1981 - Tuvalu Commemorative Stamps PreviousNext
Sets: | Butterflies | Ships | Royal Wedding | UPU |
1) Butterflies: View stamp image Top
  Date of Issue: 1981-02-03  
  Designer: J.E. Cooter  
  Printer: House of Questa  
  Process: Lithography  
  Size: 40.5mm x 32mm  
  Format: Sheets of 16 (4 panes of 4)  
  Paper: Unwatermarked, White Gum  
  Perforation: 14.25 x 14.5  
     
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1981.C01.1 8c Hypolimnas bolina elliciana 146 158
1981.C01.2 20c Hypolimnas bolina elliciana 147 159
1981.C01.3 30c Hypolimnas bolina elliciana 148 160
1981.C01.4 40c Junonia vallida 149 161
  • Specimen stamps produced for all values.


2) Historical Ships: View stamp image Top
  Date of Issue: 1981-05-13  
  Designer: R.G. Barrett  
  Printer: Format International  
  Process: Lithography  
  Size: 42.5mm x 28.5mm  
  Format: Sheets of 6 plus 2 labels)  
  Paper: Post Office watermark, White Gum  
  Perforation: 14 x 14  
     
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1981.C02.1 10c Brig Elizabeth (1809) 151 162
1981.C02.2 25c Brigantine Rebecca (1819) 152 163
1981.C02.3 35c Whaler Independence II (1821) 153 164
1981.C02.4 40c HMS Basilisk (1872) 154 165
1981.C02.5 45c HMS Royalist (1890) 155 166
1981.C02.6 50c Olivebank (early 1900's) 156 167
  • Specimen stamps produced for all values.
  • A number of the sheetlets containing the 35c stamp have the name of the ship misspelled
    INPEPENDENCE on one of the gutter labels.


3) Royal Wedding: Set View stamp image S/S View stamp image Top
  Date of Issue: 1981-07-14 (single stamps)  
    1981-11-26 (souvenir sheet and booklet)  
  Designer: D. Shults  
  Printer: Format International  
  Process: Lithography  
  Size: 42.5mm x 28.5mm (Yacht and couple)  
  85mm x 28.5mm (Congratulations)  
  Format: Sheets of 7 with 2 x 10c, 45c, $2 Yachts  
    1 x 10c, 45c, $2 Congratulations  
  Booklet panes of 4 x 10c and 2 x 45c  
  Souvenir sheet of 1 x $1.50  
  Paper: Post Office watermark, White Gum  
  Perforation: 14 x 14 (single stamps)  
    12.25 x 12 (booklet & Souvenir Sheet)  
       
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1981.C03.1 10c Royal couple and yacht Carolina
Perf. 14 x 14		 157 168
  a) As above, perf. 12.25 x 12 (from booklet) - -
1981.C03.2 10c Royal Couple Congratulations 158 158a
1981.C03.3 45c Royal couple and yacht Victoria and Albert
Perf. 14 x 14		 159 169
1981.C03.4 45c Royal Couple Congratulations 160 169a
  a) As above, perf. 12.25 x 12 (from booklet) - -
1981.C03.5 $1.50 Royal Couple Congratulations (S/S) 163 MS171
1981.C03.6 $2 Royal couple and yacht Britannia 161 170
1981.C03.7 $2 Royal Couple Congratulations 162 170a
  • Specimen stamps produced for all values except the booklet stamps.
  • The sheetlets of seven were later made available in uncut panes of four sheetlets, with horizontal and vertical gutters.
  • The booklet sheetlets were made available in uncut panes, tete-beche. [image]
  • Extremely large quantities of all sheetlets were dumped on the market at a fraction of their face value after the dissolution of the philatelic advisors, Philatelists (1980) Ltd. in 1987.


4) UPU: Set View stamp image S/S View stamp image Top
  Date of Issue: 1981-11-19  
  Designer: Harrison and Sons  
  Printer: Harrison and Sons  
  Process: Recess (engraved)  
  Size: 28.5mm x 35.5mm  
  Format: Sheets of 10 plus 2 labels
Plates 1A, 1B, 1C for each value 		 
  Paper: Harrison and Sons watermark
Greenish Gum (sheets)		  
  Unwatermarked, Greenish Gum (S/S)  
  Perforation: 14.75 x 14  
       
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1981.C04.1 70c UPU symbol in blue 164 172
  a) unwatermarked - -
  v1) Plate scratches (row 1/2, plate 1A) [image]    
1981.C04.2 $1 UPU symbol in brown 165 173
  a) unwatermarked - -
  b) S/S of 2 unwatermarked 165a MS174
  v1) inverted watermark    
  • Specimen stamps produced for all values, (1,000 sets) and the souvenir sheet (1,000 sheets). [image]
  • A special black imperforate version of the souvenir sheet was distributed free with a British philatelic publication for publicity. It was not sold in Tuvalu nor was it valid for postage. Covers bearing the black prints do exist, prepared by collectors and having slipped through the Tuvalu postal system. [image]
  • The souvenir sheet exists imperforate. Very few are known. [image]
  • The souvenir sheet exists with a mirror image of both stamps on the reverse, due to wet ink transfer. [image]
  • The watermarks are very difficult to detect on single stamps, unless a margin is attached.
  • Minor shade varieties exist for both values.
  • Quantities sold: 70c - 60,147. $1 - 62,798. These totals include 2,367 first day covers, 854 gutter pair FDCs, and 1,550 presentation packs, and all stamps used as postage. 28,039 souvenir sheets were sold, but first day cover quantities are unknown.

 


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