Antigua year 1908 Seal of the Colony King Edward VII

Antigua year 1903 / 1908 Seal of the Colony & King Edward VII lot stamps

The 1908 “Seal of the Colony” issue from Antigua featured a portrait of King Edward VII and is considered a classic stamp set from this British West Indies colony. Here are some key details:

Design: The stamps depicted the seal or coat of arms of Antigua, with Britannia standing holding a olive branch. Around this vignette was the inscribed name “ANTIGUA”.

Portrait: A left-facing engraved portrait of King Edward VII, similar to that used on contemporary British stamps during his reign, was placed at the top of the design.

Colors/Values: Printed in different colors for each value – 1⁄2d green, 1d carmine, 2 1⁄2d ultramarine, 6d purple on red, etc up to 5 shillings.

Printing: The stamps were engraved and printed by De La Rue & Co. in London using intaglio plate printing on unwatermarked chalk-surfaced paper.

Perforation: The stamps had a perforation gauge of 14.

Watermark: Early printings were unwatermarked but later printings included a Multiple Crown CA watermark.

Purpose: This definitive series provided the colony’s stamps for general postal use from 1908 until they were replaced by King George V issues in the early 1920s.

The 1908 “Seal” set is renowned among British colony collectors not just for its attractive designs but also for some of the rarer high values like the 5 shilling which can fetch premium prices, especially in mint never-hinged condition. It represents classic stamp production quality and engraving of the early 20th century.