British Guiana

1876-82 1c slate & 2c orange & 8c rose

Motto of the Colony: "Damus Petimus Que Vicissm"

"We give and expect in return"

Quick History
Located on the northeast coast of South America, this British Crown Colony had a population of 360,000 in the 1940's. The Capital was Georgetown. In 1814, three Dutch possessions were given over to Great Britain and consolidated into British Guiana in 1831. Guyana became independent in 1966.

British Guiana/ Guyana

Philatelic and Historical Memories
As a child with a stamp collection, who doesn't remember the image of the 1856 British Guiana 1c magenta, the "world's most famous stamp"? Imperforate with a sailing ship design, with the Latin inscription "Damus Petimus Que Vicissim" (We give and expect in return), one only needed to check the attic for similar treasures. Enticed by this vision of fabulous riches, one was then encouraged to send away for "approvals". Do you remember which Stamp company offered that?

The second memory, much more dark, was the 1978 murder/mass suicide of 918 Americans in Jonestown.

1934 Scott 212 3c carmine

"Alluvial Gold Mining"

Big Blue Picture
Big Blue (1997), on two pages, has 48 stamp spaces for the 1860-1938 issues. The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 247 major stamp descriptions from 1850-1938. Coverage by Big Blue is 19%.

Big Blue's offerings, 48 stamps, range through a reasonable <$1-$10+. But the Big Blue collector, looking at the "Big Blue picture", gets short shrift. You see, there are 39 additional beautifully designed  British Guiana's available for <$1-$5+. Add seven more classic era stamps ($5+-$20+), and there is a doubling (46 total) of reasonably priced stamps that would attract the Big Blue collector.

Additional stamps...
1860-75
33B 2c deep orange ($20+)
48 8c rose ($20+)
54 12c lilac ($20+)

1863-66 Seal of the Colony-sailing ship
68 24c yellow green ($5+)

1876
77 12c lilac ($2+)
78 24c green ($2+)

1881 Official stamps surcharged with brush like pen lines (Interesting stamps-No spaces in BB)
92($5+)
93($2+)

1882
109 4c ultra ($5+)
110 6c brown ($5+)

1889 "Inland revenue" overprint and surcharge (No spaces in Big Blue!)
112,113,114,115,119,(<$1)
120($2+)

1889
129(<$1)

1889-1903
131,140,141,142, (<$1-$2+)

1890 red surcharge
150($1+)

1898
153,154,($2+)

1899
157,158,159,($2+-$1+)

1905-10 chalky paper
160,161,(<$1)

1907 black overprint
177($5+)

1913-27 George V
177,184,($5+)
192,194,(<$1)
197,198,($2+)

1934
215($2+)

1938
235,236,238($2+),239 (<$1 unless noted)

Postage Due
1940
J1,J2,J3,J4 (<$1-$5+)

War Tax
1918
MR1 (<$1)

1913-37 2c deep violet & 4c brown & red violet

King George V: issued in colonial wmk 3 & 4

Big Blue Checklist
1860-75 Sailing ship
1c (illustrated) black 50($5+) or 58($5+) or 45($30+) or 29($20+) or 33A($50+) or brown-red 17($110+)
2c orange 51($5+) or 46($5+) or 59($10+) or 30($20+) or 19($50+)
4c blue 52 ($10+) or 60($110+)
Note: choices consist of different thickness paper and different perforations.

1876-82
1c slate 107 or 72 (<$1-$1+)
2c (illustrated) orange 108 or 73 (<$1-$2+)
8c rose 111 or 76 ($1+)
Note: choices consist of different watermarks (wmk1 and wmk2)

1889-1903
130 1c lilac & gray ($2+)
131A 1c "gray-green" ($2+) Note: BB specifies this more expensive stamp rather than 131 green (<$1)!
2c (illustrated): 132 lilac&orange or 133 lilac&rose (<$1)
134 2c violet&black,red (<$1)
135 4c lilac&ultra ($2+)
136 5c ultra (<$1)
139 8c "lilac&rose"($2+) Note: Big Blue specifies the expensive stamp rather than 140 lilac&black($1+)

1898
152($2+)

1890
148,149,(<$1)

1907
172,174,(<$1)
175($2+)

1913-27  George V

178 or 191, 179,193,180,181($1+),195,182($1+),183 or 196 ($1+) (<$1 unless noted)

1931

205($1+),206,207,208($2+) (<$1 unless noted)

1934

210,211,($1+),212,213($2+),214($2+) (<$1 unless noted

1935 Silver Jubilee
223(<$1),224($1+),225($2+),226($5+)

1937 Coronation
227,228,229,(<$1)

1938

230,234,(<$1)

231,232,233,(<$1)

1931 Scott 206  2c dark brown

"Indian Shooting Fish"

Kinds of Blue
The 1969 and 1997 editions are identical.
The "97 and "69 editions have more coverage of the classical era: specifically 1860-75 Scott 46 or 51 or 59 2c orange and Scott 52 4c blue; 1889-1903 Scott 136 5c ultramarine and Scott 139 8c lilac & rose. These stamps are NOT in the '47 and '41 editions.

The 1891 Scott 5c ultramarine-and three of it's brethren-are found in the '97 & '69 editions.

Big Blue Bottom Line

I really like the British Guiana designed stamps, so I wouldn't mind a few more.  ;-)

Links
British Guiana - Bud's Big Blue

Comments appreciated!