One Shilling.—All perforated 14. First issue, November 1,
1856: watermark heraldic emblems; no letters in angles; dull
green, pale to dark green. Second issue, December 1, 1862: as
above; small white letters in angles; pale to dark green. Third
issue, February 1865: as above; large white letters in angles; pale
to dark green, bluish green. Fourth issue, August 1867: watermark
spray of rose; otherwise as third issue; pale to dark green,
bluish green. Fifth issue, September 1873: large coloured letters
in angles; otherwise as fourth issue; light to dark green, bluish
green. Sixth issue, October 14, 1880: as fifth issue; pale red-brown.
Seventh issue, June 15, 1881: watermark large crown;
otherwise as sixth issue; pale red-brown.
Two Shillings.—Watermark spray of rose; perforated 14. First issue, July 1, 1867: pale to full blue, very deep blue. Second issue, February 1880: light brown.
Five Shillings.—First issue, July 1, 1867: watermarked with a cross paté; pink, pale rose; perforated 1512 by 15. Second issue, November 1882: watermark large anchor; Carmine-pink; perforated 14.
Ten Shillings.—First issue, September 26, 1878: watermark cross paté; green-grey; perforated 1512 by 15. Second issue, February 1882: watermark large anchor; green-grey; perforated 14.
One Pound.—First issue, September 26, 1878: watermark cross paté; brown-violet; perforated 1512 by 15. Second issue, December 1882: watermark large anchor; brown-violet; perforated 14.
(iv.) After 1880.
In 1880–1881 the halfpenny, penny, three-halfpenny and twopenny surface-printed stamps superseded the line-engraved stamps of the same value, and a new surface-printed stamp of five pence was introduced. These stamps are distinguished from the stamps already described by the absence of plate-numbers and (except in the penny stamp) of check-letters in the corners; also by the coarser style of engraving necessary for printing by machines driven by steam-power.
One Halfpenny.—First issue, October 14, 1880: large crown watermark; pale green, bluish green, dark green; perforated 14. Second issue, April 1, 1884: slate-blue.
One Penny.—January 1, 1880: large crown watermark; venetian red; perforated 14.
Three-halfpence.—October 14, 1880: large crown watermark; venetian red; perforated 14.
Twopence.—December 8, 1880: large crown watermark; pale to very deep carmine red; perforated 14.
Fivepence.—March 15, 1881: large crown watermark; dark dull indigo, indigo-black; perforated 14.
The Customs and Inland Revenue Act which came into force on June 1, 1881, made it unnecessary to provide separate penny stamps for postal and fiscal purposes. By an act of 1882 (45 & 46 Vict. c. 72) it became unnecessary to provide separate stamps for postal and fiscal purposes up to and including stamps of the value of 2s. 6d. A new series was therefore issued:—
One Penny.—All perforated 14. First issue, July 12, 1881: large crown watermark; 14 pearls in each angle; purple-lilac, purple. Second issue, December 12, 1881: as first issue; 16 pearls in each angle; purple.
Three-halfpence.—April 1, 1884: large crown watermark; purple; perforated 14.
Twopence.-Ditto.
Twopence-halfpenny.—Ditto.
Threepence.—Ditto.
Fourpence.—Ditto, except in colour (sea-green).
Fivepence.—As fourpence.
Sixpence.—Ditto.
Ninepence.—Ditto.
One Shilling.—Ditto.
Two Shillings and Sixpence.—July 22, 1883: watermark large anchor; purple, dull lilac, dark purple; perforated 14.
Five Shillings.—April 1, 1884! ditto; pale to very deep carmine.
Ten Shiliings.—Ditto; pale blue, cobalt, light to dull blue.
One Pound.—First issue, April 1, 1884: large crown watermark, 3 appearing in each stamp; brown-violet; perforated 14. Second issue, January 27, 1891: same watermark; bright green; perforated 14.
Five Pounds.—March 21, 1882: large anchor watermark; orange vermilion, vermilion, bright Vermilion; perforated 14.
Following upon the report of a committee of officials of the General Post Office and Somerset House, a series of new stamps, commonly known as the “Jubilee” issue, was introduced on January 1, 1887, all of which between one halfpenny and one shilling exclusive were printed either in two colours or on a coloured paper, so that each stamp was printed in part in one or other of the doubly fugitive inks-green and purple.
One Halfpenny.—January 1, 1887: large crown watermark; orange-Vermilion to bright vermilion; perforated 14.
Three-halfpence.—January 1, 1887: as the halfpenny; green and purple.
Twopence.—Ditto: green and scarlet to Carmine.
Twopence-halfpenny.—January 1, 1887: blue paper; watermark large crown; dark purple; perforated 14.
Threepence.—January 1, -,1887: yellow paper; watermarked with a large crown; urple;, perforated 14.
Fourpence.—January 1, 1887: watermark and perforation as in threepence; green and brown.
Fourpence-halfpenny.-September 15, 1892: as the fourpence; green and carmine.
Fivepence.-January 11, 1887: as the fourpence; purple and blue. Sixpence:-January 1, 1887: pale red paper; watermarked with a large crown; purple; perforated 14.
Ninepence.—January 1, .1887: large crown watermark; purple and blue; perforated I 4., ,
Tenpence.—February 24, 1890: as the ninepence; purple and Carmine-red.
One Shilling:-January 1, 1887: as the ninepence; green.
The various fiscal stamps admitted to postage uses, the overprinted official, stamps for use by government departments, and the stamps specially surcharged for use in the Ottoman Empire, do not call for detailed notice in this article.
The distinctive telegraph stamps are as follows 1-One
Halfpenny.~April 1, 1880: shamrock watermark; orange Vermilion; perforated 14.
One Penny.—February 1, 1876: as the halfpenny; reddish brown.
Threepence.—Perforated 14. First issue, February 1, 1876: watermark spray of rose; carmine. Second issue, August 1881: watermark large crown; carmine.-I
Fourpence.—March 1, ,1877: watermark large garter; pale sage-green; perforated 14.
Sixpence.—Perforated 14.' 'First issue, March 1, 1877: watermark spray 'of rose; greenish-grey. Second issue, July 1881: as first issue; watermark large crown.
One Shilling.-Perforated 14. First issue, February 1, 1876: watermark spray of rose; green. Second issue, October 1880: watermark spray of rose; pale red-brown. Third issue, February 1881: watermark large crown: Pale red brown.
Three Shillings.—Perforated 14; slate blue. First issue, March 1, 1877: watermark spray of rose. Second issue, August 1881: watermark 'large crown.
Five Shillings.-First issue, February 1, 1876: watermark cross paté; dark to'light rose; perforated 15 by 1512. Second issue, August 1881: watermark large anchor; carmine-rose; perforated 14.
Ten Shillings.-March 1, 1877; watermark cross pate; green grey; perforated 15 by 1512.
One Pound.-March 1, 1877: 'watermark shamrock; brown purple; perforated 14.
Five Pounds.-March 1, 1877: watermark shamrock; orange vermilion: perforated 1512 by 15.
In addition to these, there were stamps specially prepared for the army telegraphs.
British Colonies and Dependencies
Australian Commonwealth.—In 1905 there were 6654 post offices open; 311,401,539, letters and cards, 171,844,868 newspapers, book-packets and circulars, 2,168,810 parcels, and 13,680,239 telegrams were received and dispatched; the revenue was £z,738,146 and the expenditure £2,720,735.
New Zealand.—In 1905 there were 1937 post offices open; 74,767,288 letters and cards, 47,334,263 newspapers, book packets and circulars, 392,017, parcels, and 5,646,219 telegrams were dealt with., The revenue from the post office was £410,968, and from telegraphs £273,911, while the expenditure on the post office was £302,146 and on telegraphs £276,531.
Dominion of Canada.—In 1905 there were 10,879 post offices open; 331,798,506 letters and' cards, 60,405,000 newspapers, book-packets and circulars, and 58,338 parcels were received and dispatched. The revenue from the post office amounted to £1,053, 548, and from telegraphs £28,727, while the expenditure was, 'on the post office £952,652 and on telegraphs £78,934.
Cape of Good Hope.—The number of post offices open in 1905 was 1043: 7,596,606 letters and cards, 3,706,960 newspapers, book-packets and circulars, 536,800 parcels, and 6,045,228 telegrams were dealt with. The revenue from the post office was £423,0S6, and from telegraphs £206,842 the expenditure being, £4 56,171 on the post office and £272,863 on telegraphs.
British India.—In 1995 there were 16,033 post offices open; 597,707,867 'letters and cards, 76,671,197 newspapers, book packets and circulars, 4, 541, 367 parcels, and 9,098,345 telegrams were dealt with. The revenue from the post office was £1,566,704 and from telegraphs £733,193, while the expenditure was, on the post office, £1,199,557 and on telegraphs £546,914
