Nigerian Stamps and Postal History

Today's post will explore the last of the Queen Victorian issues to not comply with the colour requirements of the Universal Postal Union: the 4d rose, watermarked crown CA. There were 36,240 stamps printed, making it the largest quantity of stamps out of the 1d, 2d, 3d and 4d values. Yet, mint stamps are extremely scarce, with the vast majority of the examples you will encounter being used. The very first shipment was sent out to the colony on February 14, 1882, and the last was sent on April 28, 1884. Thus there was a period of just over 26 months during which this stamp was current. Given that the Crown Agents supplied stamps on a quarterly basis, and the basic inland postage rate was 2d, this would have seen heavy usage, and therefore, it is reasonable to expect that there should have been 8 or 9 printings. However, in my examination of the five mint and 37 used examples of this stamp in my stock, I have identified 12 different shade combinations, Some of these are very cl...

In today's post, I will look at the printings of the 3d chestnut stamp from the first crown-CA issue. This stamp had the unique distinction of not being replaced by the stamps of the second crown CA Issue between 1884 and 1886. In fact, it was not until 1890 when the bicoloured mauve and chestnut stamp was first dispatched, that this stamp was replaced. Therefore, it is not unheard of to see this stamp with cancellations dated into the early 1890's. Ince did list four printings made during the period of the second crown CA issue, between 1884 and 1886, which comprised 17,820 of the 24,540 stamps that were printed. Those printings were as follows: July 8, 1884 - 56 sheets December 16, 1884 - 60 sheets.  July 13, 1885 - 63 sheets. December 29, 1885 - 60 sheets June 30, 1886 - 58 sheets  That left 6,720 stamps that would have been printed between February 1882, when the stamps were first issued, and December 1884 - a period just under 3 years. The question is: how m...