Gold Coast

1891 Scott 15 2 1/2p blue & orange "Queen Victoria"

Quick History
With the defeat of the Ashanti in 1874, the British proclaimed the former coastal protectorate a crown colony, the Gold Coast Colony, on July 24,1874.

The Ashanti people were and are the major ethnic group of the Gold Coast (now Ghana), and established an empire in west Africa lasting from 1700-1896.

Ashanti Empire in the 19th Century

The peace treaty required that the Ashanti give up any claim to the coastal territory, and the British proclaimed a protectorate over the interior Ashanti kingdom. The British sphere of influence gradually expanded, and the Ashanti territory became part of the colony in 1901 after a final defeat.

Map of Gold Coast 1896

The Capital of the newly formed  Gold Coast Colony, between the French Colonies of Dahomey and the Ivory Coast, was moved to the former Danish castle at Christiansborg in Accra.  The population was 4,000,000 in 1942.

Cacao trees were introduced in 1878, and by 1950, more than half of the world's cocoa supply was exported from the Gold Coast. 

The export of Timber and Gold was also significant.

The first Gold Coast postage stamp issue occurred in July, 1875. 

1948 2 1/2p light brown & red "Position of Gold Coast"

Into the Deep Blue

The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 154 major description for stamps from 1875-1952. Of those, 81 are <$4 CV. "Affordability" Index is 53%.

A closer look at the stamps and issues

1884 Scott 13 1p rose & Scott 17 4p dull violet "Victoria"

Watermark "Crown & C A"

Between 1875-79, eight "Queen Victoria" design stamps were issued with watermark "Crown & C C". They had the same design as those illustrated above. Three have a CV of <$12, but I don't have any. ;-)

Of interest, a handstamp surcharged "1D" on a 4p red violet is listed as Scott 9 in the catalogue. There are supposedly 1-3 copies that exist. There is one in the British Museum. Some experts question the legitimate status of the stamp. In fact, SG mentions the stamp, but does not list it.

Between 1883-91, an eleven stamp issue was produced with a watermark "Crown & C A". The 1p and 4p are illustrated above.  Eight have a CV between $1+-$6+. Classic design.

1898-1902 Scott 26 1/2p lilac & green

watermarked "Crown & C A"

In 1898, another "Victoria" series was introduced as illustrated above. This ten stamp series has four stamps with a CV of <$1-$2+. Some of the colored numerals are on a colorless background tablet (2p,3p,6p).

Upper left: wmk 2 "Crown & C A"

Upper right: wmk 3 "Multiple Crown & C A"

Below: wmk 4 "Multiple Crown and Script C A"

Since we will be getting into watermark differences, here is a refresher pic of the relevant watermarks.

Generally with British colonies, it is important to ascertain the watermark.

1902 Scott 43 6p violet & purple & Scott 44 1sh green & black

King Edward VII: wmk 2

The King Edward VII issues were produced in 1902 with an eleven stamp bi-colored set. Five stamps have a CV between <$1-$4. These "Baldies" have wmk 2.

1904-07 Scott 51 2p violet & red orange

1905 Scott 53 3p violet & orange- these issues have wmk 3

Another seven stamp set of bi-colored "Baldies" was issued between 1904-07, all with wmk 3. Three are CV <$1-$2. Several stamps of this issue were produced as chalky paper varieties in 1906.

1907-13 Scott 59 2 1/2p ultramarine

Single color issue; all wmk 3

A ten stamp third set of "Baldies" was issued between 1907-13. The lower denominations are on ordinary paper, while the higher (3p and up) are found on chalky paper. They are easy to distinguish, as the stamps are single color, although the higher denominations are printed on colored paper. Seven stamps range from CV <$1-$3.

A different design for King Edward VII was produced in 1908 for the single 1p carmine (Scott 66). An illustration of this stampt heads the "Big Blue" section of the blog. The same design was used for the subsequent 1p "George V" issues.

1913-21 Scott 71 2p gray & Scott 74 6p dull violet & red violet

"King George V": Die I types; wmk 3

The Gold Coast colony is one of those that has both Die I and Die II varieties for the "George V" stamps. We will have a primer for Die I/Die II types later in the blog.

The 1913-21 "George V" design was a fourteen stamp issue, as illustrated above. They are characterized by wmk 3 and Die I types. Nine of the stamps range in CV from <$1-$3+.

1922 Scott 84 1p brown & 1925 Scott 90 1sh black/emerald

1921-25 issue; wmk 4(mostly), Die II

The second "George V" issue was produced between 1922-25, and had wmk 4 (Except for 15sh & £ 2), and Die II type. This thirteen stamp set has eight stamps between CV <$1-$4. Note the 1p design similar to the "Baldy" Scott 66.

Now, let's refresh our memory on the Die I/Die II differences...

1922 Scott 85 1 1/2p carmine Die II

1913-21 Scott 69 1/2d green Die I

Die I has the crown above King George V dropped down further into the solid background around George V compared to Die II. Also the solid background side panels for "POSTAGE" and "& REVENUE" on the top inside corners are "square" in Die I, and "diagonal" in Die II. There are other differences also.

Let's take a closer look...

Upper stamp differences Die II vs Die I

The differences are:

A) The Die II bottom of the crown (thick horizontal colored line) is even with the inner white line on either side of the crown. Note on Die I, the inner white line intercepts the crown above the bottom of the crown.

B) Thick horizontal middle (colored) line that intercepts the crown on either side of the crown is "squarer" in Die II; while "diagonal" in Die I.

C) The solid vertical background panel for "POSTAGE" and "& REVENUE" on the inside upper corners is  "diagonal"" in Die II while "squarer" in Die I.

Lower stamp difference Die II vs Die I

Observe the little curly-cue at the bottom outer edges of the design? Follow the little curly-cue up until it is vertical. There you will see a little nubbin come out on the outer side in Die I, but none in Die II. You may need to enlarge the image to see it well.

1928 Scott 100 1 1/2p scarlet & Scott 102 2 1/2p yellow

"Christiansborg Castle"

In 1928, a ten stamp set was produced as illustrated above. Six stamps are CV <$1. The formerly Danish Christiansborg Castle in Accra serves as the Capital building.

1938-41 Scott 121 6p rose violet "Christiansborg Castle"

Eight stamp design

In 1938, a series was issued as illustrated above. All the stamps are inexpensive. But this is one of my favorite stamp series for a personal reason. 

When I became interested in stamp collecting as a child, my Father gave me the red Scott "Modern" stamp album that was his. In it, I recall vividly this set for the Gold Coast. My Father must have bought this inexpensive series at some time. Since he was a child of the Depression, he did not spend frivolously. Yet there was this wonderful design to my eyes -MINT! 

He has passed away now some 20 years. But whenever I come upon these stamps, I think of my Father. :-)

1938-41 Scott 125 2sh dark violet & deep blue

The five higher valued denominations in the set are horizontal in format, as illustrated. CV ranges from <$1-$10.

1948 Scott 133 2p chocolate "Talking Drums"

Scott 137 6p orange & black "Cocoa Farmer"

Although the Scott Classic catalogue (and Deep Blue) cover up to 1952 for British Commonwealth, most of the stamps found for the British Colonies during 1945-52 are Omnibus series; such as the Peace issue, the Silver Wedding issue, and the UPU issue. Not real exciting.

Here, though, is a  twelve stamp series issued in 1948 that has local pictorial images.  Refreshing! The set ranges in CV from <$1-$7+.

Cocoa is an important export for the Gold Coast, so appropriate to see the farmer depicted here.

1948 Scott 135 3p blue "Manganese Mine"

Scott 138 1sh red orange & black "Breaking cocoa pods"

More images depicting local mining and the important cocoa industry. Extractive and low-tech, to be sure, but these stamps offer a glimpse into the ordinary life of the Gold Coast.

1951-52 Postage Due Scott J5 black /chalk surfaced paper

The original 1923 design was the same as shown above, except the 1951-52 stamps are on chalk surfaced paper.

1918 War Tax Scott MR1 1p scarlet

The war tax stamp is overprinted on a 1913-18 Scott 70a 1p scarlet, which has this interesting "George V" design. The design is similar to the 1p brown  "George V", and the 1p carmine "Edward VII" stamps.

Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has ten pages for the Gold Coast. and I have stamps on all pages. The Steiner has all of Scott's major numbers represented, including the dubious Scott 9 discussed at the beginning of this section. Perhaps I could borrow the stamp from the British Museum to put there. ;-)

Of interest, the chalk surfaced 1951-52 Postage Due's (4 spaces) are not represented in the classic Steiner Gold Coast pages. Either they are in the full Steiner page set (probable), or they were missed by Steiner.

1908 Scott 66 1p carmine "King Edward VII"

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on two pages, has 61 stamp spaces. Subtracting for the stamps issued after 1940, coverage is 46%.

Big Blue, as we all know, is a "representative" album. Nevertheless, it is still annoying when otherwise fine inexpensive stamps are not included. Here are the Gold Coast issues where BB cuts off 1-3 stamp spaces early...

Stamp series where BB could have included more stamps for a nominal CV include:
1884-91 (one-Scott 19)
1898 (two- Scott 30,31)
1907-11 (one-Scott 62)
1913-16 (two- Scott 75,76)
1921-15 (three- Scott 83,86,89)

Simple Checklist

1884-91
11,13,14,15,(17)

1898
26,27,

1902
38 or 49, 39 or 50, 40 or 51, 42 or 53, (43 or 54),(44),

1907-11
56,57,58,59,60,61,

1908
66,

1913-16
69,70,71,72,73 or 81,74,

1921-25
84,85,87,88,(90),(91),

1928
98,99,100,101,102,103,104,(105),

1935
108,109,110,111,

Next Page

1937
112,113,114,

1938
115,116,117,118,119,120,
121,123,122,

War Tax stamp
1918
MR1

Postage Due
1923
J1,J2,J3,J4,


Comments
A) Most expensive stamps ($10 threshold)
1935 Scott 110 6p indigo & green "Silver Jubilee" ($10+)
1923 Postage Due Scott J1 1/2p black ($20)
B) (   ) around a stamp number indicates a blank space elective choice

1948 Scott 140 5sh gray & red violet "Surfboats"

Out of the Blue
Between the watermarking and Die I/II evaluations for the classic issues, and the Pictorials found in the later issues, the Gold Coast offers a lot: to say nothing about the exotic name and location.

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

Links
Gold Coast - Bud's Big Blue

Drop me a comment!