Gibraltar KGVI Definitive Stamps 1938-51

Gibraltar was known to the ancients as Mons Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules. Ptolemy first determined its latitude, and the correctness of his calculation is corroborated by the observations of the present day. The conspicuous form and isolated position of this rocky promontory, which stands like Nature’s monument with all its rugged steeps at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, made its name familiar to ancient navigators, and we find the Rock referred to and described by both Greek and Roman writers.

Frederick Sayer 1865

The ‘Rock’ is less than three miles long and less than a mile wide but has been argued over for a very long time. Currently it remains today as a British Overseas Territory. It rises to around 1400 feet and is made of Jurassic limestone.

Gibraltar had been a Spanish possession until the early 18th century but in 1704 a combined Anglo-Dutch force, in support of Charles III, took the rock into British rule. During the 18th century there were three sieges including the Great Siege between 1779 to 1783 and many of the defences still survive today.

In 1848 within a cave on the north face of the rock they found the skull of a woman. These remains were later known as Neanderthals after a similar skull was found in Neanderthal (Neander’s Valley) in Germany.

World War II saw Gibraltar being used as the navel base for the Mediterranean Task Force and as a stop for supply convoys. They also built a solid surface runway and the rock became a major fortress with tunnels to store guns and ammunition as well as to provide a hospital and barracks.

The definitive stamps

The first of Gibraltar’s pictorial stamps was fashioned by Captain H. St. C. Garrood for the KGV 1931-33 issue. This was reused for the KGVI set and other designs were added to make up the basic collection of 14 stamps. The designs were inspired by the views shown on the Beanland Malin & Company postcards. [1]

With the Multiple Script CA watermark the first of these stamps were released on 25 February 1938 and printed by De La Rue. There are a great deal of variations in the KGVI stamps, with differing colours, watermark alignments and perforations. I will focus mainly on showing the designs for the most part but will mention some varieties too.

 

Skipping first to the 1d brown value; this is the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ design, which as mentioned above was first used for his father’s stamps.  It comes in various colours from pale browns to dark chocolate browns and perforations 14, 13 ½ and 13. The same design was used for the 1½ d carmine (P 14 & P 13½) and the 1½ d violet (P 13). This scene would seem to be from the bay as per the old postcard.

Turning to the 2d grey, this was produced in perforations 14, 13½ (also with sideways watermark and a high catalogue value), and perforation 13. They again reused the design in 1944 this time as the 2d carmine – here the view is of ‘The Rock Northside’.

‘Europa Point’ is featured on the 3d light blue stamp which was produced in perforations 13½, 14 and 13. The perforation 13 is also listed in a greenish blue colour by Stanley Gibbons. Like before the view was used again for the 5d red-orange of 1947.

 

For the next design we have the Moorish Castle on the 6d carmine and grey-violet which was first issued 16 March 1938. The different perforations were 13½, 14 and 13. There is also a scarlet and grey variety (1945) as listed by Stanley Gibbons. This design was only used on the 6d value. The castle dates to the Medieval period with the most prominent feature being the Tower of Homage. It makes for a dominant and strategic position.

 

Next up is Southport Gate in black and green for the 1/- value. Perforations were 14, 13½ and 13. Underneath it is the gate shown on a picture postcard. Now consisting of three gates, built at different periods, within the Charles V Wall which dates to the 16th century.

 

For the 2/- design, Garrood chose the Eliott Memorial. Perforations were 14, 13½ and 13. Colours black and brown. George Augustus Eliott (1717-1790) was a British Army officer noted for his defence of Gibraltar during The Great Siege.

 

The 5/- features Government House in black and carmine.  Three perforations were made; 14, 13½ and 13. This particular postcard is one from Beanland Malin & Company that inspired the design.

Government House is the name given to some of the residences of Governors-General, Governors and Lieutenant-Governors in the Commonwealth and the British Empire. It serves as the venue for the Governor’s official business, as well as the many receptions and functions hosted by the occupant. [2]

 

The last of the pictorials is the 10/- showing Catalan Bay in black and blue. Just two types of perforation this time – 14 and 13.

