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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

BRITISH GUIANA 1876-1888

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For issues of British Guiana from 1860 to 1875 click here.

1876 Ship, perforated, inscription 'POSTAGE'

  1 c grey
  2 c orange
  4 c blue
  6 c brown
  8 c red
  12 c violet
  24 c green
  48 c brown
  96 c brown

The value inscription of these stamps has varied positions with respect to the rest of the stamp. I have seen two different types of the 12 c, the lower part of the '2' is different:

(note the different '2')

These stamps were first issued with watermark 'CC Crown' and perforation 14, the 1 c also exists with perforation 14 x 12 1/2 and the 4 c with perforation 12 1/2. In 1862 the watermark was changed to 'CA Crown'. The higher values are more common with fiscal cancels.

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

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

Surcharged "INLAND REVENUE DOLLARS" and value

  1 c lilac
  2 c lilac
  3 c lilac
  4 c lilac (2 types: small or large number)
  6 c lilac (2 types: straight or curved head of '6')
  8 c lilac
  10 c lilac
  20 c lilac
  40 c lilac
  72 c lilac
  1 Dollar green
  2 Dollars green
  3 Dollars green
  4 Dollars green (2 types: small or large number)
  5 Dollars green

Surcharged

  'One Cent' (red) on 1 Dollar green (1890)
  'One Cent' (red) on 2 Dollars green (1890)
  'One Cent' (red) on 3 Dollars green (1890)
  'One Cent' (red) on 4 Dollars green (1890)
  '2' (red) on 2 c lilac 

These stamps have with 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

Official stamps, overprinted "OFFICIAL" (1877)

  1 c grey
  2 c orange
  4 c blue
  6 c brown
  8 c red

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

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

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

Forgeries:

Forgery of the 96 c, with slightly different lettering, note for example the "96" or the "S" of "POSTAGE". The letters of "BRITISH" are not flat enough (compare for example the "H" with a genuine stamp). Next to it some INLAND REVENUE forgeries by the same forger (I've also seen the values 1 Dollar and 2 Dollars). These are likely products of Panelli/Oneglia. I've also seen the 1 c value of this forgery with "CENT" too narrow and "1" totally different. For a full list see the Oneglia 1906 catalogue.

Forgery of the 12 c, with different '1' and different lettering. On the backside a greasy printed(?) watermark is visible (both Crown CC and Crown CA). This forgery is apparently made by the same forger as the above 96 c forgery. Both could be products of Panelli/Oneglia.

More forgeries from the same workshop.

Newspaper wrapper, in same design:

Cuts from postal stationeary, note that the '1' in the 1 c is different from the postage stamps.

I have seen cutouts in the same design in the values: 1 c green, 2 c red, 3 c red and "ONE CENT" and bar on 3 c red.

A 2 c red color misprint (should be orange) forgery; I think it must have been made by cutting out the design of one of the above postal stationary and perforating it? This stamp has no watermark

1878 Various earlier stamps and official stamps, overprinted with stripes and some with new value

Without value

  (1 c) on 1 c black (official 1875)
  (1 c) on 6 c brown
  (1 c) on VI c blue
  (1 c) on 1 c grey (official 1877)
  (1 c) on 4 c blue (official 1877)
  (1 c) on 6 c brown (official)
  (2 c) on VIII c red (official)
  (2 c) on 2 c orange (official)
  (2 c) on 8 c red (official)

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

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

With value

(Two types of the '2' overprint on the 24 c)

  '1' on XLVIII c red
  '1' on XII c lilac (official)
  '1' on 96 c brown
  '1' on 48 c brown (official)
  '2' on XXIV c green (official)
  '2' on 96 c brown
  '2' on 12 c violet (official)
  '2' on 24 c green (official)

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

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

1882 Sailship in a square, so-called 'Baldwin' issue, perforated with "SPECIMEN"

  1 c black on lilac
  2 c black on yellow

Two types of these stamps exist, type one with 2 masts on the ship and type 2 with 3 masts. I've seen a complete pane with 12 (2 x 6) stamps of the 1 c value, with two and three masted ships printed together.

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

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

I've seen a 1 c value with "SPECIMEN" inverted.

Forgery taken from a Fournier Album (reduced sized image)

For stamps of British Guiana issued from 1889 to 1920 click here.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer