British Nyasaland stamps year 1910 / 1940 MH lot
British Nyasaland (now part of modern-day Malawi) issued stamps from 1891 to 1964. Here’s an overview of the stamps from this British protectorate:
- Early Issues (1891-1895):
- Overprinted British Central Africa stamps
- Featured the words “B.C.A.” (British Central Africa)
- Queen Victoria Issues (1897-1901):
- First stamps specifically for Nyasaland Protectorate
- Depicted Queen Victoria’s portrait
- Values from 1 penny to 10 shillings
- King Edward VII Issues (1903-1907):
- Similar design to Victoria issues but with Edward VII’s portrait
- Included high values up to £1
- King George V Issues (1913-1929):
- Featured portrait of George V
- Various designs and colors
- King George VI Issues (1938-1952):
- Pictorial designs featuring local scenes and wildlife
- Included the iconic “Leopard” stamp
- Queen Elizabeth II Issues (1953-1964):
- Last issues before independence
- Continued the pictorial theme with local subjects
Key Points:
- Design Themes:
- Early issues focused on monarchs’ portraits
- Later issues incorporated local scenes, wildlife, and cultural elements
- Printing:
- Most issues printed by De La Rue & Co. in London
- Watermarks:
- Various watermarks used, including Crown CA and Crown CC
- Perforations:
- Different perforation gauges used throughout the period
- Varieties:
- Some issues have notable color varieties and plate flaws
- Postal History:
- Covers from smaller post offices can be quite scarce
- End of Nyasaland Stamps:
- Last issues in 1964 before independence as Malawi
- Collecting Interest:
- Popular among collectors of British Commonwealth and African colonial stamps
- The pictorial issues of George VI and Elizabeth II are particularly sought after
Nyasaland stamps offer an interesting window into the philatelic history of colonial Africa. They’re known for their attractive designs, especially in the later pictorial issues. As with many colonial issues, proper usage on cover can be quite desirable to collectors.
