Aden
Listed on this page are revenue stamps issued for the British Colony of Aden prior to 1962. Later issues inscribed Federation of South Arabia (1962-67), the People's Republic of South Yemen (1967-70) or the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1970-90) are listed under Yemen (Southern / PDR).
Chapter overview
- Court Fee (catalogue numbers prefixed C)
- Labels (catalogue numbers prefixed L)
- Notarial (catalogue numbers prefixed N)
- Postal Order poundage
- Revenue (catalogue numbers prefixed R)
- Revenue usage of Postage stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed S)
Currency
- (1937) 16 annas = 1 rupee
- (1951) 100 cents = 1 East African shilling
Printers
Unless otherwise stated, all issues were printed or overprinted (offset-litho) by Security Printing Press, Nasik, India.
Court Fee
C1/6
1940 (earliest recorded usage). King George V Court Fee issues of India (76 x 34 mm) overprinted ADEN. Perf 14 x 12. Wmk Multiple Stars.
C1. 2a brown-purple
C4. 8a brown-purple
C6. 1r brown-purple
Note: I have also seen the 2r, 5r and 15r values similarly overprinted, but I am unable to illustrate these at present.
C1. 2a brown-purple
C4. 8a brown-purple
C6. 1r brown-purple
Note: I have also seen the 2r, 5r and 15r values similarly overprinted, but I am unable to illustrate these at present.
C11/22 (C23 illustrated below)
C23
1937 (earliest recorded usage). As previous issue but portrait of King George VI. Perf 14 x 12. Wmk Multiple Stars.
C11. 2a brown-purple
C12. 4a brown-purple
C13. 6a brown-purple
C14. 8a brown-purple
C15. 12a brown-purple
C16. 1r brown-purple
C17. 2r brown-purple
C18. 3r brown-purple
C19. 4r brown-purple
C20. 5r brown-purple
C21. 10r brown-purple
C22. 15r brown-purple
C23. 20r brown-purple
C11. 2a brown-purple
C12. 4a brown-purple
C13. 6a brown-purple
C14. 8a brown-purple
C15. 12a brown-purple
C16. 1r brown-purple
C17. 2r brown-purple
C18. 3r brown-purple
C19. 4r brown-purple
C20. 5r brown-purple
C21. 10r brown-purple
C22. 15r brown-purple
C23. 20r brown-purple
Labels
L2/3, L1, L4/6
c1957. Anti-Tuberculosis fundraising labels inscribed FIGHT TB IN ADEN. Dhow, dagger and camel designs se-tenant, each 27 x 21 mm. No value indicated. Roulette 6½. No watermark.
L1. (No value) blue (dhow)
a. Se-tenant with L2/3 in strip of 3
L2. (No value) blue (dagger)
L3. (No value) blue (camel)
L4. (No value) blue and yellow (dhow)
a. Se-tenant with L5/6 in strip of 3
L5. (No value) blue and yellow (dagger)
L6. (No value) blue and yellow (camel)
Note: according to John Denune's Christmas Seals website, this issue was printed in sheets of 100 with a large background design of a dhow, presumably in yellow. Certain stamps in the sheet therefore have a plain white or yellow background, while other stamps have patches or bands of yellow as shown on my illustration of L1 above. I am grateful to Carmel Axiaq for bringing the Seals website to my attention.
L1. (No value) blue (dhow)
a. Se-tenant with L2/3 in strip of 3
L2. (No value) blue (dagger)
L3. (No value) blue (camel)
L4. (No value) blue and yellow (dhow)
a. Se-tenant with L5/6 in strip of 3
L5. (No value) blue and yellow (dagger)
L6. (No value) blue and yellow (camel)
Note: according to John Denune's Christmas Seals website, this issue was printed in sheets of 100 with a large background design of a dhow, presumably in yellow. Certain stamps in the sheet therefore have a plain white or yellow background, while other stamps have patches or bands of yellow as shown on my illustration of L1 above. I am grateful to Carmel Axiaq for bringing the Seals website to my attention.
Notarial
N1 and N2
c1937-40s. Notarial issues of India (22 x 38mm) overprinted ADEN. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Stars.
a) Portrait of King George V
N1. 2r purple and black
b) Portrait of King George VI
N2. 2r blue and black
a) Portrait of King George V
N1. 2r purple and black
b) Portrait of King George VI
N2. 2r blue and black
Postal Order poundage
Illustrated above is a British postal order overprinted for use in Aden. The fee (poundage) of 1½d sterling has been surcharged in East African currency, which was used in Aden from 1951 onwards. British postal orders were issued in a wide range of values and it is likely that many of these were overprinted for Aden. Such items are not listed on this website but further information can be obtained from the Postal Order Society.
