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GIBRALTAR 1886-1903

Return To Catalogue - Gibraltar 1903-1920

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('G' cancel and 'A26' cancels)

Before introduction of stamps for Gibraltar, the stamps of Great Britain were used. From 1857-1859 the cancel 'G' was used, from 1860 onwards 'A26' was used.

1886 Stamps of Bermuda overprinted "GIBRALTAR"

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

The overprints are done on the stamps of Bermuda with watermark 'CA Crown'. The 6 p has never been used in Bermuda with this watermark. The 1 Sh has a special shade of brown, not found in Bermuda either.

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

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

Some forged overprints exist on stamps of Bermuda; any stamp with a cancel of Bermuda and a 'GIBRALTAR' overprint is a forgery.

Sperati made a forgery of the 1 Sh value, example:

(Sperati forgery, image obtained from Richard Frajola's website on Sperati forgeries: http://www.seymourfamily.com/rfrajola/Sperati/speratiindex.htm)

Other Sperati forgeries of the 1 Sh stamp, left uncancelled.

In the above Sperati forgery, the edge of the overprint does not show the intensity of the impression of the genuine stamps. The basic Bermuda stamp was also forged by de Sperati by bleaching out a genuine stamp. The paper, watermark and perforation are therefore genuine. The image, overprint and cancel are probably all forged. A 'die-proof' exists of the 1 Sh Bermuda stamp made by Sperati.

Other Sperati forgeries of other values, images obtained from a Stanley Gibbons auction

The forger Oneglia made forgeries of the first stamps of Bermuda. These forgeries have an impressed watermark. The 1 p, 3 p 4 p, 6 p and 1 Sh were also used with forged "GIBRALTAR" overprints.

Oneglia forgeries with forged "GIBRALTAR" overprint. The "R"s have the legs too broad when compared to a genuine stamp. I've also seen the 4 p and 6 p value without cancel. The 1 Sh is most likely an Oneglia forgery as well. Here all with "A26" cancel.

Here an 6 p Oneglia forgery, the forged watermark is clearly visible. It also has a forged "GIBRALTAR" cancel.

Genuine Bermuda stamps, but with forged overprint. The overprints look much like the Oneglia forged overprints shown above; the "G" and "R"s are different from a genuine overprint.

In the 1899 "Catalogue des Imitations des Timbres-Postes d'Italie et Anciens Duches, Bresil, Cap de Bonne Esperance, Gambie, Iles Joniennes, Maurice ecc. ecc." from E. Oneglia, he says on page 30: "Je puis appliquer le Timbre Gibraltar sur les Timbres-Poste de Bermuda, a fr.0,50 par piece, prix net, et autre surcharges, porto extra"; translated: "I can apply overprints of Gibraltar on Bermuda stamps for 0.50 Francs a piece". This was probably done on the above forgeries (the overprint is exactly the same as the Oneglia forgeries, not the broad right bottom part of the "R").

This genuine Bermuda stamp was used in Bermuda (numeral '1' cancel) and a forged "GIBRALTAR" overprint was applied to it.

Another genuine stamp with forged "GIBRALTAR". This time "GIBRALTAR" is too wide.

A forged "GIBRALTAR" overprint as taken from a Fournier album.

1886 Victoria, various frames, value in Pence or Shilling

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p brown
  2 p brown and blue (1898)
  2 1/2 p blue
  4 p brown
  4 p orange and green (1898)
  6 p lilac
  6 p violet and red (1898)
  1 Sh yellow
  1 Sh yellow and red (1898)

Surcharged with 'CENTIMOS' and value

  '5 CENTIMOS' on 1/2 p green
  '10 CENTIMOS' on 1 p red
  '25 CENTIMOS' on 2 p brown
  '25 CENTIMOS' on 2 1/2 p blue
  '40 CENTIMOS' on 4 p orange
  '50 CENTIMOS' on 6 p violet
  '75 CENTIMOS' on 1 Sh yellow

These stamps have watermark 'CA Crown' and perforation 14.

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

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

Forgeries: I know that Sperati made a forgery of the 1 Sh yellow value (at least two different 'reproductions'). I have no further information. Example of such forgeries:

(Sperati forgeries of the 1 Sh value)

Two Sperati forgeries of the 4 p and 6 p values. I don't know the distinguishing characteristics. Sperati made at least two different reproductions of the 4 p and 6 p values.

2 1/2 p in the wrong color with strange cancel. Possibly some cut from a souvenir card.

A forgery of the 4 p in a different design (borders different, Queen's face different). Next to it a forgery of Antigua and one of St.Lucia made by the same forger.

1889 Victoria, value in Centimos

  5 c green
  10 c red
  20 c green
  25 c blue
  40 c brown
  50 c lilac
  75 c green
  1 P brown
  1 P brown and blue
  2 P black and red
  5 P grey

These stamps have watermark 'CA Crown' and perforation 14. A misprint exists, the 10 c without value inscription:

(Misprint with no value inscription; image obtained from http://www.sandafayre.com)

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

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

Typical cancel 'A26':

For stamps of Gibraltar issued from 1903 to 1920 click here.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer