Page 29 - BWISC 60th Anniversary Display at RPSL, November 2014
P. 29
Frame 24
BRITISH GUIANA – THE COTTON REELS
from the collection of Simon Greenwood, FRPSL
25 Novenber 1851, 2 cents rose ‘cotton reel’, both Type A and initialled ‘EDW’.
The first adhesive postage stamps of British Guiana were issued on 1 July 1850, remarkably early for a small
Colony. Once the decision had been made to issue stamps an order was placed with Waterlow and Sons,
London but could not be delivered in time for the commencement of the scheme. Therefore a supply was
printed locally at the office of The Royal Gazette. Initially the 4 cents, 8 cents and 12 cents were printed for
the payment of the three distance based rates. The 2 cents value was brought into use on 1 March 1851 to be
used to pay for a local delivery.
It is believed that the stamps were printed in strips of four with each stamp having identifiable differences
with the thickness of the border and positioning of a gap in that border being the most easily recognisable.
Each stamp was initialled as a security measure. Stamps cut square are scarcer than those cut round and few
covers exist.
Of note in this display are:–
The two scarcer 4 cents shades, Pale Yellow on Pelure Paper and Lemon Yellow.
The only cover with two different values, 4 cents and 8 cents.
The 2 cents cover, illustrated above. Three covers exist with pairs of stamps of the total ten stamps known.
It is believed that the four single stamps were removed from a single cover.
The 12 cents unused example and pair and also the scarcest indigo shade.
BRITISH GUIANA – THE COTTON REELS
from the collection of Simon Greenwood, FRPSL
25 Novenber 1851, 2 cents rose ‘cotton reel’, both Type A and initialled ‘EDW’.
The first adhesive postage stamps of British Guiana were issued on 1 July 1850, remarkably early for a small
Colony. Once the decision had been made to issue stamps an order was placed with Waterlow and Sons,
London but could not be delivered in time for the commencement of the scheme. Therefore a supply was
printed locally at the office of The Royal Gazette. Initially the 4 cents, 8 cents and 12 cents were printed for
the payment of the three distance based rates. The 2 cents value was brought into use on 1 March 1851 to be
used to pay for a local delivery.
It is believed that the stamps were printed in strips of four with each stamp having identifiable differences
with the thickness of the border and positioning of a gap in that border being the most easily recognisable.
Each stamp was initialled as a security measure. Stamps cut square are scarcer than those cut round and few
covers exist.
Of note in this display are:–
The two scarcer 4 cents shades, Pale Yellow on Pelure Paper and Lemon Yellow.
The only cover with two different values, 4 cents and 8 cents.
The 2 cents cover, illustrated above. Three covers exist with pairs of stamps of the total ten stamps known.
It is believed that the four single stamps were removed from a single cover.
The 12 cents unused example and pair and also the scarcest indigo shade.
