Dominica
Chapter overview
- Airport Tax (catalogue numbers prefixed A)
- Impressed revenue stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed Z)
- Revenue stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed R)
- Revenue usage of Postage stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed F)
Acknowledgments for the Dominica section can be found on the main West Indies page.
Currency
- (Until 1949) 20 shillings = 1 pound sterling (12 pence = 1 shilling)
- (1949-1965) 100 cents = 1 British West Indies dollar
- (1965-present) 100 cents = 1 East Caribbean dollar
Airport Tax
A1, A6, A11
1980s-1990s? Inscribed Government of Dominica Embarkation Duty Paid. Imperf. No wmk.
a) Approx 70 x 40 mm
A1. $8 black on grey
b) Approx 70 x 60 mm
A6. $15 black
2000s? Inscribed Airport Authority Departure Tax / Security Charge. Approx 70 x 75 mm. Imperf. No watermark. Security number in red.
A11. $30 (Dep Tax $25 + Security Charge $5) black on buff
Notes:
1. A11 was sold to me as a Dominica issue but the territory name is not shown on the stamp. I would be grateful for a scan of this stamp used on a ticket to confirm the location.
2. Recorded usage: A1 (March 1985).
a) Approx 70 x 40 mm
A1. $8 black on grey
b) Approx 70 x 60 mm
A6. $15 black
2000s? Inscribed Airport Authority Departure Tax / Security Charge. Approx 70 x 75 mm. Imperf. No watermark. Security number in red.
A11. $30 (Dep Tax $25 + Security Charge $5) black on buff
Notes:
1. A11 was sold to me as a Dominica issue but the territory name is not shown on the stamp. I would be grateful for a scan of this stamp used on a ticket to confirm the location.
2. Recorded usage: A1 (March 1985).
Impressed revenue stamps
Note: in order to illustrate the colourless embossed stamps listed here, it has been necessary in most cases to shade or rub them gently with a soft pencil to bring out the design.
Z11
|
3d and 6d handpainted essays
|
1d to £5 values as proofs
1953 (recorded usage). Imperial Crown and inscription DOMINICA STAMP DUTY, with denomination in sterling currency. 33 x 39 mm. No date plugs or check letters. Colourless.
Recorded dates of usage are shown in brackets.
Recorded dates of usage are shown in brackets.
Z11. £1 (1953)
Note: no issued examples of this set are known other than the £1 value illustrated, however one group of proofs and a pair of handpainted essays are recorded. A proof set consisting of the 1d, 1s, 5s, 10s, £1 and £5 values, and essays for 3d and 6d values in Chinese white on red, dated January 1914, are shown here. No other examples of these values are recorded, and it is not known whether they were issued.
Note: no issued examples of this set are known other than the £1 value illustrated, however one group of proofs and a pair of handpainted essays are recorded. A proof set consisting of the 1d, 1s, 5s, 10s, £1 and £5 values, and essays for 3d and 6d values in Chinese white on red, dated January 1914, are shown here. No other examples of these values are recorded, and it is not known whether they were issued.
Z21/30
1966-68 (recorded usage). Crown and leaves in circular frame, 33 mm diameter. Inscription as before but denominated in decimal currency. No date plugs or check letters. Colourless.
Recorded dates of usage for each value are shown in brackets.
Z21. 4c
Z25. 25c (1968)
Z30. $10 (1966)
Note: the value on Z30 is shown as 10$, with the dollar sign after the figures.
Recorded dates of usage for each value are shown in brackets.
Z21. 4c
Z25. 25c (1968)
Z30. $10 (1966)
Note: the value on Z30 is shown as 10$, with the dollar sign after the figures.
Revenue stamps
R1/3 and R4 including R2a (image from Grosvenor Auctions June 2015 catalogue)
R2/3 forgeries (see note 4)
1877-88 (see note 1). Queen Victoria postage stamps overprinted REVENUE in sans-serif capitals by De La Rue. Perf 14.
a) On issue of 1877-79 (wmk Crown CC)
R1. 1d lilac
R2. 6d green
a. Watermark inverted
R3. 1s magenta
b) On issue of 1883-86 (wmk Crown CA)
R4. 1d lilac (1888)
a) On issue of 1877-79 (wmk Crown CC)
R1. 1d lilac
R2. 6d green
a. Watermark inverted
R3. 1s magenta
b) On issue of 1883-86 (wmk Crown CA)
R4. 1d lilac (1888)
R1 bisects postally used
Notes:
1. The date of issue shown by Stanley Gibbons is 1879-88, which refers to the period of authorised postal use. Fiscally used examples are known from 1877 onwards.
2. Early printings of R1/3 (recorded usage 1877-80) were line perforated.
3. Forbin additionally lists the 1s with wmk Crown CA, but I believe this is an error.
4. Philatelic forgeries of the 6d and 1s values exist as illustrated here, probably 19th century.
5. The 1d on CC wmk exists bisected on (postal) cover as a ½d stamp as shown here, but no fiscally used examples of this bisect are known.
6. All the above issues plus R6 below exist with postal cancels since they were authorised for such use.
1. The date of issue shown by Stanley Gibbons is 1879-88, which refers to the period of authorised postal use. Fiscally used examples are known from 1877 onwards.
2. Early printings of R1/3 (recorded usage 1877-80) were line perforated.
3. Forbin additionally lists the 1s with wmk Crown CA, but I believe this is an error.
4. Philatelic forgeries of the 6d and 1s values exist as illustrated here, probably 19th century.
5. The 1d on CC wmk exists bisected on (postal) cover as a ½d stamp as shown here, but no fiscally used examples of this bisect are known.
6. All the above issues plus R6 below exist with postal cancels since they were authorised for such use.
R6
1888 (according to Gibbons). Queen Victoria postage stamp locally overprinted Revenue in seriffed mixed-case font. Wmk Crown CA.
R6. 1d rose
Note: the quality of the overprinting is patchy, and it is common to find examples with the overprint doubled or partially omitted.
R6. 1d rose
Note: the quality of the overprinting is patchy, and it is common to find examples with the overprint doubled or partially omitted.
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.
F13/14
1883-86. Queen Victoria key type, 18 x 22 mm. Perf 14. Wmk Crown CA. Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
F13. ½d olive-yellow
F14. 1d lilac (1886)
F17/19
1886 (1 Mar). Queen Victoria issue of 1877-79 (wmk Crown CC) surcharged locally with bar through original value.
F17. ½d on 6d green
F19. 1d on 1s magenta
F20 and F22/a
1886-90. As 1883-86 issue but colours changed. Wmk Crown CA.
F20. ½d dull green
F22. 1d rose (1887)
a. Deep carmine (1889)
F28/33 (top row) and F38/43 (bottom row)
F44
1903-22. Roseau from the sea, 31 x 26 mm. Printed (typo) by De La Rue. Perf 14.
a) 1903-07: Wmk Crown CC (sideways)
F28. 1d grey and red
F31. 3d dull purple and grey-black
F32. 6d grey and chestnut
F33. 1s magenta and grey-green
b) 1907-08: Wmk Multiple Crown CA (sideways)
F38. 1d grey and red
F41. 3d dull purple and grey-black
F42. 6d black and chestnut
F43. 1s magenta and grey-green
F44. 2s grey-black and purple (1908)
a) 1903-07: Wmk Crown CC (sideways)
F28. 1d grey and red
F31. 3d dull purple and grey-black
F32. 6d grey and chestnut
F33. 1s magenta and grey-green
b) 1907-08: Wmk Multiple Crown CA (sideways)
F38. 1d grey and red
F41. 3d dull purple and grey-black
F42. 6d black and chestnut
F43. 1s magenta and grey-green
F44. 2s grey-black and purple (1908)
F48/54 including all listed varieties
1908-21. As previous issue but colours changed and new values added, plus new top value (5s) measuring 26 x 31 mm and featuring portrait of King George V. Wmk Multiple Crown CA. The watermark is sideways on horizontal stamps, with crown to the right or left of CA (seen from the back of the stamp) as indicated below.
F48. 1d carmine-red (crown to right)
a. Scarlet (crown to right) (1916)
F49a. 2d grey (crown to left)
b. Slate (crown to left) (1918)
F51. 3d purple on yellow (crown to right) (1909)
a. Crown to left (1912)
ab. On pale yellow (crown to left) (1920)
F52. 6d dull and bright purple (crown to right) (1909)
F53. 1s black on green (crown to right) (1910)
a. Crown to left (1912)
F53b. 2s purple and deep blue on blue (crown to left) (1919)
F54. 5s red and green on yellow (1914)
Note: F51, F52 and F53 are on chalk-surfaced paper. All other values including F51a, F51ab and F53a are on ordinary paper.
F48. 1d carmine-red (crown to right)
a. Scarlet (crown to right) (1916)
F49a. 2d grey (crown to left)
b. Slate (crown to left) (1918)
F51. 3d purple on yellow (crown to right) (1909)
a. Crown to left (1912)
ab. On pale yellow (crown to left) (1920)
F52. 6d dull and bright purple (crown to right) (1909)
F53. 1s black on green (crown to right) (1910)
a. Crown to left (1912)
F53b. 2s purple and deep blue on blue (crown to left) (1919)
F54. 5s red and green on yellow (1914)
Note: F51, F52 and F53 are on chalk-surfaced paper. All other values including F51a, F51ab and F53a are on ordinary paper.
F58 and F60
1919. Previous issue overprinted WAR TAX in red by De La Rue. Ordinary paper.
F58. 3d purple on yellow
1920. Special printing of 2½d value in unissued colour, surcharged in figures with short bars cancelling original value.
F60. 1½d on 2½d orange
F58. 3d purple on yellow
1920. Special printing of 2½d value in unissued colour, surcharged in figures with short bars cancelling original value.
F60. 1½d on 2½d orange
F72/89
1923-33. Badge of the Colony and portrait of King George V. Printed (typo) by De La Rue. Perf 14. Chalk-surfaced paper. Wmk Multiple Crown CA (F89) or Multiple Script CA (others).
F72. 1d black and bright violet
F74. 1½d black and scarlet
F78. 2½d black and ultramarine (1927)
F80. 3d black and red on yellow (1927)
F81. 4d black and brown
F82. 6d black and bright magenta
F83. 1s black on emerald
F89. 3s black and purple on yellow (wmk Multiple Crown CA)
F72. 1d black and bright violet
F74. 1½d black and scarlet
F78. 2½d black and ultramarine (1927)
F80. 3d black and red on yellow (1927)
F81. 4d black and brown
F82. 6d black and bright magenta
F83. 1s black on emerald
F89. 3s black and purple on yellow (wmk Multiple Crown CA)
F95
1935. Silver Jubilee of King George V. Perf 13½ x 14. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
F95. 1s slate and purple
F100/104
1938-47. Pictorial designs featuring the portrait of King George VI. Printed (recess) by Waterlow. Perf 12½. Wmk Multiple Script CA.
F100. 1d grey and scarlet
F102. 2d carmine and grey-black
F104. 3d olive-green and brown
F100. 1d grey and scarlet
F102. 2d carmine and grey-black
F104. 3d olive-green and brown
F122/133
1951. Pictorial designs featuring the portrait of King George VI, denominated in decimal currency. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson. Perf 13 x 13½. Wmk Multiple Script CA.
F122. 2c red-brown and deep green
F128. 12c black and bright green
F129. 24c reddish violet and rose-carmine
F133. $1.20 emerald and black
F122. 2c red-brown and deep green
F128. 12c black and bright green
F129. 24c reddish violet and rose-carmine
F133. $1.20 emerald and black
F139 and F147/149
1953. Coronation commemorative issue.
F139. 2c black and deep green
1954-57. As 1951 pictorial issue but portrait changed to Queen Elizabeth II.
F147. 5c light blue and sepia-brown (1957)
F149. 8c deep green and deep blue
F139. 2c black and deep green
1954-57. As 1951 pictorial issue but portrait changed to Queen Elizabeth II.
F147. 5c light blue and sepia-brown (1957)
F149. 8c deep green and deep blue
F162/175
1963-65. New pictorial designs. Printed (photo) by Harrison. Perf 14½ x 14. Wmk Multiple Block CA.
F162. 1c green, blue and sepia
F167. 6c green, bistre and violet
F169. 10c sepia and pink
F175. 60c orange, green and black
F162. 1c green, blue and sepia
F167. 6c green, bistre and violet
F169. 10c sepia and pink
F175. 60c orange, green and black
F196 and F198
1966. Inauguration of WHO Headquarters, Geneva.
F196. 24c black, light purple and yellow-brown
1966. 20th Anniversary of UNESCO.
F198. 15c orange-yellow, violet and deep olive
F196. 24c black, light purple and yellow-brown
1966. 20th Anniversary of UNESCO.
F198. 15c orange-yellow, violet and deep olive
F226/229
1968. Pictorial issue of 1963-65 overprinted ASSOCIATED STATEHOOD in black or silver.
F226. 24c multicoloured (silver opt)
F229. $1.20 multicoloured
F226. 24c multicoloured (silver opt)
F229. $1.20 multicoloured
