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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

NYASALAND (Malawi) 1898 onwards and Miscellaneous

Nyasaland protectorate (British Central Africa)

Return To Catalogue - British Central Africa 1891-1897

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

For stamps of British Central Africa (Nyasaland) issued before 1898, click here.

1898 Fiscal stamp, overprinted 'INTERNAL POSTAGE' (Cheque stamps)

  1 p red and blue (imperforate)
  1 p red and blue (perforated)

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

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

This provisional issue became necessary, since a shipment of 1 p stamps got lost. The postmaster first surchared the 3 Sh stamps of the previous issue with 'ONE PENNY', but soon the 3 Sh also ran out. He then made this provisional issue. They were printed in sheets of 24 stamps. Unused stamps were not given to the public, instead the postmaster added the stamp to the letter himself (Source: The London Philatelist Vol.VII, 1898, page 267).

1903 King Edward, inscription 'BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA PROTECTORATE'

  1 p red and grey
  2 p lilac
  4 p black and green
  6 p brown and grey
  1 Sh blue and grey

Larger size

  2 Sh 6 p green
  4 Sh lilac
  10 Sh black and green
  1 Pound red and grey
  10 Pounds blue and grey

These stamps have perforation 14.

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

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

1908 King Edward, inscription 'NYASALAND PROTECTORATE'

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  3 p lilac
  4 p red and black on yellow
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh black on green

Larger size

  2 Sh 6 p red and black on blue
  4 Sh black and red
  10 Sh red and green on green
  1 Pound black and lilac on red
  10 Pounds blue and lilac

These stamps have perforation 14.

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

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

Stamps in the above design are generally referred to as 'Nyasaland type' and this type was used in many other colonies as well (with changed country name) in order to create some more uniformity in the stamps of the British Colonies. Later on the portrait of King Edward II was replaced by that of King George V. The following 'stamp' is a proof of De La Rue printer, with inscription 'THOS. DE LA RUE & CO':

1913 King George V, inscription 'NYASALAND PROTECTORATE'

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

Larger size

  2 Sh blue and violet on blue
  2 Sh 6 p red and black on blue
  4 Sh black and red
  5 Sh red and green on yellow
  10 Sh red and green on green
  1 Pound black and lilac on red
  10 Pounds blue and lilac

The 1 Sh and 2 Sh 6 p were overprinted 'Consular' in red to be used as fiscal stamps. The 6 p lilac and purple exist with overprint 'Revenue Only' to serve as fiscal stamp as well.

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

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

Overprinted 'N.F.' (Nyasaland Force) for use in the occupied territories of German East Africa

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  3 p lilac on yellow
  4 p red and black on yellow
  1 Sh black on green

These stamps have watermark 'Multiple CA Crown'.

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

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

1934 Leopard issus

King George V with leopard at the right hand side, 9 values were issued
  1/2 p green
  1 p brown
  1 1/2 p red
  2 p black
  3 p blue
  4 p lilac
  6 p violet
  9 p green
  1 Sh red 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 p grey and blue, 2 p grey and green, 3 p blue and brown and 1 Sh lilac and grey 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

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

1938 King George VI, leopard issue

I have seen: 
  1/2 p green
  1/2 p brown
  1 p brown
  1 p green
  1 1/2 p red
  1 1/2 p grey
  2 p grey
  2 p red
  3 p blue
  4 p lilac
  6 p violet
  9 p green
  1 Sh orange and black

1938 King George VI, designs similar to the 1913 large size issues

  2 Sh blue and lilac on blue
  2 Sh 6 p red and black on blue
  5 Sh red and green on yellow
  10 Sh red and green on green
  1 Pound black and lilac on red 

1945 Various designs with King George VI

  1/2 p brown and black (Lake Nyasa)
  1 p green and black (King's African rifles)
  1 1/2 p black (tea estate, Mlanje mountain)
  2 p red and black (map)
  3 p blue and black (fishing village, Lake Nyasa)
  4 p brown and black (tobacco)
  6 p violet and black (design as 1 1/2 p)
  9 p green and black (design as 1/2 p)
  1 Sh black and blue (design as 2 p)
  2 Sh brown and green (design as 3 p)
  2 Sh 6 p blue and green (design as 4 p)
  5 Sh blue and lilac (arms)
  10 Sh green and red (design as 2 p)
  20 Sh black and orange (design as 5 Sh) 

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 p green
  2 p red 

1949 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 p green
  10 Sh lilac

1949 UPU issue, inscription 'NYASALAND'

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

1 p green, 3 p blue, 6 p violet and 1 Sh blue.

1951 Diamond Jubilee, inscription '1891 BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 1951 NYASALAND PROTECTORATE'

Four stamps were issued: 2 p orange and black, 3 p blue and black, 6 p violet and black and 5 Sh blue and black.

