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...

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Fiji - Bud's Big Blue

1870-71 Fiji Times 1p black/pink
Bud's Big Blue
Bud's Observations
Because Great Britain was slow in issuing stamps for Fiji, a newspaper stepped forward to fill the void (see above). The operation was quickly shut, but the stamps command high prices if they’re genuine. 

The blue one penny with the left corner void (top row page 1) is a known variety. Several early Fijian stamps have rosy asking prices on internet auctions, but they sell poorly. For optimistic dealers Fiji has become Fantasy Island.

Census: 52 in BB spaces, nine tip-ins.

Jim's Observations
The earlier issues are expensive. But more notably, except for two stamps, they do not show a portrait of Queen Victoria. Rather, they have a "Crown and C.R. (Cakobau Regina)" or a "Crown and V.R. (Victoria Regina)" design, or a "V.R." overprint.

There is a nice "Fijian Canoe" design  found on four stamps between 1893-96. 

After 1903 with the King Edward VII issue, Fijian stamps follow the more traditional British Colony patterns.

Fiji Blog Post and BB Checklist

Page 1 (Click and enlarge for examination)

 1a

1b

1c

 Page 2

2a

2b

2c

Note: Fiji Times header stamp from an Internet source appears to be public domain.

Comments appreciated!
Posted by at

3 comments:

  1. RobMarch 1, 2018 at 10:26 AM

    Hi Jim, "V.R." would be "Victoria Regina", not Rex, I suppose. The latin word for Queen beeing Regina and Rex meaning King. Best regards, Rob

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JimMarch 1, 2018 at 1:24 PM

      Rob-

      Well, I knew that. (Slaps hand on forehead)

      A long time ago I had a girlfriend named Regina.

      Ah, the slippage of age. ;-)

      Thanks for the heads up - it has been corrected.

      Delete
  2. BudFebruary 22, 2019 at 7:46 AM

    Another oops. Page 2, row 3, stamp 2 (red, 1 1/2d). Shown is Scott #132 but it should be Scott #119. Correction has been made.
    The difference? The boat on #119 is sailing without a sailor. On #132 a sailor has been added. The boat is a traditional sacred vessel called a drua. Such are usually described as “canoes,” although that’s something of a misnomer because they are plank-built ships with sails and capable of sailing many miles on the ocean. Perhaps they were used to deliver mail to outlying islands. The stamp shows a small example of a dura.

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