Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

TOGA (Tonga) 1897 onwards and miscellaneous

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 Tonga issued previous to 1897, click here

1897 Various designs

5 Sh red and black

(Reduced size)

  1/2 p blue (arms)
  1/2 p green (arms)
  1 p red and black
  2 p olive and black
  2 1/2 p blue and black
  3 p green and black
  4 p violet and green (fruits)
  5 p orange and black (design as 2 p)
  6 p red (coral)
  7 1/2 p green and black (design as 2 p)
  10 p red and black (design as 2 p)
  1 Sh brown and black (design as 2 p)
  2 Sh blue and black (Haabai)
  2 Sh 6 p lilac (bird)
  5 Sh red and black (Vavau)

Overprinted "T-L" (wedding of king Tabou and queen Lavinia)

  1 p red and black

Surcharged (1923-1924)"TWO PENCE PENI-E-UA"

  2 p (blue) on 5 p
  2 p (blue) on 7 1/2 p
  2 p (blue) on 10 p
  2 p (blue) on 1 Sh
  2 p (red) on 2 Sh
  2 p (red) on 2 Sh 6 p
  2 p (red) on 5 Sh

These stamps have watermark 'Turtles''.

I have seen the 1 Sh stamp with a printing error "SILINI-E TAHA" instead of "SILINI-E-TAHA" (a "-" missing). I've seen the 1 p and 3 p used bisected diagonally (1904?).

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
1/2 p blue	c	c
1 p	c	c
2 p	**	*
2 1/2 p	**	**
3 p	*	*
4 p	*	*
5 p	***	***
6 p	*	**
7 1/2 p	***	***	Exists with inverted center: RRR
10 p	***	***
1 Sh	***	***
2 Sh	***	***
2 Sh 6 p	***	***
5 Sh	R	R
Overprinted 'TL'
1 p	***	***

More values and surcharges of these stamps were issued after 1920.

Two oversized A.C.Roessler fascimiles of the 2 Sh values.

1919 Queen Salote Tubu

  1 1/2 p ("PENI-E-TAHA MO KOGA") black
  2 p ("PENI-E-UA") violet and brown
  2 p lilac and black (1930)
  2 1/2 p ("PENI-E-UA MO KOGA") blue and black
  5 p ("PENI-E-NIMA") orange and black
  7 1/2 p ("PENI-E-FITU MO KOGA") green and black
  10 p ("PENI-E-HOGOFULU") red and black
  1 Sh ("SILINI-E-TAHA") brown and black

These stamps have watermark 'Tortues'.

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
2 p violet and brown	*	*
2 p violet and black	*	*	(1930)
2 1/2 p	*	*
5 p	*	*
7 1/2 p	**	**
10 p	**	**
1 Sh	***	***

1938 Queen Salote, large sized stamps, Queen standing "1918 1938"

1 p red and black, 2 p lilac and black, 3 p green and black, 6 p orange and black, 1 Sh brown and black.

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

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

  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p olive
  6 p red
  1 Sh brown

1950 Birthday of Queen Salote, various designs

1 p red, 5 p green, 1 Sh violet

1953 Definitive set, various designs

  1 p brown and black (Queen and Royal Palace)
  1 1/2 p green and blue (Queen and shore fishing)
  2 p grey and blue (sailing boats)
  3 p grey and blue (Swallows' Cave)
  3 1/2 p red and yellow (map of Tongatapu)
  4 p red and yellow (Queen and Vava'u Harbour)
  5 p brown and blue (post office)
  6 p blue and black (Queen and the aerodrome)
  8 p lilac and green (Queen and harbour)
  1 Sh black and blue (map of Pacific Ocean)
  2 Sh brown and green (Lifuka, Ha'apai)
  5 Sh violet and yellow (mutiny of the Bounty)
  10 Sh black and yellow (Queen in star)
  1 Pound blue, red and yellow (arms)

1963 Freedom from hunger, design identical to many other British colonies, but with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II replaced by the local king

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

  11 p blue

In more recent times, Tonga is 'famous' for its weird shapes of stamps: circular, hart-shaped etc.

Postal Stationery

In 1896 a registration envelope was issued (6 p red with arms, inscription "TONGA REGISTRATION"). A similar registration envelope was issued in the value 4 p red.

Also in 1896 an envelope with the arms of Tonga in an ellipse in the value 1 p red was issued.

Later postal stationery, example:

Tin Can Mail

A peculiar custom was practised at Tonga; the tin can mail. Swimmers (or canoes) brought the mail from ships to shore on the island of Niuafo'ou. More information can be found at: http://members.aol.com/TongaJan/tcm.html. I have the impression though, that these covers were mainly produced for philatelic purposes.

Fron and backside of a Tin can mail cover. The words 'tin can mail' are repeated in many languages: 'Blikken bus post', 'Blechdosen post' etc.

Stamps - Timbres-Poste - Briefmarken