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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Gambia, by Frederick John Melville
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Gambia
+
+Author: Frederick John Melville
+
+Release Date: September 12, 2008 [EBook #26601]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GAMBIA ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Simon Gardner, Sankar Viswanathan, Adrian
+Mastronardi, The Philatelic Digital Library Project at
+http://www.tpdlp.net, and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                        GAMBIA
+
+                          BY
+                   FRED J. MELVILLE,
+
+                PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR
+                  PHILATELIC SOCIETY.
+
+              MDCCCCIX--PUBLISHED--BY--THE
+                MELVILLE--STAMP--BOOKS,
+              47,--STRAND,--LONDON,--W.C.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[page 7]
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
+
+
+In collecting the stamps of Gambia one cannot too strongly emphasise
+the necessity for guarding the stamps of the "Cameo" series against
+deterioration by the pressure of the leaves in an ordinary unprotected
+album. In their pristine state with clear and bold embossing these
+stamps are of exceptional grace and beauty. Sunk mounts or other
+similar contrivances, and a liberal use of tissue paper, should be
+utilised by the collector who desires to retain his specimens in their
+original state. A neat strip of card affixed to each side of the page
+in an ordinary album will have the effect of keeping the pages above
+from flattening out the embossing, but tissue paper should be used as
+an additional safeguard.
+
+We have to express thanks to Mr. Douglas Ellis, Vice-President of the
+Junior Philatelic Society, for his notes on the postmarks--of which
+he has made a special study--and also for the loan of his entire
+collection of the stamps of Gambia for reference and illustration;
+to Mr. H. H. Harland for a similar courtesy in the loan of his
+collection; to Mr. W. H. Peckitt for the loan of stamps for
+illustration; to Mr. D. B. Armstrong for interesting notes on
+the postal affairs of the Colony; and to Mr. S. R. Turner for his
+diagrams.
+
+To the first two gentlemen we are also indebted for their kindness in
+undertaking the revision of the proofs of this handbook.
+
+[page 8]
+
+
+
+
+TABLE OF CONTENTS.
+
+
+INTRODUCTORY NOTE,                              7
+
+          CHAPTER I.
+THE COLONY AND ITS POSTS,                      11
+
+          CHAPTER II.
+CAMEO ISSUE OF 1869,                           16
+
+          CHAPTER III.
+ISSUE OF 1874,                                 20
+
+          CHAPTER IV.
+ISSUE OF 1880,                                 25
+
+          CHAPTER V.
+ISSUE OF 1886-87,                              37
+
+          CHAPTER VI.
+QUEEN'S HEAD SERIES, 1898,                     45
+
+          CHAPTER VII.
+KING'S HEAD SERIES, 1902-1906,                 50
+
+          CHAPTER VIII.
+PROVISIONAL ISSUE, 1906,                       53
+
+          CHAPTER IX.
+BIBLIOGRAPHY,                                  56
+
+          CHAPTER X.
+CHECK LIST,                                    58
+
+          APPENDIX.
+NOTES ON THE POSTMARKS, by Douglas Ellis,      66
+
+[page 11]
+
+
+
+
+GAMBIA.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+The Colony and Its Posts.
+
+
+The British West African possession known as the Colony and
+Protectorate of the Gambia occupies a narrow strip of territory
+(averaging 12 miles in width) on both sides of the Gambia river.
+The territory comprises the settlement of St. Mary, where the
+capital--Bathurst--is situated, British Cambo, Albreda, M'Carthy's
+Island and the Ceded Mile, a protectorate over a narrow band of land
+extending from Cape St. Mary for over 250 miles along both banks of
+the river.
+
+The Gambia river was discovered by a Portuguese navigator in 1447;
+under a charter of Queen Elizabeth a company was formed to trade with
+the Gambia in 1588. In the reign of James II. a fort was erected by
+British traders at the mouth of the river (1686), and for many years
+their only traffic was in slaves. The territory became recognised as a
+British possession under the Treaty of Versailles, and on the enforced
+liquidation of the chartered company it [page 12] was incorporated
+with the Crown as one of the West African settlements. Until 1843,
+when it was granted separate government, it was administered by the
+Governor of Sierra Leone. In 1868 it was again annexed to Sierra
+Leone, and not until twenty years later was it created a separate
+Crown Colony with a Governor and responsible government of its own. At
+present the staple trade of the Colony is ground nuts, but efforts are
+being made to induce the natives to take up other products.
+
+Postally there is little to record prior to 1866, which is the date
+ascribed by Mr. F. Bisset Archer, Treasurer and Postmaster-General,
+to an alteration in the scale of postage, the half ounce weight for
+letters being introduced. The rate to Great Britain was, we believe,
+from that date 6d. per half ounce.
+
+Mr. Archer also gives this year (1866) as the date when the first
+postage stamps of the Colony were issued. This date was for a time
+accepted in the stamp catalogues, but it is now generally believed to
+be an error, the earliest records in the stamp journals of the period
+shewing the date to be 1869.
+
+The postal notices we have been able to trace are of but little
+interest, the following being all that bear on matters of interest to
+collectors:--
+
+
+POST OFFICE NOTICE.
+
+_Reduction of Postage, &c._
+
+On and from the 1st April, 1892, the Postage to all parts of the World
+on Letters, Newspapers, Books, etc., will be as follows:--
+
+    For Letters, 2 1/2d. per 1/2 oz.
+
+    For Postcards, 1d. each.
+
+    For Reply Postcards, 2d. each.
+
+[page 13]
+
+    For Newspapers, books, printed papers, commercial papers,
+    patterns and samples, 1/2d. per 2 oz., with the Postal
+    Union proviso of a minimum payment of 2 1/2d. for a packet of
+    commercial papers, and of 1d. for a packet of patterns or
+    samples.
+
+    Fee for registration of any of the above named articles, 2d.
+
+    Fee for the acknowledgment of the delivery of a registered
+    article, 2 1/2d.
+
+  By His Excellency's Command,
+  (Signed) J. H. FINDEN,
+  _Postmaster._
+
+  Post Office, Bathurst, Gambia,
+  _3rd March, 1892._
+
+
+POST OFFICE.
+
+Ordinance No. 6 of 1897.
+
+_March 11th, 1897._
+
+1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Post Office Ordinance, 1897,
+Inland Postal Regulations.
+
+13. From and after the commencement of this Ordinance, postal packets
+may be sent by post between such places in the Colony of the Gambia
+and the Protected Territories adjacent thereto as may be from time to
+time notified by the Administrator.
