British colonies year 1935 King George V stamps

British colonies year 1935 King George V stamps

In 1935, many British colonies and territories issued postage stamps featuring portraits of King George V to honor the reigning British monarch. Here are some details about these 1935 King George V colonial stamp issues:

India:

• India issued a definitive series in 1935 with the King’s uncrowned effigy known as the “Admiralty Head” design in various colors and denominations.

Australia:

• Australia released a definitive series in 1935 depicting the King’s head in solid design against a plain background in denominations from 1⁄2d to 1 shilling.

New Zealand:

• New Zealand’s 1935 pictorial definitive series included stamps with the King’s effigy by sculptor Ferdinand Suchań alongside scenic views.

Malta:

• Malta issued definitive stamps in 1935 portraying the King’s profile based on artwork by sculptor William Macmillan in denominations up to 10 shillings.

Gibraltar:

• Gibraltar’s King George V definitive series from 1935 showed his uncrowned effigy in denominations up to 1 pound.

Other Colonies:

• Stamps depicting King George V were also issued in 1935 from colonies like Bermuda, British Guiana, British Honduras, Falkland Islands and many others.

The portraits used derived from a few common sculpted artworks, but were adapted into different frame designs by each colony. These definitive stamps remained in use until the death of King George V in 1936 when his son Edward VIII ascended briefly before abdicating later that year.

For collectors, the 1935 King George V issues from Britain’s colonial empire represent the last definitive series issued during his over 25-year reign as monarch. They captured the twilight of the colonial era under the longstanding King-Emperor.