Description
Gambia 1869-72 4d brown (deep shade), no watermark, imperforate, SG1.
A very fine mint example with large margins and original gum. Some trivial gum wrinkles, mentioned for accuracy, but a really fine example of the first postage stamp issued by Gambia with intense colour.
The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £600.
The first stamps issued for the West African colony of Gambia are noted for their simple but effective design. They were printed from 1869 by the London printers, De La Rue & Co.
The coloured background was typographed first, showing the name ‘Gambia’ in white letters at the top and the value in words in a matching panel at the bottom. A profile head of Queen Victoria was then embossed in white on it. This gave a cameo effect, similar to a brooch. The stamps are known as the "Cameos".
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