+
+14. The Administrator-in-Council may from time to time make in
+relation to the inland post hereby established such regulations as he
+may think fit--
+
+    For prescribing and regulating the places, times, and modes of
+    posting and delivery.
+
+    For fixing the rates of postage to be payable on inland
+    letters and postal packets.
+
+    For prescribing payment of postage and regulating the mode
+    thereof.
+
+    For regulating the affixing of postage stamps.
+
+    For prescribing and regulating the payment again of postage in
+    case of redirection.
+
+    For regulating the dimensions and maximum weight of packet.
+
+[page 14]
+
+    For prohibiting or restricting the printing or writing of
+    marks or communications or words.
+
+    For prohibiting enclosures.
+
+    For restricting the sending or conveyance of inland letters.
+
+and such other regulations as the Administrator shall from time to
+time consider desirable for the more efficient working of such Inland
+Post.
+
+And may affix a penalty not exceeding ten pounds, to be recovered
+summarily before the Chief Magistrate, or two Justices of the Peace,
+or, in default of payment, imprisonment not exceeding two weeks for a
+contravention of any such regulation.
+
+15. Any revenue derived from the Inland Post herein established shall
+be paid into the Colonial Treasury at such times and in such a manner
+as the Administrator shall direct, and shall be applied to the general
+purposes of the Colony.
+
+Insurance of and Compensation for loss and damage to Parcels.
+
+11. Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, if any article of
+pecuniary value enclosed in, or forming part of, a parcel be lost
+or damaged whilst in the course of transmission through the post, it
+shall be lawful for the Administrator to cause to be paid out of the
+public revenues of the Colony to any person or persons who may, in
+the opinion of the Postmaster, establish a reasonable claim to
+compensation (having regard to the nature of the article, the care
+with which it was packed, and other circumstances), the following
+rates of compensation--
+
+    (a) In respect of an uninsured parcel, such sum, not exceeding
+    twenty shillings, as he may think just.
+
+    (b) In respect of an insured parcel the following scale shall
+    apply--
+
+To secure compensation up to L12 there shall be payable a fee of 5d
+   "          "         "    L24      "          "       "       7 1/2d
+   "          "         "    L36      "          "       "       10d
+   "          "         "    L48      "          "       "       1/0 1/2d
+   "          "         "    L50      "          "       "       1/3
+
+We gather from the official handbook edited by Mr. Archer that a
+Government steamer maintains weekly [page 15] communication between
+the Capital, Bathurst, and M'Carthy's Island both for passengers and
+mails. There is no house-to-house delivery of mails at either place.
+
+Gambia joined the Universal Postal Union on January 1st, 1879; the
+Imperial Penny Postage rate was adopted from December 25th, 1898; and
+the unit of weight for colonial and foreign letter postage was raised
+from half an ounce to one ounce on October 1st, 1907. The Cash on
+Delivery system was introduced on October 15th, 1908.
+
+The following table gives an outline of the postal business, the large
+fluctuations in the revenue being chiefly due to the fluctuations in
+the demand for postage stamps from dealers and collectors:--
+
+Year    Revenue        Expenditure           Letters      Parcels
+-----------------------------------------------------------------
+1895     L686
+1896    1,506
+1897    1,845
+1898    2,140
+1899      589
+1900      459                                 66,612        782
+1901      769                                 77,937       1151
+1902    1,452                                 77,918       1340
+1903      553                                 94,365       1532
+1904      597                                 94,358       1677
+1905    2,731          L808  0  0             91,768       1554
+1906    1,317           712 15 10             98,379       1994
+
+[page 16]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+"Cameo" Issue of 1869.
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The _Philatelist_ for March 1, 1869, contained the first intimation of
+the preparation of stamps for the Colony of
+
+    "GAMBIA.
+
+    "We are proud to announce the preparation of stamps for this
+    African settlement. In a central circle is Queen Victoria's
+    coroneted head in white relief; in straight bands above is
+    GAMBIA; below, the value, which, as well as the spandril
+    ornamentation, is embossed in white. The stamp is nearly
+    square, and the specimens possessed by our correspondent are
+    imperforate. Values:
+
+    4 pence, deep brown.
+    6   "      "  blue."
+
+[page 17]
+
+The stamps were manufactured by Messrs. de la Rue & Co. by a double
+process of flat printing and of relief embossing, the flat printing
+being doubtless effected first and the embossing afterwards. This
+combination was unusually effective, and the finished stamps rank
+among the handsomest adhesive postage stamps known to collectors.
+
+As embossing evenly over a large area presented considerable
+difficulties, the plates were made up of fifteen stamps only, in
+three horizontal rows of five stamps. The plates for both processes
+evidently fitted each other with precision, though in the printing
+occasionally the embossing is slightly out of register.
+
+The paper is white wove and has no watermark, and the stamps were
+not perforated. There are two colours of the gum, one being the usual
+clear white: the other is a pale yellow colour, which may, however, be
+due to climatic influence, particularly as it is a noticeable feature
+of a number of the later issues.
+
+The colour of the 4d. value varies in shade from a deep chocolate
+brown to brown and pale brown. The 6d. is pale to deep blue. There
+is a quite pale shade which is very rarely met with, most of the
+so-called "pale blue" specimens being an intermediate shade better
+described as "blue."
+
+The sheets of both values shew one printer's guide dot in each side
+margin, opposite stamps No. 6 and 10 respectively (plate I).
+
+Both values are known with the embossing shewing a distinct double
+impression.
+
+There are some peculiarities in these stamps which, although their
+significance is uncertain, it may not be well to overlook.
+
+[page 18]
+
+Firstly, there frequently occurs throughout the embossed stamps
+of Gambia a small spot of colour on the back hair, which in later
+embossed stamps becomes a large spot, and even develops into a
+coloured indentation from the coloured circular ground.
+
+In this issue the spot, when it occurs, is usually quite small, two
+copies of the 6d. examined shewing it somewhat enlarged.
+
+Secondly, there are noticeable varieties of the pendant curl at the
+back. The normal design shews a fairly thick wavy curl with a hair
+branching out from it into the space between the curl and the neck.
+This sub-curl, as we may call it, is occasionally missing, broken,
+or as in No. 11 on the imperforate 6d. sheet (plate I), the curl and
+sub-curl have joined together, giving a very different appearance to
+the back hair. There are also varying lengths of the main curl.
