Montserrat
Chapter overview
- Airport Tax (catalogue numbers prefixed A)
- Impressed revenue stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed Z)
- Labels (catalogue numbers prefixed L)
- Postal orders (catalogue numbers prefixed P)
- Revenue (catalogue numbers prefixed R)
- Revenue usage of Postage stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed F)
Acknowledgments
Glenn H Morgan, FRPSL, 'Harrison and Sons 1866 Revenue Stamps of Montserrat', Gibbons Stamp Monthly (June 2017)
W Schmidt and C Kiddle, Images of the Great War Vol III: an illustrated Catalogue of Delandre's Red Cross Vignettes 1914-1917 (Cinderella Stamp Club Handbook 13, 1997)
Many thanks also to David Taylor for his help and guidance in collating this page.
Further acknowledgments can be found on the main West Indies page. Special thanks to Carmel Axiaq for providing details of A1 and A6.
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 and A6
February 2020 (recorded usage) Size unknown. Imperf. No watermark. Security number in black. Face value in both East Caribbean and US currency.
a) Airport Security Charge
A1. EC$10 / US$4 black on green
b) Embarkation Tax - Residents / Caricom Nationals
A6. EC$25 / US$10 black
a) Airport Security Charge
A1. EC$10 / US$4 black on green
b) Embarkation Tax - Residents / Caricom Nationals
A6. EC$25 / US$10 black
Impressed revenue stamps
Z4/8
1921-33 (recorded usage). Imperial Crown, inscribed MONTSERRAT STAMP DUTY , with value in words. Various frames, measuring approx 33 x 39 mm, Z4 in smaller circular type without STAMP DUTY. No check letters.
a) Inked in purple, MONTSERRAT in thin letters (1921-24)
Z4. 3d purple
Z6. 1s purple
Z7. 5s purple
Z8. 10s purple
a) Inked in purple, MONTSERRAT in thin letters (1921-24)
Z4. 3d purple
Z6. 1s purple
Z7. 5s purple
Z8. 10s purple
Z11/18 plus Z13 essay (this image from Freeland)
b) Colourless, MONTSERRAT in thick letters (1930-33)
Z11. ½d colourless
Z12. 1d colourless
Z13. 2d colourless
Z15. 6d colourless
Z17. 4s colourless
Z18. 5s colourless
Notes:
1. The second of Charles Freeland's two articles on Impressed Die Revenues (for full details see the main West Indies page) mentions a 6d blind embossed which may be the same as my Z15. He is unable to illustrate the stamp, which had belonged to Victor Toeg, but states that it is cancelled 11th January 1896 - significantly earlier than the usage I have recorded.
2. Freeland also reports that the Kay collection in the British Library includes a proof set of Montserrat blind embossed revenues denominated 1d, 3d, 6d, 1s, 5s, 10s, £1 and £5.
3. Freeland illustrates a hand-painted essay ex the De La Rue archives for Z13 but in vermilion, dated 1925 (see illustration above).
4. In 1973 the Montserrat Postmaster wrote (in private correspondence with revenue philatelist W J Pieterse) "we are not impressing revenues in documents and we never did". Although the existence of Z5/6 above indicates that this is not absolutely correct, the Postmaster's letter suggests that the use of embossed revenues was discontinued well before the 1970s.
5. Recorded usage: Z4/7 - Jan 1924, Z8 - Feb 1921, Z11 - June 1930 to May 1933, Z12 - May 1933, Z13 - June 1930, Z15 - May 1933, Z17/18 - June 1930.
Z11. ½d colourless
Z12. 1d colourless
Z13. 2d colourless
Z15. 6d colourless
Z17. 4s colourless
Z18. 5s colourless
Notes:
1. The second of Charles Freeland's two articles on Impressed Die Revenues (for full details see the main West Indies page) mentions a 6d blind embossed which may be the same as my Z15. He is unable to illustrate the stamp, which had belonged to Victor Toeg, but states that it is cancelled 11th January 1896 - significantly earlier than the usage I have recorded.
2. Freeland also reports that the Kay collection in the British Library includes a proof set of Montserrat blind embossed revenues denominated 1d, 3d, 6d, 1s, 5s, 10s, £1 and £5.
3. Freeland illustrates a hand-painted essay ex the De La Rue archives for Z13 but in vermilion, dated 1925 (see illustration above).
4. In 1973 the Montserrat Postmaster wrote (in private correspondence with revenue philatelist W J Pieterse) "we are not impressing revenues in documents and we never did". Although the existence of Z5/6 above indicates that this is not absolutely correct, the Postmaster's letter suggests that the use of embossed revenues was discontinued well before the 1970s.
5. Recorded usage: Z4/7 - Jan 1924, Z8 - Feb 1921, Z11 - June 1930 to May 1933, Z12 - May 1933, Z13 - June 1930, Z15 - May 1933, Z17/18 - June 1930.
Labels
L1 and L2
1916-17. 18 x 40 mm. French Red Cross Society charity label featuring the Device of the Colony. Printed (litho) by Delandre. No watermark. Ungummed.
L1. 1d + 1d multicoloured (perf 11)
L2. 1d + 1d multicoloured (imperf)
Note: for further information on these labels see Schmidt and Kiddle.
L1. 1d + 1d multicoloured (perf 11)
L2. 1d + 1d multicoloured (imperf)
Note: for further information on these labels see Schmidt and Kiddle.
Postal orders
Illustrated above is a British postal order overprinted for use in Montserrat. The face value is one shilling, and poundage (a kind of stamp duty) of 3d has been collected. British postal orders were issued in a wide range of values and it is likely that many of these were overprinted for Montserrat. Such items are not listed on this website but further information can be obtained from the Postal Order Society.
Revenue
R1/3
1866 (see note 1). 25½ x 30 mm. Slightly crude design featuring portrait of Queen Victoria in garter frame surmounted with crown. Inscribed MONTSERRAT INLAND REVENUE. Printed (litho) by Harrison in sheets of 12 (4 rows of 3).
R1. 1d carmine-lake (vertically laid paper, perf 12½)
R2. 1d carmine-lake (horizontally laid paper, perf 12½)
R3. 1d rose-carmine (horizontally laid paper, perf 12)
Notes:
1. The date of issue is not known but Morgan notes: "it appears that preliminary work was underway at Harrison by February 1866, as one preparatory sheet (numbered 257) bears this date on its reverse in pencil".
2. A small number of surviving complete sheets of this issue are known - both imperforate (proofs) and perforated, as illustrated at right. The marginal markings include the printer's imprint, and the instructional mark One Penny each - One Shilling per Sheet. Michael Hamilton has noted that One Penny Each is written with a capital E on the proof sheets but in lower case on the known perforated sheets, from which he concludes that at least two different plate settings were used.
R1. 1d carmine-lake (vertically laid paper, perf 12½)
R2. 1d carmine-lake (horizontally laid paper, perf 12½)
R3. 1d rose-carmine (horizontally laid paper, perf 12)
Notes:
1. The date of issue is not known but Morgan notes: "it appears that preliminary work was underway at Harrison by February 1866, as one preparatory sheet (numbered 257) bears this date on its reverse in pencil".
2. A small number of surviving complete sheets of this issue are known - both imperforate (proofs) and perforated, as illustrated at right. The marginal markings include the printer's imprint, and the instructional mark One Penny each - One Shilling per Sheet. Michael Hamilton has noted that One Penny Each is written with a capital E on the proof sheets but in lower case on the known perforated sheets, from which he concludes that at least two different plate settings were used.
R6 in tête-bêche pairs showing down-up and up-down arrangements
1887. Small key type design featuring portrait of Queen Victoria, inscribed MONTSERRAT REVENUE. Perf 14. Wmk Crown CA (upright or inverted). Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
R6. 1d lilac
Notes:
1. The date of issue is derived from a perforated proof from the De La Rue archives dated October 1887.
2. The plate set-up caused stamps to be printed with half the sheet inverted relative to the other. Inverted watermark is therefore as common as upright, and tête-bêche pairs are occasionally found, as illustrated here.
R6. 1d lilac
Notes:
1. The date of issue is derived from a perforated proof from the De La Rue archives dated October 1887.
2. The plate set-up caused stamps to be printed with half the sheet inverted relative to the other. Inverted watermark is therefore as common as upright, and tête-bêche pairs are occasionally found, as illustrated here.
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.
F8 and F8c
1884-85. Queen Victoria stamps of Antigua overprinted MONTSERRAT. Wmk Crown CA. Perf 14. Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
F8. 1d red
c. Rose-red (1885)
F8. 1d red
c. Rose-red (1885)
F14/21 (top row), F28/31 (middle row), F40/44 (bottom row)
1903-14. Device of the Colony. Perf 14. Printed (typo) by De La Rue. Ordinary paper (F14/F29) or chalk-surfaced paper (F30/44).
a) Wmk Crown CA (1903)
F14. ½d grey-green and green
F15. 1d grey-black and red
F19. 6d dull purple and olive
F20. 1s green and bright purple
F21. 2s green and brown-orange
b) Wmk Multiple Crown CA (1904-08)
F28. 3d dull orange and deep purple
F29. 6d dull purple and olive
a. Chalk-surfaced paper (1908)
F30. 1s green and bright purple (1908)
F31. 2s green and orange (1908)
c) Wmk Multiple Crown CA, colours changed (1908-14)
F40. 3d purple on yellow (1909)
F43. 6d dull and deep purple (1909)
F44. 1s black on green (1909)
a) Wmk Crown CA (1903)
F14. ½d grey-green and green
F15. 1d grey-black and red
F19. 6d dull purple and olive
F20. 1s green and bright purple
F21. 2s green and brown-orange
b) Wmk Multiple Crown CA (1904-08)
F28. 3d dull orange and deep purple
F29. 6d dull purple and olive
a. Chalk-surfaced paper (1908)
F30. 1s green and bright purple (1908)
F31. 2s green and orange (1908)
c) Wmk Multiple Crown CA, colours changed (1908-14)
F40. 3d purple on yellow (1909)
F43. 6d dull and deep purple (1909)
F44. 1s black on green (1909)
F49/59
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F62
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1916-29. Design featuring Device of the Colony with portrait of King George V. Perf 14. Printed (typo) by De La Rue. Ordinary paper (½d to 3d) or chalk-surfaced paper (6d to 5s).
