Dominica

1909 Scott 40 3p violet/yellow/chalky paper

"Roseau, Capital of Dominica"

The Roseaus had 5 separate issues between 1903-1921

Found with ordinary/chalky paper, and three different watermarks!

Quick History

Note Update: Dominica 1938-47- a closer look

Dominica was "discovered" on a Sunday in 1493 by Christopher Columbus; hence the name. The island is found between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea. A British colony since 1805, a Crown Colony since 1896, this mountainous, volcanic, and poor country has an undeveloped natural beauty.  The Capital is  Roseau, and the population was 53,000 in 1942. Finally,The Commonwealth of Dominica became independent in 1978.

1888 Scott 21 2 1/2p ultramarine

The Queen Victoria issues can be found with Colonial watermark 1 or 2

Big Blue Picture
Big Blue '97 on three pages has 48 stamp spaces. The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue, beginning with the Queen Victoria issue of 1874, has 112 major stamp descriptions. Coverage by Big Blue is 43%.

The Dominican issues are quite attractive, with a large number of pictorials. Big Blue generally has a nice representative collection. I did find 5 Victorians, 8 Roseau pictorials, and 2 more pictorials that are inexpensive (<$5), and could be added by the Big Blue collector.

All peaches and cream? Well no... ;-)
A) Big Blue leaves out all ( save one-Scott 40) of the Chalky Paper Roseau issues. About 10 of them are reasonably priced. BB has spaces for the 1903 Roseau issue, the 1908-09 Roseau issue, and the 1921 Roseau issue: Total 9 stamp spaces. But BB leaves out (by dates and color specifications) the 1906-07  wmk 1 C.P. issue, and the 1907-20 wmk 3 C.P. issue. You will need to pay attention to the paper: ordinary vs chalky.

A1) Continuing with the Roseaus... The "1903" issue can be particularly tricky. The 1/2 p (illust) argues for the 1903 Scott 25($2+) 1/2p "gray green". (wmk 1). Now, there IS a 1906-07 Scott 25a($10+) chalky paper stamp, and a 1907 Scott 35($2+)(wmk3) chalky paper stamp available. If you expanded the dates to "1903-1907", then you could include the other stamps. Your choice. BTW, BB does offer a space for a 1/2p "green" for the 1908-22 issues. Put the right color in the correct space.
The same dilemma goes for the blank space; where 1903 Scott 26($1+) 1p carmine & black is the logical choice.  There are 1906-07 26a($5+) and a 1907 36(<$1) (wmk 3) chalky paper varieties available if you change the dates.

B) Get out the watermarking tray! All four colonial watermarks are present. In particular, the Roseau issue comes in wmk 1,wmk 3, and wmk 4. Then the Victorians come in wmk 1 & wmk 2. The later issues come in wmk 4, so not an identification problem there. Generally, the Colonial watermarks are fairly easy to identify. About half of the time, simply turning over the stamp on a dark surface will be enough to identify the watermark. I enjoy the activity and find it rewarding; hope you do too!

Additionals....(<$5)
1877-79 Queen Victoria (wmk 1)
5,7,

1883-88 Queen Victoria (wmk 2)
16,19,20,

1903 Roseau, Capital of Dominica (wmk 1)
27,29,

1907-20 Roseau, Capital of Dominica (wmk 3) Chalky Paper
35,36,43,44,

1921 Roseau, Capital of Dominica (wmk 4)
57,61,

1923-33 Seal of the Colony & George V
80,

1938 King George VI & Pictorials
103,

1923-33 Scott 76 6p red violet & black

"Seal of the Colony & George V"

Big Blue Checklist
1883-88 Queen Victoria (wmk 2)
17,18*,21,($2+)
Blank space: suggest 22($2+)
*Note 18 is 1p violet for this illustrated space. 1874 Scott 1($50+) & 1877-79 Scott 5($2+) 1p violet ( wmk 1) is ruled out for dates. Scott 19($2+) 1p deep carmine is a '89 issue, and is R/O for date.

1903 Roseau, Capital of Dominica (wmk 1)
25*($2+) 1/2p gray green
Blank space: suggest 26* ($1+) 1p carmine & black
*Note 25 :R/O? for dates is 1906-07 25a($10+) (Chalky Paper), and 1907-20 35($2+)(C.P.)(wmk3)
Your choice!
*Note 26: R/O? for dates is 1906-07 26a($5+)(C.P.), and 1907-20 36(<$1) (C.P.) (wmk 3)
Your choice!

1908-22 Roseau, Capital of Dominica (Types of 1903-07)
1/2p green: 50 or 56 ($2+)
1p scarlet: 51*(<$1)
1 1/2p orange: 58($2+)
2p gray: 52 or 59 ($2+)
2 1/2p ultramarine: 53($5+) or 60($2+)
(1908-22 next row)
3p violet/yellow: 40*($2+)
1 1/2p on 2 1/2p orange: 55($2+)
 Note: stamp spaces include 1908-09 Scott 50-53 (wmk 3), and 1921 Scott 56-60 (wmk 4)
*Note 51: Scott 57 1p rose red ($2+) R/O for color.
*Note 40: is chalky paper, wmk 3. Also regular paper minor number varieties exist.

1923-33 Seal of the Colony & George V (wmk 4) Chalky Paper
65,66,(<$1-$2+)

1923-33 Seal of the Colony & George V (continued)
67($1+),68,69,70,71($2+)(<$1 eN)
72,73,74($1+),75,($2+ eN)
Blank space: suggest 76 or 77($2+)

1935 Silver Jubilee
90.91,92,93,(<$1-$2+)

1937 Coronation
94,95,96,(<$1)

1938 King George VI & Pictorials
97,98,99,(<$1)
100,101($2+),102,104,(<$1 eN)
106($1+),108*($5+),109($5+)
*Note 108 is "vermilion & black" in BB, while "scarlet vermilion & black" in Scott.

1940 King George VI
111(<$1)

War Tax stamps
1916-18
MR1,MR2($2+),MR3,(<$1 eN)
MR4($2+),MR5(<$1)

1938 5sh dark brown & blue

"Layou River" 

Kinds of Blue
The '97,'69,'47, and '41 editions are identical in content.

1918 MR2 1/2p green 

"War Tax" overprint

Big Blue Bottom Line
Quite attractive Pictorials in the British Colonial design for this more obscure than most Caribbean island.

Pay attention to the  "Roseau, Capital of Dominica" design Pictorials, as Big Blue leaves out about 10 reasonably priced 1906-07 (wmk 1) and 1907-1920 (wmk 3) Chalky Paper varieties. You may find them in collections.

Speaking of watermarks, Dominica has all four of the Colonial watermarks represented. Might be a good time to sharpen one's abilities. Generally speaking, I find the colonial watermarks fairly easy to differentiate. Often, just turning over the stamp on a dark surface is all that is required!

Note: Map appears to be in the public domain.

Note: Prices are roughly binned; for specific pricing, consult a Scott catalogue

Note: If you have comments, I would love to hear from you!