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BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS

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More information on British Solomon Islands can be found at http://www.tulagi.com/index.htm.

1907 Canoe, inscription "BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS PROTECTORATE", so-called 'Large canoe issue'

  1/2 p blue
  1 p red
  2 p blue
  2 1/2 p orange
  5 p green
  6 p brown
  1 Sh lilac

These stamps have perforation 11.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Unauthorized reprints:

(Reduced sizes)

The above imperforate stamps are unauthorized reprints. More information concerning these reprints can be found at: http://www.tulagi.com/reprints.htm.

Cancels:

Typical cancel, "TULAGI MY 23 1908 BRITIS SOLOMON IDS"; this might actually be cancelled to order, since I've seen other stamps with this exact same cancel (same date and town).

Forgeries, examples:

(Forgeries)

(Paddle touches the shore)

In the forgeries, the paddle at the right touches the shore. They are also perforated 11 1/2 instead of 11. I have seen this forgery for all values. The 1/2 p seems to be printed in grey, instead of blue. Note that the forgeries also exist imperforated (often offered as proofs, not to be confused with unauthorised reprints). An often found cancel on these forgeries is "MUNIA BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS 23 APR 08".

Forgery of the 2 1/2 p with a bogus "COOK ISLANDS" cancel

Forgery with a '12' numeral cancel that can also be found in the Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries. I'm not sure if Fournier made these forgeries, they were probably made by another forger and enhanced by the "12" cancel. I've also seen this forged cancel being used on forgeries of Nevis.

On the website: http://www.fipfakesforgeries.org/fip/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Lucien-Smeets-forgeries-42.pdf, it is stated that these forgeries were actually made by Lucien Smeets from Belgium.

1908 as 1907 issue, but smaller size, so-called 'Small canoe' issue

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p grey
  2 1/2 p blue
  4 p red on yellow
  5 p green
  6 p red
  1 Sh black on green
  2 Sh violet on blue
  2 Sh 6 red on blue
  5 Sh green on yellow

These stamps have watermark 'Multiple CA Crown'. They are perforated 14.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1913 King George, inscription "POSTAGE POSTAGE"

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  1 1/2 p red
  3 p lilac on yellow
  11 p lilac on red

The values 1/2 p, 1 p , 3 p and 11 p have watermark 'Multiple CA Crown'. The value 1 1/2 p has watermark ' Multiple Script CA Crown'. They are all perforated 14.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1914 King George, inscription "POSTAGE REVENUE"

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  1 p lilac (1926)
  2 p grey
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p lilac on yellow
  3 p blue
  4 p black and red on yellow
  4 1/2 p brown (1930)
  5 p lilac and green
  6 p lilac and violet
  1 Sh black on green
  2 Sh lilac and blue on blue
  2 Sh 6 p black and red on yellow
  5 Sh green and red on yellow
  10 Sh green and red on green
  1 Pound lilac and black on red

These stamps were first issued with watermark 'Multiple CA Crown' and in 1923 with watermark ' Multiple Script CA Crown'.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V, inscription "1910-1935"

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

A 1 1/2 p red and blue, 3 p blue and brown, 6 p green and blue and 1 Sh lilac and black were issued in a design identical to many other British colonies (Windsor castle).

1937 Inscription "12th MAY 1937" portrait of King and Queen

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

The values 1 p violet, 1 1/2 p red and 3 p blue were issued (design identical to that of many other British colonies).

1939 Various designs with portrait of King George VI

  1/2 p green and blue
  1 p violet and brown (constable and chief)
  1 1/2 p red and black (island view with canoe)
  2 p grey and brown (local hut)
  2 1/2 p green and lilac (canoe)
  3 p blue and black
  4 1/2 p brown and green (hut)
  6 p brown and black (palm trees)
  1 Sh black and green (fruit)
  2 Sh orange and black (volcano)
  2 Sh 6 p violet and black (bird)
  5 Sh red and green (canoe)
  10 Sh lilac and olive (design as 4 1/2 p) 

1946 Victory issue, identical to sets issued in many other British colonies, inscription "8th JUNE 1946"

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 1/2 p red
  3 p blue

1949 Royal Silver wedding, identical to sets issued in many other British colonies, inscription "1923-1948", image of King and Queen

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 p grey (smaller size)
  10 Sh lilac

1949 UPU issue (design similar to many other British colonies)

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 p brown
  3 p blue
  5 p green
  1 Sh black

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, inscription "CORONATION JUNE 1953"

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here

  2 p black

1956 Queen Elizabeth II, various designs

  1/2 p lilac and yellow (Ysabel canoe)
  1 p brown and green (Roviana canoe)
  1 1/2 p red and grey (artificial island Malaita)
  2 p green and brown (canoe house)
  2 1/2 p blue and black (Roviana canoe, different design)
  3 p red and green (Malaita canoe)
  5 p blue and black (map)
  6 p green and black (trading schooner)
  8 p black and blue (Henderson field Guadacanal)
  9 p black and blue (Henderson field Gudacanal, 1960)
  1 Sh orange and black (voyage of H.M.S. Swallow 1767)
  1 Sh 3 p blue and black (map, 1960)
  2 Sh red and black (Timakuta volcano)
  2 Sh 6 p lilac and green (native house Reef islands)
  5 Sh brown (Mendana and ship)
  10 Sh brown (constable and chief)
  1 Pound blue and black (coat of arms)

