With the end of 1881 the printing of the stamps of St. Vincent by Messrs.
Perkins, Bacon & Co. ceased, and on February 25th, 1882, that firm
delivered up the various plates of stamps to the Crown Agents of the
Colony in London. These plates were afterwards handed over by them to
Messrs. De La Rue & Co., and this firm has since printed all the further
supplies of stamps ordered by the Colony, using Messrs. Perkins, Bacon &
Co.’s plates for that purpose.
We give the dates of the various issues comprised in Section II. as
accurately as it is in our power to do, but, as we do not enjoy for the
stamps of this section the same advantages as we did for those printed
by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., we are now obliged for our information
to fall back entirely upon the philatelic periodicals, the authorities
we have chiefly relied upon being the _Philatelic Record_ and the
_Timbre-Poste_.
With the change of contractors alterations took place in the paper,
colours, and perforation of the stamps—printers’ accessories that
naturally differ with each individual firm. At the time Messrs. De La Rue
& Co. took over the contract they had, in the case of stamps of the size
of the majority of those of St. Vincent, ceased using their well-known
paper watermarked with a crown and “C.C.,” and had substituted in its
place a paper with watermarks of a crown over the letters “C.A.”—these
initials standing for “Crown Agents.” This paper is milled or surfaced,
medium in thickness, and varies but slightly in both of these two
respects. It was specially made for the electrotype plates used by
Messrs. De La Rue & Co. in the surface-printing process they employ for
most of the current British Colonial stamps. The entire sheet measures
21¼ inches in height by 11 inches in width, or 54 centimetres by 28
centimetres, approximately. In order to correspond with the stamps on
these electrotype plates, the watermarks in the sheet are grouped in four
panes of sixty, and those in each pane are arranged in ten horizontal
rows of six, with a line in watermark enclosing each pane. The two upper
panes are separated from the two lower ones by a space of an inch,
and this interval is watermarked with the words “Crown Agents,” in a
straight line in double-lined block capitals 12 mm. in height. The two
panes on the right are separated from the two on the left by a narrow
unwatermarked space of 6 mm. There is no marginal watermark at either the
top or bottom of the sheet, but at each side the words “Crown Agents for
the Colonies” are watermarked in a straight line of double-lined block
capitals 7 mm. in height, the words on the left reading upwards, and
those on the right reading downwards.
From these particulars it will be seen how ill-adapted this paper is for
plates of the size of those of the St. Vincent stamps. The consequence
is that the watermarks, “Crown C.A.,” are irregularly distributed over
the sheets of all the different values, never being in proper register
with the stamps, but more so in the cases of the Halfpenny and the Five
Shillings, on account of the sizes of these two values being so very
different from that of the De La Rue stamps for which the watermarks are
spaced.
We have seen that the plates of the Halfpenny, One Penny, and Sixpence
contained sixty stamps, in six horizontal rows of ten, and that of the
Five Shillings twenty stamps, in four horizontal rows of five. The
“Crown C.A.” paper was, therefore, quite large enough to be divided
horizontally, so as to take three impressions of any of these plates. The
result of this division of the sheet is that the impression of the plate
that happens to be printed on the middle portion has one row of stamps,
either partly or wholly, watermarked with as much of the inscription,
“Crown Agents,” as the length of the plate will permit; and specimens
of all the above values, as well as of the two issues of the One Penny
surcharged “2½ Pence,” and the Six Pence surcharged “Five Pence,” by
Messrs. De La Rue & Co. are found so watermarked. The plates of the Four
Pence and One Shilling, which only contained thirty stamps in three
horizontal rows of ten, admitted of the paper being so cut that the words
“Crown Agents” are only found watermarked in the margins of the sheets of
these two values.
The sheets printed from Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co.’s plates were even
less adapted to the perforating machines used by Messrs. De La Rue & Co.
for stamps of their own design printed on “Crown C.A.” paper, than, as we
have seen, were the Perkins-Bacon plates to that paper. These machines,
to which we give the name of “comb,” perforate the top and two sides of
every stamp in an entire horizontal row at each descent of the pins.
The second descent of the pins, therefore, perforates the bottom of
the stamps in the first row and at the same time the top and two sides
of the stamps of the second row. This process is continued through the
sheet until the bottom of it is reached, when the last descent of the
pins perforates the bottom of the lowest row of stamps, and at the same
time continues the vertical lines of perforation into the bottom margin
of the sheet. If the sheet has been put to the machine in an inverted
position, it is the _top_ margin we find perforated vertically. The
machines are, however, so constructed that in the centre of the long line
of pins two of the vertical lines of the “comb” are placed much closer
together than the rest, in order to perforate each side of the narrow
central space separating the panes of stamps—_vide_ our description of
the paper watermarked “Crown C.A.” This arrangement of the pins makes the
machine utterly useless for perforating a row of more than six stamps
placed close together. In consequence of this, the stamps of St. Vincent,
and those of other Colonies for which Messrs. De La Rue & Co. use the
old plates of Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., have to be perforated by a
different make of machine to that they usually employ for colonial stamps.
For the stamps of St. Vincent three varieties of perforating machines
have been used by Messrs. De La Rue & Co. First, a comb-machine of the
gauge of 14, similar to the one they employ for perforating the current
One Penny &c. of Great Britain, in which the horizontal line of pins is
long enough, without the interposition of two vertical lines placed close
together, to perforate a row of ten or more stamps; second, a single-line
or guillotine-machine with 12 holes in a space of 2 centimetres; and
third, a similarly constructed machine to the second, but with a gauge of
14.
In order to distinguish between the perforations of the
guillotine-machine gauging 14 and those of the comb-machine which also
gauges 14, it is necessary to have either a block of at least four
stamps, or a vertical strip with the top and bottom margins of the
sheet attached. By examining the points where the lines of perforation
intersect each other, or noticing whether _both_ margins of the sheet
have been perforated through or not, it is possible to decide the nature
of the machine. If, at the point where a vertical and a horizontal line
of perforation intersect, there is one hole common to both lines, this
hole being of the usual size, or if either the top or bottom margin of
the sheet is imperforate, then the perforation must have been done by
the comb-machine. On the other hand, if the lines of perforation cross
each other so that there is no one hole common to both lines, or if there
appears to be such a one that it has evidently been made larger by the
passage of a second pin, or if the top and bottom margins of the sheet
are _both_ perforated through, then we may be equally certain that the
perforation has been performed by the guillotine-machine.
The comb-machine perforating 14 is far more regular in the spacing of
the pins than the guillotine-machine of the same gauge. If a long line
of perforation of the latter be examined, it will be found that here and
there the holes are not in line, and also that there is a slightly wider
distance between certain of them, although the gauge of the perforation
does not perceptibly vary from 14.
The guillotine-machine gauging 12 is more irregular still in the spacing
of the pins, as an examination of our illustration No. 21 will show. For
instance, the tenth hole from the bottom is further from the ninth than
it is from the eleventh, and the second and third holes from the top, and
also others, will be seen to be more or less out of line. The gauge also
varies; for if two centimetres be taken up the central line, commencing
with the fifteenth hole from the bottom, that space will be found to
contain eleven holes, _plus_ the distance between the eleventh and
twelfth, which is equivalent to a gauge of 11¾.
For some reason Messrs. De La Rue & Co. do not appear to have made
much use of the comb-machine for the stamps of St. Vincent; it may be
because their machines were in constant requirement for British stamps.
The One Penny, and “2½ Pence” on 1d., rosy-lake, two of the first three
values printed by them, were perforated by this comb-machine; but with
the exception of one or two other stamps that we shall specify in our
notes to the various issues, the remainder, including all the stamps
now current in the Island, have been perforated by one or other of the
guillotine-machines.
We have not thought proper in our Reference List to make any distinction
between the two machines gauging 14, nor have we catalogued stamps
showing part of the words “Crown Agents” in the watermark, as we feel
that had we done so we should have been adding a fresh terror to stamp
collecting, already over-burdened by the weight of “varieties.”
The gum on all the stamps of Section II. is usually white, but sometimes
varies to a pale yellow.
The colours of the stamps are for the most part brighter than those used
by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., and the combination of the line-engraved
plates with the colours, paper, and perforations of Messrs. De La Rue
& Co. produce certainly some of the finest stamps that have ever been
printed.
Issue 19.
_January 1883._
1d., drab.
4d., bright blue.
These two stamps, the first to be printed for the Colony by Messrs. De
La Rue & Co., were chronicled in the _Philatelic Record_ of February,
1883, so we may safely put down the date of issue as January. The colours
of both values were unchanged, and, allowing for the difference of
appearance in Messrs. De La Rue & Co.’s stamps, caused by the whiteness
and surfacing of the paper, there is hardly any change to be noticed even
in their shades. The One Penny is perforated 14, the machine used having
been the “comb.” The Four Pence is also perforated 14, but not having
been able to examine a block, or even a pair of these stamps, we are
unable to say which of the two machines was used. In all probability it
was the guillotine-machine.
Issue 20.
_February 1883._
“2½ PENCE,” in black, on 1d., rosy-lake.
Although a surcharged, this is by no means a provisional stamp, since it
was made to obviate the necessity of making a plate for the new value
of Two Pence Halfpenny required for the Postal Union rate, and, with
a change of colour of the One Penny value on which the surcharge is
printed, it has remained current ever since its issue in February, 1883.
It was chronicled in the _Philatelic Record_ of March, 1883, and is dated
February in the last edition of M. Moens’ _Catalogue_. The surcharge is
printed in black, in block figures and capitals 3 mm. in height, and the
extreme length of the whole surcharge is 16 mm. A bar, 1 mm. in width,
and 14 mm. in length, is printed at a distance of 1 mm. below the “2½
PENCE,” and the surcharges are so printed on the sheet that these black
bars fall more or less exactly on the lower labels of the stamps, and
obliterate the original values. Like the stamps of the last issue, the
sheets were perforated 14 by the comb-machine.
We have been shewn some specimens of the One Penny rosy-lake, which their
owners fondly imagined were stamps that had escaped the surcharge “2½
PENCE.” This is not so, as the One Penny stamp was afterwards issued in
exactly the same colour as the surcharged variety we are now considering:
_vide_ Issue 25.
Issue 21.
_October 1883._
4d., dull blue.
6d., bright green.
1s., orange-vermilion.
In the _Philatelic Record_ of November, 1883, the editor chronicles the
two higher values of this issue, on the authority of Dr. Viner, but they
were not noticed in the _Timbre-Poste_ until January, 1884. We have every
belief that the Four Pence, dull blue, was issued with the two other
values, but we can find no contemporary record of it. It is called “_bleu
terne_” and dated 1883 in the First Supplement (published July 1884), to
the 6th Edition of M. Moens’ _Catalogue_. This settles the question as
to its colour at least, for although M. Moens’ in the current edition of
his _Catalogue_ has dropped the term “_bleu terne_,” and substituted
for it two colours, “_outremer_” and “_bleu foncé_,” we cannot help
thinking that in this instance he has followed the lead of the London
Society’s _West Indian Catalogue_, which employs precisely these terms
in describing the colour of the blue Four Pence perforated 12, ignoring
the dull blue stamp altogether. The stamps so described in the London
Society’s list certainly belong to a later printing, and we believe them
to have been non-existent in July, 1884, when M. Moens issued the First
Supplement to the 6th Edition of his _Catalogue_. The colour of the
Four Pence of this issue is a dull dirty blue, inclined to grey-blue,
and cannot possibly be mistaken for any of the shades of the Four Pence
of the next issue. It is a very rare stamp, particularly unused. All
the stamps of this issue are perforated 12 by the guillotine-machine
described in our note to Section II.
Issue 22
_September 1884._
½d., dark green.
4d., ultramarine, with light and dark shades.
In the _Philatelic Record_ of March, 1884, will be found an account of
a spurious provisional Halfpenny, for which the _Deutsche Philatelisten
Zeitung_ seems to have been responsible. The stamp is described as the
Six Pence, green, divided vertically, and each half surcharged in black
“_Halfpenny_.” In the June number of the _Philatelic Record_ the editor
says: “The result of enquiries made of the Postmaster of St. Vincent is
that no such stamp has been issued. There are still large supplies of
the small ½d., orange, on hand, which is attested by the fact that the
watermark of this stamp has not yet been altered to C.A. and Crown.”
The new Halfpenny printed in green, and perforated 12, was afterwards
chronicled in the October number of the same journal.
We believe it was at this time that the third and last printing of a blue
Four Pence was made by Messrs. De La Rue & Co., and that this is the
ultramarine, or dark blue stamp, that is dated by the London Society as
having been issued at the end of 1883. Both the stamps of this issue are
perforated 12, and this is the last instance in which a machine of this
gauge was used for St. Vincent stamps.
The variety of the Halfpenny printed in orange-yellow, but otherwise
identical in all other respects with the green Halfpenny of this issue,
has been known to us for some two years. A specimen of it was found
by our publishers in a collection they had purchased, and at least
two others are known, one of which has recently (January, 1895) been
advertised for sale. All these are unused, and are printed on “Crown
C.A.” paper, gummed, and perforated 12. We have catalogued this stamp as
a variety “prepared for use, but never issued,” and, although it would be
indiscreet to repeat here all the gossip we have heard on the subject,
this fairly represents the case, as far as the evidence that has reached
us can be trusted. One thing is at least certain, and that is, none of
these yellow Halfpennies ever reached the Island officially.
Issue 23.
_March 1885._
“1d.” in black, on “2½d.” on 1d., rosy-lake.
This provisional stamp was made in the Island by surcharging “1d.” in
black on the Two Pence Halfpenny of Issue 20, the surcharged value of
that stamp being obliterated by two black bars printed across the sheet.
The numeral “1” is 8½ mm. in height, and 1½ mm. in width; it has usually
a straight serif, and a foot 3½ mm. long; the letter “d” is 4 mm. in
height, and its extreme width is 3 mm. The bars that obliterate the
original surcharge “2½ Pence” are each ½ mm. wide, and there is a space
of ¾ mm. between them; between the upper of these two bars and the foot
of the figure “1” there is a space of 3¼ mm. The top of the “d” is about
level with that of the figure “1,” but the position of the letter varies,
and it is sometimes a little higher or a little lower than the numeral.
Between the “1” and the “d” there is a space of 1½ mm. The only variety
of the surcharge that we have found is a stamp which has the serif of
the numeral “1” sloping upwards. There appear to be no other varieties
of surcharge on the sheet, unless we reckon as such the slightly varying
positions of the letter “d” or a type of the figure “1” which has the
right hand projection of the foot broken off.
This provisional One Penny was chronicled in the _Philatelic Record_
of April, 1885, and there can be no doubt it was issued in March. Its
perforation is of course the same as that of the Two Pence Halfpenny of
Issue 20.
Issue 24.
_April 1885._
½d., dark green, shades.
1d., carmine.
4d., red-brown.
The One Penny and Four Pence of this issue were chronicled in the
_Philatelic Record_ of May, 1885, and these two at least were issued
in April. There is no such certainty with regard to the Halfpenny,
dark green, perforated 14, as this is another St. Vincent stamp that
altogether escaped being noticed in the periodicals. The earliest record
of it we can find is in Mr. Gilbert E. Lockyer’s _Colonial Stamps_,
published in April, 1887. In this work it is grouped with other values
as having been issued in “1885-86.” This is a little vague, but we do
not suppose that Mr. Lockyer had any more precise information about the
date of issue than we ourselves have now. Taking into consideration that
the Halfpenny, dark green, perforated 12, of Issue 22, September, 1884,
is rather a rare stamp either unused or used, we are inclined to assign
to it as short a life as possible, and we believe that the Halfpenny
perforated 14 must have been sent out by Messrs. De La Rue & Co. in
April, 1885, rather than in June, 1886, with the new printings of the One
Penny and Four Pence.
The colour of the Halfpenny is dark green, varying in shade, and it does
not differ in this respect from the Halfpenny of Issue 22. The impression
is sometimes rather blurred, or woolly, and when this is the case the
letters of the inscription appear narrower, and have badly defined edges.
We have called the colour of the One Penny, “carmine,” and that of the
Four Pence “red-brown.” In the _Philatelic Record_ of May, 1885, they
were called “bright-rose” and “reddish-chocolate,” but in July, 1886, the
editor of that periodical, says, “… we think it better to explain that
the colour of the One Penny of 1885, when compared with the more recent
issue, must be rather termed ‘vermilion-red’ than ‘bright-rose.’”
The Four Pence is rather scarce even used, and unused it is decidedly
rare.
All the stamps of this issue are perforated 14 by the guillotine-machine,
and the Halfpenny is one of the values that still remain in issue in the
Island.
Issue 25.
_June 1886._
1d., pink, shades.
1d., rosy-lake.
4d., purple-brown.
4d., lake-brown, shades from deep to pale.
The change in colour of the two values of this issue was first chronicled
in the _Philatelic Record_ of July, 1886, where they were spoken of
as “recent arrivals,” and their colours described as follows: “The
present colour of the One Penny is a decided pink, and it is printed in
water-colour; while the Four Pence is a very dark puce-brown.” For the
One Penny we have adopted the term “pink,” but prefer “purple-brown” to
“puce-brown” for the Four Pence. Besides the usual pink shades of the
One Penny we have found that stamp in a colour identical with some of
the specimens of the rosy-lake One Penny, which, surcharged “2½ Pence,”
appeared in 1883. We have given this stamp a separate number in the
Reference List, as, had we been content to include it as a shade of
“pink,” it might in time have come to be considered as an error of Issue
20, without surcharge, which it certainly is not. There must have been
a great number of printings of the One Penny made since 1886, as the
stamp is still current. They are now coming over, in 1895, in shades
undistinguishable from the carmine stamp of Issue 24.
If there are any shades of the purple-brown Four Pence they are very
slight. It is by no means so scarce a stamp as the red-brown Four Pence
of the last issue, but it is not nearly as common as any of the shades of
the lake-brown Four Pence, and we think there could only have been one
printing of it. The Four Pence, lake-brown, is certainly the result of
later printings, but we cannot say for certain when the first of these
was made; the earliest date we have found on one is October 2nd, 1886.
All the stamps of this issue are perforated 14 by the guillotine-machine.
Issue 26.
_October 1888._
6d., dark lilac.
5s., lake.
The Six Pence, dark lilac, was first chronicled by the _Timbre-Poste_
of November, 1888, although by some oversight M. Moens in the current
edition of his _Catalogue_ has dated it December, with the Five Shillings
lake. These two stamps were probably sent out together, and issued in
October, 1888.
The Six Pence is a dark lilac, more inclined towards blue than red. We
are certain that this, and not the red-lilac, was the first printing, as
the specimen in the “Tapling Collection,” which came over at the time, is
dark lilac.
We have recently seen two unused specimens of the Five Shillings,
watermarked Crown C.A., which in colour are almost identical with the
Five Shillings of Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co.’s printing (Issue 14). An
examination of the stamps showed that they had no gum, and that the paper
was very white and without surface, clearly showing that the stamps had
been tampered with. We have no hesitation in condemning these varieties,
as being only the ordinary lake stamps with the colour changed.
All the stamps of this issue are perforated 14; the Four Pence and Five
Shillings are done with the guillotine-machine, but the Six Pence is one
of the later instances in which the comb-machine was used.
The Five Shillings, lake, is still current.
Issue 27.
_August 1889._
“2½ Pence” in black on 1d., milky-blue, shades.
The issue of this stamp must have taken place in August, 1889, as it
was chronicled in the September number of the _Philatelic Record_ of
that year. The editor seems to have been rather confused in his ideas
about St. Vincent stamps, as in April, in noting the change of colour
of the Six Pence from green to lilac, which had taken place six months
previously, he surmised that the Six Pence of the former colour had been
used up for making provisionals, and he now speaks of the “2½ Pence” on
One Penny, lake, as having been issued in 1882, whereas it was not issued
until 1883.
The surcharge “2½ Pence” does not call for any remarks, as it is
identical with that of the same value of Issue 20. The stamp remained
current until August, 1890, when the supply seems to have become
exhausted, owing possibly to large purchases for philatelic purposes, and
it became necessary to make a provisional, pending the arrival of a fresh
supply from the printers in England.
It was perforated 14, and is the last stamp in St. Vincent for which
Messrs. De La Rue & Co. used the comb-machine. Its colour is a pale
milky-blue, not unlike that of one of the Six Pence values of St. Helena,
and a few slight shades are to be found.
Issue 28.
_August 1890._
“2½d.,” in black, on 4d., lake-brown.
