Airmail collage — Tongan Scouting
Piece details
Identity
- Piece codeStamp code YYYY.ENT.SS-PP — series code plus stamp order (e.g. 1900.CGH.01-02).
1979.TON.01-04- SeriesThe set this stamp belongs to.
- Tenth anniversary of self-adhesive stamps
1979.TON.01· piece 4 of 10 - EntityPostal authority that issued the stamps (country, territory, or historical entity).
Tonga (TON)- Year / date
- 1979-06-01
- Face valueDenomination on the stamp; +n is a charity surcharge when present.
- 17 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.
- ◔ Purchased€7.50 for 10 pieces · Postbeeld · 2026-09-06
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).
- 979.17
- ScottScott catalog number (Americas).
- TO C260
- MichelMichel catalog number (Europe / DE).
- TO 717
- YvertYvert & Tellier catalog number (FR).
- TO PA255
- Stanley GibbonsStanley Gibbons catalog number (UK / Commonwealth).
- TO 716
Notes
Die-cut self-adhesive on square peelable backing. White circular tablet lettered 10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF SELFADHESIVE STAMPS, THE FRIENDLY ISLES, Tonga and 17 s, with the centenary of Sir Rowland Hill (1795–1879) and Bernard Mechanick as inventor of freeform self-adhesive stamps. AIRMAIL on the tablet. The collage includes the gold Tongan Scouting fleur-de-lis, the 1974 UPU dove, Oil Search 1969, and other earlier freeform stamps. Offset lithography, die cut.
Series history
Tonga issued ten self-adhesive commemoratives on 1 June 1979 for the tenth anniversary of its freeform self-adhesive stamps. The circular tablet on each value is lettered 10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF SELFADHESIVE STAMPS and THE FRIENDLY ISLES, names Tonga and the face value, and commemorates the centenary of the death of Sir Rowland Hill (1795–1879) together with Bernard Mechanick as inventor of freeform self-adhesive stamps. Walsall Security Printers designed and lithographed the issue; the stamps are die-cut and peel from a square backing. The five postage values (5, 10, 25 and 50 seniti and 1 paʻanga) are circular die-cuts over a fan of earlier Tongan freeform stamps, including official issues lettered ON HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE. The five airmails (15, 17, 18, 31 and 39 seniti) sit on a collage that includes the gold Tongan Scouting fleur-de-lis, the 1974 UPU dove and the 1969 Oil Search stamp. Three official values complete a thirteen-stamp issue; they are not listed here.