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1978 - Tuvalu Commemorative Stamps Sets: | Wild Birds | Ships | Coronation |  Flowers | See Maps and Scenes Definitives for 1978 Independence set 1) Wild Birds: Top Date of Issue: 1978-01-25 Designer: G. Drummond Printer: Format International Process: Lithography Size: 32mm x 48mm Format: Panes of 20 (2 groups of 10 separated by a gutter) Plates 1A and 1B Paper: Unwatermarked, White Gum Perforation: 14 x 13.7         BRC# Value Description Scott S.G. 1978.C01.1 8c Pacific Pigeon 73 81   v1) Period after "pigeon" (row 5/2, pane 1A) [image]       v2) Broken first "P" in "Pacific" (row 3/4, pane 1B)     1978.C01.2 20c Reef Heron 74 82   v1) Spur at top tip of "2" (row 1/1, pane 1A)       v2) Black dot above rock, below tail (row 5/4, pane 1B)     1978.C01.3 30c Fairy Tern 75 83   v1) Flattened top on "3" of "30" (row 1/3, pane 1B) [image]     1978.C01.4 40c Frigate Bird 76 84   v1) Flower on tree (row 2/1, pane 1A) [image]       v2) Egg in nest (row 4/1, pane 1A) [image]     Specimen stamps produced for all values (1,000 sets). [image] Two distinct shades exist for the bird on the 20c stamp; purple (most common) and blue. [image] The chest on the 40c frigate bird varies from orange to red The printing quality of this set was poor; other minor constant varieties exist in addition to the ones listed above. See typical pane layout for variety positions. [image] All panes have Plate 1A on the lower left margin, plate 1B on the lower right. The master sheets, before cutting, either consisted of 1 pane of each value, or 4 panes of single values. Quantities sold: 8c - 38,494. 20c - 38,902. 30c - 38,897. 40c - 38,927.   2) Ships: Top Date of Issue: 1978-04-05 Designer: I. Oliver Printer: Format International Process: Lithography Size: 48mm x 328mm Format: Panes of 16 (4 groups of 4) Plates 1A and 1B Paper: Unwatermarked, White Gum Perforation: 13.7 x 14         BRC# Value Description Scott S.G. 1978.C02.1 8c S.M.V. Lawedua 77 85 1978.C02.2 20c M.V. Wallacia 78 86 1978.C02.3 30c M.V. Cenpac Rounder 79 87 1978.C02.4 40c M.V. Pacific Explored 80 88   v1) Broken 'R' in Explorer (row 4/3, pane 1B) [image]     Specimen stamps produced for all values (1,000 sets). The 8c and 30c values exists with "Specimen" inverted. The sheets consist of 4 groups of 4 stamps, seperated by horizontal and vertical gutters. The plate numbers are on the horizontal gutters, 1A on the left, 1B on the right. Sheetlets of 4 have been created by cutting the panes of 16 apart, but they were not sold that way by the Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau. [image] Quantities sold: 8c - 56,367. 20c - 56,506. 30c - 56,177. 40c - 56,525.   3) Coronation Anniversary: SetS/S Top Date of Issue: 1978-06-02 Designer: G. Drummond Printer: Format International Process: Lithography Size: 48mm x 32mm Format: Sheets of 10 plus 2 labels Souvenir sheet of 4 Booklets of 2 x each value Paper: Unwatermarked, White Gum Perforation: 13.7 x 4, 15 x 15 (S/S)         BRC# Value Description Scott S.G. 1978.C03.1 8c Canterbury Cathedral (perf 13.7 x  14) 81 89   v1) "Broken Crown" variety (R2/1) [image] - -   a) Canterbury Cathedral (perf 15 x 15) from S/S - -   v1) "Green garden hose" variety (8c stamp from S/S) [image] - - 1978.C03.2 30c Salisbury Cathedral (perf 13.7 x  14) 82 90   v1) Extended "t" in "Coronation" (R2/1) [image] - - a) Salisbury Cathedral (perf 15 x 15) from S/S - - 1978.C03.3 40c Wells Cathedral (perf 13.7 x  14) 83 92 a) Wells Cathedral (perf 15 x 15) from S/S - - 1978.C03.4 $1 Hereford Cathedral (perf 13.7 x  14) 84 93 a) Hereford Cathedral (perf 15 x 15) from S/S - - b) S/S of 4 with above values, (perf 15 x 15) 84a MS94 v1) "Green garden hose" variety (8c stamp on S/S) [image] - - v2) High perforation variety on 30c & $1 [Image]     Specimen stamps produced for all values (1,000 sets), but not the souvenir sheet. Two destinct types of overprints exist for all four values; one by lithography, the other by typography. The typography version is easily distinguished by the squared off bottom tip of the "S". [image] The Booklets contain marginal pairs of each value, torn from the regular sheets and stapled between a printed cover and backing. It is believed that the sheetlets of 10 were printed in master sheets of 4 sheetlets for each value. The 8c broken crown is believed to exist on 1 or more of the 4 sheets, but not all. The 30c extended "t" appears on all sheets. The souvenir sheets were printed in master sheets of 12 (4 rows of 3). Therefore the "Garden hose" variety on the 8c stamp appears on every 12th sheet. The "High perforation variety appears on one complete row, or 3 sheets out of 12. The souvenir sheet exists imperforate with slightly different shades of colour, but it may be a proof. [image] The printing quality of this set was poor; many minor constant varieties exist which allow the sheets to be plated. Quantities sold: 8c - 314,390. 30c - 312,657. 40c - 312,160. $1 - 312,958. S/S - 82,543.   4) Flowers: Top Date of Issue: 1978-10-04 Designer: I. Oliver Printer: Format International Process: Lithography Size: 28.5mm x 42.5mm Format: Panes of 16 (4 groups of 4) Plates 1A and 1B Paper: Unwatermarked, White or Cream Gum Perforation: 14 x 14         BRC# Value Description Scott S.G. 1978.C04.1 8c Puafiti 92 101 1978.C04.2 20c Susana 93 102 1978.C04.3 30c Tiale 94 103 1978.C04.4 35c Inato 95 104 Specimen stamps produced for all values (1,000 sets). Two types of papers exist for all 4 values: cream, and white. They are most easily distinguished from the reverse of  mint copies. The sheets consist of 4 groups of 4 stamps, seperated by horizontal and vertical gutters. The plate numbers are on the horizontal gutters, 1A on the left, 1B on the right. Sheetlets of 4 have been created by cutting the panes of 16 apart, but they were not sold that way by the Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau. Quantities sold: 8c - 70,437. 20c - 70,663. 30c - 70,734. 40c - 70,642. Top Stamps