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, inscription 'CORONATION JUNE 1953'

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

  2 p orange and black 

1953 Queen Elizabeth II, pictorials

  1/2 p brown and black (Lake Nyasa)
  1 p green and brown (leopard)
  1 1/2 p grey (tea estate and mountain)
  2 p orange and black (map)
  2 1/2 p black and green (grading cotton)
  3 p red and black (tobacco)
  4 1/2 p blue and black (fishing village, Lake Nyasa)
  6 p violet and black (design as 1 1/2 p)
  9 p brown and black (design as 1/2 p)
  1 Sh grey and black (design as 2 p)
  2 Sh red and green (design as 4 1/2 p)
  2 Sh 6 p blue and green (design as 3 p)
  5 Sh blue and lilac (arms)
  10 Sh green and red (design as 2 p)
  20 Sh black and orange (design as 5 Sh)

Some Postage Due stamps exist in the values 1 p red, 2 p blue, 3 p green, 4 p red and 6 p orange (all inscription 'NYASALAND POSTAGE DUE' and value in a circle.

Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia were joined with Nyasaland in 1953 to form the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland which was dissolved in 1963. Southern Rhodesia was renamed Rhodesia after 1965 (which became Zimbabwe in 1980). Also in 1963, Northern Rhodesia became Zambia and Nyasaland became Malawi.

1954 Queen Elizabeth II, inscription 'Rhodesia and Nyasaland'

16 values were issued; up to 1 Sh with the Queen in an ellipse (1/2 p orange, 1 p blue, 2 p green, 2 1/2 p yellow, 3 p red, 4 p brown, 4 1/2 p green, 6 p lilac, 9 p violet and 1 Sh black).
In a larger size: 1 Sh 3 p blue and orange, 2 Sh brown and blue, 2 Sh 6 p red and black, 5 Sh green and violet.
In again a larger size:10 Sh orange and green and 1 Pound red and green again larger size.

1955 Livingstone issue

3 p green and blue ('1855 1955 Victoria Falls) and 1 Sh blue and lilac (Victoria Falls and portrait of Livingstone).

1959 Queen Elizabeth II definitive issue

Various designs: 
  1/2 p green and black (tea picking)
  1 p black and red (VHF mast)
  2 p orange and violet (copper mining)
  2 1/2 p black and lilac (Fairbridge memorial)
  3 p blue and black (Rhodes's Grave Matopos)
  4 p olive and red (Lake Bangweulu)
  6 p green and blue (eastern cataract, Victoria Falls)
  9 p lilac and orange (Rhodesia Railways)
  1 Sh blue and green (tobacco)
  1 Sh 3 p brown and green (Lake Nyasa)
  2 Sh red and green (Chirundu bridge)
  2 Sh 6 p brown and blue (Salisbury airport)
  5 Sh green and black (Rhodes statue)
  10 Sh red and olive (Mlanje)
  1 Pound violet and black (arms)

1960 Kariba issue, inscription 'KARIBA 1960'

6 values, different designs: 3 p (view of river), 6 p (high power lines), 1 Sh (view of dam), 1 Sh 3 p (dam), 2 Sh 6 p and 5 Sh.

1961 Mining Congress

  6 p brown and green (miner)
  1 Sh 3 p blue and black (mining industry complex)

1962 Airmail issue, inscription 'London - Rhodesia Air mail service 1932-1962'

  6 p green and red (D.H.Hercules 1932)
  1 Sh 3 p blue, black and green (Empire 'C' Class flying boat 1937)
  2 Sh 6 p violet and red (Comet 4 1962)

1963 Tobacco Congress

3 p (tobacco plant), 6 p (tobacco field), 1 Sh 3 p and 2 Sh 6 p.

1963 Red Cross Centenary, inscription 'RHODESIA & NYASALAND 1863 1963 RED CROSS

  3 p red

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here. The design is different from most British Colonies, where the head of the Queen is at the left hand side. Here it is placed at the right hand side. Also only one stamp was issued, whereas most other British Colonies issued two stamps for this occasion. .

1963 World's council of young men's service clubs

6 p green, brown and black and 1 Sh 3 p violet, green, brown and black.

Postage Due stamps

In a design with a posthorn and inscription 'POSTAGE DUE RHODESIA & NYASALAND' were issued at least the value: 1 p red, 2 p blue, 4 p green and 6 p lilac.

The federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved in 1963 and Nyasaland issued its own stamps again:

1964 Queen Elizabeth II, fiscal stamps of Nyasaland overprinted 'POSTAGE'

11 values, all in the same design: 1/2 p on 1 p blue, 1 p green, 2 p orange, 3 p blue, 6 p brown, 9 p on 1 Sh red, 1 Sh lilac, 2 Sh 6 p grey, 5 Sh brown, 10 Sh green and 1 Pound violet.

1964 Pictorial designs (no head of Queen Elizabeth)

12 values, for example 1 Sh (timber), 1 Pound (head of a nyala).

In 1964 independance was declared and Nyasaland became the republic of Malawi.

Fiscal stamps

I have seen a fiscal Employment Stamp 5 Sh green with inscription 'NYASALAND' which was issued in 1962.

Other fiscal stamp, inscription 'RHODESIA AND NYASALAND REVENUE', 5 Sh green.

Fiscal stamps with inscription 'SOUTHERN RHODESIA' or 'RHODESIA' were issued for Southern Rhodesia.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer