In 1925 a new definitive series was issued due to the changed colour/value relation
of New Hebrides stamps. Both currencies are expressed on the British and the
French series. The British series carries the French currency on the left side
and the British currency on the right.
Engraving: Leonard Vincent Phillips
Design: J. Giraud
Printing: Thomas De La Rue & Co., Ltd. ♦ modified 1911 issue
First Day: 1 June 1925 (?) ♦ earliest day recorded: 2 June 1925
Perforation: 14 ♦ Watermark: Multiple Script CA / RF in sheet
This series exists with overprint "SPECIMEN".
The 1925 British Watermark Mult. Script CA stamps
As to quantities: J. Mérot (†) said that reprints were made of the Britsh 5d stamp in 1927 and of the British 1/-, 2/- & 5/- stamps in 1928.
Proposed quantities written
on the essays for printing:
♦ ½d: 30,000
♦ 1d: 45,000
♦ 2d: 60,000
♦ 2½d: 45,000
♦ 5d: 30,000
♦ 6d: 20,000
♦ 1/-: 10,000
♦ 2/-: 10,000
♦ 5/-: 10,000
Total of orders placed as investigated by my friend Jeff Blinco, Australia:
♦ ½d: 98,010
♦ 1d: 102,000
♦ 2d: 137,010
♦ 2½d: 71,010
♦ 5d: 289,500
♦ 6d: 81,500
♦ 1/-: 62,410
♦ 2/-: 53,020
♦ 5/-: 53,020
The 1925 French Watermark RF in sheet
Quantities: Contemporary stamp journals say that not over 9960 complete sets had been printed. A French source (J. Mérot) says that reprints were made of the French 25c and 50c stamps in 1927 and of the French 1F, 2F & 5F stamps in 1928.
Proposed quantities written
on the essays for printing:
♦ 5c: 30,000
♦ 10c: 45,000
♦ 20c: 60,000
♦ 25c: 45,000
♦ 30c: 25,000
♦ 40c: 25,000
♦ 50c: 30,000
♦ 75c: 20,000
♦ 1F: 10,000
♦ 2F: 10,000
♦ 5F: 10,000
Total of orders placed as investigated by my friend Jeff Blinco, Australia:
♦ 5c: 98,010
♦ 10c: 117,000
♦ 20c: 152,010
♦ 25c: 156,010
♦ 30c: 152,010
♦ 40c: 41,620
♦ 50c: 281,620
♦ 75c: 85,500
♦ 1F: 84,410
♦ 2F: 62,410
♦ 5F: 62,410
1925 unperf. -- (new 5/2020)
A 1925 5c stanp without perforation at right. (Coll. Chr. Oberto)
1925 unperf. -- (new 5/2020)
1925 10c red -- (new 3/2022)
In 1925 the first British postage dues were created by overprinting stamps of
the regular design with the word "Postage Due". As the British values 30c/3d
and 1F/10d did not exist they were printed to perform the overprinting. All
this was done by De La Rue.
According to Hals/Collas, the British issue is rather common in mint condition
and it is rather awkward that it catalogues higher than the French series.
They exist with the overprinting SPECIMEN, please see further down.
The 1925 POSTAGE DUE - TIMBRE TAXE stamps
Quantities: Contemporary English stamp journals say that not over 2100 complete sets had been printed.
Total of orders placed as investigated by my friend Jeff Blinco, Australia:
Quantities were the same for both issues.
♦ 10c / 1d: 46,010
♦ 20c / 2d: 45,200
♦ 30c / 3d: 45,200
♦ 50c / 5d: 45,020
♦ 1F / 10d: 44,900
In 1925 the first French postage dues were created by overprinting the regulars with the word "Chiffre Taxe". The overprinting was performed by De La Rue. According to Hals/Collas, the French series is virtually unknown in mint condition. They were not sold mint in the first year in Vila but maybe in Paris. They exist with the overprinting SPECIMEN, please see further down.
The 1925 Watermark Mult. Script CA SPECIMEN stamps
Quantities: 420 sets
The De La Rue Overprint on these stamps is Type D16x.
The 1925 French Watermark RF in sheet SPECIMEN stamps
Quantities: 420 sets
The De La Rue Overprint on these stamps is Type D16x too.
The 1925 POSTAGE DUE - TIMBRE TAXE SPECIMEN stamps
Quantities: 420 sets
The De La Rue Overprint on these stamps is Type D16x too.