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
- Great Britain
- Post Office Telegraphs (2-28)
- Military & Army Telegraph (29-32)
- British Asia
- India (33-44)
- Ceylon (45-64)
- British Africa
- Natal (65)
- Orange Free State (OFC) (66-70)
- Orange River Colonies (ORC) (71)
- Rhodesia (Matabeleland) (72)
- Sudan (73-75)
- Transvaal (76)
- Uganda (77)
- Other Colonies & Territories
- Jamaica (78-79)
- Australia (80)
References
- S.E.R. Hiscocks: "Telegraph & Telephone Stamps of the World" (1982)
- J. Barefoot Ltd: "Telegraph Stamps of the World" (2013)
- P. Langmead & A. Huggins: "The Telegraph Stamps and Stationey of Great Britain 1851 -1954" (2003)
- Stanley Gibbons: "Great Britain. Specialised Stamp Catalogue", Vol.1, Queen Victoria (2011)
- Stanley Gibbons: "Commonwealth & Empire Stamps 1840-1970" (2013)
- I. Pinwill: "The Colour Trials of the Post Office Telegraphs 3d plate 3", The GB Journal, Vol.52, No.6 (Nov./Dec. 2014)