Revenue
R1/12 (R13 illustrated below)
R13
1937. Key types of India (King George V) inscribed ADEN REVENUE in lower appropriation tablet. Perf 13¾ (2a to 12a) or perf 14 (1r and above). Wmk Multiple Stars.
R1. 2a green and black
R2. 3a green and black
R3. 4a green and black
R4. 6a green and black
R5. 8a green and black
R6. 12a green and black
R7. 1r purple and black
R9. 3r purple and black
R10. 4r purple and black
R11. 5r purple and black
R12. 10r purple and black
R13. 20r green and black
Note: I have also seen the 2r but am unable to illustrate it at present.
R1. 2a green and black
R2. 3a green and black
R3. 4a green and black
R4. 6a green and black
R5. 8a green and black
R6. 12a green and black
R7. 1r purple and black
R9. 3r purple and black
R10. 4r purple and black
R11. 5r purple and black
R12. 10r purple and black
R13. 20r green and black
Note: I have also seen the 2r but am unable to illustrate it at present.
R21/32 (R33 illustrated below)
R33
c1940. As previous issue but with portrait of King George VI. 18 x 29½ mm (2a to 12a), 21½ x 38mm (1r to 10r), 20½ x 56½ mm (50r). Perf 13¾ (2a to 12a) or perf 14 x 13¾ (1r and above). Wmk Multiple Stars.
R21. 2a purple and black
R22. 3a purple and black
R23. 4a purple and black
R24. 6a purple and black
R25. 8a purple and black
R26. 12a purple and black
R27. 1r blue and black
R28. 2r blue and black
R29. 3r blue and black
R30. 4r blue and black
R31. 5r blue and black
R32. 10r blue and black
R33. 50r green and black
R21. 2a purple and black
R22. 3a purple and black
R23. 4a purple and black
R24. 6a purple and black
R25. 8a purple and black
R26. 12a purple and black
R27. 1r blue and black
R28. 2r blue and black
R29. 3r blue and black
R30. 4r blue and black
R31. 5r blue and black
R32. 10r blue and black
R33. 50r green and black
Revenue usage of Postage stamps
Note: for ease of reference, numbering follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 catalogue throughout this section. Values listed here are those recorded as having been used for revenue purposes. Dates of issue are as given in Gibbons.
Note: for ease of reference, numbering follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 catalogue throughout this section. Values listed here are those recorded as having been used for revenue purposes. Dates of issue are as given in Gibbons.
S16/20
1939-48. Various pictorial designs featuring portrait of King George VI. 25 x 30 mm. Perf 12½. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by Waterlow.
S16. ½a yellowish green
S18. 1a pale blue
S20. 2a sepia
S16. ½a yellowish green
S18. 1a pale blue
S20. 2a sepia
S36/39
1951. As previous issue but surcharged in East African currency by Waterlow.
S36. 5c on 1a pale blue
S37. 10c on 2a sepia
S39. 20c on 3a sepia and carmine
S36. 5c on 1a pale blue
S37. 10c on 2a sepia
S39. 20c on 3a sepia and carmine
Top row: S50/55; Bottom row: S49a, S61a, S63, S68, S83
1953-65. New pictorial designs featuring portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. 25 x 30 mm (horiz) or 30 x 25 mm (vert). Perf 12 x 13½ (5c, 70c and 5s) or perf 12 (others). Printed (recess) by Waterlow, then from December 1961 by De La Rue.
a) Wmk Multiple Script CA (1953-61)
S49a. 5c bluish green (1956)
S50. 10c orange
S51. 10c vermilion (1955)
S53. 15c greenish grey (1959)
S55. 25c deep rose-red (1956)
S61a. 70c black (1956)
S63. 1s black and violet (1955)
S68. 5s black and deep dull blue (1956)
b) Wmk Multiple St Edward's Crown CA (1964-65)
S83. 70c black
a) Wmk Multiple Script CA (1953-61)
S49a. 5c bluish green (1956)
S50. 10c orange
S51. 10c vermilion (1955)
S53. 15c greenish grey (1959)
S55. 25c deep rose-red (1956)
S61a. 70c black (1956)
S63. 1s black and violet (1955)
S68. 5s black and deep dull blue (1956)
b) Wmk Multiple St Edward's Crown CA (1964-65)
S83. 70c black