+
+In the sheet of the 6d. value the plates seem to have been slightly
+defective, and there is a gentle slope down from the centre to the
+outside stamp on each side (Nos. 1 and 5), the slope being more
+pronounced on No. 5, where the upper label containing the word Gambia
+is recognised as the variety with slanting label. The left side of
+stamp 5 is 22 1/2mm. high, and the right side 22mm. That the peculiarity
+occurs reversed on stamp No. 1, though it is less pronounced, there
+can be no doubt. In later issues both stamps 1 and 5 shew the defect
+more prominently, as will be readily seen from an examination of
+plates I., X., and XI. Curiously enough, the fault is not confined to
+the two outside stamps, as is generally supposed. The trouble is in
+the entire top row being 1/2mm. taller than the normal stamps of rows 2
+and 3, except the left and right sides [page 19] respectively of the
+end stamps (Nos. 1 and 5). The middle stamp of the top row shews a
+further peculiarity in the shape of the base of the neck. (Compare
+plates I., X., XI., with XIV.)
+
+Copies of both values exist overprinted SPECIMEN, and we have seen
+similar copies of all the regular issues of this Colony.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[page 20]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+Issue of 1874.
+
+
+The introduction of watermarked paper for these stamps occurred in
+1874, the paper being that familiar to collectors of British Colonial
+stamps as watermarked "Crown C.C." The paper was not readily adaptable
+for the small sheets of the Gambia stamps, and the method of cutting
+it to suitable sizes for these sheets has produced some varieties for
+the specialist.
+
+Major Evans, writing in the _Philatelic Record_ for January, 1883,
+says:--
+
+    "Most collectors are probably aware that the stamps of the
+    British Colonies printed in England are, as a rule, in sheets
+    of 240, divided into four panes of 60, each pane consisting
+    of ten horizontal rows of six stamps. The Crown and C.C.
+    watermarks are arranged in the same manner upon the sheet of
+    paper; each pane is enclosed in a single-lined frame. Down
+    the centre of the sheet is a blank space of about half an inch
+    wide; across the centre is a wider space, watermarked with the
+    words CROWN COLONIES, which are also repeated twice along each
+    side of the sheet.
+
+    "Some of my readers may have noticed that the watermark is not
+    always very clearly shown in the Gambia stamps. This is due
+    partly to the fact of their being embossed, and partly
+    to [page 21] their being arranged in small blocks of
+    fifteen--three horizontal rows of five--so that a row of five
+    stamps is printed on a row of six watermarks, and in most
+    cases a complete watermark is not found on any one of the
+    stamps in a block. Very frequently the upper and lower blocks
+    on a sheet encroach on the margins, and consequently some
+    of the stamps show portions of the words CROWN COLONIES in
+    watermark; and I have seen a block which had been printed in
+    the centre of one side of a sheet, and the middle row of which
+    was watermarked COLONIES, while the upper and lower rows bore
+    the Crown and C.C. Recent printings of some of the values of
+    Gambia show the blocks printed sideways on the sheet, in which
+    case each stamp will not show a complete watermark; and of
+    these again I have seen a block with the vertical division of
+    the sheet running across the central row."
+
+In addition the stamps have been found with the watermark reversed,
+indicating that occasionally a sheet has been fed into the press the
+wrong side up. Inverted watermarks of this Crown and C.C. type are
+also to be found.
+
+Of this issue, which comprises the same two values--4d. brown and 6d.
+blue, imperforate--we get the following variations in the watermark--
+
+  Crown C.C. upright (Fig. A).
+        "    inverted (Fig. C).
+        "    reversed (Fig. B).
+  Portions of the words CROWN COLONIES.
+  Bars (i.e., division lines of the panes).
+
+The gum shews the same variation--white and yellow--as in the original
+issue. The 4d. stamp varies in colour from deep brown to pale brown;
+the 6d. deep blue to blue, the solid colour in this case presenting a
+very mottled appearance.
+
+Again, both values are known with the embossing doubly impressed.
+
+[page 22]
+
+Very few copies of the 4d. of this issue examined shew the spot on the
+hair, but in the sheet of the 6d. (plate I.) there are faint spots on
+stamps Nos. 1, 4, 5, 9, 12 and 13.
+
+No. 11 on the same sheet shews the curl and sub-curl joined.
+
+The date of issue of these watermarked stamps is uncertain, but the
+6d. was chronicled in _Le Timbre Poste_ for December, 1874. The
+4d. was not recorded in any of the contemporary magazines, and was
+probably not issued until some time after the higher denomination.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. A.]
+
+[Illustration: Fig. B.]
+
+[Illustration: Fig. C.]
+
+[page 25]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+Issue of 1880.
+
+
+Together with a number of other colonial possessions, Gambia was
+admitted to the Universal Postal Union on January 1st, 1879, and
+in June of the following year (1880) a more comprehensive series of
+postage stamps was issued, all modelled after the same fashion as
+the two denominations which had done service in the Colony for the
+previous twelve years. The convenience of perforation was adopted
+at the same time. The new series comprised the following values, the
+shades being given in the approximate order of printings--
+
+  1/2d. golden yellow, deep golden yellow, pale orange, vermilion,
+          deep orange vermilion, citron,[1] pale ochre.[1]
+  1d. lake, deep lake.
+  2d. pale rose, rose, deep rose.
+  3d. pale ultramarine, deep ultramarine, deep blue.
+  4d. sepia brown, deep sepia brown.
+  6d. pale blue, blue, deep blue.
+  1s. bright green, deep green.
+
+[Footnote 1: The 1/2d. citron and 1/2d. pale ochre are generally believed
+to be changelings, due to atmospheric or other influences after the
+stamps were printed.]
+
+[page 26]
+
+[Illustration: Fig. D.]
+
+[Illustration: Fig. E.]
+
+The watermark on this issue appears variously upright or sideways,
+varieties of each being inverted. The normal "sideways" may be taken
+as from left to right. Portions of the marginal lettering and the
+vertical division lines of the panes are also to be found. The
+following is a synopsis of these varieties--
+
+  Crown C.C. vertical (Fig. A).
+        "       "    inverted (Fig. C).
+        "    sideways (Fig. D).
+        "       "    inverted (Fig. E).
+  Portions of words "CROWN COLONIES."
+  Division lines of the panes.
+
+The subject of perforations is of peculiar interest in this and the
+next issue of the stamps of Gambia, as while to a certain extent the
+printings are to be differentiated by shade the chief distinctions may
+be made in the case of blocks and sheets by the perforations.
+
+At first the stamps were perforated by a single line machine gauging
+14. A single line machine, as its name implies, simply makes a single
+long row of holes in one direction--
+
+.................................................................
+
+In the present case, where the sheets were so small, the row is much
+longer than necessary, so in the sheets it extends through the margins
+on all sides, as in plate II.
+
+[page 29]
+
+The horizontal rows may be perforated first (one row at a time),
+and then the sheet is turned sideways and the vertical divisions
+are similarly perforated. A peculiarity of this style of perforating
+machine is that the points where the vertical lines cross the
+horizontal lines rarely fail to fall foul of each other, and an effect
+is produced like this--
+
+[Illustration: Single line perforation. Note the crossing of
+perforated lines.]
+
+In this manner it is possible to tell blocks and pairs of this
+perforation without any side margins. Single copies perforated in
+this manner can occasionally be detected by the distance between the
+vertical perforations. In the later perforation of this issue the
+distance is fixed (as will be shewn), and the distance is 20 1/2mm.,
+[page 30] measuring from perf. point to perf. point across the stamp.
+Any stamp differing in width to any extent more than 1/2mm. from
+20 1/2mm. may therefore be set down as perforated by the single line 
+machine.
+
+We have seen all the values except the 2d. rose and 1/- green
+perforated by the single line machine, in practically every case the
+C.C. watermark being upright, the exception being a strip of three
+6d. with the sideways watermark. All the sheets with this perforation
+appear to have one printer's guide dot in the centre of each side
+margin.
+
+The next form of perforating machine introduced in later printings
+of the Crown and C.C. 1880 issue is known as a comb machine. The comb
+machine perforates three sides of a stamp at once, and the form of the
+first comb machine was arranged thus--
+
+  ...............................................................
+  :    :    :    :    :    :    : :    :    :    :    :    :    :
+  :    :    :    :    :    :    : :    :    :    :    :    :    :
+  :    :    :    :    :    :    : :    :    :    :    :    :    :
+  :    :    :    :    :    :    : :    :    :    :    :    :    :
+  :    :    :    :    :    :    : :    :    :    :    :    :    :
+
+The arrangement of the teeth of the comb fitted the arrangement of the
+panes of the regular Colonial postage stamps printed by Messrs. De la
+Rue & Co., the narrow spaced teeth in the centre marking the dividing
+space between two horizontal panes.
+
+In perforating the stamps of Gambia in the small sheets of fifteen
+in three horizontal rows of five, both sides of the machine appear
+to have been used, the extreme end portion of the comb at either end
+running off the side margin of the small sheet. When the left portion
+of the machine was being used the sheet was [page 33] inserted upright
+and the top row of stamps perforated first, the effect being that the
+top margin is not cut through by vertical perforations, and the bottom
+row is (see plate III.).
+
+When the right-hand portion was in use the sheets appear to have been
+systematically inverted when placed in the machine. This left the
+bottom margin blank and the top margin cut through. Had the sheet been
+simply inverted and perforated by the same portion of the machine, as
+already described, the narrow spaced teeth would have been produced on
+the left hand margin instead of the right. A comparison of plates
+III. and VI. will shew that the narrow spacing is on the right in both
+cases, but in III. the perforating has been started at the top on the
+left side of the machine, and in VI. from the bottom on the right side
+of the machine.
+
+It is possible that sheets exist with the narrow spaced lines of
+perforation on the left side. We have searched in vain for such
+varieties, but they may exist. A sheet inverted when placed on the
+left side of the machine would shew the top margin perforated through,
+and narrow spaced perforation to left; while a sheet inserted top
+first on the right hand side would leave the top margin blank and the
+bottom one perforated through, and the narrow spaced perforation to
+left.
+
+This comb generally perforates so evenly that there is no clashing of
+the perforations where the lines meet. Occasionally, however, a sheet
+may get off the straight and an irregular perforation occurs.
+
+The sheets perforated in this machine generally have one guide dot
+in the left margin, and three at the right (see sheets III.-VII.,
+IX.-XI., XIV., XV.).
+
+[page 34]
+
+[Illustration: Comb perforation. Compare crossing of perforated lines
+with illustration on page 29.]
+
+The 1/2d. pale orange vermilion exists doubly perforated at the top and
+sides.
+
+A minor variety of the 2d. rose shews a small white spot 1/2mm. from the
+nose. The stamp is No. 6 on the sheet. The variety has been noted on
+several (not all) the sheets of this value, and in various blocks,
+pairs and singles.
+
+The left and right hand top stamps (1 and 5) of the 6d. value shew the
+sloping label, which is now very prominent (see plate X.).
+
+All the values shew variations in the marks on the back hair and in
+the curls.
+
+[page 37]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+Issue of 1886-87.
+
+
+In 1886 a number of the stamps began to appear on the paper
+watermarked Crown C.A., the initials of "Crown Agents." The colours
+were changed, and a new value inscribed "2 1/2 PENNY" on the value tablet
+was added. The values and colours are--
+
+  1/2d. grey-green, myrtle-green (shades).
+  1d. carmine, rose-carmine, crimson.
+  2d. orange-yellow, orange, deep orange.
+  2 1/2d. pale ultramarine, deep ultramarine.
+  3d. grey, slate-grey, pearl-grey.
+  4d. brown, deep brown.
+  6d. olive-green, bronze-green, grey-green.
+  1s. violet, deep violet.
+
+All values exist with the embossing double; several with the embossing
+double, one of the impressions being inverted; part double and treble
+perforations; and the white and the yellow gum.
+
+The watermark Crown C.A. is uniformly sideways in this issue, the
+normal position being from right to left (Fig. F.), but it may be
+found inverted (Fig. G.).
+
+[page 38]
+
+[Illustration: Fig. F.]
+
+[Illustration: Fig. G.]
+
+The method of cutting up the sheets of Crown C.A. paper was to
+guillotine the half sheets horizontally in half and then twice
+vertically, dividing each horizontal half into three small sheets, the
+half C.A. sheet of paper yielding six small Gambia sheets (plates XII.
+and XIII.). The operators both at the guillotine and at the press
+seem to have taken the utmost care to arrange all the small sheets
+uniformly for passing through the press, as the varieties shewing the
+watermark from left to right are rare. The diagrams on plates XII.
+and XIII. will illustrate more clearly than a verbal explanation the
+precise method of dividing up the Crown C.A. paper.
