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

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: Gambia by Frederick John Melville
• 2: Postally there is little to record prior to 1866
• 3: For regulating the affixing of postage stamps
• 4: In straight bands above is GAMBIA
• 5: The left side of stamp 5 is 22 1 2mm
• 6: Inverted watermarks of this Crown and C
• 7: The date of issue of these watermarked stamps is uncertain
• 8: Any stamp differing in width to any extent more than 1 2mm
• 9: Part double and treble perforations
• 10: The perforations produced by the two machines gauge the same
• 11: Ultramarine and ultramarine plate 2
• 12: Carmine and green on yellow paper
• 13: Exists with the overprint double
• 14: Philatelic Journal of Great Britain
• 15: Watermarked vertically Crown C
• 16: Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS
• 17: The first Gambia stamps appeared early in 1869
• 18: Many Gambia stamps can also be found postmarked Freetown