mark carmine.
Error "1 shillings."
2s. on 2 marks blue.
3s. on 3 marks violet.
5s. on 5 marks carmine and black.
September 29, 1914. Permanent Issue. New Zealand stamps overprinted
"Samoa" in _sans-serif_ type 2mm. high and 14mm. long. The type
of stamp is indicated in brackets (_Figs._ 382, 383). Orange-red
overprints for 1/2d., 2d., 2-1/2d.; and blue for 1d., 6d., and 1s.
White wove paper. Watermarked "N.Z." single-lined and Star. Perfs.
various.
[Illustration: 382 383]
1/2d. green (King Edward).
1d. carmine (Dominion).
2d. mauve (King Edward).
2-1/2d. blue (Pictorial).
6d. carmine (King Edward).
1s. vermilion (King Edward).
TOGOLAND (BRITISH ISSUE).
October, 1914. German Colonial stamps for Togo overprinted
"Togo--Anglo-French--Occupation" in three lines in black (_Figs._
384-386). Wove paper, perforated 14.
[Illustration: 384 385 386]
_(a) Surcharged with new value in pence (Figs. 384, 385)._
1/2d. on 3pf. brown (no wmk.).
1d. on 5pf. green (wmk. lozenges).
_(b) Without new value (Fig. 386)._
3pf. brown.
5pf. green.
10pf. carmine.
20pf. blue.
25pf. black and red on _yellow_.
30pf. black and orange on _buff_.
40pf. black and carmine.
50pf. black and purple on _buff_.
80pf. black and carmine on _rose_.
1 mark carmine.
2 marks blue.
TOGOLAND (FRENCH ISSUE).
October, 1914. Similar stamps, but with overprint reading
"TOGO--OCCUPATION--FRANCO-ANGLAISE," and new value in French currency.
.05 on 3pf. brown.
10 on 5pf. green.
10pf. carmine.
20pf. blue.
25pf. black and red on _yellow_.
30pf. red and black on _buff_.
40pf. red and black.
80pf. red and black on _rose_.
1 mark carmine.
2 marks blue.
TURKEY.
October, 1914. Current stamps (_see Figs. 263 et seq._) overprinted
(?) in commemoration of the closing of all foreign post offices in
Turkey, as a consequence of the abolition of the Capitulations. The
overprint is in two lines of Turkish characters.
5 paras, purple-brown.
10 paras, green.
20 paras, scarlet.
1 piastre, blue.
2 piastres, green and black.
5 piastres, deep lilac.
10 piastres, red-brown.
_NOTICE._
[This check list of stamps of the war will be revised, continued and
presented as a supplement which will be given away from time to time
with _The Postage Stamp_ (1d. weekly), of all newsagents, or by post
4s. 4d. per annum from the publishers, S. R. Le Mare, 21 Paternoster
Square, London, E.C.]
APPENDIX.
Egypt--Sudan--Morocco--Military Postcards--Additional
Postmarks.
EGYPT.--An event of the greatest interest to philatelists is the
termination of the suzerainty of Turkey over Egypt, and the placing
of the latter country under British protection. As a British
protectorate, Egypt will be transferred to the British Empire division
of the stamp catalogues, and a greatly increased interest will be
taken in the postage stamps of the land of the Pharaohs, with the
result that the earlier issues will rise appreciably in value. As
recently as January 8, 1914, a handsome new series of stamps was
issued in Egypt, on the anniversary day of the accession of the
now deposed Khedive, Abbas II. These were not of a commemorative
character, but were issued on the anniversary as a compliment to the
then reigning Khedive. They probably call for no change in the designs
under the new conditions, and as they are denominated in English the
present stamps may be continued in use. But they will probably be
changed in regard to the watermarked paper on which they are printed,
as the watermarked device is that popularly known as the "star and
crescent" (_Fig._ 387), although modern authorities appear to agree
that the Turkish symbol is not a crescent (_vide_ p. 87). The new
Egyptian flag, under Sultan Hussein I., is red with _three_ silver
crescents each enclosing a star, instead of the Turkish flag with the
single "crescent" and star. Thus although a new form of watermark may
not be deemed necessary, a change to the "multiple" (or as
printers term it, the "all-over") watermark of similar device would
appropriately denote the new regime.
[Illustration: 387 388 389 390]
The designs on the fine series of stamps (_Figs._ 388-397) now current
in Egypt are:--1 millieme, sepia: gyassas or sailing-boats on the
Nile; 2m., green: Cleopatra in the garb and head-dress of the goddess
Isis; 3m., orange-yellow: the Ras-el-Tin Palace in the Muhammedan
quarter of modern Alexandria; 4m., vermilion: the Pyramids of Giza;
5m., lake: the Sphinx of Giza; 10m., cobalt: the two Colossi of
Amenophis III. on the banks of the Nile at Thebes; 20m., olive: the
Pylon or Gateway to the Karnak Temple; 50m., lilac: the Citadel at
Cairo; 100m., slate: the Rock Temple at Ab[^u] Simbel, Ipsambul; 200m.,
marone: the Asw[^a]n Dam, at the first cataract of the Nile.
[Illustration: 391 392 393 394 395 396 397]
In view of the great future now opening up for British philatelists
in the study and collection of Egyptian stamps, the present writer has
completed a full illustrated history of these stamps for publication
in the "Melville Stamp Books series," published by Messrs. Stanley
Gibbons, Ltd., 391 Strand (_see_ page 2). This will be issued almost
simultaneously with the present volume.
[Illustration: 398]
An Egyptian stamp which might have been included in the body of the
present work is _Fig._ 398, a postage-due stamp issued in 1898. At
that time the Egyptian postal regulations charged 3 milliemes for
prepaid letters but double that sum (6 milliemes) for unpaid letters,
from or to non-commissioned officers and men of the Egyptian Army in
garrison on the frontier, as well as at Suakim and Tokar; the same
tariff was applicable to soldiers taking part in the Expedition to the
Sudan. In consideration of the fact that such soldiers would be most
frequently in places where they would be unable to get postage stamps,
the authorities decided that unpaid letters sent by them should only
be liable to the single rate of 3 milliemes instead of the double rate
of 6 milliemes. But as there was no postage-due stamp of 3 milliemes
to use in collecting this sum, it was temporarily permitted to use a
2 millieme stamp, with half of another 2 millieme stamp divided
diagonally, until the surcharged stamp (_Fig._ 398) 3 milliemes on 2
milliemes could be prepared and issued.
[Illustration: 399 400 401]
SUDAN.--The first stamps of the Sudan were created by overprinting
Egyptian stamps in 1897 for use at the Camp Post Office at Wadi
Haifa, and at points south thereof, the overprint reading "SOUDAN" and
repeated in Arabic characters. The first stamps of special design,
the attractive "camel" issue, also have military associations, being
designed by Colonel Stanton of the Oxford Light Infantry, depicting
a camel rider, alleged to be a portrait of Slatin Pasha. The rider is
carrying mail, and is armed with a rifle and two spears (_Fig._ 399).
These stamps were overprinted for use of army officials either with
the words "OFFICIAL-ARMY" as in _Fig._ 400, or "Army Service" as in
_Fig._ 401. Another interesting Sudanese military stamp design was
used for the military telegraph service (_Fig._ 402).
[Illustration: 402]
MOROCCO.--Following upon the proclamation of Egypt as a British
Protectorate, it was announced that Great Britain has recognised the
French Protectorate in Morocco and has adhered to the Franco-Moroccan
Treaty of March 30, 1912. The French stamps for Morocco (_Fig._ 403)
have now been overprinted "PROTECTORAT-FRANCAIS", as may be seen by
comparing this 10 centimes value with the same denomination utilised
for Red Cross stamp purposes (_Fig._ 153). The change in the status of
Morocco may render the British postal agencies there unnecessary, in
which case the series of British stamps overprinted "MOROCCO AGENCIES"
(_Figs._ 404, 405) may be rendered obsolete.
[Illustration: 403 404 405]
POSTCARDS AND POSTMARKS. The remaining illustrations, added as this
work is being sent to press, supplement the philatelic records of the
present war, as already outlined in the earlier chapters. _Fig._ 406
is the original issue of the French military postcard, on thin green
card. _Fig._ 407 is also French, printed on a thicker Silurian card.
_Fig._ 408 is a German field postcard (medium white) despatched by
a British prisoner of war in the English Lager at Sennelager. A few
additional naval postmarks are also shown (_Figs._ 409-413). _Fig._
409 appears to be in the design of an "Iron Cross" (!) _Fig._ 414 is
a mark used by the censor in handling registered mail, and 415 is on
correspondence originating at a depot for convalescent horses. _Figs._
416-420 are various types of censor marks, No. 419 being a Dutch one
on a letter posted at Maastricht. At the time of going to press we
have noted British military censor marks up to No. 1739. We are also
able to state definitely that _Fig._ 85B (Chapter II.) is a field
postmark of the Indian Expeditionary Force in France.
[Illustration: 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 414 413 415 416 417 418 419
420]
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Irregular and duplicate figure numbering has been retained throughout.
The only intentional changes to the text are where typographical errors
have been corrected as follows:
Page 5, "page 47" changed to "page 49" (in Table of Contents: Chapter
IV ... page 49.)
Page 5, "page 77" changed to "page 75" (in Table of Contents: Chapter
VI ... page 75.)
Page 5, an Appendix starting on p. 122 is not listed in the Table of
Contents.
Page 32, Figure 69 originally on page 32 moved to page 33; appears
as illustration for HTML version and is transcribed as text for this
Plain Text version.
Page 33, note hand-written correction to the poster (Figure 69)
"stamps" should read "letters" (unpaid and unfranked letters will also
run the risk of misdelivery.)
Page 36, missing closing parenthesis added "(Fig. 77)".
Page 45, there is no Figure 123.
Page 45, "129" changed to "128" ("Figs. 126-128".)
Pages 57 & 58, duplicate use of figure numbers 167 and 168.
Page 59, "Womens'" changed to "Womens'" (the Imperial Women's
Patriotic Union.)
Page 70, Figure 221 appears as illustration for HTML version and is
transcribed as text for this Plain Text version.
Page 76, "Fraulein" changed to "Fr[:a]ulein" (an actress Fr[:a]ulein Anna
F[:u]hring).
Page 87, suspected error in original unchanged: "susceptibilities" for
"sensibilities" (which gave offence to Muslim susceptibilities).
Page 103, "incriptions" changed to "inscriptions" (the inscriptions on
which read "Liberty or death...")
Page 108, in the transcription of the overprint "HALILITADO POR LA
JUNTA REVOLUCIONARIA" it is unclear whether "HALILITADO" is an error
for "HABILITADO" in the typesetting or in the original overprint.
Page 122, "Pharoahs" changed to "Pharaohs" (postage stamps of the land
of the Pharaohs).
End of Project Gutenberg's The Postage Stamp in War, by Fred. J. Melville