Gibraltar stamps for King George V first appeared in 1912. During the period from 1912 to 1935, the old-style definitive postage stamps would be phased out, and they would eventually be replaced by attractive large-format pictorial definitive stamps. This period would also witness the issue of a special tax stamp and the appearance of Gibraltar's first commemorative stamps.
Many of the issues of King George V were printed on both normal and
chalk surfaced papers. As a rule, the low-denomination stamps were usually printed on regular paper, and the high-denomination stamps were usually printed on chalk surfaced paper. This was done to prevent their cleaning and reuse.
In the illustrations below, only one example of
each denomination is shown. Where there are varieties of a particular
denomination on multiple papers, they will be noted in the description
tables below the stamp illustrations.
The ten King George V definitive postage stamps and the "War Tax" stamp shown above were all issued between 1912 and 1919 (shades). They are all typographed, perforated 14, and they were printed on either normal or chalk-surfaced paper with WMK 3 - the Multiple Crown and CA watermark.
Their details are as follows:
1/2 P. (1912 - Normal Paper - Scott #66) - Green, Yellow Green.
1 P. (1912 - Normal Paper - Scott #67) - Carmine, Scarlet.
2 P. (1912 - Normal Paper - Scott #68) - Gray.
2 1/2 P. (1912 - Normal Paper - Scott #69) - Ultramarine, Pale Ultramarine.
6 P. (1912 - Chalky Paper - Scott #70) - Dull Violet and Red Violet.
1 S. (1912 - Normal or Chalky Paper - Scott #71) - Black on Green, Black on Emerald, Black on Blue Green.
2 S. (1912 - Chalky Paper - Scott #72) - Violet and Ultramarine on Bluish.
4 S. (1912 - Chalky Paper - Scott #73) - Black and Scarlet.
8 S. (1912 - Chalky Paper - Scott #74) - Violet and Green.
1 £. (1912 - Chalky Paper - Scott #75) - Violet and Black on Red.
In 1918, the colonial government of Gibraltar levied a war tax on letter mail, in order to collect money to defray the costs of World War I. For this purpose, 1/2 Penny definitive Gibraltar stamps were overprinted "WAR TAX", as shown in the illustration above.
1/2 P. (1918 - War Tax - Scott #MR1) - Green.
For a given period of time, the use of these tax stamps, in addition to
the stamps paying the postal rates, was mandatory on all letter mail.
The twelve King George V definitive Gibraltar stamps shown above were issued between 1921 and 1930. They are all typographed, perforated 14, and they are printed on either normal or chalk-surfaced paper with WMK 4 - the Multiple Crown and Script CA watermark.
Their details are as follows:
1/2 P. (1927 - Normal Paper - Scott #76) - Green.
1 P. (1921 - Normal Paper - Scott #77) - Rose Red.
1 1/2 P. (1922 - Normal Paper - Scott #78) - Red Brown.
2 P. (1921 - Normal Paper - Scott #79) - Gray.
2 1/2 P. (1921 - Normal Paper - Scott #80) - Ultramarine.
3 P. (1922 - Normal Paper - Scott #81) - Ultramarine, Blue.
3 P. (1930 - Normal Paper - Scott #94) - Ultramarine.
6 P. (1923 - Chalky Paper - Scott #82) - Gray Lilac and Red Violet, Dull Violet and Red Violet.
1 S. (1924 - Chalky Paper - Scott #83) - Black on Emerald.
2 S. (1924 - Chalky Paper - Scott #85) - Gray Violet and Ultramarine on Bluish, Red Violet and Ultramarine on Bluish.
4 S. (1924 - Chalky Paper - Scott #88) - Black and Scarlet.
8 S. (1924 - Chalky Paper - Scott #90) - Violet and Green.
Between 1925 and 1932, new denomination Gibraltar stamps, as well as concurrent high-denomination stamps in new colors, were added. They are all shown above.
They are all typographed, perforated 14, and they are printed on chalk-surfaced paper with WMK 4 - the Multiple Crown and Script CA watermark.
Their details are as follows:
1 S. (1929 - Chalky Paper - Scott #84) - Olive Green and Black, Brown Olive and Black.
2 S. (1929 - Chalky Paper - Scott #86) - Red Brown and Black.
2 S. 6 P. (1925 - Chalky Paper - Scott #87) - Green and Black.
5 S. (1925 - Chalky Paper - Scott #89) - Carmine and Black.
10 S. (1925 - Chalky Paper - Scott #91) - Ultramarine and Black.
1 £. (1927 - Chalky Paper - Scott #92) - Orange and Black.
5 £. (1925 - Chalky Paper - Scott #93) - Violet and Black.
Between 1931 and 1933, the first four pictorial definitive Gibraltarstamps were issued (Sc. #96-99). They are all engraved, perforated 14, and they are printed on paper with WMK 4 - the Multiple Crown and Script CA watermark.
The designs feature a view of Gibraltar Bay, with the Rock of Gibraltar in the background.
The first commemorative Gibraltar stamps shown above(Sc. #100-03) were issued on May 6, 1935 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Reign of King George V. These stamps are all engraved, perforated 11 x 12, and they are printed on paper with WMK 4 - the Multiple Crown and Script CA watermark.
Each of the common designs features a view of Windsor Castle and a left-facing profile of King George V, with various types of coronation regalia integrated elsewhere in the design.
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