stamps value" title="1921 LAST YEAR MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR COMPLETE MINT MARK COLLECTION" width=w height=h />St. Pierre and Miquelon is the small island group located off the southern coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland. Practically surrounded by Canadian territorial waters, this enclave was a prewar French Colony and today is a French Territorial Collective. Distinctive stamps have been issued since 1885. A listing of forerunners - stamps of the French Colonies general issues issued from 1860-1892 follows the introduction. These general issues are only recognized as St. Pierre and Miquelon stamps if they have the post mark of the island colony or are on covers from the islands. The general issue designs used at St. Pierre and the postmarks are illustrated permitting the reader to readily recognize rare stamps which may be inadvertently described as common. The rare, and not-so-rare, surcharges on the general issues are both the boon and the bane of St. Pierre and! Miquelo n philately. The 1885-1892 overprints on stamps and stationery of the French Colonies general issues are given extensive priced listings. The treatment here, explaining the circumstances of the issues, citing numbers issued, quoting from contemporary accounts and the various, quite collectable, surcharge varieties, may serve to popularize these forgotten stamps. Stamps actually inscribed with the colony name were introduced in 1892 part of a French Empire policy to combat currency speculation. The interesting colour changes introduced at the Paris Exposition of 1900 are listed and their late appearance at the St. Pierre post office is explained. The surcharge spacing varieties of 1912 are listed. The pictorial series of 1908 in all its colour changes, new values, and surcharges resulting from inflationary postage rate changes present a challenge to collectors in league say with the Admiral issues of Canada. The 'PP' post paid hand struck stamps, resulting from the 1926 stamp shortage, are priced on cover. The extreme rarities, in use for a day or two, and the dates of issue are fully documented. Early aircraft flights to and from the islands, whether or not recording flown mail, are discussed. The pictorial issues of 1938-1941 are listed with interesting new original research on constant plate varieties with sheet positions. Illustrated are the 'log on the ice', the malformed 'S' in 'St.', the 'splash-in-the-water' and the line between 'ERR' of 'PIERRE' constant plate varieties. This section will certainly send collectors scurrying to their albums and stock books to check their holdings. The wartime stamps of St. Pierre are legendary in their interest and variety. The Vichy stamps issued in France are listed with the large size semi-postal and sans RF issues. The long list! of Free French FNFL invasion overprints include all the constant overprint varieties and setting positions. The story behind these issues, with the cast of contemporary rogues and heroes, is worth the cost of the volume by itself. FNFL overprints were superseded in 1942 with the London printings of the France Libre Schooner design. The value omitted and 'moon' misplaced value varieties are covered. In the 1946 surcharges, the noticeable, but little known, '15 Fr' malformed '1' variety is illustrated and priced. Listings and illustrations of the attractive post war issues of the islands are comprehensive. Notes on the stamp subjects and their relation to the islands' history and culture are extensive. All the more recent complete stamp booklets, several of which are unlisted in the standard catalogues, are recorded and the booklet covers are illustrated. Sections on sheet margin designs, gutter pairs, postal stationery, military mail, and a useful map of the island post offices complement the basic listings. Historical notes on the fishing industry and the infamous rum-running days are highlighted with illustrations of stamps on cover are place throughout the volume. Occupation of the islands by French troops, to quell local unrest, are chronicled, so the reader, armed with the knowledge, can perhaps spot a rare cover or two in his own collection. Prices, in US dollars, reflect the recent collector and dealer interest for these issues which long enjoyed philatelic marketplace obscurity. Past neglect may well mean even higher prices for the key items i! n the fu ture.
- Title: St. Pierre and Miquelon Specialized Stamp Catalogue
- Author: James R. Taylor
- ISBN: 0968422918
- Publisher: Penny Black Publishing
- Pub Date: 1999-01-26