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MONTSERRAT

Return To Catalogue - Antigua - Leeward Islands

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Montserrat is a small island in the West Indies. Stamps of Great Britain with numeral cancel "A08" were used in Montserrat before the introduction of its own stamp.

1876 Stamps of Antigua overprinted "MONTSERRAT"

  1 p red
  6 p green

For the specialist, these stamps exist with watermark 'Crown CC' and 'Crown CA' (1 p only). These stamps exist bisected vertically or diagonally, example:

Bisected 1 p stamps with overprint "1/2" are bogus issues. They even exist on whole letters (source: Le Postillon Revue Philatelique https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9802917r/f1n24.pdf?download=1 )

Both values exist with the "S" of "MONTSERRAT" inverted (watermark 'CC Crown' only), example:

(Inverted "S" variety)

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

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

Forged "MONTSERRAT" overprint on a genuine 6 p stamp of Antigua. The bottom right part of the "R" is almost straight in this forged overprint.

Another forged overprint.

1880 Queen Victoria

  1/2 p green
  2 1/2 p brown
  2 1/2 p blue
  4 p blue
  4 p lilac

For the specialist; all these stamps are perforated 14. The stamps 2 1/2 p brown and 4 p blue were first issued in 1880 with watermark 'Crown CC'. The 2 1/2 p brown and 4 p blue also exist with watermark 'Crown CA'. The 1/2 p, 2 1/2 p blue (1885) and 4 p lilac (1885) only exist with watermark 'Crown CA'.

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

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

Cancels:

One of the weirdest cancels I have ever seen, a fingerprint:

Forgeries:

Examples:

The above forgeries are quite clumsy. the face has a thick coloured outline. The 6 p green was never issued! I've also seen the 6 p with a cancel consisting of parallel lines, together forming a circle (as on the 4 p). As shown above, a variety of cancels was used on these forgeries.

Sperati forgery of the 4 p blue value.

Sperati has made a forgery of the 4 p blue stamp. For another example of such a forgery, see Richard Frajola's website; http://www.seymourfamily.com/rfrajola/Sperati/speratiindex.htm. Sperati also forged four "A08" cancels (two of them only partial cancels), more information can be found in the BPA book on Sperati forgeries.

Here a blackprint of a Sperati forgery (reduced size)

Another Sperati 'proof'

Fiscal stamp in the same design, inscription "MONTSERRAT REVENUE"

From 1891 to 1902 Montserrat used the stamps of the Leeward Islands. Example:

(A Leeward Islands stamp with a "A08" numeral cancel of Montserrat)

1903 Arms of the colony, woman with cross and harp

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  1 p red and black
  2 p grey
  2 p brown and black
  2 1/2 p blue and black
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p lilac and brown
  3 p lilac on yellow
  6 p olive and lilac
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh violet and green
  1 Sh black on green
  2 Sh brown and green
  2 Sh blue and lilac on blue
  2 Sh 6 p black and green
  2 Sh 6 p red and black on blue

These stamps have perforation 14.

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

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

I have seen two forged so-called Madame Joseph cancels, "MONTSERRAT A NO 26 1910", in a single circle on the values 6 p lilac and 1 Sh black on green.

1903 King Edward

  5 Sh red and black
  5 Sh green and red on yellow

These stamps have perforation 14.

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

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

1913 King George, large size

  5 Sh green and red on yellow

This stamp has perforation 14 and watermark 'Multiple CA Crown'.

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

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

1916 King George, small size

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

These stamps have perforation 14.

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

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

Overprinted 'WAR TAX'

  1/2 p (overprint red) green (1917)
  1/2 p green (1917)
  1 1/2 p orange and black (value in black, 1919)

These war tax stamps were to be applied to Great Britain, all British colonise from 9 Mai 1917 and also to the United States from 15 May 1917 onwards. The 1 1/2 p stamp included both postage and the war tax. In the 1 1/2 d the value and the words 'WAR TAX' were applied in one single printing operation (information thanks to Peter Elias).

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

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

1932 Centenary, King George V, view of island "1632 - 1932"

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  1 1/2 p brown
  2 p grey
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p orange
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh olive
  2 Sh 6 p lilac
  5 Sh brown

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

1938 King George VI, various designs

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

The values 1/2 p, 3 p, 1 Sh, 5 Sh and 1 Pound have Carr's bay in the design. The values 1 p, 1 1/2 p and 2 1/2 p a cotton field, while the values 2 p, 6 p, 2 Sh 6 p and 10 Sh have the Botanic Station in the design.

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 brown

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

  2 1/2 p blue (smaller size)
  5 Sh red 

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

  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p brown
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh lilac 

1951 King George VI, value in "CENTS" and "$"

  1 c black (government house)
  2 c green (sea island cotton: cultivation)
  3 c brown (map of presidency)
  4 c red (picking tomatoes)
  5 c lilac (St.Anthony's church)
  6 c brown (arms; badge of presidency)
  8 c blue (sea island cotton: ginning)
  12 c brown and blue (design as 5 c)
  24 c green and red (design as 4 c)
  60 c red and black (design as 8 c)
  1.20 $ bleu and green (design as 2 c)
  2.40 $ green and black (design as 1 c)
  4.80 $ lilac and black (design as 6 c)

1951 University College of the West Indies

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

Two different designs: 
  3 c brown and black
  12 c violet and black

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.

  2 c green and black

1953 As 1951 designs, but with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II

  1/2 c lilac (map of presidency)
  1 c black (government house)
  2 c green (sea island cotton cultivation)
  3 c brown (design as 1/2 c)
  4 c red (picking tomatoes)
  5 c lilac (St.Anthony's church)
  6 c brown (arms, badge of presidency)
  8 c blue (sea island cotton: ginning)
  12 c brown and blue (design as 5 c)
  24 c green and red (design as 4 c)
  48 c lilac and olive (design as 2 c, 1956?)
  60 c red and black (design as 8 c)
  1.20 $ bleu and green (design as 2 c)
  2.40 $ green and black (design as 1 c)
  4.80 $ lilac and black (design as 6 c)

1958 West Indies Federation

  3 c green
  6 c blue
  12 c red

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

1963 Freedom from hunger

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

  12 c violet

1963 Red Cross issue

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

  4 c black and red
  12 c blue and red 

1964 Shakespeare issue

  12 c blue

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

1965 ITU issue

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

  4 c violet and red
  48 c red and green

1965 International Co-operation Year

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

  2 c blue and lilac
  12 c violet and green

1965 Fruits and vegetables

  1 c green and orange (pineapple)
  2 c blue and green (avocado)
  3 c red and green (soursop)
  4 c blue, red and green (pepper)
  5 c yellow, brown and green (mango)
  6 c violet, red and green (tomato)
  8 c blue, yellow and green (guava)
  10 c blue and green (ochro)
  12 c blue and green (lime)
  20 c olive, orange and green (orange)
  24 c blue and green (banana)
  42 c red and green (onion)
  48 c lilac and green (cabbage)
  60 c blue and green (pawpaw)
  1.20 $ red, yellow and green (pumpkin)
  2.40 $ brown and green (sweet potato)
  4.80 $ green and violet (egg plant)

Surcharged (1968)
  15 c on 12 c blue and green
  25 c on 24 c blue and green
  50 c on 48 c lilac and green
  1.00 $ on 1.20 $ red, yellow and green
  2.50 $ on 2.40 $ brown and green
  5.00 $ on 4.80 $ green and violet

1966 Churchill issue

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

  1 c blue, black, gold and red
  2 c green, black, gold and red
  24 c brown, black, gold and red 
  42 c violet, black, gold and red

1966 Royal visit to the Caribbean

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

  14 c blue and black
  24 c red and black

1966 WHO new headquarters building

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

  12 c green, blue and black
  60 c lilac, orange and black

1966 20th anniversary of Unesco

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

  4 c grey, orange and red
  60 c olive, orange and blue
  1.80 $ lilac, black and orange

1968 International tourist year, various designs

5 c, 15 c, 16 c and 24 c (all multicoloured)

Postal Stationery

1879 Postcard, Queen Victoria

(Reduced size)

  1 1/2 p brown

1884 Postcards, Queen Victoria, new design

(Sorry, no picture available yet)

  1 p red
  1 1/2 p brown

Forgery of this postcard

Fiscals

1870 Inscription "MONTSERRAT INLAND REVENUE"

(Reduced size)

Forged revenue stamp with forged postal 'A08' cancel.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer