British Solomon Islands Waterlow Printings

1938-1952

  • In visiting the British Library during the Summer of 2000 I had many intentions, one of which was to collate the printing figures for the British Solomon Islands.
  • Little did I suspect that this was one of the most complicated issues during all of the reign of George VI.
  • This was most probably due to the 2nd World War and the instability throughout the pacific.
  • On reaching home and looking at the printing figures I noticed that there was a gap between 1944 and 1951.
  • Whether this is an omission of mine or there were not printings during that period I cannot relate. I hope to look further into this during the Summer of 2001.
  • Once again I acknowledge the British Library in allowing me to access the Crown Agents Records

  • Requisition 566/1
  • New Issue GPO Specimens and dealers. To be Interleaved with wax paper
  • Due 31/8/38 despatched 10/10/38

Value
Sheets ordered
Sheets Printed
Stamps Printed
GPO/Spec

1/2d

2866 40/60

2757

172000

72000

1d

2416 40/60

2310

145000

45000

1 1/2d

3933 20/60

4267

236000

36000

2 1/2d

1233 20/60

1210

74000

24000

4 1/2d

1166 20/60

1202 20/60

70000

20000

6d

1133 20/60

1147

68000

12000

1/-

1133 20/60

1165

68000

12000

5/-

350

362

21000

6000
 
  • Requisition 709/1
  • Due 2 weeks after receipt of paper
  • Urgently required telegraphed for. Stamps interleaved with wax paper

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

despatch

 

1/2d

1000

1044

60000

12/8/41

 

1d

1000

1006

60000

12/8/41

 

 
  • Requisition 714/1
  • New Duty. GPO specimens and Dealers. Interleaved with wax paper
  • despatched 14/10/41

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

GPO/Spec

 

10/-

200

199 40/60

12000

7000

 

 
  • Requisition 714/2
  • Very Urgently Required
  • despatched 28/5/42

 

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

Dealers

 

10/-

1666 40/60

1651 20/60

100000

Dealers

 

 
  • Requisition 731/1
  • Commence End of December 1941. 6000 1/2d and 3000 10/- from Bureau posted 22/3/43 (see also 741/1
  • Stamps interleaved with wax paper. Urgently required. Shipment to be made in two consignments by different vessels, each to include half quantity ordered

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

Dealers

despatch

1/2d

25000

25669

1,500,000

1,434,000

17/1 & 12/3/43

1d

4000

4014

240,000

214,000

"

1 1/2d

3000

3000

150,000

177,000

"

2 1/2d

2000

2049

120,000

80,000

20/4 & 25/6/43

4 1/2d

 

6d

600

622

36,000

31,700

27/4 & 25/5/43

1/-

1000

1034

60,000

30,000

22/4 & 26/6/43

5/-

600

593

36,000

19,000

27/4 & 25/5/42

 
  • Requisition 736/1
  • Supplied by A2 27/7/43

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

 

 

 

1/2d

100

6000

 

 

 

2 1/d

50

3000

 

 

 

5/-

100

6000

 

 

 

10/-

100

6000

 

 

 

 
Requisition 741/1
Supplied by A2 22/11/43 as ordered
Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

 

 

 
1/2d

200

12000

 

 

 
1d

1500

9000

 

 

 
11/2d

150

9000

 

 

 
21/2d

150

9000

 

 

 
10/-

100

6000

 

 

 
 
Requisition 741/2
Interleaved with wax paper. Urgently required, Due April 1944

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

Bureau

 

6d

800

800

48000

34000

 

1/-

650

665

39000

30000

 

5/-

334

334

20640

11040

 

 
  • Requisition 741/4
  • Due Early 1944. Bureau Supply

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

 

1d

1667

1827

100020

 

 

2 1/2d

1000

1065

60000

 

 

 
  • Requisition 745/1
  • Supplied from A2 to be sheet numbered and interleaved with wax
  • despatched 5/7/44 and 9/8/44

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

 

 

1/2d

500

500

30000

 

 

10/-

150

150

9000

 

 

 
  • Requisition 745/2
  • As Early as possible in August. With the exception of those on requisition 745/1 each denomination to be numbered 1 up and interleaved with wax

despatched 27/10/44 and 3/11/44

 

 

 

 

 

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

Bureau

 

1d

500

500

30000

 

 

1 1/2d

500

500

30000

 

 

2 1/2d

500

500

30000

 

 

6d

500

500

30000

 

 

1/-

500

500

30000

12000

 

5/-

334

329

20000

11000

 

 
  • Requisition 750/1
  • Sheets of stamps for colony to be numbered 1 up and interleaved with wax paper
  • despatched 25/7/45

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

Bureau

 

1d

1334

1354

80040

65040

 

1 1/2d

1167

1183

70020

60000

 

1/-

334

341

20040

15000

 

 
  • Requisition 750/3
  • From A2 for sheet numbering. Interleaved and despatched to High Commission Pacific, Suva, Fiji
  • despatched 29/5/45 and 25/7/45

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

 

1/2d

667

667

40020

 

 

1d

250

250

15000

 

 

11 /2d

167

167

10020

 

 

1/-

84

84

5040

 

 

5/-

50

50

3000

 

 

10/-

50

50

3000

 

 

 
  • Requisition 768/1
  • From A2 for Interleaving and numbering for despatch to colony
  • Despatched 6/12/46

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

 

 

1/2d

250

As ordered

15000

 

 

1d

300

As ordered

18000

 

 

1 1/2d

500

As ordered

30000

 

 

2 1/2d

100

As ordered

6000

 

 

 
  • Requisition 768/4
  • Sheets for colony to be numbered 1 up and interleaved with wax paper. For exchange see cover
  • Despatched 3/4/46

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

Bureau

 

1d

650

711

39000

24000

 

1 1/2d

1050

1062

63000

45000

 

2 1/2d

400

638

24000

18000

 

 
  • Requisition 778/1
  • From A2. Sheets of stamps to be numbered 1 up each duty and interleaved with wax paper before despatch to colony
  • Supply for colony to be distributed as follows (2nd sheet order for each value):
  • To W.P.H.C Suva 1d -25, 112/d - 2,5 21/2d - 12, 6d - 10, 5/- - 25
  • To Resident Commission Guadalcanal 1d - 25, 11/2d - 25, 21/2d - 12, 6d - 1-, 5/- - 25
  • 1/2d, 1d despatched 17/6/44. Rest despatched 23/10/44

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

Bureau

 

1/2d

1334

As stated

80040

 

 

1d

667

as stated

40020

 

 

 

867

962

 

 

 

1 1/2d

667

As stated

40020

 

 

 

867

867

 

 

 

2 1/2d

335

As stated

20100

 

 

 

434

469

 

 

 

6d

167

As stated

10020

 

 

 

267

267

 

 

 

1/-

167

As stated

10020

 

 

5/-

117

As stated

7020

 

 

 

200

200

 

 

 

10/-

167

As stated

10020

 

 

 
  • Requisition 944/1
  • Supplied by A2. To be Interleaved with wax paper and sheet numbered
  • 1/2d, 1/-, 5/- and 10/- despatched 8/6/44 and 5/7/44. Rest despatched 8/6/44

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

Bureau

 

1/2d

1000

1000

6000

 

 

1 1/2d

166 40/60

167 40/60

 

 

 

6d

350

350

21000

 

 

1/-

200

200

12000

 

 

5/-

100

100

6000

 

 

10/-

500

500

3000

 

 

 
  • Requisition 974/2
  • Bureau 18000 E 6300. With exception of Bureau wax interleaved. despatched 15/11/51

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

Stamps Printed

 

 

6d  

800

778

48000

 

 

 
  • Requisition 1026/3
  • Despatched 14/5/52. To be collected from Bureau and despatched immediately
  • Interleaved with wax paper

Value

Sheets ordered

Sheets Printed

 

 

 

6d

250

250