Page 3 - Farrimond Jamaica Miscellany
P. 3
JAMAICA
The "Laureated Head" of Queen Victoria
In preparation for the transfer of control of the Post Office to the Jamaican authorities, approval was given in
May 1860 by the Board of Inland Revenue for De La Rue to begin preparation of plates for printing the first
Jamaican postage stamps. There are essays with a diadem head of the Queen, but the laureated head used
on the existing revenue stamps was selected, probably for reasons of economy.
Design die proofs
Dies for the first five values of this issue were developed, evolving through various states for which proofs
L were struck, leading to the preparation of the plates in September 1860.
Allex
Swarbrick &
Hemmings
State 7 (of 8) Final state (of 8): with cross Final state (of 8)
hatching in the four tdangles
L
L
State 5 (of 7): laurel leaves lightened State 6 (of 7): curl partly redrawn
A three pence stamp was required in 1863 when the ship letter rate was reduced from sixpence. The master
die was considerably retouched to produce the new die, which was later used for Y:id, 2s & 5s denominations.
L
L
State 3 (of 5): front leaves short and Final state (of 5): front leaves longer
heavily shaded; no dashes above & and lightened; dashes above & below
below ornaments ornaments
Ex Swarbrick & Hemmings
l ___ _
L
