Canada – Newfoundland stamp year 1897 – 5c. Royal Family

Canada – Newfoundland stamp year 1897 – 5c. Royal Family MNG

The Newfoundland 1897–1901 “Royal Family” Issue features the 5¢ dark blue stamp depicting the Duke of York (the future King George V).

Though the series is widely known as the 1897 Royal Family Issue, the 5¢ value wasn’t actually distributed until 1899. Newfoundland postal authorities held off on printing the 5¢ denomination because they still had plenty of leftover stock from the 1897 John Cabot 5¢ commemorative stamp (which featured a mining scene).

Stamp Specifications & Identification

• Subject: Prince George, Duke of York (wearing his naval uniform)
• Color: Dark Blue
• Printer: American Bank Note Company, New York (printed in sheets of 100)
• Catalog Numbers:
  • Scott Catalog: #85
  • Stanley Gibbons (SG): #89
  • Unitrade (Canada): #85

Design Context & Philatelic Notes

This entire definitive set is historic because it portrayed members of the British Royal Family at highly unusual, youthful ages long before they ascended the throne. For example, this 5¢ stamp shows George V a full 11 to 12 years before he became king in 1910.

Paper Note: Unlike other values in this set that are usually found on horizontally woven paper, the 5¢ dark blue is most commonly found printed on a soft wove paper with a distinct vertical mesh.