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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

TASMANIA 1857-1891

(Also called VAN DIEMENS LAND)

Return To Catalogue - Tasmania 1853-1856 - Tasmania 1892-1900 and miscellaneous - Australia

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1857 Queen Victoria in an octagonal, inscription "TASMANIA"

Imperforated

6 p lilac 6 p blue 1 Sh red, cut to shape

  6 p lilac to blue
  1 Sh red

Perforated

6 p blue 1 Sh red

  6 p lilac to blue
  1 Sh red

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
With watermark 'Number', imperforate (1857)
6 p RR **  
1 Sh RR *  
With watermark 'Number', various perforation gauges (1864)
6 p R *  
1 Sh *** *  


(Watermark on the 6 p: '6')


'12' watermark on the 1 Sh

Many of these stamps are used fiscally. Postally used stamps are in some cases rarer.

1 Sh red, fiscal cancel?
Fiscally used stamp

Reprints exist, they have a large "REPRINT" overprint:

I've also seen imperforate reprints without the "REPRINT" overprint of both values.


Two reprints of the 1 Sh on thick paper without "REPRINT" overprint

Proofs:


Two proofs with different bottom parts, reduced size.

Forgeries:


Forgeries; I've also seen this forgery with a circular cancel. Also note the "1602" cancel that also appears on some forgeries of New South Wales.


Forgery with a "VF" cancel that appears on many other forgeries of other countries.

 

1870 Queen Victoria facing the left (so-called 'Sideface issue'), inscription "TASMANIA"

1 p red With numeral cancel '113' 3 p brown 4 p yellow 4 p olive 8 p brown 9 p blue 5 Sh lilac

  1/2 p orange
  1 p red
  2 p green
  3 p brown
  4 p blue
  4 p yellow
  4 p olive
  8 p brown
  9 p blue
  10 p black
  5 Sh lilac

Surcharged


  'Halfpenny' on 1 p red (for newspapers, 1889)
  '2 1/2 d.' on 9 p blue

Various perforation gauges were used for these stamps. The first stamps were issued with watermark 'Number'. Later, in 1871, the watermark 'TAS' was used. Specialists distinguish two types of this watermark with different sizes: 16x7 mm or 13x6 mm. The 9 p was issued in 1902 with watermark 'V Crown'.


The watermark "10" on the 10 p value

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
With watermark 'Number' (1870)
1 p *** * Watermark '4' or '10', exists imperforate
2 p *** c Watermark '2', exists imperforate
4 p blue RR RR Watermark '4',
printed quantity: 72000 stamps (sold quantity 24000)
10 p * * Watermark '10', exists imperforate
With watermark 'TAS' (1878)
1/2 p * * Exists imperforate
1 p * c Exists imperforate
2 p * c  
3 p * * Exists imperforate
4 p yellow *** *  
4 p olive * *  
8 p * *  
9 p ** **  
5 Sh *** *  
1/2 p on 1 p * * Misprint: RRR (see below)
Reprints were made in 1901 (no watermark)
2 1/2 p on 9 p * * Two types 14 mm or 15 mm high overprint
Reprints were made in 1901 (no watermark)
With watermark 'V Crown' (1902)
9 p * * Very badly printed
With watermark 'Crown A' (1905)
8 p * *  
9 p * *  


Most likely a genuine misprint

Forgery!
Forgery of a misprint, the "f" is missing.

A misprint of the "Halfpenny" on 1 p red exists, instead of "Halfpenny" it reads "H..fpenny" with the letters "al" vertically.

Typical cancel:


"TASMANIA" in bars duplex cancel


"LOOSE SHIP LETTER" cancel

Reprints:

No watermark Official reprint
(Reduced sizes)


Official reprint of the "Halfpenny" on 1d surcharge. Actually the font size is wrong and the stamp is a locally printed 1d, not the De La Rue 1d as the original was.

I have also seen a reprint of the 4 p blue stamp (also with "REPRINT" overprint):

What are these (imperforate and overprinted "CANCELLED")?:

"SPECIMEN" overprint:


(Some reprints exist with "SPECIMEN" overprint)

Postal stationery: I have seen a postcard with an impression of a stamps similar to the 1 p red stamp.


Forgery of the 5 Sh, for example the "S" of "TASMANIA" is different and the face of the Queen is also not like the genuine stamps.

Tasmania 1892-1900 and miscellaneous.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer