A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzabar


A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzibar... Now what is between? For the world wide classical era philatelist and stamp collector, a country specific philatelic survey is offered by the blog author, Jim Jackson, with two albums: Big Blue, aka Scott International Part 1 (checklists available), and Deep Blue, aka William Steiner's Stamp Album Web PDF pages. In addition, "Bud" offers commentary and a look at his completely filled Big Blue. Interested? So into the Blues...

Monday, July 24, 2023

St. Vincent Close-up: 1861-1881

1862 Scott 2 1p rose "Victoria"
Rough Perf 14 to 16, No Wmk
Note "A10" Numeral Cancellation Type for St. Vincent
Into the Deep Blue

Having acquired recently a rather nice classical era St. Vincent collection addition for Deep Blue, I thought I would do a deeper dive into the issues.

First, the reader might want to review the original blog post for a bit of background.

St. Vincent Blog Post & BB Checklist

The initial 1861-1881 issues with this post all feature the same engraved Perkins-Bacon (London) side-ways portrait of Queen Victoria. (A subsequent post will cover a bit of the later issues.)

The issues differ by perforation and no watermark vs watermark.

Let's take a look.... 

1862 Scott 2 1p rose "Victoria"
Rough Perf 14 to 16, No Wmk

The first 1p rose stamp for St. Vincent was issued in 1861-62. 

Scott separates out the 1861 stamp (Scott 1) as Perf 14-16, while the 1862 Scott 2 stamp is Perf 14-16, but rough.  Both are CV $20 used.

Stanley Gibbons does not give separate catalogue numbers for the 1p 1861-62 Perf 14 to 16, but states that most perforations are "rough", but some are "intermediate".

Is my stamp above "rough" (Scott 2) or "intermediate"(Scott 1)? 

Probably "rough".

1862 Scott 3 6p dark green "Victoria"
Rough Perf 14 to 16, No Wmk

A judgement call: Rough Perfs (1862 Scott 3- dark green, CV $21). If "Intermediate Perfs", then 1861 Scott 1B - yellow green CV $250.

Example Two: 1862 Scott 3 6p dark green "Victoria"
Perf 14 to 16, No Wmk

A red cancel (fiscal?).

1863 Scott 5 1p rose "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, No Wmk
Note "A10" Cancel

Between 1863-69, a group of stamps were perforated 11 to 13 (No Wmk).

Note: SG says the Perfs are 11 to 12 1/2.

The 1p rose has a CV of $22+. 

1869 Scott 10 1sh brown "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, No Wmk

There were three One Shilling stamps issued with Perf 11 to 13: 1866 1sh slate (CV $1,000), 1869 1sh indigo (CV $100), and 1869 1sh brown (CV $175). This is the brown one.

Scott Wmk 5- "Small Star"

Between 1871-1883, a "Small Star" watermark was added to the paper. The "Small Star" Wmk is usually fairly easy to find, but be aware that it is not unusual to find only a part of the star showing on an individual stamp. 

I should mention that SG lists some stamp's "Small Star" watermark as being issues "sideways".  That has to do with orientation of the watermark "Small Star"  vs the upright stamp. See SG for details.

1871 Scott 13 1p black "Victoria"
Rough Perf 14-16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"

Between 1871-78, two stamps were issued with "Rough perf 14-16".

This is one of them. CV is $15+.

1871 Scott 14 6p dark blue green "Victoria"
Rough Perf 14-16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"

This is the other "Rough perf 14-16": dark blue green six pence.

CV is $77+.

1872 Scott 14A 1p black "Victoria"
Clen Cut Perf 14-16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"

Scott lists four stamps between 1872-1878 as "Clean-cut Perf 14-16". 

I don't have 1877 Scott 15A 1sh vermilion - CV $50,000!

This 1p black might qualify (CV $15+) - but, if judged rough (Scott 13), would have the same CV.

The red cancel is probably used because this is a black stamp.

1873 Scott 14Bc 6p dull blue green "Victoria"
Clen Cut Perf 14-16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"

This might be the minor number (Scott 14Bc) color "dull blue green" - the major color (Scott 14B) is "deep blue green" Both have a CV of $55.

1878 Scott 15  6p pale yellow green "Victoria"
Clen Cut Perf 14-16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"

Obvious yellow-green. CV is $32.

1877 Scott 16 4p dark blue "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"

This is a lively blue stamp (CV $100). The perf is 11 to 13.

1875 Scott 20 1p black "Victoria"
Perf 11to 13 X 14 to 16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"

Four stamps between 1872-1877 are this crazy Perf. CV for the 1p black is $16.

1877 Scott 21  6p pale yellow green "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13 X 14 to 16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"

CV is $55.

I would recommend also checking the SG catalogue, as they differ a bit with perf sizes.

1877 Scott 23 1sh vermilion "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13 X 14 to 16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"
Before H2O2 Treatment

CV is $100.

The vermilion color is susceptible to sulfuretting - note the darker color background around "St Vincent".

1877 Scott 23 1sh vermilion "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13 X 14 to 16, Wmk 5 "Small Star"
After H2O2 Treatment

After H2O2 treatment- much better!

1881 Scott 24 1/2p orange "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"
Example One

The orange color is also susceptible to sulfuretting. But this example looks good.

CV is $11+.

1881 Scott 24 1/2p orange "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"
Example One - Before H2O2 Treatment

Not this one - note the darker brown color around the script.

1881 Scott 24 1/2p orange "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"
Example One - After H2O2 Treatment

Much better!

I only use 3% H2O2, and soak the stamp for the shortest time needed  ( 60 seconds to 5 minutes). I then bath the stamp in warm water, and then dry it overnight

1880 Scott 25 1p gray green "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"

The Perf 11 to 13 stamps were issued between 1880-81.

This gray-green 1p is CV $5+.

1881 Scott 25 1p drab "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"

A "drab" color! CV is $15+.

1880 Scott 28 6p yellow green "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"

SG calls this "bright green". CV is $77.

1880 Scott 28A 1sh vermilion "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"
Example One -Before H2O2 Treatment

Another sulfuretted specimen.

1880 Scott 28A 1sh vermilion "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"
Example One- After H2O2 Treatment

Looks good! CV is $65,

1880 Scott 28A 1sh vermilion "Victoria"
Perf 11 to 13, Wmk "Small Star"
Example Two

Another shade of the 1sh vermilion - more orange. 

Six Pence Forgery

A Six Pence forgery: Most likely Spiro forgery.

Genuine- Forgery Close-up

Much cruder- probably lithographic.

Out of the Blue

Hope you liked this little review. !!

Comments appreciated!

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