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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

CEYLON (Sri Lanka) 1903 onwards

Return To Catalogue - Ceylon 1857-1867 - Ceylon 1868-1902 - Ceylon miscellaneous

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1903 King Edward VII, Various frames

  2 c brown
  2 c orange
  5 (FIVE CENTS) c lilac
  5 (5 CENTS 5) c lilac
  6 (SIX CENTS) c red
  6 (6 CENTS 6) c red

These stamps have perforation 14.

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

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

1903 King Edward VII, new type

  3 c green
  4 c orange and blue
  10 c green and lilac
  12 c green and red
  15 c blue
  25 c brown
  25 c grey
  30 c violet and green
  50 c brown
  75 c blue and orange
  1 R brown on yellow
  1 R 50 c grey
  2 R red on yellow
  2 R 25 brown and green
  5 R black on green
  10 R black on red

The 3 c, 4 c, 12 c and 75 c have the value in white on a coloured shield. In the others the value is in colour. All stamps are perforated 14.

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

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

I have seen postal stationery in this design: 2 c green with two rectangles around the design. On the rest of the stationery is written: 'District Letter Envelope, price 2 1/2 cents. This Envelope will not pass through more than one Post Office, will only be delivered when called for, and will not be re-directed'.

1912 King George V, small size

  1 c brown
  2 c orange
  3 c green
  3 c grey
  5 c lilac
  6 c red
  6 c violet
  9 c red on yellow
  10 c green
  12 c red
  15 c blue
  15 c green on yellow
  20 c blue
  25 c yellow and blue
  30 c green and lilac
  50 c grey and red
  1 R brown on yellow
  2 R grey and red on yellow
  5 R grey and black on green
  10 R lilac and black on red
  20 R black and red on blue

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

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

Surcharged

  'ONE CENT' on 5 c lilac
  '2 Cents.' on 3 c grey
  '5 Cents.' on 6 c lilac

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

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

Overprinted "WAR TAX"

  'ONE CENT' on 5 c lilac
  2 c orange
  3 c green
  5 c lilac

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

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

The "WAR TAX" overprints exist inverted on the 2 c and 5 c and with double overprint on the 2 c, 3 c and 5 c, examples (all very rare).

(Double overprint on a 2 c stamp)

(Forged inverted overprint on a 5 c stamp)

I don't know what this overprint 'oriental' was used for.

1912 King George V, large size

(Reduced sizes)

  50 R violet
  100 R black
  100 R blue and lilac
  500 R green
  1000 R violet on red

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

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

These stamps were mainly used for fiscal purposes.

1927 King George V, small size, other design

  1 R violet and lilac
  2 R red and green
  5 R violet and green
  10 R yellow and green
  20 R blue and lilac

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

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

1935 Jubilee issue of King George V, design similar to that used in many other British Colonies

6 c olive and blue, 9 c grey and green, 20 c blue and brown, 50 c lilac and black.

1935 New permanent set, pictorial issue with King George V in the corner

11 values: 2 c red and black (tapping rubber), 3 c green and black (Adams Peak), 6 c blue and black (Colombo harbour), 9 c red and green (plucking tea), 10 c lilac and black (Hill Paddy rice), 15 c green and brown (river scene), 20 c blue and black (coconut palms), 25 c brown and blue (temple of the Tooth), 30 c green and red (ancient irrigation tank), 50 c lilac and black (wild elephants), 1 R brown and blue (Trincomalee).

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 6 c red, 9 c green and 20 c blue were issued (design identical to that of many other British colonies).

1938 As 1935 stamps, but with portrait of King George VI

2 c red and black (tapping rubber), 3 c green and black, 5 c orange and green (1942), 6 c blue and black (Colombo harbour), 9 c red and green (plucking tea), 10 c blue and black, 15 c green and brown, 20 c blue and black, 25 c brown and blue, 30 c green and red (ancient irrigation tank), 50 c lilac and black (wild elephants), 1 R brown and blue (Trincomalee), 2 R red and black, 2 R violet and black (1947).

Surcharged '3 CENTS' on 6 c blue and black, '3 CENTS' on 10 c blue and black.

Again an 'ORIENTAL' overprint on a 6 c value. I don't know where this overprint was used for.

1938 Design as 1927 issue, but with portrait of King George VI facing the right

5 R brown and green

A 10 R orange and grey and a 20 R in a similar design with "REVENUE" written at both sides exist, they were used for fiscal purposes:

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

  6 c blue
  15 c brown

1947 New Constitution, various designs

6 c blue and black, 10 c red, yellow and black, 15 c lilac and black, 25 c green and yellow.

In 1948 Ceylon was granted independence. In 1972 it was renamed Sri Lanka.

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