CEYLON (Sri Lanka) 1903 onwards

Return To Catalogue - Ceylon 1857-1867 - Ceylon 1868-1902 - Ceylon miscellaneous

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1903 King Edward VII, Various frames

  2 c brown
  2 c orange
  5 (FIVE CENTS) c lilac
  5 (5 CENTS 5) c lilac
  6 (SIX CENTS) c red
  6 (6 CENTS 6) c red

These stamps have perforation 14.

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

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

1903 King Edward VII, new type

  3 c green
  4 c orange and blue
  10 c green and lilac
  12 c green and red
  15 c blue
  25 c brown
  25 c grey
  30 c violet and green
  50 c brown
  75 c blue and orange
  1 R brown on yellow
  1 R 50 c grey
  2 R red on yellow
  2 R 25 brown and green
  5 R black on green
  10 R black on red

The 3 c, 4 c, 12 c and 75 c have the value in white on a coloured shield. In the others the value is in colour. All stamps are perforated 14.

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

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

I have seen postal stationery in this design: 2 c green with two rectangles around the design. On the rest of the stationery is written: 'District Letter Envelope, price 2 1/2 cents. This Envelope will not pass through more than one Post Office, will only be delivered when called for, and will not be re-directed'.

1912 King George V, small size

  1 c brown
  2 c orange
  3 c green
  3 c grey
  5 c lilac
  6 c red
  6 c violet
  9 c red on yellow
  10 c green
  12 c red
  15 c blue
  15 c green on yellow
  20 c blue
  25 c yellow and blue
  30 c green and lilac
  50 c grey and red
  1 R brown on yellow
  2 R grey and red on yellow
  5 R grey and black on green
  10 R lilac and black on red
  20 R black and red on blue

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

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

Surcharged

  'ONE CENT' on 5 c lilac
  '2 Cents.' on 3 c grey
  '5 Cents.' on 6 c lilac

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

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

Overprinted "WAR TAX"

  'ONE CENT' on 5 c lilac
  2 c orange
  3 c green
  5 c lilac

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

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

The "WAR TAX" overprints exist inverted on the 2 c and 5 c and with double overprint on the 2 c, 3 c and 5 c, examples (all very rare).

(Double overprint on a 2 c stamp)

(Forged inverted overprint on a 5 c stamp)

I don't know what this overprint 'oriental' was used for.

1912 King George V, large size

(Reduced sizes)

  50 R violet
  100 R black
  100 R blue and lilac
  500 R green
  1000 R violet on red

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

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

These stamps were mainly used for fiscal purposes.

1927 King George V, small size, other design

  1 R violet and lilac
  2 R red and green
  5 R violet and green
  10 R yellow and green
  20 R blue and lilac

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

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

1935 Jubilee issue of King George V, design similar to that used in many other British Colonies

6 c olive and blue, 9 c grey and green, 20 c blue and brown, 50 c lilac and black.

1935 New permanent set, pictorial issue with King George V in the corner

11 values: 2 c red and black (tapping rubber), 3 c green and black (Adams Peak), 6 c blue and black (Colombo harbour), 9 c red and green (plucking tea), 10 c lilac and black (Hill Paddy rice), 15 c green and brown (river scene), 20 c blue and black (coconut palms), 25 c brown and blue (temple of the Tooth), 30 c green and red (ancient irrigation tank), 50 c lilac and black (wild elephants), 1 R brown and blue (Trincomalee).

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 6 c red, 9 c green and 20 c blue were issued (design identical to that of many other British colonies).

1938 As 1935 stamps, but with portrait of King George VI

2 c red and black (tapping rubber), 3 c green and black, 5 c orange and green (1942), 6 c blue and black (Colombo harbour), 9 c red and green (plucking tea), 10 c blue and black, 15 c green and brown, 20 c blue and black, 25 c brown and blue, 30 c green and red (ancient irrigation tank), 50 c lilac and black (wild elephants), 1 R brown and blue (Trincomalee), 2 R red and black, 2 R violet and black (1947).

Surcharged '3 CENTS' on 6 c blue and black, '3 CENTS' on 10 c blue and black.

Again an 'ORIENTAL' overprint on a 6 c value. I don't know where this overprint was used for.

1938 Design as 1927 issue, but with portrait of King George VI facing the right

5 R brown and green

A 10 R orange and grey and a 20 R in a similar design with "REVENUE" written at both sides exist, they were used for fiscal purposes.

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

  6 c blue
  15 c brown

1947 New Constitution, various designs

6 c blue and black, 10 c red, yellow and black, 15 c lilac and black, 25 c green and yellow.

In 1948 Ceylon was granted independence. In 1972 it was renamed Sri Lanka.

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