+
+The early printings of the Crown C.A. issue were perforated with
+the comb machine described in the previous chapter, but in the later
+printings a new comb machine was introduced, which has not the narrow
+spaced teeth in the margin, and, consequently, has not the double
+row of perforation on the right hand margins of the sheets. The
+perforations produced by the two machines gauge the same, and are not
+distinguishable in single specimens or blocks, but only in sheets
+or specimens with pieces of margins. The effect of the two different
+combs on the sheet may be compared on the two sheets of the 6d. value
+illustrated on plates X. and XI. We may note (plate VIII.) the second
+comb with the teeth extending [page 41] through the top margin,
+leaving the bottom margin blank, shewing that some of the sheets were
+perforated from the bottom, which would produce this effect.
+
+Unused imperforate copies exist of all values in the following
+shades--
+
+    Imperforate  1/2d. grey-green.
+        "        1d. pale crimson.
+        "        2d. orange-yellow.
+        "        2 1/2d. pale ultramarine.
+        "        3d. pearl-grey.
+        "        4d. brown.
+        "        6d. slate-green.
+        "        1s. deep violet.
+
+Copies in trial colours, perforated 12 instead of 14, exist as
+follows--
+
+    1/2d. rose.
+    1/2d. violet.
+    1/2d. dull green.
+    1/2d. pale dull orange.
+    3d. olive-green.
+
+On some of the sheets of the 1/2d. value stamp 2 shews a slightly
+elongated left stroke of the letter m in Gambia; No. 5 on the same
+sheet shews a similar defect in the right stroke of the letter. (See
+plate III., which reproduction, however, only shews the variety on
+stamp 2.) Stamps Nos. 1, 12, 13 on the same sheet illustrated shew
+a peculiarity in the form of a broken nose. We have not been able to
+trace other copies shewing a similar defect, so possibly it is simply
+due to over-inking or faulty inking of the colour plate.
+
+The plate of the 3d. was altered in the final printing, two additional
+printers' guide dots being added in the [page 42] left margin, and the
+top and bottom dot on the right being removed (plate VIII.). This was
+printed in pearl-grey only.
+
+The early printings of the 6d. value shew the sloping labels; they
+also shew the slight enlargement of the stamps in the top row. These
+varieties occur in the olive-green, bronze-green, and grey-green
+shades. Later a new plate was made without the defect in the top row,
+and this was printed in grey-green only. (Cp. plates XI. and XIV.)
+
+It may be noted that there are two varieties of the overprint on the
+SPECIMEN stamps of this series, one having the letters sloping upwards
+from left to right, the other being horizontal.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[page 45]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+Queen's Head Series, 1898.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+On the 31st January, 1898, the following notice was issued in
+reference to the postage stamps of the Colony:--
+
+    "WITHDRAWAL OF PRESENT ISSUE OF GAMBIA POSTAGE STAMPS.
+
+    "On the 1st May, 1898, the present issue, if not previously
+    exhausted, of all denominations of Postage Stamps in the
+    Gambia that are then in the hands of the Government will be
+    destroyed, and a complete new set of stamps will then be put
+    in circulation.
+
+  "ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE,
+  BATHURST, GAMBIA,
+  _31st January, 1898_."
+
+[page 46]
+
+After being faithful for nearly thirty years to the graceful design
+of the "cameo" stamps the Colony adopted the regular De la Rue type
+printed from a general key plate which did duty for a number of
+colonial issues.
+
+Essays were prepared by making impressions from this key plate,
+shewing the profile of the Queen to left in a circle, and the words
+POSTAGE--POSTAGE at the sides, the top tablet being left blank for the
+name of the Colony, and a space for the sexagonal tablet of value at
+bottom also being left blank. The essays consist of such impressions
+with the name GAMBIA and the proposed values painted in by hand, to
+shew the approximate effect of the stamps which would be produced from
+this key plate. Only a very few such essays are known.
+
+The values which were actually produced in the new series were--
+
+    1/2d. dull green and green (plates 2 and 3).
+    1d. carmine and carmine (plate 2).
+    1d. deep carmine and deep carmine (plate 3).
+    2d. orange and mauve (plate 2).
+   2 1/2d. ultramarine and ultramarine (plate 2).
+    3d. mauve and pale ultramarine (plate 2).
+    3d. deep mauve and deep ultramarine (plate 3).
+    4d. brown and ultramarine (plate 2).
+    6d. olive-green and carmine (plate 2).
+    1s. violet and green (plate 2).
+
+All the stamps were printed at two impressions, the general design
+being printed from the key plate, and the name GAMBIA and the value
+tablet by a "duty" plate printed separately. In the 1/2d., 1d. and 2 1/2d.
+values, however, both key and duty plates were impressed in the same
+colour. The plates are constructed [page 49] to print sheets of 120
+stamps, divided in two panes of 60 stamps each. The plate number
+appears in the margin above and below each pane (plate XVI.). It
+consists of an uncoloured figure on a circular ground of colour, and
+is printed by the key plate. The plate numbered "2" was used for all
+the values in the set, but later printings of the 1/2d., 1d. and 3d.
+were printed from plate III. In the case of the 1/2d. and 1d. the
+printings from plate III. do not shew any marked variation in shade;
+but in the case of the 3d. both the mauve and the ultramarine colours
+are distinctively deeper.
+
+The perforation throughout gauges 14; the watermark is Crown C.A.
+as in the last issue, but upright instead of sideways, as these
+POSTAGE--POSTAGE plates were constructed to fit the watermarked paper.
+
+[page 50]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+King's Head Series, 1902-1906.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+The change from the Queen's Head type to the King's Head type of
+design came in 1902, the new general Colonial key plate being used. It
+is numbered 1 in a similar manner to the numbering on the Queen's Head
+plates. All the denominations in the previous set were repeated, and
+a 2s. value was added; later (May, 1905) three new stamps appeared of
+the face values 1s. 6d., 2s. 6d. and 3s. respectively. Of these three
+denominations it is stated that only 6000[2] copies of each were
+printed. The stamps, which were perforated 14 and were [page 51]
+printed on the same paper (Crown and C.A.) as the last issue,
+comprised the following values--
+
+Watermarked Crown C.A.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+    1/2d. green and green.
+    1d. carmine and carmine.
+    2d. orange and mauve.
+    2 1/2d. ultramarine and ultramarine.
+    3d. magenta and ultramarine.
+    4d. brown and ultramarine.
+    6d. sage-green and carmine.
+    1s. violet and green.
+    1s. 6d. green and carmine on yellow paper.
+    2s. deep slate and orange.
+    2s. 6d. purple and brown on yellow paper.
+    3s. carmine and green on yellow paper.
