The Turks & Caicos 2s and 3s
Stamps depicting the seal of a colony seemed to be a favourite recommendation of Colonial Secretaries in the late 19th century.
Instructions to the Crown Agents frequently urged the use of a single design with a central device to convey the badge.
Precisely this approach was suggested for the first combined issue of the Turks & Caicos Islands in 1900, and the result was something of a classic in conveying the economic raison d’être of one of the least heralded corners of the Empire.
Burma 1938 1r purple and blue, with the tail-feathers of a peacock embracing the head of King George VI
The medium values had attractive pictorial designs
Lower Burma had been progressively occupied by the British as part of India in 1826 and 1852, and in 1885 General Sir Harry Prendergast was dispatched with 10,000 troops to acquire Upper Burma and complete the conquest.
In what became known as the Third Anglo-Burmese War, the troublesome King Thibaw, who had hoped to reunify his country, was banished to serve out the rest of his days in exile.
At a stroke, Burma became the largest province in British India, and the use of Indian stamps was extended to the newly annexed territory.
The Ionian Islands’ only set of stamps, issued in 1859, comprised the undenominated (½d) orange, (1d) blue and (2d) carmine
Today, the Ionian Islands are a magnet for tourism, inspired by films such as Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
But in the 19th century, this small archipelago off the west coast of Greece was thought of mainly as a strategic base for a naval fleet.
The islands had been passed from the Venetians to the French, to the Turks, to the Russians and back to the French again, before they were made a British protectorate in 1815.
St Vincent's first high value
The Caribbean island of St Vincent thrived for many years as a simple plantation economy, but after the emancipation of slave labour in 1833 its development required an efficient postal system.
In 1852 a post office was opened at Kingstown, the capital, where British stamps were used initially, cancelled by the distinctive ‘A10’ oval postmark.
But on June 4, 1860, a Post Office Act paved the way for the colony to issue its own stamps.
Mint copy of the octagonal 4a
The East India Company, which had a monopoly on the carriage of mail to and from British India, was still using antiquated hand-struck stamps into the 1850s.
A commission reviewing its efficiency suggested the introduction of adhesive stamps, akin to those of Great Britain.
However, the cost of commissioning Perkins Bacon to engrave copper plates and recess-print these would be prohibitive, so a cheaper local approach was required.