a) Wmk Multiple Crown CA (1916-22)
F49. ½d green
F50. 1d scarlet
F51. 2d grey
F59. 5s green and red on yellow
Special printing inscribed WAR STAMP (1919)
F62. 1½d black and orange
a) Wmk Multiple Crown CA (1916-22)
F49. ½d green
F50. 1d scarlet
F51. 2d grey
F59. 5s green and red on yellow
Special printing inscribed WAR STAMP (1919)
F62. 1½d black and orange
F64/83
b) Wmk Multiple Script CA (1922-29)
F64. ½d green (1923)
F65. 1d bright violet (1923)
F66. 1d carmine (1929)
F69. 1½d red-brown (1929)
F71a. 2½d pale bright blue (1926)
F77. 6d pale and bright purple (1923)
F80. 2s6d black and red on blue (1923)
F83. 5s green and red on pale yellow (1923)
F64. ½d green (1923)
F65. 1d bright violet (1923)
F66. 1d carmine (1929)
F69. 1½d red-brown (1929)
F71a. 2½d pale bright blue (1926)
F77. 6d pale and bright purple (1923)
F80. 2s6d black and red on blue (1923)
F83. 5s green and red on pale yellow (1923)
F84, F90 and F95
1932. 300th Anniversary of the Settlement of Montserrat. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
F84. ½d green
F90. 6d violet
1935. Silver Jubilee of King George V. Perf 11 x 12. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by Waterlow.
F95. 1½d ultramarine and grey
F84. ½d green
F90. 6d violet
1935. Silver Jubilee of King George V. Perf 11 x 12. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by Waterlow.
F95. 1½d ultramarine and grey
F98 and F100
1937. Coronation. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
F98. 1d scarlet
F100. 2½d bright blue
F98. 1d scarlet
F100. 2½d bright blue
F101a/112
1938-48. Designs featuring local scenes with portrait of King George VI. Perf 13 except where otherwise stated. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
F101a. ½d blue green (perf 14) (1942)
F102. 1d carmine
a. Perf 14 (1943)
F103a. 1½d purple (perf 14) (1942)
F104. 2d orange
F105. 2½d ultramarine
a. Perf 14 (1943)
F112. £1 black (perf 12) (1948)
F101a. ½d blue green (perf 14) (1942)
F102. 1d carmine
a. Perf 14 (1943)
F103a. 1½d purple (perf 14) (1942)
F104. 2d orange
F105. 2½d ultramarine
a. Perf 14 (1943)
F112. £1 black (perf 12) (1948)
F113
1946. Victory Commemoration. Perf 13½ x 14. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
F113. 1½d purple
F124/129
1951. New pictorial designs. Perf 11½ x 11. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
F124. 2c green
F126. 4c carmine
F129. 8c deep blue
F124. 2c green
F126. 4c carmine
F129. 8c deep blue
F138/144
1953-58. Similar to previous issue but with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Perf 11½ x 11. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
F138. 2c green
F139. 3c orange-brown
F144. 12c blue and red-brown
F138. 2c green
F139. 3c orange-brown
F144. 12c blue and red-brown
F575/576
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F575 with 'RECEIVED' revenue cancel
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1983. 30½ x 40½ mm. Badge of the Colony. Perf 14½. Watermark Multiple Crown CA Diagonal (Gibbons w14). Printed (litho) by Harrison.
F575. $12 rose and royal blue
F576. $30 royal blue and rose
Note: these stamps are almost always found mint or with Specimen overprints, though they were evidently valid for revenue purposes as shown in the example illustrated here.
F575. $12 rose and royal blue
F576. $30 royal blue and rose
Note: these stamps are almost always found mint or with Specimen overprints, though they were evidently valid for revenue purposes as shown in the example illustrated here.
F901/2
2014. Pictorial designs inscribed Postage and Revenue. War Memorial, Plymouth ($50) or 'Lady and the Harp' Coat of Arms ($100).
F901. $50 multicoloured
F902. $100 multicoloured
Note: the high face values of these stamps make it likely that they were issued primarily for revenue purposes. I have yet to see one with any kind of cancel.
F901. $50 multicoloured
F902. $100 multicoloured
Note: the high face values of these stamps make it likely that they were issued primarily for revenue purposes. I have yet to see one with any kind of cancel.