Catalan Bay (Catalan: La Caleta) is a small bay and fishing village in Gibraltar, on the eastern side of The Rock away from the main city. During the nineteenth century only fishermen were permitted to live in Catalan Bay. They were required to have a fishing permit granted to them by the Governor and only a limited number of permits were issued. The families who live in the village today are mainly descendants of these Genoese fishermen, and are colloquially known as caleteños. [3]

Finally here the ½d green and the £1 stamps simply feature the King’s portrait. Both were perforated 13½ x 14.

For completeness; shown above are the other colours and values mentioned earlier with repeat use of the designs.

Usage examples

Next I will show some examples on cover with different features and rates, I think they make for attractive items.

Here we have a 1940 (24 May) airmail cover sent to Cambridge in the UK. It shows a purple triangular censor stamp with a central ‘g’. Also there is the slogan ‘Gibraltar – The travel key of the Mediterranean’ applied by a roller machine. From 30 January 1940 the first ½ ounce was 5d for airmail letters. [4]

Due to the war the civilians were evacuated to Britain, Jamaica and Madeira. Gibraltar was fortified and by 1942 there were over 30,000 servicemen and women stationed there.

Shown above is another World War II period cover which has a triangular censor mark in purple. Sent to Kent in the UK, but the date is not legible, this has a ‘Field Post Office’ cancellation. The Air Mail rate for letters to the UK from 28 December 1940 was 6d. [4]

 

Two examples above of a circular type censor mark in different colours. These were posted in 1943 and the face value of the stamps is 6d as expected. They are cancelled with the Field Post Office circular date stamp.

A ‘Field Post Office’ circular date stamp with unclear date but with an ‘RAF Censor 160’ mark in blue. The R.A.F. personnel were not allowed to use Great British stamps from October of 1943. This was subject to the introduction of a lesser 3d rate per half ounce to the UK. [4]

In an effort to show a clearer image of the Field Post Office cancellation I traced one out in Photoshop. Field Post Office 475 opened 2 December 1940. Note that this cancellation was still in use for some time after the war ended. Office 475 closed in 1947 but the date stamp was kept and was then used by the civilian post office to cancel force’s mail as can be seen above.

Above we have an example of a registered letter to Sheffield in the UK, dated 14 August 1945.

Here we have multiple stamps on a cover to Stockholm, Sweden, marked with Gibraltar CDS on 18 April 1950. The face value of the stamps is 8½d. Air Mail rates from 1 June 1949 to Europe was 5d for the first ½ ounce and 3d for each additional ½ ounce. [4] If this weighed up to 1 ounce then it’s ½d overpaid. But more likely it was simply to gain the stamps on cover, also suggested by the arrangement.

Above is the 3d blue on an airmail cover to London in the UK. Dated January 19, 1953 this has a roller machine postmark. The rate to the UK from 1 June 1949 to this time was 3d for the first ounce. [4]

New Constitution 1950

In 1950, the Gibraltar Constitution order and Gibraltar Election Rules ended the Governor’s monopoly of legislative authority, with the formation of a Legislative Council. Subsequent amendments allowed for a majority of elected members in the assembly. [5]

For 1 August 1950 these four values; the 2d, 3d, 6d and 1/- were overprinted in commemoration of the Inauguration of Legislative Council. The shilling being in red ink.

Finally we have the New Constitution set on a registered First Day Cover, sent to New York and dated 1 August 1950.

Footnotes

1. The People of Gibraltar website – Beanland Malin and Co – 500 000 Postcards.
2. Quoted from Wikipedia – Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth.
3. Quoted from Wikipedia – Catalan Bay.
4. According to The postal history of Gibraltar 1704-1971 – Garcia & Proud.
5. Quoted from Wikipedia – Political development in modern Gibraltar.

Further Reading & Websites

• The history of Gibraltar and of its political relation to events in Europe. With original letters from Sir George Eliott, Admiral Collingwood, and Lord Nelson (1865) by Frederick Sayer F.R.G.S. [Free PDF].
• Gibraltar: The History of a Fortress by Ernle Bradord.
• The Fortifications of Gibraltar 1068-1945 (Fortress) by Darren Fa & Clive Finlayson.
• Community and Identity: The Making of Modern Gibraltar Since 1704 by Stephen Constantine.
• Timeline of the history of Gibraltar at Wikipedia.
• Gibraltar Study Circle – with available publications in the shop.
• The postal history of Gibraltar 1704-1971 – Garcia & Proud.