ANTIGUA

Return To Catalogue - Leeward Islands

Currency: 4 farthings = 1 penny; 12 pence = 1 Shilling; 20 Shillings = 1 Pound

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

Antigua is one of the Leeward Islands situated in the Caribbean.

Before the introduction of its own stamps, stamps of Great Britain were used in Antigua. They can be recognized by the cancels 'A02' (St.Johns) and 'A18' (Harbour).

( 'A02' cancel of Antigua)

I think these cancels are quite scarce. I do not know if forged Antigua cancels exist on stamps of Great Britain (but there could very well be).

1862 Head of Queen Victoria with diadem to left, inscription 'ANTIGUA' above, value below

  1 p red
  6 p green

For the specialist: The first issue of these stamps was unwatermarked (only 6 p green, very rare). In 1863 an issue with watermark star followed. In 1873 the watermark was changed to Crown and CC. In 1884-85 this was finally changed to watermark Crown and CA. Many perforations exist and several colour variations exist.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

These stamps exist with overprint 'MONTSERRAT' to be used in Montserrat.

Typical cancellations: 'A02' (St.Johns) and 'A18' (Harbour) and circular date cancel.

I have seen an imperforate stamps (the 1 p and 6 p both with watermark star exist in this condition; rare):

I've been told that this is an imperforate proof of a 6 p stamp

Bisected stamp:

The 1 p red exists bisected diagonally used in 1882/83 (see picture above, however, this could be a forgery). A picture of a forged Antigua bisected stamp on cover made by Raoul de Thuin can be found in 'The Yucatan Affair', page 32 (published by the American Philatelic Society).

('A12' St.Christopher cancel)

St. Christopher - The One Penny stamp of Antigua was used during a shortage of 1d. stamps in 1890. They can only be identified by the "A12" cancel used in St. Christopher (see picture above)

Forgeries, examples:

(Reduced size)

Note the strange cancels on the above forgeries! They don't have a watermark. They were made by the forger Spiro. According to the British West Indies Study Circle, Bulletin No.131 (December 1986, available online), the 1 p was forged in three shades (vermillon, dull rose and lake), while the 6 p was forged in green (some in bluish-green). The perforation is 13. In my view, the outline of the front of the face of the Queen is too heavy.

Some other forgeries with a very white eye:

(Forgeries)

1879 Queen Victoria, new type

  1/2 p green
  2 1/2 p brown
  2 1/2 p blue
  4 p blue
  4 p brown
  1 Sh lilac

For the specialist: The perforation of all these stamps is always 14. All values exist with watermark 'Crown CA'. The 2 1/2 p brown and 4 p blue exist also with watermark 'Crown CC'.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries:

Examples:

The above stamps have a solid line for the outline of the face (left side), however the genuine stamps don't have this line. Note the broad chin of the Queen. Moreover, the triangular decorations are not the same. (I've obtained some of these images thanks to the Forgeries idenfication site of Bill Claghorn). Note also, that the 1/2 p yellow, 2 1/2 p green and the 4 p green have the wrong colour!

The same forger also made the above bogus issues for Ireland.

Another forgery of the 2 1/2 p value (the corner ornaments are different from the genuine and from the above forgeries). Next to it a forgery of Gibraltar, one of St.Lucia, two from Nevis and two from Virgin Islands made by the same forger.

A bogus 1 1/2 p stamp, the perforation does not match the genuine stamps. It was probably made from a postcard in a similar design (see second image).

From 31st October 1890 to August 1903 Antigua used the stamps of the Leewart Islands. It started re-issuing stamps in 1903.

Issues from 1903 onwards

1903 Seal of Antigua

(Reduced sizes)

  1/2 p green and black
  1/2 p green
  1 p red and black
  1 p red
  2 p brown and lilac
  2 1/2 p blue and black
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p orange and green
  6 p black and lilac
  1 Sh lilac and blue
  2 Sh violet and green
  2 Sh 6 p lilac and black

Overprinted 'WAR STAMP'

  1/2 p green (overprinted in red or black)
  1 1/2 p orange

For the specialist; the stamps 1/2 p green and black, 1 p red and black, 2 1/2 p blue and black and 2 Sh 6 p were issued with watermark 'CC Crown' only (in 1903). The 1/2 p green, 1 p red and 2 1/2 p blue were issued with watermark 'Multiple CA Crown' only (in 1908). All the other un-overprinted values were issued with both watermarks. The 1 1/2 p was never issued without the overprint 'WAR STAMP'.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1903 King Edward

  5 Sh violet and green

For the specialist, this stamp has watermark 'CC Crown'.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

I've seen this stamp with a forged so-called Madame Joseph cancel (the fiscal cancel was removed and replaced by a forged cancel).

A forgery in the wrong colors: black on red, with a red bogus cancel.

1921-1929 King George with image of St.John's Harbour (small sizes)

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  1 p violet 
  1 1/2 p orange
  1 1/2 p red
  1 1/2 p brown
  2 p grey
  2 1/2 p blue
  2 1/2 p orange
  3 p lilac on yellow
  4 p black and red on yellow
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh grey and black on green
  2 Sh lilac and blue on blue
  2 Sh 6 p black and red on blue
  3 Sh green and violet
  4 Sh black and red
  5 Sh green and red on yellow
  1 Pound lilac and black on red

Large size
 

  5 Sh violet and green

For the specialist, these stamps have two watermarks
1) 'Multiple CA Crown' (1921: 3 p lilac on yellow, 4 p black and red on yellow, 1 Sh grey and black on green, 2 Sh lilac and blue on blue, 2 Sh 6 p black and red on blue, 5 Sh green and red on yellow and 1 Pound lilac and black on red) or
2) 'Multiple Crown Script CA' (1921-1929: all values except 4 p, 5 Sh and 1 Pound).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1932 Inscription '1632 1932' King George V (except 5 Sh) larger sizes with several scenes of the island

The values 1/2 p green, 1 p red and 1 1/2 p brown show the same design (standing stamp size).
The values 2 p brown, 2 1/2 p blue and 3 p orange show a building (lying stamp size).
The values 6 p violet, 1 Sh olive and 2 Sh 6 p brown show sailing ships (lying stamp size).
Finally, the value 5 Sh brown and black also shows a sailing ship (standing stamp size)

1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V, inscription '1910-1935'

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

A 1 p red and grey, 1 1/2 p grey and blue, 2 1/2 p blue and brown and 1 Sh lilac and black were issued in a design identical to many other British colonies (Windsor castle).

1937 Inscription '12th MAY 1937' portrait of King and Queen

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

The values 1 p red, 1 1/2 p brown and 2 1/2 p blue were issued (design identical to that of many other British colonies).

1938 King George VI, various designs

The values 1/2 p green and 2 p grey show an image of the English Harbour (standing size)
The values 1 p red, 1 1/2 p brown, 2 1/2 p blue and 10 Sh lilac (1948) show another view of the island 'Nelson's Dockyard' (lying size)
In the 3 p orange, 2 Sh 6 p brown adn 1 Pound grey (1948) issue some guns are shown 'Fort James' (lying size).
The value 6 p violet, 1 Sh brown and black and 5 Sh olive show an aeroplane above St.Johns Harbour (standing size)

1946 Victory issue, identical to sets issued in many other British colonies, inscription '8th JUNE 1946'

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 1/2 p brown
  3 p orange

1948 Royal Silver wedding, identical to sets issued in many other British colonies, inscription '1923-1948', image of King and Queen

2 1/2 p blue (smaller size) and 5 Sh grey

For stamps in the same design, but for other British colonies, click here

1949 UPU issue

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p orange
  6 p violet
  1 Sh brown

1951 University College of the West Indies

Two different designs: 3 c brown and black and 12 c violet and black.

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, inscription 'CORONATION JUNE 1953'

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here

  2 c green and black 

1953 Queen Elizabeth, similar designs to 1938 issue

  1/2 c brown (Fort James)
  1 c grey (English Harbour)
  2 c green (Nelson's Dockyard)
  3 c orange and black (Nelson's Dockyard)
  4 c red (English Harbour)
  5 c violet and black (Nelson's Dockyard)
  6 c orange (Fort James)
  8 c blue (Martello Tower)
  12 c violet (St.John's Harbour)
  24 c brown and black (St.John's Harbour)
  48 c blue and lilac, 60 c brown (Fort James)
  1$20 green (St.John's Harbour)
  2$40 lilac (Nelson's Dockyard)
 

The values 3 c and 12 c were overprinted with 'COMMEMORATION ANTIGUE CONSTITUTION 1960' in 1960 (in red on 3 c).

The value 12 c was surcharged '15 c.' and bars across the old value (1965?).

1958 The West Indies Federation

  3 c green
  6 c blue
  12 c red

For stamps in the same design, but issued for other British colonies, click here

1961 Queen Elizabeth, Nelson's Dockyard restauration

20 c brown and violet; 30 c blue and green.

1962 Postage stamp centenary

3 c green and violet, 10 c green and blue, 12 c green and black, 50 c green and orange.

1963 Freedom from hunger, design identical to many other British colonies

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  12 c green

1963 Red Cross issue

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  3 c black and red
  12 c blue and red

1964 Shakespeare

For stamps in the same design, but for other British colonies, click here.

  12 c brown

1965 ITU issue

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 c red and blue
  50 c blue and violet

1965 International Co-operation Year

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 c blue and brown
  22 c violet and green

1966 Churchill issue

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1/2 c blue, black, gold and red
  4 c green, black, gold and red
  25 c brown, black, gold and red 
  35 c violet, black, gold and red

1966 Royal visit to the Caribbean

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  6 c blue and black
  15 c red and black

1966 World Cup Championship England 1966

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here.

  6 c lilac, violet, orange and green
  35 c lilac, grey, orange and blue

1966 WHO new headquarters building

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 c green, blue and black
  15 c lilac, orange and black

1966 20th anniversary of Unesco

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  4 c grey, orange and red
  25 c olive, orange and blue
  1 $ lilac, black and orange

Miscellaneous

Stamp of Antigua, used together with two stamps of Leewartd Islands.

Fiscal stamps

General remark: postage stamps were also allowed for fiscal purposes.

1870 Large size fiscal stamp, inscription 'STAMP DUTY' at the bottom

(Reduced sizes)

The following values exist: 1 p, 2 p, 3 p, 4 p and 6 p (all blue), 1 Sh, 2 Sh, 3 Sh, 4 Sh, 5 Sh and 10 Sh (blue with value in red). They have watermark 'Crown CC' or 'Crown CA'.
The 1 p blue exists with overprint 'POSTAGE REVENUE', but this stamp was never officially issued. Cancelled stamps with this overprint are only made for stamp collectors.

Postal Stationery

In 1880 a postcard with the face of Queen Victoria in a circle was issued (1 1/2 p brown). In 1886 two new postcards were issued with the face of Queen Victoria (slightly different design; values 1 p red and 1 1/2 p brown).

1 p and 1 1/2 p cuts from postcards.

Probably a forgery of a postcard.

Later issues, example:

Wrapper, used in 1904, reduced size. Similar postal stationery exist in the 1/2 p green design.

I don't have much information on the later postal stationery from Antigua.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer