Stamp Stories

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22661, 16 March 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

Stamp Stories

(By R. J. G. Collins)

Grille: This term is used to describe a pattern of small pyramids, impressed on the back of a stamp. The grille broke the fabric of the paper so that the ink of. the cancellation penetrated more deeply, and it was adopted as a protective measure to prevent the removal of the cancellation. Grille marks are found only on the issues of the U.S.A. and of Peru. Guadalajara: Tha capital of the state of Jalisco in Mexico. During the period of the war with France provisional issues were provided. In form these ‘ stamps closely resemble postmarks with the values printed from type.

Guadeloupe: A French island in the West Indies. In 1884 the general French colonial issue was overprinted with the letters "G.P.E.” and figures of value, but in 1889 the overprint consisted of the name of the island. In 1892 a set inscribed “Guadeloupe et Dependences” was produced, and in 1903 no fewer than 297 provisionals were issued, consisting of certain values of the type of 1892 overprinted with new values.

Guam: Contemporary stamps of the U.S.A. were overprinted in 1899 for use in this American possession in the north Pacific. The overprinted st ps were in use for a limited r .m 3, only being superseded by ordinary U.S.A. stamps. Guanacaate; A province of the Republic of Costa Rica, for which stamps overprinted with the pame were provided from 1885 to 1889.

Goatemala: This central American republic first issued stamps in 1871. The national bird is the Quetzal, which has a gorgeous plumage with a very long tail, and this bird has been featured on a number of the stamps. Qaayana; A state in the republic cf Venezuela for which provisional Issues were provided in 1903. Gmyaqnll: During a fire which destroyed a large part of this town to Ecuador, In July, 1902, quantities of stamps were stolen from the Government stores. To protect .the revenue and to prevent the stolen stamps being used, stocks remaining m the possession of the authorities

A PHILATELIC ENCYCLOPAEDIA—(Part 21)

were distinguished by means of various overprints for the different provinces, -and only the overprinted stamps were accepted.

Guayas: This province in Ecuador issued overprinted stamps in 1902, after the fire at Guayaquil. Guiana: See British Guiana, French Guiana and Surinam. Guine: See Portuguese Guinea. Guinea: See . French Guinea, Portuguese Guinea, and Spanish Guinea.

Guyane: See French Guiana. Gwalior: A native state in central India under British supervision. Indian stamps overprinted have been in use since 1885. Hair Lines: In the course of printing it is not unusual for hairs, dust and other foreign matter to get on to the printing plate, with the result that extra lines and dots are occasionally to be found on stamps. These varieties which are transient only are not considered of particular importance. Hamburg: One of the free cities which formed the German Hanseatic League. Stamps were issued from 1859 till 1867, when Hamburg joined the North German Confederation. Hanover: A former independent German kingdom which was incorporated in Prussia in 1866. Distinctive stamps were issued from 1850 to 1866, the name appearing as “Hannover.”

Hawaiian Islands: This group of islands in the north Pacific was an independent kingdom until *the formation of a republic in 1893. The United States formally annexed the group in 1898. The first stamps, which were issued in 1851, are among the rarest of all issues. They are familiarly known as the missionary stamps because most of the known copies were found on letters from missionaries operating in the islands.

Hayti: A negro republic in the West Indies, and occupying the western part' of the island of San Domingo. • The first stamps, which were issued in 1881, were printed in France, and the name has always appeared on the stamps as “Republique d’Haiti.” Hejaz-Nejd: Largely as a result of the ‘ activities of ‘‘Lawrence of Arabia," the independent Arab kingdom of Hejaz-Nejd was formed. The Emir of Hejaz declared his independence from the Turks in June, 1916, and in Npvem-

ber assumed the title of King of Hejaz. Stamps for Hejaz were issued in August, 1916, the designs being taken from inscriptions and ornaments on various mosques or from historic copies of the Koran.

Distinctive stamps for Nejd were first issued in 1925, but in the following year Nejd was joined to Hejaz, and since then one issue has served for the whole territory. The present issue is inscribed in French with the name “Kingdom of So'udite Arabia.”