40 s on 14 s
Piece details
Identity
- Piece codeStamp code YYYY.ENT.SS-PP — series code plus stamp order (e.g. 1900.CGH.01-02).
1973.TON.01-02- SeriesThe set this stamp belongs to.
- Commonwealth Games, Christchurch
1973.TON.01· piece 2 of 2 - EntityPostal authority that issued the stamps (country, territory, or historical entity).
Tonga (TON)- Year / date
- 1973-12-19
- Face valueDenomination on the stamp; +n is a charity surcharge when present.
- 40 s
- Format
- Stamp
- TypeIssue kind. Charity issue = postage + voluntary surcharge (e.g. 6+4), not an overprint.
- Airmail
- Colors
- Multicolour
- CollectionIn collection if you have it; Purchased if it is bought but not yet received (do not buy again); Wanted otherwise.
- ○ Wanted
Production
- Printer
- Walsall Security Printers
- Process
- Offset lithography
- PerforationsHole gauge between stamps (e.g. 12, 13½). Higher ≈ finer.
- Die cut (self-adhesive)
- Quantity printed
- 7,500
Catalog numbers
- DomfilDomfil thematic catalog number (scouting).
- 974.40
- ScottScott catalog number (Americas).
- TO C144
- MichelMichel catalog number (Europe / DE).
- TO 479
- YvertYvert & Tellier catalog number (FR).
- TO PA148
- Stanley GibbonsStanley Gibbons catalog number (UK / Commonwealth).
- TO 478
Notes
Die-cut gold fleur-de-lis with silver border on rectangular peelable backing. Tonga Scouts badge at the top petal, with TONGAN SCOUTING, Silver Jubilee, 1948-1973 and AIRMAIL of the underlying stamp. Overprinted 1974, COMMONWEALTH GAMES and Christchurch; the new value covers the old one. Surcharged 40s on 14s.
Series 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.
