Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'W' - French West Africa, Wales

I really struggled with this letter so much so that I got quite wild. So it seemed natural to look for something different. Eventually I came up with not one but two - 

Wildebeest

Not being able to find stamps from the states of Wisconsin or Wyoming I settled for a President's wife.

Martha Washington

I did not think Senegal would come to my rescue until I realise it used to be one of the colonies making up -

French West Africa

I have got so used to looking at stamps from Great Britain I forgot that we have a 'W' on our doorstep.

Wales - Wilding Definitive

And later from decimal currency - 

Which Welsh dragon do you prefer - Wilding or Machin?

Select your choice with an 'X' - sorry that's next week!

For more 'W' stamps cross over to Sunday-Stamps-II-161.

Orange or Yellow - Sunday Stamps II

Colours are not always what they seem to be. 

The earliest 'yellow' in my collection is the Golden Jubilee issue for Queen Victoria of January 1,1887.

Great Britain

The Stanley Gibbons catalogue describes this as purple 0n yellow.

On May 5, 1937 the first 15 definitives for George VI were issued and included a 2d orange stamp.

6 February, 1952 saw the issue of the Wilding definitives for Queen Elizabeth II. The lowest denomination of 1/2d is described as orange-red.

I had to wait until 25 February 1976 for a Machin derivative in a colour to meet the theme - 10.1/2p yellow.

The capital of Gambia was founded by the British in 1816, before the reign of Queen Victoria began and of course well before the first postage stamps. Founded as a trade post or base to suppress the slave trade it was named after the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, the 3rd Earl of Bathurst.

In 1966 (on 24th June) a set of stamps commemorated the founding of Bathurst.

Gambia

Bathurst was renamed Banjul in 1973.

This is an orange or yellow post for Sunday-Stamps-II-93. Don't forget to check the links there for other contributions.

Great Britain - Sunday Stamps

The use of postage stamps started in Great Britain with the famous Penny Black in 1840.

Penny Black (reproduction)

As the stamps were only for internal use the country's name was not included on the stamps; later it was agreed internationally that British stamps did not need the name but all should contain the sovereign's head. In fact there has only been one stamp that has included the name Britain - the stamp commemorating the Festival of Britain in 1951.

Use of the Penny Black was discontinued when it was replaced due to the black colour not showing postmarks clearly. The Penny Red took its place.

I have only one stamp showing Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837-1901 and I have shown this before.

Queen Victoria 1851

There is another stamp of the same value and colour as this. The difference between lies in the design; the stamp I've shown has 16 dots around each corner, the other only 14.

After Victoria Great Britain had four Kings as shown on these stamps from my collection.

Edward VII (1901-1910)

I've shown a reproduction here as my Edward VII stamps are so heavily postmarked.

George V (1910-1936)

Edward VIII (1936)

These are the only four stamps issued for Edward VII before his abdication.

George VI (1936-1952)

These early stamps from George VI's reign include the commemorative for his coronation.

Our present Queen came to the throne in 1952 and is to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee this year.

Elizabeth II

The first stamps issued became known as the Wilding issues as they were based on a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by photographer Dorothy Wilding. Variations on this theme were used until 1967, when the Machin issues were introduced. The Machin design is a profile of the queen on a solid back ground.

Machin issue

In 1971 the currency was decimalised so the stamps changed again for the new values.

Decimal currency

 To save stamps from Great Britain you have always needed to recognise different water marks. In addition technical improvements in printing mean you also need to be able to identify graphite lines on the back of the stamp, phosphor bands (all over, single or double), position and design of the demonination value.There are literally hundreds of varieties.

With the advent of first and second class postage rates the demonination has been removed and in my opinion the design has been ruined by unsightly postage class numbering.

First and Second Class Postage.

 As you can see there is also a different stamp and charge for large envelopes. Postage rates have gone up by over 4000% since Queen Victoria''s days. She would not have been amused.

To amuse yourself further you should view other stamps at Viridian's Sunday Stamps