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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

OIL RIVERS (NIGER COAST) 1892 issue

Return To Catalogue - Oil Rivers 1893-1899 and cancels

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In 1891 postoffices were established in Calabar, Benin, Bonny, Brass, Opobo and Warri. At first stamps of Great Britain were used. In 1892 (July) the stamps of Great Britain were overprinted with "BRITISH PROTECTORATE OIL RIVERS". More postoffices were opened in 1892-93 in Bakana, Qua Iboe, Sombreiro and Buguma.

1892 Stamps of Great Britain of 1881 and 1887 overprinted 'BRITISH PROTECTORATE OIL RIVERS'

  1/2 p red
  1 p lilac
  2 p green and red
  2 1/2 p lilac on blue
  5 p lilac and blue
  1 Sh green

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

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

Surcharged in various colors and variations

(Reduced views)

  'HALF PENNY.' (green or violet) on 2 p green and red
     (3 types)
  'HALF PENNY.' (green, red, blue, violet or black)
     on 2 1/2 p lilac on blue (4 types)
  'One Shilling' (violet, red or black) on 2 p green and red
  '5/-' (violet) on 2 p green and red
  '10/-' (red) on 5 p lilac and blue
  '20/-' (violet, black or red) on 1 Sh green

The postmaster of this country seems to have amused himself by creating many very rare surcharged stamps in many colours and types (which were not necessary at all, it seems).

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

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

Bisected and surcharged

Two bisected stamps with the same "OPOBO RIVERS A OC 29 94" cancel (most likely cancelled to order)

  '1/2d' (red or violet) on half of 1 p lilac
  '1' on half of 2 p green and red

See the remark above on these surcharged stamps.

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

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

Postal Stationary

Postal stationary of Great Britain was also overprinted. For example a 2 p registration form with "NIGER COAST PROTECTORATE" in two lines.

Cancels

Many of the cancels on this issue were 'cancelled to order' or otherwise philatelitically inspired.

Double ringed parcel cancel of "BRASS"?

"BONNY RIVER" and 'BRASS RIVER" cancels

"BENIN RIVER C NO 16 93" cancel in red (the usual color used in Benin for cancels). Next to it exactly the same cancels with the same date This is probably a favour cancel (cancelled to order).

For Oil Rivers, more on cancels of this country, click here.

Forgeries

Examples of forged overprints on genuine stamps of Great Britain:

(This forged overprint is slanting, it is most likely made by the stamp forger Oneglia, since it is having a bars with "G" cancel as often found on Oneglia forgeries)

Forged overprint. For example, the word "OIL" has the letters too close to each other (compare with the genuine stamps).

Set of forgeries, all made by the same forger?

Forged overprints made by the forger Fournier, image taken from a 'Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries'. It appears to me that the letters in "OIL" are placed closer together than in the genuine stamps?

If my information is correct, so-called Bournemouth forgeries exist, where an unoverprinted stamp of Great Britain was used with a forged 'FORCADOS RIVER A 03 01' cancel applied to it.

For Oil Rivers 1893-1899 and cancels, click here.

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Copyright by Evert Klaseboer