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Auction: 9020 - Stamps & Covers of the World
Lot: 3023

Uganda 1896 (Nov.) Type-set Stamps The Rev. Frank Rowling, C.M.S., designed the type-set stamps and supervised the printing of them by a Muganda lad, Tomasi Lwabidongo, on the Albion press at the C.M.S. Station at Luba´s in Busoga Province. The first printing, issued on 7th November 1896, consisted of 29,000 stamps with a total value of some 12,000 rupees. The four low values were printed on white paper, off-cuts from paper used for publications, of a size which allowed the form of type to be used twice on each sheet, the sheet being turned between each pressing. The higher values were printed on yellowish paper, Rowling´s own writing paper from the Army and Navy Stores, to make forgery difficult, one pressing only on each sheet of writing paper. Rowling was short of thick "1"s - hence the slender numerals of some 1 anna stamps from the first printing. There was also a shortage of capital "O"s; this resulted in the small "o" in "postage" variety found in stamp number 9 on each pane. A further printing of 30,000 stamps, issued on July 2nd 1897, omitted the 5r. value. The four low values were printed with panes tête-bêche side by side in the second printing; they had been printed one over the other, panes tête-bêche, in the first printing. 1a. to 5r., each with manuscript cancellation dated "3/9/97" and initialled "F.G.F.", with accompanying letter from Kampala to London signed "F.G. Focker, p.p. Postmaster" remitting the stamps in return for 10/-, and explaining "we have no postmarks nor defacing stamps. I have however defaced them by dating and initialling in accordance with our method here". The postscript states that "I am unable to register this letter as this is not a Post Office, not being in the Postal Union". Accompanying envelope entered the mails at Mombasa on 20 October with BEA 2 1/2a. cancelled by c.d.s.; fine. Photo Estimate £ 200-250 provenance: Roy Dunstan, September 1985

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£210