Search: PAPUA NEW GUINEA STAMPS
PAPUA NEW GUINEA STAMPS
Papua Mint Stamps - Papua Used Stamps - Papua Newest Stamps
British philately in the Pacific offers some really great areas to consider. One of the most interesting and collectable is the country of Papua, formerly called British New Guinea. Early mail posted in Papua was franked with the stamps of Queensland until the first issues of Papua were printed in 1901. The original issues were recess printed by De La Rue of London.
Papua Mint Stamps - Papua Used Stamps - Papua Newest Stamps
British philately in the Pacific offers some really great areas to consider. One of the most interesting and collectable is the country of Papua, formerly called British New Guinea. Early mail posted in Papua was franked with the stamps of Queensland until the first issues of Papua were printed in 1901. The original issues were recess printed by De La Rue of London.
These same issues were overprinted “Papua” in Port Morsby, Papua in 1906 and again in smaller type at Brisbane. In 1907, Scott catalog numbers the three issues as #1-26 with listings for 6 additional stamps as sub-numbers addressing the double overprint and/or vertical overprint. They also add a footnote that the stamps are printed on varied thickness of paper and have two possible watermark varieties, either vertical or horizontal. The Gibbons catalog lists the same group as #1-46 with an additional 22 listings for the additional colors and overprint differences. The Gibbons listing does price each stamp for what it is and in many cases, the thick vs. thin paper, and watermark vertical or horizontal shows a substantial price difference, which of course indicates that there are more of the basic type as opposed to the different. The Gibbons catalog also offers information as to the “white leaf” and the “unshaded leaf” varieties. They are not priced, and it is also noted that they are a constant variety.
The later lakotois were of the same basic design, but were litho printed from transfers from the original engraved plates. These issues which were in use from 1907-1910 were printed by the Government Printing Office in Melbourne. Even later issues were printed by various printers including John Ash. In 1929-1930 (SG #112-20), Air Mail issues were made available by overprinting the issues in use at the time. Here again, they were overprinted by several different firms and thus created additional varieties.
The Postage error is another neat error created by failing plates, which created “c”s out of “g”s. These varieties are usually collected in pairs, one being normal with the other having the malformed “g”. Other varieties include “come6ts” and “rifts” in the sky, shade varieties and so on. Most of the latter are not listed but are fun to collect and add greatly to the collection. All of the above examples of the lakatois are difficult to find on cover and always demand good prices. Covers issued for Papua prior to the lakitois i.e., Queensland issues, both stampless and franked for used in Papua are scarce and heavy priced. As always condition is the dominating factor in pricing. Most all of the Papua stamps are obtainable in fine to very fine condition.
Back of the book collectors will also find ample material to enhance their collections. From 1908to 1930, the issues in use at the time were perforated OS for official usage and not until 1931 were the issues in use at the time overprinted OG. This group of some 70-80 stamps are also found with the varieties afore mentioned. Only the overprinted OS issues are listed by Scott Catalog, whereas, the Gibbons catalog lists and prices them. Many of the perforated issues demand much higher prices than the unperforated issue.
The final issue of Papua before it became Papua & New Guinea is also worth one’s effort to obtain. Printed by John Ash, this engraved pictorial consists of 16 of the most att5ractive stamps ever issued. Many of these sets are collected by non-
British collectors simply for the sake of design and color. It’s interesting to note that the set of 16 is the effort of several designers, and several of the centers are from photographs by William & Gibson. When the set was issued in 1932 it had a face value of about $12 US, and today a fine to very fine hinged set sells in the $450 to $500 range.
In summing up it is fair to say that Papua collections offer a great challenge and that sufficient material is available to complete a collection of this Pacific country. Prices for all but a few of the issues are under $25. Prices for covers of the same stamps vary but acceptable covers can be purchased in the $20-50 range.
Any collector who seriously attempts to collect this fascinating area of British philately should obtain a copy of the Gibbons catalog. Not only does Gibbons price many, many more stamp, they also give you a multiplication factory to utilize in pricing covers. The listing in Scotts catalog is rather general or generic, and does not give a good indication of the overall scope of the issues.
Written by Ray Hanser
This has been reprinted from Global Stamp News – January 1991 – Issue #3
To see the latest worldwide new stamp issues please see the New Issue Listings at Herrick Stamp Company website.
The later lakotois were of the same basic design, but were litho printed from transfers from the original engraved plates. These issues which were in use from 1907-1910 were printed by the Government Printing Office in Melbourne. Even later issues were printed by various printers including John Ash. In 1929-1930 (SG #112-20), Air Mail issues were made available by overprinting the issues in use at the time. Here again, they were overprinted by several different firms and thus created additional varieties.
The Postage error is another neat error created by failing plates, which created “c”s out of “g”s. These varieties are usually collected in pairs, one being normal with the other having the malformed “g”. Other varieties include “come6ts” and “rifts” in the sky, shade varieties and so on. Most of the latter are not listed but are fun to collect and add greatly to the collection. All of the above examples of the lakatois are difficult to find on cover and always demand good prices. Covers issued for Papua prior to the lakitois i.e., Queensland issues, both stampless and franked for used in Papua are scarce and heavy priced. As always condition is the dominating factor in pricing. Most all of the Papua stamps are obtainable in fine to very fine condition.
Back of the book collectors will also find ample material to enhance their collections. From 1908to 1930, the issues in use at the time were perforated OS for official usage and not until 1931 were the issues in use at the time overprinted OG. This group of some 70-80 stamps are also found with the varieties afore mentioned. Only the overprinted OS issues are listed by Scott Catalog, whereas, the Gibbons catalog lists and prices them. Many of the perforated issues demand much higher prices than the unperforated issue.
The final issue of Papua before it became Papua & New Guinea is also worth one’s effort to obtain. Printed by John Ash, this engraved pictorial consists of 16 of the most att5ractive stamps ever issued. Many of these sets are collected by non-
British collectors simply for the sake of design and color. It’s interesting to note that the set of 16 is the effort of several designers, and several of the centers are from photographs by William & Gibson. When the set was issued in 1932 it had a face value of about $12 US, and today a fine to very fine hinged set sells in the $450 to $500 range.
In summing up it is fair to say that Papua collections offer a great challenge and that sufficient material is available to complete a collection of this Pacific country. Prices for all but a few of the issues are under $25. Prices for covers of the same stamps vary but acceptable covers can be purchased in the $20-50 range.
Any collector who seriously attempts to collect this fascinating area of British philately should obtain a copy of the Gibbons catalog. Not only does Gibbons price many, many more stamp, they also give you a multiplication factory to utilize in pricing covers. The listing in Scotts catalog is rather general or generic, and does not give a good indication of the overall scope of the issues.
Written by Ray Hanser
This has been reprinted from Global Stamp News – January 1991 – Issue #3
To see the latest worldwide new stamp issues please see the New Issue Listings at Herrick Stamp Company website.
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