Dominica - 1938-47 - a closer look

 

1947 Scott 110 10sh dull orange & black "Boiling Lake"

Into the Deep Blue

British colony stamps frequently just show the monarchs, but the 1938+ issues happily often feature pictorials. And so it is for Dominica, an island between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea. 

The original blog, post is here....

Dominica Blog Post & BB Checklist

King George VI Pictorial Definitives

1938-47

The initial issue, appearing  8-15-1938 with nine stamps, had one addition on 8/42 ( 2 1/2p), and four additions on 10/15/1947 ( 3 1/2p, 7p, 2sh, 10sh). The entire fourteen stamp issue was engraved by Waterlow, and has Wmk 4 (Multiple Crown & Script C A).

Row 1: Scott 97-100

The pictorials are obviously bi-color, and have a vignette of George VI on the left side of the stamp.

1938 Scott 98 1p carmine & gray "Layou River"

The Layou River, the longest and deepest river on the island, has the mouth located on the western shore near the town of St. Joseph.

Dominica

The Layou river comes out to the Caribbean Sea on the western side half way down the island.

Row 2: Scott 101-104

The pictorials feature four scenes of Dominica, and all the scenes are new for this issue.

1938 Scott 101a 2 1/2p blue & rose violet "Picking Limes"

Grapefruit, lemons, and limes are a major export for Dominica.  The main citrus growing areas are in the Layou River Valley and on the southwest coast. Dominica was the principal source of fruit used in Rose's Lime Juice. British sailors were famous for drinking lime juice - hence the term "limeys", to prevent scurvy. 

Perhaps the popularity has something to do with the fact that the preservative used in the lime juice was rum? ;-)

Note the 2 1/2p is found as "ultramarine & rose violet" (major number 8/42), and as "blue & rose violet" (minor number -8-15-38). I believe my example is the "blue & rose violet".

1938 Scott 104 6p violet & yellow green 

"Fresh Water Lake"

Note "Fresh Water Lake" does not just describe the lake, but is the name of the lake! "Fresh Water Lake" is the largest of the four lakes found on Dominica. It is at 2,500 feet above sea level, and is the source of the Roseau River. The Roseau River, by the way, is important to Roseau, the capital (and largest) city in Dominica.

Row 3: Scott 105-108

The CV for the fourteen stamp issue ranges from <$1-$10 (unused) to <$1-$20+ (used). A number of the stamps have a higher CV used. As a WW collector, I actually don't like that, as that means there could be favor cancels or fake cancels among the genuine cancels.

1938 Scott 106 1sh olive & violet "Boiling Lake"

"Boiling Lake" is a flooded fumarole. It has bubbling water in the center and a 82-92 C temperature around the edges. The lake is 200 feet across, and is usually enveloped overhead with water vapor. It is the second-largest hot lake in the world after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand. 

1947 Scott 107 2sh red violet & black "Layou River"

The 2sh above was one of the four stamps issued in 1947.

1938 Scott 108 2sh6p scarlet vermilion & black

"Fresh Water Lake"

One could argue, considering the careful placement of the cancel, that many of the "used" stamps are really philatelic in origin.

Row 4: Scott 109=110

The 5sh and 10sh denominations...

1938 Scott 109 5sh dark brown & blue "Layou River"

I must say the stamps in this issue are gorgeous when scanned and enlarged. The engraving details are great!

1947 Scott 110 10sh dull orange & black "Boiling Lake"

I wonder, considering the small population of Dominica (53,000 in 1942), why there needed to be five stamps in the issue with shilling denominations? I think I know the answer. ;-)

1942 Scott 101a 2 1/2p blue & rose violet "Picking Limes"

Out of the Blue

Really lovely bi-color issue, and enhanced because the stamps are engraved. 

Note: "Dominica" pic from Wikipedia, and used here for educational purposes.

Comments appreciated!