As we have said in our note to the foregoing issue, this provisional
was made locally, during a temporary dearth of the De La Rue surcharged
Two Pence Halfpenny, by surcharging “2½d.” in black on the Four Pence,
lake-brown, of Issue 26, the original values being obliterated by black
bars printed across the sheet. These bars are 1 mm. in width, and do not
extend right across the sheet, but only reach to within 2 mm. of the
frames of the right and left hand stamps in the rows. The total length of
the surcharge, including the period after “d.,” is 10½ mm. The height of
the large figure “2” is 4 mm.; its width is 2½ mm., and it has a curved
foot. The small figure “1” is rather more than 2 mm. in height, and the
small figure “2” is the same. The “d” is 4 mm. in height by 2 mm. in
width, and is followed by rather a large full stop placed within 1 mm. of
it. The surcharges are printed from type, and a good many minor varieties
are to be found, of which the principal is one in which the fraction line
is omitted. Other varieties consist of the large figure “2” with a break
in the body just above the foot; small figure “2” with a break in the
curve of the head; small figure “1” with differently shaped serifs; and
fraction lines of varying lengths in different positions; but none of
these varieties are of any great importance.
We take the date of issue from the list of provisional stamps furnished
by Mr. Frank W. Griffith, late acting Colonial Postmaster of the island,
published in the London Society’s _West Indian Catalogue_.
Issue 29.
_November 1890 to 1891._
“2½ Pence,” in black, on 1d., bright blue; shades.
6d., pale red-lilac.
6d., deep red-lilac.
1s., vermilion-red.
In this issue we have grouped together the stamps printed subsequent to
the issue of the provisional “2½d.” on Four Pence, lake-brown, up to the
end of 1891, but for none of which can we give more precise dates. All
these stamps are perforated 14 by the guillotine-machine.
The Two Pence Halfpenny differs from the previous printing of the
same value in the colour of the stamp, which is now in varying shades
of bright blue, instead of in milky-blue as before. When in sheets,
or blocks, it can also be distinguished from its predecessor by the
perforation having been done by the guillotine-machine, whereas the Two
Pence Halfpenny of Issue 27 was perforated by the comb-machine. Its issue
was chronicled in the _Timbre-Poste_ of January 1891, in the following
terms: “Le 2½ pence, surcharge noire sur le 1 penny, est imprimé en blue
vif. Ce timbre vient de nous parvenir ainsi en remplacement de celui,
même valeur, dont la surcharge avait été appliquée sur le 4 p. lie de
vin.” From dated specimens we have seen, we infer that the issue took
place in November, 1890, or even before that date.
We are altogether in the dark as to when the first printing of the
red-lilac Six Pence took place. Although this stamp in both its shades of
pale and deep red-lilac differs materially from the dark lilac stamp of
Issue 26, we can find no chronicle of it anywhere; but we do not think
we are far out in dating it at the early part of 1891. In describing
the Six Pence of Issue 26, we said that the lilac colour of that stamp
inclined more towards blue than red. In both shades of the Six Pence
we are now considering the red predominates over the blue, so that the
colour almost approaches lake. It is necessary to be quite clear on this
point, as there seems to have been only one printing of the dark lilac
Six Pence, and it is bound, sooner or later, to become a much rarer stamp
than the red-lilac one, which has already had a currency of four years.
There is much the same difficulty with regard to the date of issue of
the One Shilling, vermilion-red. This stamp differs both in colour and
perforation from the orange-vermilion Shilling of Issue 21, which was
perforated 12, but it was unnoticed by philatelists until Mr. Gilbert
Lockyer called attention to its existence, in a letter in _Stanley
Gibbons’ Monthly Journal_ of December, 1891. In this letter Mr. Lockyer
states that Mr. E. Hawkins possesses a specimen, but there can be little
doubt that the stamp had been at least some months in issue before this
mention of it.
All the stamps of this issue are still current.
Issue 30.
_November 1892._
“5 Pence,” in carmine, on 4d., lake-brown.
The earliest chronicle of this provisional is in _Stanley Gibbons’
Monthly Journal_ for November, 1892, which is the actual date of
issue. The stamp was made locally, pending the arrival of a supply
from the printers, by surcharging the Four Pence, lake-brown, with
“5—PENCE,” in thin block capitals, in two lines, and obliterating the
original values by bars printed across the sheet. The colour of the
surcharge is carmine, inclined to lake. The editor of the _Philatelic
Record_ evidently looked with great suspicion on the necessity for this
provisional, as when chronicling it he made this remark: “It is said
that the issue only lasted an hour, after which the price outside rose
to shillings in place of pence.” The dimensions of the surcharge are as
follows: The figure “5” is 4 mm. in height, and 2¾ mm. in width; the word
“Pence” measures 12 mm. × 2¼ mm. The width of the bar is 1 mm., and this
bar extends right across the sheet, and terminates exactly at the outer
frame of the right and left-hand stamps of each row. The space between
the bar and the word “Pence” is 5½ mm., and that between the same word
and the figure “5” is 1¾ mm. At a distance of 20 mm. above the bar there
is a row of small ornaments, two to each stamp, so grouped in pairs that
they fall exactly on the stars in the two top corners of each stamp—that
is, when the surcharges are in exact register with the sheet. It is not
easy to say what these ornaments are, or why they have been introduced.
They measure about 2 mm. each way, and are very faintly printed. As
far as we can make out they are printer’s type ornaments of a somewhat
uncommon pattern, and the illustration here given is from an enlarged
drawing of one of them.
[Illustration]
The whole surcharge—values, bars, and ornaments—is evidently done from a
_cliché_, and there are no varieties on the sheet. In the one now before
us, the third stamp from the left on the bottom row has the first “E”
of “Pence” double printed, with a space of about ½ mm. between the two
impressions. We cannot say whether this is a variety existing on every
sheet, or whether it is peculiar to this one only.
Issue 31.
_March 1893._
4d., canary-yellow.
“Five Pence,” in black, on 6d., dull carmine.
“Five Pence” ” ” carmine-brown.
These values were issued in March, 1893, and are perforated 14 by the
guillotine machine. The Four Pence is the old design, but with the colour
once more changed to canary-yellow. For the Five Pence Messrs. De La Rue
& Co. printed the current Six Pence in a new colour, and surcharged each
stamp, over the original value, with the words “FIVE PENCE” in a straight
line of block capitals, measuring 13½ mm. × 2¾ mm. There are two very
distinct colours of this stamp—dull carmine and carmine-brown. They were
both in existence in November, 1893, at which date they were chronicled
in _Stanley Gibbons’ Monthly Journal_.
The stamps of this issue are still current.
APPENDIX A.
SAINT VINCENT.
AN ACT _to authorise the appointment of a Colonial Post-Master
for the Colony of Saint Vincent, and to transfer to the
Executive Government of the said Colony the control over the
Post Office therein, heretofore exercised by Her Majesty’s
Post-Master-General_.
WHEREAS it hath become necessary to provide for the appointment of a
Colonial Post-Master, and to transfer to the Executive Government of the
Island of Saint Vincent and its Dependencies, the authorities, power,
and control, over the Post Office Establishment of the said Island,
heretofore exercised by Her Majesty’s Post-Master General.
Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council, and Assembly of the
said Island of Saint Vincent and its Dependencies, as follows; that is to
say—
[Sidenote: Appointment of Post-Master]
1. Immediately on the passing of this Act, and so from time to time
as often as a vacancy shall occur in the said Office, there shall be
appointed by the officer for the time being administering the Government
of the said Island of St. Vincent, by Commission under his hand and
the Public Seal of the Colony a fit and proper person to be Colonial
Post-Master of the said Government, &c., &c., &c., &c.
[Sidenote: General Post Office in Kingstown.]
5. There shall be one General Post Office provided by the Executive
Government, in the Town of Kingstown, where all Letters, Newspapers,
Books, Pamphlets, and other Papers, which shall arrive in this Colony
from any place out of the same (unless excepted or exempted by any Act of
the Imperial Parliament, or by this Act) shall be brought and received,
and whence the same shall be delivered to the persons to whom addressed,
and where all Letters, Newspapers, Books, Pamphlets, and other Papers
(except such as are excepted or exempted as aforesaid) shall be posted
and received for transmission to any place out of this Colony, and whence
the same shall be despatched to all places out of this Colony; and such
General Post Office shall be in such part of the Government Buildings,
in the said Town of Kingstown, as the Governor, with the consent of the
Executive Council shall, from time to time, fix and direct; and the hours
of attendance at such Post Office shall be governed and regulated by
and according to the Rules to be made, as hereinafter provided for the
governance of the Post Office Establishment of this Colony.
[Sidenote: Postage prepayable in money until stamps provided. Proviso,
stamps may be used when provided.]
11. The Postage on all Letters, posted in this Colony for transmission to
any place out of the same, shall be paid by the sender on delivering the
same at the Post Office in money, until stamps shall be provided, under
the provisions of this Act. Provided always, that Letters written on
stamped paper, or enclosed in stamped covers, or having a stamp affixed
thereto (the stamp, in every such case, being of the value or amount in
this Act expressed, and specially provided for the purpose, under the
authority of this Act) shall if within the limitation of weight fixed
by or under the authority of any Statute of the Imperial Parliament in
that behalf, and if the stamp have not been used before, pass by the
Post free, subject only as to such Letters as shall not be sent to the
United Kingdom, to such Postage as the same shall or may be liable to,
on arrival at their places of destination, under the Laws of such places
respectively.
[Sidenote: Postmaster to collect One Penny for Local Government on all
single letters to and from the United Kingdom, and so in proportion, &c.]
12. And whereas, under arrangements entered into by Her Majesty’s
Post-Master-General, one rate, or the sum of one penny, is to be paid to
and received by the Local Government on every single Letter coming from
the United Kingdom, and received in this Colony from or through Her
Majesty’s General Post Office; and a like rate, or one penny, on every
single Letter collected in, and sent from this Colony, to the United
Kingdom, through the said General Post Office, and a double rate on every
Double Letter, and so in proportion, according to the rate or scale
governing the Postage on Letters sent by the General Post Office from the
United Kingdom to these Colonies, or from these Colonies to the United
Kingdom. Be it therefore enacted—That the Colonial-Post-Master shall
keep an account, and shall collect and receive, on behalf of the Local
Government, such Rates and Postage as aforesaid, as shall be payable for
all such Letters as aforesaid.