1961 New Constitution, flying bird

  2 p blue and black
  3 p red and black
  9 p violet and black

1963 Freedom from hunger, design identical to many other British colonies

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 Sh 3 p blue

1963 Red Cross issue

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 p black and red
  9 p blue and red

1965 International Co-operation Year

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 p blue and brown
  2 Sh 6 p violet and green

1965 ITU issue

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 p blue and red
  3 p olive and blue

1965 Definitive set, various designs with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II at the right

  1/2 p blue and black (Makira food bowl)
  1 p orange and black (D.Veratrifolium, flower)
  1 1/2 p blue and black (scorpion shell)
  2 p blue and black (hornbill)
  2 1/2 p brown and black (Ysabel shield)
  3 p green and black (Rennellese club)
  6 p lilac and black (moorish idol, fish)
  9 p grey and black (frigate bird)
  1 Sh brown and black (D.Macrophyllum, flower)
  1 Sh 3 p red and black (D.Spectabile, flower)
  2 Sh lilac and black (Sanford's eagle)
  2 Sh 6 p olive and black (Malaita belt)
  5 Sh blue and black (Ornithoptera Victoreae, butterfly)
  10 Sh green and black (white cackatoo)
  1 Pound violet and black (figurehead western canoe)

Surcharged in cents (1966)
  1 c on 1/2 p
  2 c on 1 p
  3 c on 1 1/2 p 
  4 c on 2 p
  5 c on 6 p
  6 c on 2 1/2 p
  7 c on 3 p
  8 c on 9 p
  10 c on 1 Sh
  12 c on 1 Sh 3 p
  13 c on 1 Sh 3 p
  14 c on 3 p
  20 c on 2 Sh
  25 c on 2 Sh 6 p
  35 c on 2 p
  50 c (red) on 5 Sh
  1 $ on 10 Sh
  2 $ on 1 Pound

1966 Churchill issue

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 p blue, black, gold and red
  9 p green, black, gold and red
  1 Sh 3 p brown, black, gold and red 
  2 Sh 6 p violet, black, gold and red

1966 World Cup Championship England 1966

  8 c lilac, violet, orange and green
  35 c lilac, grey, orange and blue

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here.

1966 WHO new headquarters building

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  3 c green, blue and black
  50 c lilac, orange and black

1966 20th anniversary of Unesco

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  3 c grey, orange and red
  25 c olive, orange and blue
  1 $ lilac, black and orange

1967 25th anniversary of the Guadalcanal campaign

  8 c green, blue, black and red
  35 c blue, black and gold

1968 Quatercentenary of the discovery of the Solomon Islands

  3 c (Mendana off Point Cruz)
  8 c (arrival of missionaries)
  35 c (allied Pacific campaign World War II)
  1 $ (Proclamation of the protectorate)

1968 Various designs, portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in upper right corner

  1 c blue, brown and black (vine fishing)
  2 c green, brown and black (kite fishing)
  3 c green and black (platform fishing)
  4 c lilac, brown and black (net fishing)
  6 c green, brown, yellow and black (gold lip shell diving)
  8 c blue, brown and black (night fishing)
  12 c brown, red and black (boat building)
  14 c red, brown and black (cocoa)
  15 c brown, yellow, green and black (road building)
  20 c blue, red and black (geological survey)
  24 c red, yellow and black (hauling timber)
  35 c blue, brown and black (copra)
  45 c yellow, red and black (harvesting rice)
  1 $ blue, green and black (Honiara port)
  2 $ lilac, blue, red and black (internal air service)

Postage Due Stamps

The first postage due stamps were issued in 1940:

1940 Inscription "BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS POSTAGE DUE"

  1 p green
  2 p red
  3 p brown
  4 p blue
  5 p green
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh violet
  1 Sh 6 p light blue

Unlisted Fiscal Stamps

Some unlisted fiscal stamps of the United Kingdom with "BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS" overprint; 5 Pounds blue and 10 Pounds blue

Forged 'Madame Joseph' cancels

(Could this be a Madame Joseph forgery on the large canoe issue?)

Several cancels were forged by a certain Madame Joseph in the 1930's. A cancel 'TULAGI NO 23 1909 BRITISH SOLOMON IDs' was applied to the small canoe issue (and possibly on the large canoes). Three more cancels of the Solomon Islands were forged, two of them, 'GIZO 15DE30 BRITISH SOLOMON IDS' and 'TULAGI -6AP38 BRITISH SOLOMON IDS' can be found on the 1914 George V issue. The fourth cancel was 'LUNGA 28FE44 BRITISH SOLOMON IDS', but it falls outside the scope of this Cd. They seem to have been used on gumless stamps to enhance their price. More pictures of these cancels can be found on: http://www.tulagi.com/madame_joseph.htm.

More information can be found in: Worboys, Derek. Madame Joseph Forged Postmarks, The Royal Philatelic Society, London and The British Philatelic Trust, 1994. An illustrated compendium of the 438 counterfeit cancellation devices. Source: http://www.tulagi.com/madame_joseph.htm

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer