|
|
2½d designed
by Mary Adshead (Two hemispheres)
3d designed by
Percy Metcalfe c.v.o., (UPU monument in Berne)
6d designed by
H Fleury, (Goddess Concordia, globe and compass rose)
1/- designed
by George R Bellew, M.V.O. (Posthorn and globe)
Printed in photogravure by
Harrison & Sons in sheets of 20 rows of 6
Perforated 15 x 14
Issued 10 October, 1949 |
Watermark |
|
Numbers issued - 2½d
135,150,000 - 3d 16,450,000 - 6d 11,450,000 - 1/- 11,400,000 |
Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the
Universal Postal
Union.
2½d - two hemispheres, encircled by a
ribbon with the inscription '1874 UNIVERSAL / POSTAL UNION 1949' to symbolise
the Union encompassing the world. Profile head of the King centred in an oval
frame with crown above and decoration below. Value in top left and lower right
corners. Decoration in top right and lower left corners.
3d - adapted picture of the Postal Union monument in Berne,
with 'UNIVERSAL' above and 'POSTAL UNION' below. The dates '1874 1949' to the
left of the monument. The King's profile in a circle to the right with crown
above. Value in lower right corner. This was the first time a landmark outside
the British Isles had been shown on stamps of UK.
6d - on the left 2/3m the goddess Concordia behind the world,
and in front of the points of the compass. Concordia is holding letters.
'UNIVERSAL' above Concordia, 'POSTAL UNION' below. Along the left side the dates
'1874 - 1949' The King's profile is inside an octagon with crown above. Value in
lower left corner.
1/- - Globe encircled by a posthorn. 'UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION'
curves from top left corner down towards lower right corner. '1874-1949'
beneath. The King's profile on the right with crown above.
Cylinder Numbers and Varieties:
|
2½d cylinders |
Varieties |
Perforations |
| 2nd |
2d |
Lake in India (cyl 2nd, row 8/2)
Large retouched areas mainly over Mexico, West Indies and top of South
America, (cyl 2nd, row 4/3)
'Snow' in Siberia (cyl 2d, row 15/5 *). |
Type A |
| 3nd |
3d |
Lake in Asia at the top of India (cyl 3d, row 14/1) >
'Snow' in Siberia (cyl 3d, row 15/5 *) |
 |
|
| 5nd |
5d |
|
Major retouch to left hemisphere (cyl 5nd, row 18/2)
The easiest flaw to see is the misplaced island in the Pacific.
Retouched areas appear as 'rough' areas made up of dots, in
particular USA and Mexico. There is a break in the line of longitude
going through Panama. Small areas of shading appear in the ribbon.
'Snow in Siberia (cyl 5d, row 15/5 *).
|
 |
|
The 'snow' in Siberia variety occurs
on all with dot cylinders and shows that they were produced by the same
multipositive.
|
|
New Pacific Island and retouches to North
and South America |
|
|
Many other retouches - see articles in Gibbons Stamp Monthly, October 1953 and
September 1954.
|
|
Position of varieties listed below |
|
3d cylinders |
Varieties |
Perforations |
| 2nd |
2d |
a. Small black mark to right of I
in Universal (cyl ?, row 1/2)
b. Spots on figure (cyl ?, row
2/6)
c. Dark spot on forearm (cyl 2nd,
row 8/1)
d. Extra American island on left
of n. pole (cyl ?, row 8/2)
e. Scratches on back of figure (cyl
?, row 8/5)
f. Enlarged King's adam's apple (cyl
?, row 13/4)
g. Extra jewel in crown (cyl ?,
row 16/5)
h. Extra arctic island (cyl ?,
row 17/1)
i. Long foot (cyl 2nd, row 18/2)
j. Dark spot on skirt (cyl 2nd, row
19/4)
k. Tail to 's' in Universal (cyl
2nd, row 20/1) |
nd -
Type B
d -
Type C |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| c. Small dot on arm |
i. There is a small dot on back
foot |
j. Very small mark on skirt |
k. The tail is made up of 2
small dots |
|
|
Position of varieties listed below |
|
6d cylinders |
Varieties |
Perforations |
| 2nd |
2d |
a. Light spot in Concordia's hair
(cyl ?, row 2/1)
b. Extra polar island (cyl ?, row
8/2)
c. Dark spot in U of Union (cyl
?, row 8/6)
d. Dark spot between R and S (cyl
?, row 19/6)
e. White spot in V (cyl ?, row
20/5) |
nd -
Type B
d -
Type C |
|
|
Position of varieties listed below |
| 1s cylinders |
Varieties |
Perforations |
| 2nd |
2d |
a. Background flaw to 1/- (cyl ?,
row 8/5)
b. White patch in sea (cyl ?, row
11/4)
c. Blister on horn and extra
Atlantic island (cyl ?, row 15/1)
d. Large flaw on horn (cyl ?, row
17/1)
e. White spot over 1/- (cyl ?,
row 19/3)
f. Line across King's lip (cyl ?,
row 20/2) |
nd -
Type B
d -
Type C |
Specimen for all
values
First Day Covers
|
Cover issued by authority of British Philatelic
Association and Philatelic Traders Society |
 |
|
Produced by Harris Publications Ltd |
|
Overprints
2½d 'Bahrain 2½ anna' for use in Bahrain
'Kuwait - 2½ anna' for use in Kuwait
'2½ anna' (no country name) for use by
British Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia
'Tangier'
3d
'Bahrain 3 anna' for use in Bahrain
'Kuwait - 3 anna' for use in Kuwait
'3 anna' (no country name) for use by British Postal
Agencies in Eastern Arabia
'Tangier'
6d
'Bahrain 6 anna' for use in Bahrain
'Kuwait - 6 anna' for use in Kuwait
'6 anna' (no country name) for use by British Postal
Agencies in Eastern Arabia
'Tangier'
1/-
'Bahrain 1 rupee' for use in Bahrain
'Kuwait - 1 rupee' for use in Kuwait
'1 rupee' (no country name) for use by British Postal
Agencies in Eastern Arabia
'Tangier'
Back to top
|
