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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

BRITISH SOMALILAND

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Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

1903 Stamps of India (Queen Victoria) overprinted "BRITISH SOMALILAND"

8 a lilac 1 R green and red 

  1/2 a green
  1 a red
  2 a lilac
  2 1/2 a blue
  3 a orange
  4 a green
  6 a brown
  8 a lilac
  12 a lilac on red
  1 R green and red
  2 R red and orange
  3 R brown and green
  5 R blue and violet

The overprint exist printed at the top of the stamp (for all values) or at the bottom of the stamp (values 2 a 6 p, 6 a, 12 a, 1 R, 2 R, 3 R and 5 R). Some errors exist; inverted overprints and missing second "I" in "BRITISH".

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a ** **  
1 a ** **  
2 a ** **  
2 a 6 p *** ***  
3 a *** ***  
4 a *** ***  
6 a *** ***  
8 a *** ***  
12 a *** ***  
1 R *** ***  
2 R RR RR  
3 R RR RR  
5 R RR RR  


The overprint was forged by the forger Fournier. Here a page from a Fournier Album with two of these forgeries.

 

1904 Stamps of India (King Edward VII) overprinted "BRITISH SOMALILAND" at the bottom

First stamp with printing failure:missing 'I' 

  1/2 a green
  1 a red
  2 a lilac
  3 a orange
  4 a olive
  8 a lilac

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a * *  
1 a * *  
2 a *** ***  
3 a *** ***  
4 a *** ***  
8 a *** ***  

 

1904 King Edward VII, inscription "SOMALILAND PROTECTORATE"

1 a red and black 1 a red 8 a blue and black 12 a orange and black

  1/2 a green
  1 a red and black
  1 a red (1909)
  2 a lilac and violet
  2 1/a a blue
  3 a green and brown
  4 a black and green
  6 a violet and green
  8 a blue and black
  12 a orange and black

These stamps have perforation 14.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
Watermark 'CA Crown' (1904)
1/2 a * *  
1 a red and black *** ***  
2 a *** ***  
2 1/2 a *** ***  
3 a *** ***  
4 a *** ***  
6 a *** ***  
8 a *** ***  
12 a R R  
Watermark 'Multiple CA Crown' (1905)
1/2 a * *  
1 a red and black ** **  
1 a red *** *** 1909
2 a *** ***  
2 1/2 a *** ***  
3 a *** ***  
4 a *** ***  
6 a *** ***  
8 a *** ***  
12 a *** ***   
Large size

  1 R green
  2 R lilac
  3 R black and green
  5 R red and black

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
Watermark 'CC Crown' (1904), perforation 14
1 R R R  
2 R R R  
3 R R R  
5 R RR RR  

For the specialist, all the small stamps (except 1 a red) exists with watermark 'CA crown' and 'multiple CA crown'. The 1 a red issued in 1909 has watermark 'multiple CA crown'. For examples of these watermarks see under 'Official stamps'. The large stamps (Rupee values) have watermark 'CC crown'.

 

1912 King George V


(Reduced sizes)

  1/2 a green
  1 a red
  2 a lilac and violet
  2 1/2 a blue
  3 a green and brown
  4 a black and green
  6 a violet and green
  8 a blue and black
  12 a ornage and black

Larger size

  1 R green
  2 R lilac 
  3 R black and green
  5 R red and black

All the above stamps have perforation 14.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
Watermark 'Multiple CA Crown' (1912)
1/2 a * *  
1 a * *  
2 a *** ***  
2 1/2 a ** **  
3 a ** **  
4 a ** **  
6 a *** ***  
8 a *** ***  
12 a *** ***  
1 R *** ***  
2 R R R  
3 R R R  
5 R RR RR  
Watermark 'Multiple Script CA Crown' (1921)
1/2 a c c  
1 a * *  
2 a * *  
2 1/2 a * *  
3 a * *  
4 a * *  
6 a ** **  
8 a ** **  
12 a *** ***  
1 R *** ***  
2 R *** ***  
3 R R R  
5 R R R  

 

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

A 1 a red and blue, 2 a grey and blue, 3 a blue and brown and 1 R lilac and black were issued in a design identical to many other British colonies (Windsor castle).

 

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

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

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

 

1938 Various designs with portrait of King George VI facing slightly to the left

Goat: 1/2 a green, 1 a red, 2 a lilac, 3 a blue.
Dear head: 4 a brown, 6 a violet, 8 a grey, 12 a orange.
Map of the country: 1 R green, 2 R violet, 3 R blue, 5 R grey.

 

1942(?) Various designs with portrait of King George VI facing straight ahead

Goat: 1/2 a green, 1 a red, 2 a lilac, 3 a blue.
Dear head: 4 a brown, 6 a violet, 8 a grey, 12 a orange.
Map of the country: 1 R green, 2 R violet, 3 R blue, 5 R grey.

Overprinted in 'Cents' and 'Shilling':
5 c on 1/2 a green, 10 c on 2 a lilac, 15 c on 3 a blue, 20 c on 4 c brown, 30 c on 6 a violet, 50 c on 8 a grey, 70 c on 12 a orange, 1 Sh on 1 R green, 2 Sh on 2 R violet, 2 Sh on 3 R blue, 5 Sh (red surcharge) on 5 R grey.

 

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 a red
  3 a 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

  1 a red (smaller size)
  5 R grey

 

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

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

  '1 ANNA' on 10 c lilac
  '3 ANNAS' (red) on 30 c blue
  '6 ANNAS' on 50 c violet 
  '12 ANNAS' on 1 Sh orange

 

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, inscription "CORONATION JUNE 1953", design identical to many other British colonies

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

  15 c green and black

 

1953 Queen Elizabeth II with various designs

5 c grey, 15 c green, 10 c orange, 20 c red, 30 c brown, 35 c blue, 50 c red and brown, 1 Sh blue, 1 Sh 30 black and blue, 2 Sh violet and brown, 5 Sh green and brown, 10 Sh lilac and brown.

With overprint "OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 1957" (1957): 20 c, 1 Sh.

With overprint "LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UNOFFICIAL MAJORITY 1960" (1960): 20 c, 1 Sh 30.

 

Official stamps

1903 Stamps of India (Queen Victoria) overprinted "On H.M.S." and "BRITISH SOMALILAND"

1 a red 2 a violet 1 R red and green

 
  1/2 a green
  1 a red
  2 a violet
  8 a lilac
  1 R red and green

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a ** **  
1 a ** **  
2 a *** ***  
8 a R R  
1 R R R  

These stamps have been forged, examples:


(Forged overprints on genuine stamps?)


The overprint was forged by the forger Fournier. Here a page from a Fournier Album with two of these forgeries.

 

1903 Stamps of India (King Edward VII) overprinted "SERVICE" and "BRITISH SOMALILAND"

8 a lilac

  1/2 a green
  1 a red
  2 a violet
  8 a lilac
  1 R red and green

Used stamps do not exist?

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a * -  
1 a * -  
2 a * -  
8 a R -  
1 R RR -  

he overprint was forged by the forger Fournier. See the previous issue for an example.

 

1904 Stamps of King Edward VII overprinted "O.H.M.S."

1/2 a green 1 a red and black 

  1/2 a green
  1 a red and black
  2 a lilac and violet
  8 a blue and black
  1 R green

Watermark 'Multiple CA crown' Watermark 'CA crown'

For the specialist: the 1 R has watermark 'CC crown'. The Anna values all have watermark 'CA crown'. Only the 2 a red and black was also issued with watermark 'Multiple CA Crown'.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 a *** ***  
1 a R R  
2 a RR RR Watermark 'CA Crown'
2 a RR RR Watermark 'Multiple CA Crown'
8 a RR RR  
1 R RR RR Watermark 'CC Crown'

Fiscal Stamps


1900: Receipt fiscal stamp of India, overprinted "BRITISH SOMALILAND"


1900 Court Fee stamp of India with Queen Victoria, with overprint "BRITISH SOMALILAND." The values 1 a, 3 a, 4 a, 6 a, 8 a, 12 a, 1 R, 2 R, 3 R, 5 R were overprinted (all in lilac color). Furthermore a sucharged stamp: "2 TWO" on 3 a was issued in 1903 (image shown above). Similar stamps with King Edward VII should also exist (I have not seen them).

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer