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Telegraph Stamps of Great Britain and the British Empire

Introduction

The electric telegraph had been one of the most important communication means until about the middle of the twentieth century. Telegraph stamps were used for the prepayment of telegraphic message delivery, mainly in developed countries of nineteenth century.

This display is all about telegraph stamps issued by Great Britain and the British Empire and is composed of four chapters: Great Britain, British Asia, British Africa and Other Colonies & Territories.

In chapter 1 British governmental telegraph stamps are shown in some detail. And military & army telegraphs are also included.

In chapter 2 telegraph stamps of India and Ceylon are shown. Their stamps are characterised by their vertical rectangle, 5.5cm high and 2.0 cm wide. The stamp has two sections, that is upper section for receipt to customers and lower one for office use.

In chapter 3 several South African colonies and territories such as Natal, Orange Free State (OFS), Orange River Colony(ORC) and Transvaal are included. Most of their stamps are overprinted on revenue or postage stamps. ln Rhodesia (Matabeleland), stamps did not prepay fee for a telegraph services: instead they prepaid delivery by private runner to a telegraph office. ln Sudan the stamps are perforated down the middle for use across the line between message and receipt sections of the form as in India, Ceylon, Uganda.

A final chapter is devoted to Jamaica and Australia.

In Australia the stamps of New South Wales and Western Australia are included.

Contents
  1. Great Britain
    1. Post Office Telegraphs (2-28)
    2. Military & Army Telegraph (29-32)
  2. British Asia
    1. India (33-44)
    2. Ceylon (45-64)
  3. British Africa
    1. Natal (65)
    2. Orange Free State (OFC) (66-70)
    3. Orange River Colonies (ORC) (71)
    4. Rhodesia (Matabeleland) (72)
    5. Sudan (73-75)
    6. Transvaal (76)
    7. Uganda (77)
  4. Other Colonies & Territories
    1. Jamaica (78-79)
    2. Australia (80)

References


  1. S.E.R. Hiscocks: "Telegraph & Telephone Stamps of the World" (1982)
  2. J. Barefoot Ltd: "Telegraph Stamps of the World" (2013)
  3. P. Langmead & A. Huggins: "The Telegraph Stamps and Stationey of Great Britain 1851 -1954" (2003)
  4. Stanley Gibbons: "Great Britain. Specialised Stamp Catalogue", Vol.1, Queen Victoria (2011)
  5. Stanley Gibbons: "Commonwealth & Empire Stamps 1840-1970" (2013)
  6. I. Pinwill: "The Colour Trials of the Post Office Telegraphs 3d plate 3", The GB Journal, Vol.52, No.6 (Nov./Dec. 2014)


(link)

Frame 1

  1. Introduction
GREAT BRITAIN

Post Office Telegraphs
  1. Die Proof of Telegraph Head (undated)
  2. Typical Die Proofs of First Issue - 1d and 3d
  3. Typical Die Proofs of First Issue - 1s and 5s
  4. First Issues - 1d and 3d
  5. Receipts
  6. Unauthorised Postal Use
  7. 3 Pence
  8. 1 Shilling
  9. 5 Shillings
  10. 5 Shillings
  11. Typical Die Proofs of Second Issue - 4d and 6d
  12. Typical Die Proofs of Second Issue - 3s and 10s
  13. Typical Die Proofs of Second Issue - £1 and £5
  14. 4 Pence and 6 Pence
  15. 3 Shillings and 10 Shillings
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Frame 2

GREAT BRITAIN (cont)

Post Office Telegraphs (cont)
  1. £1 and £5
  2. Colour Trials
  3. Colour Trials - 10s, £1 and £5
  4. 3d Colour Trials on Crown Watermark Paper
  5. Specimens - 1 Penny, 3 Pence, 5 Shillings
  6. Specimens - 3 Pence
  7. Specimens - 4 Pence and 6 Pence
  8. Specimens - 3 Shillings, 10 Shillings, £1 and £5
  9. Imprimaturs
  10. Colour Standards
  11. Half Penny
  12. 1 Shilling Colour Change
Military & Army Telegraphs
  1. Military Issue - 1884 and 1885
  2. Military Issue - 1886 Provisional and 1887
  3. Army Issue - 1885-1900
  4. Army Issue - 1900-1901
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Frame 3

BRITISH ASIA

India
  1. 1869 Issue
  2. 1869 Issue
  3. 1869 Issue
  4. 1869 Issue
  5. 1881-82 Provisionals
  6. 1882 Issue
  7. 1882 Issue
  8. Telegraph Office Document
  9. 1890 Issue
  10. 1890 Issue
  11. Receipt for Inland Telegrams
  12. Burma
Ceylon
  1. Forerunner of Ceylon Telegraph Stamp
  2. 1880 Issue
  3. 1881/2 Issue
  4. 1881 Issue
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Frame 4

BRITISH ASIA (cont)

Ceylon (cont)
  1. Receipts for Telegrams
  2. 1882 and 1894 Issues
  3. 1882 and 1883 Issues
  4. 1884 Issue
  5. 1887 Issue
  6. 1888 and 1889 Issues
  7. 1890 and 1891 Issues
  8. 1892 Issue
  9. 1894 Issue
  10. Proofs
  11. 1893-1901 Issue (rejoined)
  12. 1892, 1893, and 1894 Issues
  13. 1894, 1895, and 1896 Issues
  14. 1897 Issue
  15. 1898 Issues
  16. 1899 and 1900 Issues
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Frame 5

BRITISH AFRICA

Natal
  1. 1881 Issue and 1902 Provisionals
Orange Free State
  1. 1885 and 1886 Issues
  2. 1888 Provisionals
  3. 1888 and 1890 Issues
  4. 1891 and 1892 Issues
  5. 1893 and 1898-99 Issues
Orange River Colonies
  1. Public Telegraph Stamps 1901 and Army Telegraph Stamps 1901
Rhodesia (Matabeleland)
  1. 1894 Issue
Sudan
  1. 1897 Issue
  2. Die Proofs
  3. 1898 and 1899 Issues
Transvaal
  1. 1900, 1901 and 1902 Issues
Uganda
  1. 1902 Issue
OTHER COLONIES & TERRITORIES

Jamaica
  1. 1879 Issue
  2. Requisition
Australia
  1. New South Wales 1871 and Western Australia 1879