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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

GAMBIA

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Currency: 4 farthings = 1 penny; 12 pence = 1 Shilling; 20 Shillings = 1 Pound

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
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1869 Queen Victoria, embossed head of the Queen, so-called 'Cameo'

Imperforate

  4 p brown
  6 p blue

Perforated

  1/2 p orange
  1/2 p green
  1 p brown
  1 p red
  2 p red
  2 p orange
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p blue
  3 p grey
  4 p brown
  6 p blue
  6 p green
  1 Sh green
  1 Sh violet

The stamps in this design are also known under the name 'Cameos'. The first imperforate stamps exist without watermark and with watermark CC Crown. The perforated stamps exist with watermark CC Crown (straight or lying down) or watermark CA Crown (lying down). The perforationi s always 14.

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

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

Cancels:

I've mostly seen these stamps with a circular date cancel (in black or red). But I've also seen an ellipse shaped cancel consisting of 7 bars (this cancel can also be found on the 1898 issue).

"GAMBIA PAID" and date in black or red.

"A GAMBIA" and date in a circle.

First image, triply cancelled stamp; with datestamp, registration chop and with ellipse shaped cancel consisting of 7 bars. Second image, 7-bar cancel only.

A target cancel consisting of 4 concentric rings.

Forgeries:

In Album Weeds, four different kinds of forgeries are described (in early 1900!).

(First forgery)

The above stamps are, I believe, the first forgery described in Album weeds, the end of the hair at the back of the head of the queen is split into two seperate curls. The ring around the embossed head is narrower than in the original and the mouth of the queen seems to be opened. Finally, the cancel is often composed of a square of dots (this cancel was not used in Gambia) or other phantasy cancels. The last red "GAMBIA" cancel is quite deceptive.

(Second forgery)

A second forgery, described in Album Weeds, can be recognized by a white dot connecting the "G" of "GAMBIA" to the line below it.

(Third forgery)

The above stamps are also forgeries (could these be the third forgery of Album Weeds?). The front pearl on the crown doesn't point in the same direction as in the genuine stamps. Also check the length of the line over the "SIX" or the ornaments.

Example of forgeries with watermark (Oneglia):

First forgery with watermark, second one without watermark.

(Fourth kind of forgeries; with watermark)

The above forgeries are the fourth one described in Album Weeds. They can easily be recognized by the coloured outline all around the stamp, it is much too thick (it should be as thick as the width of the "I" of "GAMBIA"). Album Weeds mentions that these forgeries exist imperforate in the values 4 p and 6 p and perforated in the values 1/2 p, 1 p, 2 p, 3 p, 4 p , 6 p and 1 Sh. The watermark can be seen from the front of the stamps (as for example in the imperforate 6 p above, where part of the crown appears in the face of the Queen). They could have been made by the forger Oneglia. The forger Spiotti also offered these forgeries.

Another forgery:

(Fifth forgery)

A very primitive forgery of the 4 p with the head of the Queen drawn instead of embossed. The design of this forgery is identical to the image given in Le Timbrophile by Pierre Mahé of 30 Mai 1869 (second image) and also in "The illustrated catalogue of postage stamps" by J.E.Gray (1870, page 206, see third image). In the Catalogue Descriptif des Timbres-Poste crees de 1840 a 1870 by Arthur Maury, a similar illlustration is given on page 56 (fourth image). This forgery can also be found in the catalogue of Placido Ramon de Torres "Album Illustrado para Sellos de Correo" of 1879 (information passed to me thanks to Gerhard Lang, 2016) on page 149 (fifth image). So either this forgery was inspired by the de Torres catalogue, or de Torres copied an image of a forgery into his catalogue. Even Album Weeds (third edition) has this image. Note that in the forgery and the catalogue illustrations, the upper left hand side is missing.

A printing plate once belonging to Pierre Mahé to print his albums. This printing plate corresponds to the above forgery (note the missing upper corner).

1898 Queen Victoria, inscription "POSTAGE POSTAGE"

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p orange and lilac
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p lilac and blue
  4 p brown and blue
  6 p green and red
  1 Sh lilac and green

For the specialist: These stamps have watermark CA Crown and are perforated 14.

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

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

3 p stamp with 4-ring mute cancel.

1902 King Edward VII

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p orange and violet
  2 p grey
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p lilac and blue
  3 p lilac on yellow
  4 p brown and blue
  4 p black and red on yellow
  5 p grey and black
  5 p orange and violet
  6 p green and red
  6 p lilac
  7 1/2 p green and red
  7 1/2 p brown and blue
  10 p yellow and red
  10 p green and red
  1 Sh violet and green
  1 Sh black on green
  1 Sh 6 p green and red on yellow
  1 Sh 6 p violet and green
  2 Sh grey and orange
  2 Sh lilac and blue on blue
  2 Sh 6 p lilac and brown on yellow
  2 Sh 6 p black and red on blue
  3 Sh red and green on yellow
  3 Sh yellow and green

Surcharged

  "HALF PENNY" on 2 Sh 6 p lilac and brown on yellow
  "ONE PENNY" on 3 Sh red and green on yellow

For the specialist: Some of these stamps have the value in white (example 1/2 p), other have the value in colour (example 3 Sh) The watermark of these stamps is 'CA crown' or 'Multiple CA crown (1905'):

(CA crown)

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

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

Smeets Gambia forgery with zoom-in.

Forgeries of the 2 Shilling grey and orange stamp. This forgery was thought to have been made by the stamp forger Lucian Smeets of Belgium. He removed the design of a cheaper Ceylon Queen Victoria 5 c stamp (see image on the right) and replaced it by the Gambia design. The cancel "RAMBUKKANA" from Ceylon gives it away (this cancel could not be removed).

1912 King George, small size

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  1 1/2 p olive and green
  2 p grey
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p lilac on yellow
  4 p black and red on yellow
  5 p orange and violet
  6 p lilac
  7 1/2 p brown and blue
  10 p green and red
  1 Sh black on green
  1 Sh 6 p violet and green
  2 Sh lilac and blue on blue
  2 Sh 6 p black and red on blue
  3 Sh yellow and green
  4 Sh grey and red
  5 Sh green and red on yellow

For the specialist: The watermark of these stamps is 'Multiple CA crown' or 'Multiple Script CA crown (1905'):

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

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

1922 New set with King George with an elephant (lower Pence values) or two elephants (higher Shilling values)

Lower values: 
  1/2 p green and black
  1 p brown and black
  1 1/2 p red and black
  2 p grey and black
  2 1/2 p orange and black
  3 p blue and black
  4 p red and black on orange
  5 p green and black
  6 p lilac and black
  7 1/2 p lilac and black on yellow
  10 p blue and black

Higher values: 
  1 Sh lilac and black on orange
  1 Sh 6 p blue and black
  2 Sh violet and black on blue
  2 Sh 6 p green and black
  3 Sh violet and black
  4 Sh brown and black
  5 Sh green and black
  10 Sh green and black

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

1938 King George VI with an elephant and palm tree (all identical design)

  1/2 p green and black
  1 p brown and lilac
  1 1/2 p red and lilac
  1 1/2 p black and blue
  2 p black and blue
  2 p red and lilac
  3 p black and blue
  5 p black and olive
  6 p lilac and green
  1 Sh lilac and black
  1 Sh 3 p blue and brown
  2 Sh blue and red
  2 Sh 6 p black and grey
  4 Sh violet and red
  5 Sh red and blue
  10 Sh black and orange

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 violet
  3 p blue

1948 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 1/2 p black (smaller size)
  1 Pound lilac

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

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

  1 1/2 p green
  3 p blue
  6 p red
  1 Sh violet

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

  1 1/2 p blue and black

1953 Definitive set with Queen Elizabeth II, various designs

  1/2 p green and red (palm wine tapping)
  1 p brown and blue (cutter, ship)
  1 1/2 p black and brown (Wollof woman)
  2 1/2 p red and black (Barra canoe)
  3 p violet and blue (the Lady Wright, ship)
  4 p blue and black (James Island)
  6 p violet and brown (design as 1/2 p)
  1 Sh green and brown (woman farming)
  1 Sh 3 p blue (design as 1 p)
  2 Sh red and blue (design as 2 1/2 p)
  2 Sh 6 p brown and green (design as 1 Sh)
  4 Sh orange and blue (design as 4 p)
  5 Sh blue and brown (design as 1 1/2 p)
  10 Sh olive and blue (design as 3 p)
  1 Pound black and green (elephant and palm tree)

1963 Birds, multcoloured (I've only indicated the background colour)

  1/2 p orange 
  1 p green
  1 1/2 p violet
  2 p yellow
  3 p grey
  4 p green
  6 p blue
  1 Sh green
  1 Sh 3 p blue
  2 Sh 6 p green
  5 Sh blue
  10 Sh light brown
  1 Pound lilac

Overprinted "INDEPENDENCE 1965":

1/2 p, 1 p, 1 1/2 p, 2 p, 3 p, 4 p, 6 p, 1 Sh, 1 Sh 3 p, 2 Sh 6 p, 5 Sh, 10 Sh, 1 Pound

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 red

1963 Red Cross issue

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

  2 p black and red
  1 Sh 3 p blue and red

1964 Shakespeare

For stamps in the same design, but for other British colonies, click here

  6 p blue

Gambia became independent in February 1965.

In 1966 a new bird set was issued.

Postal Stationery

POSTCARDS:

1880 Queen Victoria in octagonal

  1 1/2 p grey

Surcharged
  '1 d.' (1884) on 1 1/2 p grey

Other postcards exist.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer