Gambia: Stamps

I have always like this series. I do have a few.

Roos

Beautiful. I love them.

Gambia 1902 Postcard overprinted SPECIMEN

Gambia T.P.O. No.2 RIVER GAMBIA 11 JU 49

The first river boat provided by the British Government for service on the Gambia was the Wilberforce, a wooden paddle steamer introduced in 1843.

It wasn't until 1922, however, that the first Travelling Post Office (T.P.O.) commenced operations on the river on the Prince of Wales.

The circular date stamp (T.P.O. No.2) on the cover above was first used in 1924 on board the Vampire, whereas another CDS simply inscribed T.P.O. was used on the larger vessel Prince of Wales.  This particular cover was probably posted on board Vic 20, an unsatisfactory small vessel purchased in 1946 and sold again four years later.

In 1951 a new vessel called the Lady Wright was put on the River Gambia service.  This vessel featured on the 10s value of the new definitive set issued in 1953.



Gambia 1953 10s. deep blue & myrtle-green SG184


Although the year date on the cover below is indistinct (probably 1960), it was probably posted on the Lady Wright.  This particular CDS inscribed T.P.O. - RIVER GAMBIA was introduced on 17 September 1955 and was in use until 1966.

When I was collecting as a kid, I thought that Gambia must have been a very wealthy colony to have gone to the expense of creating the Cameo embossed issue.

It wasn't until much later, when I started doing a little reading to go along with the little pieces of paper, that I learned that it was actually done as a cost-saving measure. DLR would have charged many times more to set up a traditional engraved two-stamp issue, and the typographed frame and embossing die ended up costing something on the order of ten pounds.

Stamp collectors can be eternally thankful that the first issue was going to be a small run of a two-stamp 'set' that forced a need to be somewhat frugal.

[edit:  I just Googled a bit to see if my memory was correct, and Sandafayre has a similar story, but with higher numbers.  They say the issue ran 270 pounds (though I suppose that could be all inclusive...I'm pretty sure I remember reading that setup was accomplished for ten pounds.  If someone has the actual explanation, please add it.]

My we have some well read gentlemen here tonight, I must confess, my contributions are brought about by a simple "search button" 
Whilst not discrediting at all, the contributions of the aforementioned gents, here is a clipping from what? 1970's Australian Stamp Monthly magazine?
Maybe possibly a Stanley Gibbons monthly.  I cannot vouch for the accuracy.



PS: I was tickled to see the word pantograph being raised, (simple things delight us philatelists) I was sure we had discussed these prior, in other forums, alas, I did not find any reference on my hard disk drive. (Now I cannot recall on what stamps the pantograph was used as well   )

Here is what Sandafayre says:


I'm not knocking their site...they have a lot of information and some great eye candy.  Here is the link to the Cameos article: www.sandafayre.com/philatelicarticles/gambia.html

Interesting article, rod222.  Thanks for sharing it.  I can't help but roll my eyes at the last line, though.  Gambia's (then-current) stamps are (were) sought-after for their broad thematic appeal. That's the most polite way you could possibly put it.  I guess if you ran a stamp magazine back in the day, broad thematic appeal was a win?

Very interesting posts. It amazes me how simply and almost with no idea of the consequences for future philatelist stamps decisions were made in the 'good old days', quite unlike today when most postal authorities seem to print huge volumes of 'junk' just...for lil' ol' us, of more accurately for our money.

cjd,

I noticed your Edward key plate appears to have a printing flaw.
On his forehead, just above the eyebrow.

`Paul

Yes, that is the mark I spotted.


LOL. Yes you will.

And then you can give the flawed one to me,
because I'm not that fussy.
And I haven't got that stamp yet.

`Paul

Lovely stamp jkblue.
I can see a red line bottom LH corner, perhaps on a registered letter ?
The stamp was seperately printed and embossed on letterpress machines.
The male part of the die, was, incredibly! Plaster of Paris.

Those embossed heads are great classics - that style was used on several colonies.

Ignoring embossed postal stationery, in terms of GB and BC postage stamps, I'm thinking of the handful of GB issues, and then Gambia and Heligoland. Am I missing an obvious one?