Penny Black First Issues Collectors Club of stamps and philatelic material

Home - Catalog - Categories - Index - Journal - Exhibits - Auctions - Forgeries - Join

first issues > countries > solomon islands

Solomon Islands

Thursday, February 14 1907

British colony 62
Oceania 11

BSI1
BSI2
  Solomon Islands #1 #2 xxx

Perforated 11, no watermark, lithographed.
Printed by W.E. Smith and Co.

 

Description # printed # issued Scott SG Mi Y&T
½ penny ultramarine
 60,000 45,364 1 1    
1 penny red
 60,000 25,598 2 2    
2 pence dull blue
 60,000 20,641 3 3    
2½ pence orange
 60,000 12,072 4 4    
5 pence yellow green
 30,000 8,310 5 5    
6 pence chocolate
 30,000 7,853 6 6    
1 shilling violet
 30,000 7,281 7 7    

All issue quantities are approximate.
Excellent forgeries and forged cancels are common.

The printer used two separate line perforation machines, both of gauge 11. One made large, clean-cut holes. The other made small, rough holes. These two machines were used in practically every conceivable combination, including mixed, double and missing entirely.

Three types exist of the ½ penny and 2½ pence, and six each of the other values, differing in minor details.

Solomon Islands 1975
pre-Independence
1975 Sc289 SG276

Forgeries show different perforations and have the boat paddle touching the shore. Genuine stamps show a gap between the paddle and the shore.

These stamps were withdrawn on November 1, 1908.

The Solomon Islands became self-governing in 1976 and fully independent in 1978, but dropped the "British" from its stamps in August 1975.

Images from David Olson, ebay.

FI ref: 398, 714 Page credit: JA
Page created 19 Feb 2014 Page updated 18-Aug-2017