○ WantedPostal2 pieces
1973.TON.01Commonwealth Games, Christchurch
10th British Commonwealth Games, Christchurch
0% of this series in collection (0 / 2)
In collection 0 · wanted 2 · of 2 pieces
Series details
Identity
- CodeSeries code YYYY.ENT.SS — year, 3-letter issuing entity, sequence (e.g. 1900.CGH.01).
1973.TON.01- EntityPostal authority that issued the stamps (country, territory, or historical entity).
- Tonga (TON)
- Year
- 1973-12-19
- Event
- 10th British Commonwealth Games, Christchurch
- TypeIssue kind. Charity issue = postage + voluntary surcharge (e.g. 6+4), not an overprint.
- Airmail
Production
- Printer
- Walsall Security Printers
- Process
- Offset lithography
- PerforationsHole gauge between stamps (e.g. 12, 13½). Higher ≈ finer.
- Die cut (self-adhesive)
Catalog numbers
- DomfilDomfil thematic catalog number (scouting).
- 974.39/40
- ScottScott catalog number (Americas).
- TO C143/C144
- MichelMichel catalog number (Europe / DE).
- TO 478/479
- YvertYvert & Tellier catalog number (FR).
- TO PA147/PA148
- Stanley GibbonsStanley Gibbons catalog number (UK / Commonwealth).
- TO 477/478
History
Tonga issued two self-adhesive airmail surcharges at Nuku'alofa on 19 December 1973 for the tenth British Commonwealth Games, held at Christchurch in 1974. They are die-cut gold fleurs-de-lis on rectangular peelable backing, lithographed by Walsall Security Printers, with printing on the reverse of the release paper. Seven thousand five hundred of each were issued. Sources give no designer of the overprint.
The 29 seniti is surcharged on the 9 seniti Scout-emblem airmail; the 40 seniti on the 14 seniti. Each still shows the Tonga Scouts badge and the silver-jubilee lettering, overprinted 1974, COMMONWEALTH GAMES and Christchurch, with the new value covering the old one.