+
+[Footnote 2: Compare numbers overprinted in 1906 (Chapter VIII.).]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In May, 1905, appeared also three new values printed on multiple
+Crown C.A. paper, each stamp shewing portions of two or more watermark
+designs instead of one more or less complete design as heretofore.
+The new values were the 5d., 7 1/2d. and 10d. These being rather unusual
+denominations, their appearance caused considerable ferment among
+collectors, who ascribed their issue to motives not strictly
+associated with legitimate postal business. Reference to the Post
+Office Ordinance No. 6 of 1897 (quoted in Chapter I.) will shew that
+the fees for insured parcels in force in the Gambia were 5d. for
+compensation up to L12, 7 1/2d. up to L24, and 10d. up to L36; so it
+is not unreasonable if, as one may assume, the colonists availed
+themselves of these rates of insurance, that there was a use for such
+denominations.
+
+[page 52]
+
+The new multiple watermarked paper had been adopted for the 1d.
+value in 1904, and was during 1905-6 introduced for all the regular
+denominations except the 1s. 6d., 2s. 6d. and 3s. On this paper,
+therefore, we get the following--
+
+Multiple Crown C.A.
+
+    1/2d. green and green.
+    1d. carmine and carmine.
+    2d. orange and mauve.
+    2 1/2d. ultramarine and ultramarine.
+    3d. magenta and ultramarine.
+    4d. brown and ultramarine.
+    5d. grey and black.
+    6d. sage-green and carmine.
+    7 1/2d. green and carmine.
+    10d. olive-brown and carmine.
+    1s. violet and green.
+    2s. deep slate and orange.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[page 53]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+Provisional Issue 1906.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+The next and only remaining issue we have to describe are in the
+nature of Provisionals issued during a temporary shortage of halfpenny
+and penny stamps. The Bathurst correspondent of _Ewen's Weekly Stamp
+News_, writing April 30, 1906, communicated the following information,
+which is published in the issue of that journal for May 26, 1906:--
+
+    "The surcharged penny and halfpenny postage stamps on the 3/-
+    and 2/6 denominations respectively were issued on the [page
+    54] 10th instant, and withdrawn on the 23rd April. The issue
+    was necessary owing to a delay in receipt of a requisition
+    for stamps sent to England on the 9th February, and by the
+    abnormal sales, from some unknown reason, of the usual penny
+    and halfpenny stamps during February and March.
+
+    "A very small issue was made pending the arrival of the mail
+    on the 24th, by which the indent above mentioned was received.
+    The total issue was 4500 penny and 3780 halfpenny."
+
+The stamps overprinted to provide these emergency supplies were the
+2s. 6d. purple and brown on yellow paper, which was overprinted for
+the halfpenny, and the 3s. carmine and green on yellow paper for the
+penny overprint.
+
+The surcharging was effected in the Colony. In the case of the 1/2d. the
+overprint consists of the word
+
+  HALF
+  PENNY
+
+in two lines of block capitals, and below this are two bars formed
+by ordinary printers' rules about 8 1/2mm. long cancelling the figures
+denoting the original value of the stamp.
+
+The type and rules were set up to overprint the stamps thirty at a
+time (5 horizontal rows of 6 stamps); thus the complete sheet of 120
+stamps had to pass four times through the press. There is a slight
+variation in the distance between the bottom of the letters comprising
+the word PENNY and the uppermost bar, in the third and fourth rows of
+the setting. In rows 1, 2 and 5 the bar is 5mm. away from the bottom
+of the type; in rows 3 and 4 it is only 4mm. distant.
+
+The first stamp in the second row of the setting is a variety in which
+the E of PENNY is broken and the word reads PFNNY. The only other
+variety occurring in the setting is a slightly depressed Y of PENNY.
+This occurs in the first stamp in the 5th row.
+
+[page 55]
+
+The 3s. stamp was overprinted with the words "ONE PENNY" in one line
+of small capitals. The overprint was applied to a complete pane of 60
+stamps at a time, so that the entire sheet of 120 was surcharged at
+two impressions instead of four, as in the 1/2d. on 2s. 6d. stamp. The
+only varieties which have been recorded of this ONE PENNY overprint
+are of slight defects, possibly occurring only in particular
+impressions. It, however, exists with the overprint double.
+
+The issue of these two Provisional overprints, following upon the
+appearance in 1905 of the 5d., 7 1/2d. and 10d. stamps, brought a good
+deal of censure from philatelists, who considered that the Colony was
+descending to undignified means of increasing the revenue by the sale
+of stamps to collectors. At the instance of Lord Crewe an inquiry has
+lately been held into the reasons for the emission of various Colonial
+postage stamps, and the report of the Governor of the Gambia is quoted
+in the printed report of the Commission:--
+
+    "The Governor of the Colony states that as the supply of the
+    1/2d. and 1d. stamps had been exhausted before the arrival of
+    a new supply which had been ordered, no [regular] stamps of
+    these denominations were available from the 2nd to the 10th
+    April, letters requiring such postage being stamped 'Postage
+    Paid.' The surcharged stamps were on sale from the 10th to
+    the 24th of April, the date on which the new supply became
+    available. A surplus was left over, which was destroyed with
+    proper precautions."
+
+The unsold balance of the Provisional 1/2d. stamps on hand was destroyed
+"under direction from the Secretary of State and by a special Board
+appointed by His Excellency the Acting Governor" on October 16, 1906.
+How small the "unsold balance" was is not stated.
+
+[page 56]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+Bibliography.
+
+INDEX TO THE CHIEF PRINTED ARTICLES AND PAPERS IN PHILATELIC
+PERIODICALS.
+
+
+ABBREVIATIONS.
+
+2 A.J.P.--American Journal of Philately, 2nd series.
+E.W.S.N.--Ewen's Weekly Stamp News.
+  G.S.W.--Gibbons Stamp Weekly.
+M.W.S.N.--Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News.
+P.J.G.B.--Philatelic Journal of Great Britain.
+    P.R.--Philatelic Record.
+    P.S.--The Postage Stamp.
+      S.--Stamps.
+  S.C.F.--Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly.
+  S.C.M.--Stamp Collectors' Magazine.
+S.G.M.J.--Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal.
+
+NOTE.--Roman figures thus--V.--denote the volume, and Arabic
+figures--135--indicate the page. In a few cases the date takes the
+place of the volume number. In E.W.S.N. the number of the issue alone
+is given.
+
+COLONIAL POST OFFICES COMMISSION [Ward], G.S.W., IX., 88.
+
+    Contains the report of the Governor of the Gambia on the
+    Provisional stamps of 1906.
+
+CORRECTED PLATE, 6d., S.C.F., III., 207.
+
+FORGERIES, 6d. [Hilckes], S.C.F., II., 217.
+
+[page 57]
+
+GENERAL. The Postage Stamps, etc. ... of the British Colonies,
+Possessions and Protectorates in Africa. Part II., London, 1900.
+
+    The Philatelic Society's work on Africa, pp. 65-72, covers the
+    issues of Gambia adhesives from 1869-1898; also the postcards
+    and reply paid cards.
+
+---- S.G.M.J., VI., 26, 144; [Pemberton], P.J.G.B., XVII., 78;
+[Barnsdall], G.S.W., VIII., 65, 81; [Nankivell], P.S., II., 3;
+2 A.J.P., IV., 498; [Lehner], S., I., 90; [Clark], S., I., 102,
+reprinted in M.W.S.N., X., 255.
+
+ISSUE OF 1869, S.C.M., VII., 57.
+
+---- Date of [Lehner], S., I., 90; [Nankivell], S., I., 106.
+
+MINOR VARIETIES. Sloping label. [Hilckes], S.C.F., II., 253.
+
+PERFORATIONS [Bacon], P.R., XXV., 3. *** Plates. [Napier &
+Bacon], S.G.M.J., XIV., 97. *** Plates.
+
+PROVISIONALS, E.W.S.N., 347, 348, 350, 352, 353, 360, 373.
+
+SHEETS [Thiele], _The Adhesive_, July, 1904.
+
+SPECULATION, S.C.F., VI., 142.
+
+VALUES, S.C.F., VI., 119, 126.
+
+WATERMARKS [Evans], P.R., IV., 224.
+
+[page 58]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+Check List.
+
+
+1869.--No watermark. Imperforate. White gum.
+
+  4d. deep chocolate-brown.
+  4d. brown.
+  4d. pale brown.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Double embossing.
+  6d. deep blue.
+  6d. blue.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Label sloping to right.
+    "     "        left.
+  Double embossing.
+
+1874.--Watermarked vertically Crown C.C. Imperforate. White gum.
+
+  4d. deep brown.
+  4d. brown.
+  4d. pale brown.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       reversed.
+    "       inverted and reversed.
+    "       bars (division lines of the panes).
+    "       portions of words CROWN COLONIES.
+[page 59]
+  6d. deep blue.
+  6d. blue.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       reversed.
+    "       inverted and reversed.
+    "       bars.
+    "       portions of words CROWN COLONIES.
+
+1880.--Watermarked Crown C.C. vertical. Perf. 14. White gum.
+
+  1/2d. golden-yellow.
+  1/2d. deep golden-yellow,
+  1/2d. pale orange-vermilion.
+  1/2d. deep orange-vermilion.
+  1/2d. citron.
+  1/2d. pale ochre.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       sideways.
+    "         "       inverted.
+    "       portions of words Crown Colonies.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Single line perf.
+  1st comb perf.
+  Double perf. top and sides (pale orange-vermilion).
+  1d. lake.
+  1d. deep lake.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       sideways.
+    "         "       inverted.
+    "       portions of words Crown Colonies.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Single line perf.
+  1st comb perf.
+[page 60]
+  2d. pale rose.
+  2d. rose.
+  2d. deep rose.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       sideways.
+    "          "      inverted.
+    "       portions of words Crown Colonies.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  ? Single line perf.
+  1st comb perf.
+  Dot variety.
+  3d. pale ultramarine.
+  3d. deep ultramarine.
+  3d. deep blue.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       sideways.
+    "          "      inverted.
+    "       portions of words Crown Colonies.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Single line perf.
+  1st comb perf.
+  4d. sepia-brown.
+  4d. deep sepia-brown.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       sideways.
+    "          "      inverted.
+    "       portions of words Crown Colonies.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Single line perf.
+  1st comb perf.
+  6d. pale blue.
+  6d. blue.
+[page 61]
+  6d. deep blue.
+  Slanting label to right.
+    "        "      left.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       sideways.
+    "          "      inverted.
+    "       portions of words Crown Colonies.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Single line perf. (vertical watermark).
+    "      "        (sideways watermark).
+  1st comb perf.
+  1s. bright green.
+  1s. deep green.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       sideways.
+    "          "      inverted.
+    "       portions of words Crown Colonies.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  ? Single line perf.
+  1st comb perf.
+
+1886-7.--Watermarked Crown C.A. sideways. Comb perf. 14.
+
+  1/2d. grey-green.
+  1/2d. myrtle-green.
+  Double embossing.
+    "      "       one inverted.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Imperforate (grey-green).
+  Treble perf. at bottom.
+  Left stroke of M long.
+  Right  "         "
+  Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations.
+[page 62]
+  1d. carmine.
+  1d. rose-carmine.
+  1d. crimson.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Imperforate (pale crimson).
+  Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations.
+  2d. orange-yellow.
+  2d. orange.
+  2d. deep orange.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Imperforate (orange-yellow).
+  Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations.
+  2 1/2d. pale ultramarine.
+  2 1/2d. deep ultramarine.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       portions of words CROWN AGENTS.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Imperforate (pale ultramarine).
+  Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations.
+  3d. grey.
+  3d. slate-grey.
+  3d. pearl-grey.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Imperforate (pearl-grey).
+  Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations.
+  Final printing, 3 guide dots in left margin (pearl-grey only).
+[page 63]
+  4d. brown.
+  4d. deep brown.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark inverted.
+    "       portions of words CROWN AGENTS.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Imperforate (brown).
+  Sheets--1st comb perforation.
+  6d. olive-green.
+  6d. bronze-green.
+  6d. grey-green.
+  Label slanting to right.
+    "     "         left.
+  Double embossing.
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Imperforate (slate-green).
+  Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations.
+  New plate without defective top row.
+  1s. violet (shades).
+  1s. deep violet.
+  Double embossing.
+    "      "        one inverted (violet).
+  Yellow gum.
+  Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS.
+    "       division lines of the panes.
+  Imperforate (deep violet).
+  Sheets--1st comb perforation.
+
+[page 64]
+
+
+1898.--Watermarked Crown C.A. (upright). Perf. 14.
+
+    [NOTE.--Unless otherwise stated, the plate number is 2.]
+
+  1/2d. dull green and green (plates 2 and 3).
+  1d. carmine and carmine.
+  1d. deep carmine and deep carmine (plate 3).
