held at 41 Devonshire Place, London W1, 6th-18th June 1955
By courtesy of Mr. G. Leslie Newman, Archivist to Thomas De La Rue & Co Ltd., we are privileged to reproduce the captions of the items covering the British West Indies which we are sure will interest our members overseas and those who were not able to attend personally to view this outstanding exhibition.
ANTIGUA. Specimens overprinted "Specimen" of the 1d. and 6d recess and 2½d. and 4d. letter press, submitted on April 11th, 1882, with the remark that the 6d is from a recessed plate, and that the green proposed for the ½d. would be of a very different shade.
BAHAMAS Essays submitted on August 17,1883, a die proof of a 1/- of 1863 being employed for the 5/- with the bottom tablet painted in and over-painted in white. In the case of the £1 an entirely new design was submitted. On August 22nd 1883, the Crown Agents called for prices if existing key-plates were used and the blank duty die Proofs shown were painted in and submitted on September 3, 1883. The Company was then asked to prepare sketches similar to the existing 1/- stamp, and again utilised proofs struck from the blank duty die as shown, which were submitted on September 5, 1883. These were approved on November 15th subject to change of colour of 5/- and the sage-green suggested on November 20th was 'approved, 5/- and £1. In a requisition dated November 14, 1887, from the Colonial. Secretary, Nassau, 250 sheets, each of 60 stamps, were ordered, Printed by the new surface system in a light blue as "A", but in other respect like their 1d, save that the words ONE PENNY were to be, replaced by "37, 2½d..87" as shown on "B" Blank duty die Proof "A" submitted on December 7, 1887, complying with this request drawn by hand on a blank duty die proof, accompanied by the Company's orthodox design "B" showing "2½ PENNY" drawn thereon. The latter was approved on December 14th.
March 1 1920. Peace Celebration Issue. Designs submitted on August 22nd 1919:- A. For letterpress reproduction in two colours, which was rejected. B. For recess printing in one colour, which was approved by the Colonial Office on the 25th. Design submitted by the Government of Bahamas to the Crown Agents far a proposed air mail stamp. "To have ready pending the carrying of mails by aircraft being placed on a permanent basis". The Company was asked by the Crown Agents on August 27, 1930, to prepare designs embodying a head of the King, and quote for processes other than lithography. Rough design with notes covering reproduction by D.P. (recess) and letterpress. Submissions of September 17th, "A" by recess and "B" by letterpress. They were not successful.
BARBADOS May 4 1881 When reporting that the Perkins-Bacon 1d plate was worn out, the Key-Plate essay shown was submitted as a suggestion for replacing such copper-plate printing for all values. Die proof of the Hong Kong 5 cents submitted with a report on May 11th to show the perfection and superiority of the letterpress printing. June 14 1897. A sketch for a proposed Jubilee issue was submitted to the Company on June 3, 1897, for the preparation of a design to cover nine denominations. This submission was approved on July 6th. 1906 Tercentenary Essay "A" submitted on March 1,1906 in the colours shown for recess printing from a design submitted, modified for better printing. Essay "B" submitted to show the effect of reproduction in two colours. The original essay of "B" is also shown. On March 3rd the designs were returned with a tracing showing the landward direction of the ship more emphasised, and the essay of March 7th, following these instructions was submitted and approved on March 9th. This is the first three-colour recess stamp De La Rue printed. It was engraved by Z. V. Phillips . 1953 Coronation Issue. Rough essays by C.Meronti for producing the 4 cents by recess in black and red.
BERMUDA. 1879. Essays submitted on October 1, 1879 with tablets showing the colours proposed, and both approved issue being m,ade on March 23rd 1880. On July 3 1883 the Government of Bermuda requested a design for the new 2½d value they proposed issuing, which had to conform with the colour requirements of the lnternational Postal Convention, Advantage was taken of this opportunity to submit a proposed scheme of colours or all values, with the hand-painted essay of the 2½d denomination. This design and colour scheme were approved, by the Governor on October 11th 1883. All proofs of the proposed colours are perf 12. 1896 The Colonial Secretary, Bermuda, requisitioned a new 5d. value on October 22,1896, leaving the design and colour to the Crown Agents and De La Rue. The Crown Agents forwarded wood-cuts of the Arms and Badge of the Colony, asking the Cmpany to submit designs embodying it. Essays for key-plate production, "A" with the duty overprinted, and "B" with the border and duty plate in one, but with the duty-tablet left blank so that it was available for all values. Approval of "B" was received on September 3 1901 but for 1d. and ¼d. duty plates only. Sheets of the ld. were ordered on April 3, 1902, and a colour scheme is also shown for the ¼d. and ld. with twelve alternatives, the two originals being initialled and approved on June 3rd, 1902. This also shows one of the alterntives approved, for the 3d. on April 6,1903, and the ¼d. colours approved on July 14, 1995: This ¼d. denomination in these colours was not issued until 1908, the design "B", approved on September 3 1901 being used for newspaper Wrappers. On November 10, 1900, the Government Cabled for 1/- stamps of the current issue to be supplied in grey, surcharged one farthing. The appendix shown was submitted, with alternatives pointing out a grey 3d was in use. The Crown Agents, however, to comply with the Government's wishes, initialled and rreturned the appendix approving the grey in the form shown on the right. In a confirmation dated December 4th, the Crown Agents forwarded a letter from the Government requesting designs for a permanent issue. Alternartives "A" and "B" were submitted on December 10 1900, but owing to the death of the Queen they were never adopted and were returned to the Company.
Tercentenary Commemorative. Duplicate essay, based on a design by the Governor of Bermuda, submitted on May 18, 1920, in response to telegraphic instructions from the Governor for a two colour letterpress stamp. It was approved by Telegraph on June 18, 1920. On July 1, 1920, instructions were received to reverse the vignette and the stamp so transposed was first Issuedin the 1d. and 2½d.denominations on November 11 1920.