[Sidenote: Scale of Postage to Colony on all Foreign Letters, not passing
through the United Kingdom.]
13. On every Letter arriving in this Colony, by Her Majesty’s General
Post, from any place beyond the limits of the Colony, except from or
passing through the United Kingdom; and on every Letter posted in this
Colony for transmission to any place beyond the limits of the same,
except to or through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged, and paid
to Her Majesty, for the use of this Colony, Postage by weight, according
to the following Scale, that is to say—
Not exceeding half-an-ounce—One rate of one penny.
Exceeding half-an-ounce, but not exceeding one ounce—Two rates,
or two pence.
Exceeding one ounce, but not exceeding two ounces—Four rates,
or four pence.
Exceeding two ounces, but not exceeding three ounces—Six rates,
or sixpence.
And so on in progression, an additional two rates being charged for every
additional ounce or fraction of an ounce.
16. (Provides for Registration of Letters and Book Packets, at rate of
one shilling each.)
[Sidenote: Governor to provide Postage Dies and Stamps.]
17. It shall be lawful for the Governor to cause to be provided, at the
Public expense, proper and sufficient Postage Stamps and Dies, or other
Implements for expressing and denoting the Rates or Duties of Postage
for this Colony; and such Dies, Stamps, and Implements, shall be kept
in such custody, and such Stamps shall be made or impressed from such
Dies or other Implements, and sold in such manner as the Governor, with
the consent of the Executive Council, shall from time to time direct by
writing under his hand.
_Act passed June 14th, 1860._
NOTE.—Another Act was passed on September 10th, 1863, which
raised the postage on letters despatched to foreign countries,
with the exception of those going to or through the United
Kingdom, from one penny to two pence the half ounce, and so on
in proportion. The charge of one penny on letters coming to St.
Vincent through the Imperial Post Office was at the same time
abolished.
APPENDIX B.
Table of perforations of stamps printed by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co.
1861 to 1881.
------+---------------+-----+-------------------------+----------------
NUMBER| | | |
OF | | | |
ISSUE.| DATE OF ISSUE.| WMK.| DENOMINATION AND COLOUR.| PERFORATION.
------+---------------+-----+-------------------------+-----+-----+----
1 | May 1861 |None.|1d., bright rose-red |A. | |
| | |6d., blue-green |A. | |
2 | 1862 |None.|6d., yellow-green |C. | |
3 | 1863-1866 |None.|1d., bright rose-red | |B. |B×A.
| | |6d., blue-green | |B. |
4 | August 1866 |None.|4d., deep bright blue | |B. |
| | |1s., dark slate-grey |A. | |B×A.
| | |1s., greyish-purple |A. | |B×A.
5 | April 1869 |None.|1s., indigo | |B. |
6 | October 1869 |None.|4d., deep bright yellow | |B. |
| | |1s., bright brown | |B. |
7 | June 1871 |Star.|1d., black |A. | |B×A.
| | |6d., dull blue-green |A. | |
| | |6d., dark blue-green |A.[6]| |
8 | June 1872 |Star.|1s., bright rose-red | |B. |B×A.
| | |1s., deep rose-red | |B. | ?
| | |1s., dull red | |B. | ?
9 | Early in 1874 |Star.|1s., pale violet-rose | |B. |B×A.
10 | 1875 |Star.|1s., dark claret | |B. |
11 | February 1877 |Star.|6d., pale yellow-green |A. | |B×A.
| | |1s., bright vermilion-red| |B.[7]|B×A.
12 | July 1877 |Star.|4d., dark deep blue | |B. |
14 | June 1880 |Star.|1d., pale grey-green | |B. |
| | |6d., bright yellow-green | |B.[8]|
| | |5s., deep rose-red | |B. |
18 | December 1881 |Star.|½d., orange-yellow | |B. |
| | |1d., drab | |B. |
| | |4d., bright ultramarine | |B. |
------+---------------+-----+-------------------------+-----+-----+----
[6] This stamp was used for making the provisional One Penny of Issue 13.
[7] This stamp was used for making the provisional Four Pence of Issue 16.
[8] This stamp was used for making the provisional Halfpenny of Issue 15,
and the provisional One Penny of Issue 17.
APPENDIX C.
Table of perforations of stamps printed by Messrs. De La Rue and Co. 1883
to 1893.
------+--------------+-----------+--------------------------+--------
NO. OF| | | |
ISSUE.|DATE OF ISSUE.| WATERMARK.| DENOMINATION AND COLOUR. | PERF.
------+--------------+-----------+--------------------------+----+---
19 |January 1883 |Crown “CA.”|1d., drab | |14*
| | ” |4d., bright blue | |14†
20 |February 1883 | ” |“2½ Pence” on 1d., | |
| | | rosy-lake[9] | |14*
21 |October 1883 | ” |4d., dull blue | 12 |
| | ” |6d., bright green | 12 |
| | ” |1s., orange-vermilion | 12 |
22 |September 1884| ” |½d., dark green | 12 |
| | ” |½ d., orange-yellow | |
| | | (variety, never issued) | 12 |
| | ” |4d., ultramarine | 12 |
24 |April 1885 | ” |½d., dark green | |14†
| | ” |1d., carmine | |14†
| | ” |4d., red-brown | |14†
25 |June 1886 | ” |1d., pink | |14†
| | ” |1d., rosy-lake | |14†
| | ” |4d., purple-brown | |14†
| | ” |4d., lake-brown[10] | |14†
26 |October 1888 | ” |6d., dark lilac | |14*
| | ” |5s., lake | |14†
27 |August 1889 | ” |“2½ Pence” on 1d., | |
| | | milky-blue | |14*
29 |Nov. 1890-91 | ” |“2½ Pence” on 1d., bright | |
| | | blue | |14†
| | ” |6d., pale red-lilac | |14†
| | ” |6d., deep red-lilac | |14†
| | ” |1s., vermilion-red | |14†
31 |March 1893 | ” |4d., canary-yellow | |14†
| | |“Five Pence” on 6d., dull | |
| | | carmine | |14†
| | |“Five Pence” on 6d., | |
| | | carmine-brown | |14†
------+--------------+-----------+--------------------------+----+---
* Comb-machine. † Guillotine-machine.
[9] This stamp was used for making the provisional One Penny of Issue 23.
[10] This stamp was used for making the provisional Two Pence Halfpenny
of Issue 28, and the provisional Five Pence of Issue 30.
APPENDIX D.
List of Stamps printed for the Colony of Saint Vincent by Messrs.
Perkins, Bacon & Co. from 1861 to 1881.
--------------------+--------------------+---------------------------
DATE OF DESPATCH. | DENOMINATION AND | QUANTITY.
| COLOUR |
--------------------+--------------------+---------------------------
March 27th, 1861 | 1d., red | 934 sheets, 56,040 stamps.
| 6d., green | 167 ” 10,020 ”
July 22nd, 1862 | 1d., red | 467 ” 28,020 ”
| 6d., green | 167 ” 10,020 ”
May 28th, 1863 | 1d., red | 467 ” 28,020 ”
| 6d., green | 668 ” 40,080 ”
March 1st, 1865 | 1d., red | 467 ” 28,020 ”
| 6d., green | 167 ” 10,020 ”
March 14th, 1866 | 1d., red | 300 ” 18,000 ”
| 6d., green | 500 ” 30,000 ”
July 28th, 1866 | 4d., blue | 500 ” 15,000 ”
| 1s., purple | 500 ” 15,000 ”
June 15th, 1868 | 1d., red | 300 ” 18,000 ”
| 6d., green | 300 ” 18,000 ”
February 27th, 1869 | 1s., purple | 300 ” 9,000 ”
August 13th, 1869 | 4d., yellow | 300 ” 9,000 ”
| 1s., brown | 300 ” 9,000 ”
February 14th, 1870 | 1d., red | 300 ” 18,000 ”
March 28th, 1871 | 1d., black | 300 ” 18,000 ”
| 6d., green | 300 ” 18,000 ”
January 5th, 1872 | 1d., black | 300 ” 18,000 ”
April 13th, 1872 | 1s., pink | 300 ” 9,000 ”
October 28th, 1872 | 1d., black | 600 ” 36,000 ”
July 28th, 1873 | 1d., black | 600 ” 36,000 ”
| 6d., green | 300 ” 18,000 ”
| 1s., pink | 300 ” 9,000 ”
August 15th, 1874 | 1d., black | 600 ” 36,000 ”
March 27th, 1875 | 1d., black | 600 ” 36,000 ”
| 6d., green | 300 ” 18,000 ”
| 1s., pink | 300 ” 9,000 ”
February 28th, 1876 | 1d., black |1000 ” 60,000 ”
December 30th, 1876 | 6d., light green | 300 ” 18,000 ”
| 1s., scarlet | 300 ” 9,000 ”
May 29th, 1877 | 1d., black |1000 ” 60,000 ”
| 4d., dark blue | 200 ” 6,000 ”
August 28th, 1878 | 1d., black |1000 ” 60,000 ”
| 6d., light green | 300 ” 18,000 ”
| 1s., scarlet | 300 ” 9,000 ”
May 13th, 1880 | 1d., pale green |1000 ” 60,000 ”
| 6d., green | 300 ” 18,000 ”
| 1s., bright red | 300 ” 9,000 ”
| 5s., pink | 100 ” 2,000 ”
November 16th, 1881 | ½d., light orange |1000 ” 60,000 ”
| 1d., slate |1000 ” 60,000 ”
| 4d., light blue | 500 ” 15,000 ”
--------------------+--------------------+---------------------------
NOTE.—The colours in the above list are those given in the
printers’ books. The list will be found of the greatest
assistance to philatelists in helping them to determine the
relative rarity of the stamps of Section I. It must, however,
be borne in mind that at least two other factors enter into
this problem. These are the number of stamps that were
surcharged “Revenue” for fiscal purposes, and also the number
of unused stamps that were stocked by the dealers at the time
of their issue. Take for instance the Four Pence of 1866 and
the Four Pence of 1877, of which the numbers printed were
15,000 and 6,000 respectively. Theoretically speaking, the
latter should be 2½ times as rare as the former, but in reality
it is much more so. The earlier one was stocked by the dealers,
and is no rarer unused than used. The later stamp unused is at
least ten times as rare as the first Four Pence in the same
state, although the relative rarity of the two stamps when used
is, roughly speaking, in proportion to the quantity printed of
each.
[Illustration]