+  2d. orange and mauve.
+  2 1/2d. ultramarine and ultramarine.
+  3d. mauve and pale ultramarine.
+  Imperforate.
+  3d. deep purple and deep ultramarine (plate 3).
+  4d. brown and ultramarine.
+  6d. olive-green and carmine.
+  1s. violet and green.
+
+1902-1905.--Watermarked Crown C.A. Perf. 14.
+
+    [Printed from plate 1 in each case.]
+
+  1/2d. green and green.
+  1d. carmine and carmine.
+  2d. orange and mauve.
+  2 1/2d. ultramarine and ultramarine.
+  3d. magenta and ultramarine.
+  4d. brown and ultramarine.
+  6d. sage-green and carmine.
+  1s. violet and green.
+  1s. 6d. green and carmine on yellow paper.
+  2s. deep slate and orange.
+  2s. 6d. purple and brown on yellow paper.
+  3s. carmine and green on yellow paper.
+
+[page 65]
+
+1904-1905.--Watermarked Multiple Crown C.A. Perf. 14.
+
+  1/2d. green and green.
+  1d. carmine and carmine.
+  2d. orange and mauve.
+  2 1/2d. ultramarine and ultramarine.
+  3d. magenta and ultramarine.
+  4d. brown and ultramarine.
+  5d. grey and black.
+  6d. sage-green and carmine.
+  7 1/2d. green and carmine.
+  10d. olive-brown and carmine.
+  1s. violet and green.
+  2s. deep slate and orange.
+
+1906 (April 10).--Provisional Issue. Overprinted in black.
+
+  HALF
+  PENNY on 2s. 6d. purple and brown on yellow paper.
+  5mm. between letters and bars.
+  4mm.       "          "
+  Depressed Y in PENNY.
+  ONE PENNY on 3s. carmine and green on yellow paper.
+  Double overprint.
+  Depressed Y in PENNY.
+    "       E      "
+
+[page 66]
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+Notes on the Postmarks.
+
+By DOUGLAS ELLIS.
+
+
+The first Gambia stamps appeared early in 1869, and postmarks of that
+year are usually composed of a circle with "Gambia" across the centre
+in a straight line, and the date in two lines below and a control
+letter above.
+
+This postmark is usually in red, but is also found in black. It
+was apparently only in use for a short time, being superseded by
+a circular postmark of the same size, but with "Gambia" at top and
+"Paid" at bottom, both following the line of the circle.
+
+The day and month are in a straight line across the centre of the
+circle, with the year (last two figures only) below and a control
+letter above. This, in the early dated specimens, is A, followed by
+B and then C. The postmark is always in red down to the early part of
+1887.
+
+On the early imperforate stamps we find a similar postmark in black,
+but lettered "Gambia" above and "Unpaid" below. This was probably
+intended for use on letters posted without a stamp. The control letter
+is A.
+
+[page 67]
+
+From 1887 to 1892 the Gambia-Paid postmark appears in black. The
+control letters are B or C.
+
+In 1892 this was superseded by a fresh cancellation with "Bathurst"
+above and "Gambia" below, both following the line of the circle, the
+date across the centre as before, and the control letter being C.
+
+The lettering may be found in two sizes; on one the distance between
+the B of Bathurst and the G of Gambia is 3mm. and on the other 6mm.
+
+In 1895 the control letter C was replaced by a six-pointed *, and this
+cancellation is still in use.
+
+About 1901 a special postmark for Registered letters was brought
+into use, consisting of a large ellipse with "Registered" above and
+"Gambia" below, both following the line of curve, and with date in
+centre and control letter above, either B or C, the latter often being
+found reversed or upside down. This is still in use.
+
+From 1895 onwards stamps may be found cancelled with a circular
+postmark with "Received" above and "Gambia" below, and either a
+control letter C or a six-pointed *. Possibly this was a Fiscal
+cancellation wrongly used on postage stamps.
+
+Most Gambia stamps, from the C.C. perforated issue onwards, may be
+found with a cancellation consisting of seven parallel bars forming
+a circle of 19mm. diameter, the two outside bars being rounded off to
+form part of the circle. Though this can be found on the last issue of
+Queen's Head stamps, it does not appear to be now used.
+
+On the 1887 and later issues we find a cancellation composed of four
+concentric circles, the diameter of the largest being 18mm.
+
+[page 68]
+
+Many letters appear to have been posted on board the mail steamer, or
+sent from the post office without the stamp being cancelled, as Gambia
+stamps are found with the mail steamer postmark, which consists of two
+circles with "Paquebot" above, and either "Plymouth" or, "Liverpool"
+below, both being between the two circles.
+
+The date, comprising not only the year and month but day and hour, is
+in three lines in the centre.
+
+Many Gambia stamps can also be found postmarked "Freetown, Sierra
+Leone," or "Registered, Sierra Leone," but as we have no record of
+Gambia stamps being used to defray postage from Sierra Leone, we must
+conclude that they were sent on by a steamer which did not possess a
+post office, and cancelled at Sierra Leone before being shipped on the
+mail steamer.
+
+Stamps of Gambia can also occasionally be found with the postmark of
+the French Colony of Senegambia.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration: Plate I.--6d. Imperforate.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate II.--1/2d. Single line perforation.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate III.--1/2d. First comb perforation (points down).]
+
+[Illustration: Plate IV.--1d. First comb perforation.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate V.--2d. First comb perforation.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate VI.--2 1/2d. First comb perforation (points up).]
+
+[Illustration: Plate VII.--3d. First comb perforation. Three guide
+dots to right.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate VIII.--3d. Second comb perforation. Three guide
+dots to left.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate IX.--4d. First comb perforation.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate X.--6d. First comb perforation (sloping label
+stamps, 1 and 5).]
+
+[Illustration: Plate XI.--6d. Second comb perforation (sloping label
+stamps, 1 and 5).]
+
+[Illustration: Plate XII.--Diagram of an uncut sheet of "Crown C.A."
+paper.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate XIII.--Diagram showing method of cutting the
+"Crown C.A." paper for the "Cameo" stamps.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate XIV.--6d. New plate. Without defective top row.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate XV.--1s. First comb perforation.]
+
+[Illustration: Plate XVI.--2 1/2d. Complete Sheet, shewing arrangement
+of panes, fitting half sheet of watermarked paper, which shews through
+the page from the back.]
+
+[Illustration: N.B.--To be examined through the stamps on the other
+side of the plate.]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gambia, by Frederick John Melville
+
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