Post on 05-May-2018
1
United States Virgin Islands - Danish West IndiesPostage Stamp History
The first postage stamp of the Danish West Indies [DWI] was issued in 1856, and was of the same coat of arms design as the stamps of Denmark. In 1874, the Danish West Indies issued new 'numeral' design stamps, also mirroring Danish stamps. Most were printed in two colors, with a central oval containing the value, arms and country name, surrounded by a frame of intricate scrollwork, usually printed in a different, contrasting color. Nine denominations were issued, and over the 30+ years of use, there were numerous printing runs creating many shade varieties. Also, most issues also included an 'inverted frame' variety where the plate of the scrollwork frame was inverted when printed. Add various surcharge issues which were printed to account for shortages in stamps, interesting postmarks, and well sought after postal history specimens, collecting these issues are a specialist’s paradise.
In 1905, DWI changed their currency from dalers (1 daler = 100 cents) to francs (1 franc = 100 bits). With this change, the colony took the opportunity to modernize its stamp designs as it needed to issue stamps in the new currency. Two designs were issued, one depicted a silhouette of King Christian IX, and the other a beautiful image of a sailing ship in St. Thomas harbor. In 1907 and 1915, two additional designs featuring King Frederik VIII and King Christian X were issued during the monarch’s reign. In addition to the definitive stamps, DWI also issued postage due stamps, both in the pre 1905 'cents' and in the new currency after the monetary reforms.
Stamps of DWI were replaced with stamps of the United States after the transfer of power in 1917. The US Stamps for which spaces are created in this album are for Revenue Issues begining in 1919. Should you wish to collect and only have pages for these issues, print this album starting at page 13. The Numbering system used in this album follows that of the Scott USA Specialized Stamp Catalogue.
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Danish West IndiesGeneral Postage
1856, WMK 111, IMPERF
1
Wmk 111Small Crown
1866, White Paper
Yellow Wavy-line Burelage* UR to LL
3c roseCoat of Arms
2
1872, Perf 12.5
3c roseCoat of Arms
3
1873, Without Burelage*
4c dull blueCoat of Arms
4
*Burelage (French: burelage),[1] also burelé, is a French term referring to an intricate network of fine lines, dots or other designs printed over or as the background of some postage or revenue stamps to prevent counterfeiting.[2][3] In English the word is sometimes spelled with an accent on the first "e" as burélage, although the accent does not appear in the French spelling and its origin is unclear.[4] Burelage most commonly appears as a form of underprinting.
3
Danish West Indies
Normal Frame
Inverted Frame
The arabesques in the corners have a main stem and a branch.
When the frame is in the normal position, in the upper left
corner the branch leaves the main stem half way between two
little leaflets. In the lower right corner, the branch starts
at the foot of the second leaflet. When the frame is inverted,
the corner designs are transposed.
The central element in the fan-shaped scollwork at the outside
of the lower left corner of Nos. 5a, 6a, 7b, and 11a looks like
an elongated diamond.
1874-1899, Wmk 112, Perf 14x13.5
Wmk 112Crown
5
3c Numeral
blue & carmine
6
4c Numeral
brown & dull blue
7
5c Numeral
green & grey
8
7c Numeral
lilac & orange
9
10c Numeral
blue & brown
10
12c Numeral
red lilac & yellow green
11
14c Numeral
lilac & green
12
50c Numeral
violet
13
4
Danish West IndiesNos. 9 and 13 Surcharged in Black
9 (a)
13 (b)
1887 1895
1c on 7c
lilac & orange
14
10c on 50c
violet - thin paper
19
1874-1901, Perf 13
16
3c Numeral
blue & lake (inverted frame)
17
4c Numeral
bistre & dull blue
18
5c Numeral
green & grey
19 20
5
Danish West Indies1900
Coat of Arms
21
5c Arms
light blue
22
Nos. 6, 17, and 20 Surcharged in Black (type 'c')1902, Perf. 14x13.5 Perf. 13 - Inverted Frame
2c on 3c
blue & carmine
23
2c on 3c
blue & lake
24
Perf. 13 - Normal Frame
2c on 3c
blue & lake
25
Nos. 17 and 20 Surcharged in Black (type 'd')1902, Perf. 13
2c on 3c
blue & lake, Inverted Frame
27
Numeral
28
6
Danish West Indies
Wmk 113 Crown
1903, Wmk 113
2c
carmine
29
8c
brown
30
1903, Typo, Perf. 12.5
King Christian
31
10b
red
32
20b
green & blue
33
25b
ultramarine
34
40b
red & grey
35
50b
yellow & grey
36
7
Danish West IndiesPerf.12
Wmk 113 (Two Crowns)
Frame Typographed, Center Engraved
St. Thomas Harbour
37
2fr
orange red & brown
38
5fr
yellow & brown
39
Nos. 18, 22 and 30 Surcharged in Black1905, Wmk 112, Perf. 13
Numeral
40
5b on 5c
light blue
41
Wmk 113 (Two Crowns)
5b on 8c
brown
42
8
Danish West IndiesFrame Typographed, Center Engraved
1908, Wmk 113, Perf. 13
King Frederik VIII
43
10b
red
44
15b
violet & brown
45
20b
green & blue
46
25b
blue & dark blue
47
30b
claret & slate
48
40b
vermillion & grey
49
50b
yellow & brown
50
9
Danish West IndiesFrame Typographed, Center Engraved
1915, Wmk 114, Perf. 14x14.5
King Christian X
51
10b
red
52
15b
lilac & red brown
53
20b
green & blue
54
25b
blue & dark blue
55
30b
claret & black
56
40b
orange & black
57
50b
yellow & brown
58
Wmk 114Multiple Crosses
10
Danish West IndiesPostage Due
1902, Lithographed, Unwatermarked, Perf 11.5
Royal Cipher-Christian Rex
J1
4c
dark blue
J2
6c
dark blue
J3
10c
dark blue
J4
1905-1913, Perf. 13
Numeral of Value
J5
20b
red & grey
J6
30b
red & grey
J7
50b
red & grey
J8
11
Danish West IndiesDocumentary Tax
1907, Lithographed, Watermarked. Crown, Perf 12
10b red & light green
R1
50b green & light green
R2
1fr red & grey
R3
2fr black & grey
R4
3fr red & blue
R5
5fr blue & light blue
R6
7fr red & yellow
R7
10fr yellow & light yellow
R8
50fr brown & pink
R9
12
Danish West IndiesDocumentary Tax
100fr black & pink
R10
1917, Lithographed, Watermarked. Crown, Perf 12
10b on 50b (R2)
R11
10b on 3fr (R5)
R12
10b on 10fr (R8)
R13
50b on 2fr (R4)
R14
50b on 3fr (R5)
R15
13
United States Virgin IslandsDocumentary Tax
1919, Lithographed, Unwatermarked, Perf 11
10b red & light green
R16
50b green & light green
R17
50b green & green
R17a
1fr red & grey
R18
2fr black & grey
R19
2fr grey black & grey black
R19a
3fr red & blue
R20
5fr blue & light blue
R21
14
United States Virgin IslandsDocumentary Tax
7fr red & yellow
R22
10fr orange & light orange
R23
10fr orange & orange
R23a
50fr brown & pink
R24
100fr black & pink
R25
100fr black & red
R25a
1919, Lithographed, Unwatermarked, Perf 10
50b green & light green
R27
50b green & green
R27a
5fr blue & light blue
R28
15
United States Virgin IslandsDocumentary Tax
10fr orange & light orange
R29
1921No. R16 Surcharged in Black50b on 10b red & light green
Perf. 11
R30
1921No. R28 Surcharged in Black10c on 5fr blue & light blue
Perf. 11
R31
1935, Lithographed, Unwatermarked, Perf 11
2c red & green
R32
2c red & Lt. yellow greenthin paper
R32a
2c red & yellow green
R32b
16
United States Virgin IslandsDocumentary Tax
1935, Lithographed, Unwatermarked, Perf 11
2c red & apple green
R33
10c green & green
R34
20c red & grey
R35
20c red & green
R36
20c red & yellow green
R36a
40c grey & grey
R37
60c red & milky blue
R38
60c red & light blue
R38a
60c red & deep blue
R39
17
United States Virgin IslandsDocumentary Tax
$1 blue & blue
R40
$1.40 red & yellow
R41
$2 yellow & yellow
R42
$10 reddish brown & pink
R43
$20 black & pink
R44
$100 red & green
R45
1935No. R34 Surcharged in Black2c on 10c g
Perf. 11
R47
18
United States Virgin IslandsDocumentary Tax
1965, Unwatermarked, Perf 12 1/2
2c red & yellow green
R48
2c red & green
R48a
10c green & green
R49
10c milky green & milky green
R49a
20c red & yellow green
R50
20c red & green
R50a
40c grey & grey
R51
60c red & light blue
R52
$1 blue & blue
R53
19
United States Virgin IslandsDocumentary Tax
$1 blue & milky blue
R53a
$2 yellow & yellow
R54
$10 reddish brown & pink
R55
$20 black & pink
R56
$100 red & green
R57
$1000 green & yellow
R58
20
United States Virgin IslandsTobacco Tax
1933, 10b Revenue Handstamp Surcharges in Black, Perf. 10
1b on 10b
RJ1
2b on 10b
RJ2
3b on 10b
RJ3
5b on 10b
RJ4
6b on 10b
RJ5
7b on 10b
RJ6
8b on 10b
RJ7
12b on 10b
RJ8
33b on 10b
RJ9
21
United States Virgin IslandsTobacco Tax
40b on 10b
RJ10
50b on 10b
RJ11
60b on 10b
RJ12
1933, 10b Revenue & Nos. R28-R29 with Typed Surcharges in Black, Perf. 10
6b on 10b
RJ13
6b on 5fr (No. R28)
RJ14
6b on 10fr (No. R29)
RJ15
7b on 10fr (No. R29)
RJ16
22
United States Virgin IslandsTobacco Tax
1933, No. R16 Handstamp Surcharged in Black, Perf. 11
2b on 10bred & light green
RJ17
Numeral-only Typed Surcharge on No. R16
6 on 10bred & light green
RJ18
15 on 10bred & light green
RJ19
40 on 10bred & light green
RJ20
105 on 10bred & light green
RJ21
23
United States Virgin IslandsTobacco Tax
Typed Surcharge in Blak on Nos. R16, R21
6b on 10bred & light green
RJ22
6b on 5frblue & light blue
RJ23
1933, Numeral-only Handstamp Surcharge in Black on No. R16, Perf. 11
5 on 10bred & light green
RJ24
6 on 10bred & light green
RJ25
7 on 10bred & light green
RJ26
8 on 10bred & light green
RJ27
50 on 10bred & light green
RJ28
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United States Virgin IslandsPlaying Cards
1920 Rouletted 7US No. RF3 Overprinted in Carmine
RF1
1934 Perf. 11US No. RF4 Overprinted in Carmine
4c on 8c
red & grey
RF3
1926 Rouletted 7US No. RF17 Overprinted in Carmine
RF2
1933, No. RF2 Handstamp Surcharged in Black, Rouletted 7
1b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ29
2b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ30
3b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ31
5b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ32
6b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ33
7b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ34
8b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ35
12b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ36
33b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ37
25
United States Virgin IslandsPlaying Cards
40b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ38
1933No. RF2 with Typed Surcharge in Black
Rouletted 76b on 4c on (8c) blue
RJ39
St. Croix Provisional Tobacco Tax1933-1934 Letterpress Without Gum, Imperf.
3b black
1RJ1
5b black
1RJ2
6b black
1RJ3
26
United States Virgin IslandsSt. Croix Provisional Tobacco Tax
Handstamp Surcharge in Black on Stamps No Imprinted Denomenation
7b black
1RJ4
3b on blank, black
1RJ5
7b on blank, black
1RJ6
8b on blank, black
1RJ7
15b on blank, black
1RJ8
40b on blank, black
1RJ9
27
United States Virgin IslandsSt. Croix Provisional Tobacco Tax
Numeral-only Handstamp Surcharge in Black on Nos. 1RJ1-1RJ4
3 on 6b black (1RJ3)
1RJ10
6 on 3b black (1RJ1)
1RJ11
violet surcharge
1RJ11a
6 on 5b black (1RJ2)
1RJ12
6 on 7b black (1RJ4)
1RJ13
7 on 6b black (1RJ3)
1RJ14
28
United States Virgin IslandsSt. Croix Provisional Tobacco Tax
15 on 6b black (1RJ3)
1RJ15
Numeral-only Typed Surcharge in Black on No. 1RJ4
Typed "xxxx" over the"7" denomenation
1RJ16
Customs House Inspection Fee, Perf. 13.0
5b (on J5) red & grey
RL1
20b (on J6) red & grey
RL2
30b (on J7) red & grey
RL3
50b (on J8) red & grey
RL4
Consult the Scott USA Specialized Stamp Catalogue for additional information on these
and the other Revenue issues for the US Virgin Islands.