|
|
Sierra Leone is a country much in the news in recent years due to the turbulent political situation and the terrible heartache and suffering of the people who have been afflicted. Uganda was in the headlines for similar reasons some years ago but more recent stories indicate that the people of Uganda are enjoying a much more peaceful existance nowadays. We can only hope and pray that the lot of Sierra Leone's people improves markedly with a restoration of democratic and benevolent rule during the coming months and years.
My early picture of Africa was painted as I read the novels of the naturalist Gerald Durrell. These entertaining books were based on his experiences during his animal collecting trips to the continent during the 1950's. Many is the time that he mentions the beautiful carpets of butterflies that fluttered around him after he and his party had disturbed them. Thus it is quite appropriate that butterflies should be chosen as the subject of definitive stamps for these two countries.
These stamps were first issued in Sierra Leone in 1987 and in Uganda in 1989. The last varieties were issued between 1992 and 1994 (depending upon who you believe). What may seem to be two unrelated definitive stamp issues have several common links. The first such link is obvious after a short while examining the stamps of the two countries - the similarity of design, size and subject matter. This may in part be attributed to the fact that the printers for both countries were the House of Questa in the United Kingdom and that artist Steve Heimann, from the United States, designed the stamps of both countries. However, that having been said, Steve Heimann and the House of Questa have been jointly involved in the design and production of other stamps - including many depicting butterflies, which are not visually similar to the Uganda and Sierra Leone definitive issues. The stamp designs were commissioned by IGPC who responsible for placing the orders for the printing of the stamps.
The original designs for both countries showed the country name printed in black. Subsequently both countries issued stamps using the same designs but with the country name printed in blue. This colour change was not instigated by Steve Heimann, the designer. It would appear likely that IGPC instigated this change in order to take advantage of the potential for additional philatelic revenue to offset costs incurred in re-printing but the author has not been able to confirm this theory.
In the case of Uganda there were also some additional values included in the series with the country name in blue, some of which utilised new designs. Subsequently some of the blue name stamps appeared with an imprint date at the foot (in fact some values in the blue name series only exist with an imprint date). All the Ugandan stamps were issued perforated 14. The frequency with which used examples are met with would suggest that all the issued stamps of Uganda saw regular use. The more higher values in this series tend to be more elusive in used condition, as would be expected. The author has yet to track down a used copy of either variety of the 20 shilling stamps with country name in blue. For illustrated details of the varieties issued by Uganda click on this Uganda Issues link or the link at the top of this page.
Sierra Leone's issues have more variations. As stated above the original series was issued with country name in black, perforated 14 and without imprint date at foot. All the original values were then released as before but perforated 12. Next came a release of the lower values and some new denominations re-using designs previously employed for other values but with an imprint date at foot. These stamps had reverted to the original perforation gauge 14. These low and new values are also to be found perforated 12.5 x 11.5 with imprint date at foot (these have a larger perf hole every sixth hole both horizontally & vertically) and also perforated 12 with imprint date at foot. Subsequently a series was issued with the country name in blue and containing some significantly revised denominations (due no doubt to the ravages of inflation). These appeared perforated 14 and had an imprint date at the foot. There were no new designs - where necessary the stamps used designs previously used for other denominations in the first set. Four values from this blue name series are also known perforated 12.5 x 11.5 with imprint date at foot (these have a larger perf hole every sixth hole both horizontally & vertically) and the same four denominations also occur perforated 12 with imprint date at foot.
In the author's experience the original series (perforated 14), the low values (up to 3 leones) of the second series (perforated 12) and the third series (perforated 14 - the first with imprint dates) are the only stamps among the black name issues to be regularly met with in used condition. This would appear to indicate that genuine usage of the other issued stamps was limited at best (minimal or non-existant may be more likely in certain cases). Of the stamps with country name in black, perforated 12 and with imprint date, only the 3 leone (revised design) was listed until quite recently. Some other values were identified by a dealer in the London area who had acquired the very extensive stock of a deceased packet maker and found the items amongst the vast accumulation of stamps he had purchased. These stamps were reported to Messrs. Stanley Gibbons who have included them in their latest (2001) Part 1 (British Commonwealth) Catalogue. The author located a not previously catalogued copy of the 3 Leone showing Graphium ridleyanus with perforation 12.5 x 11.5 with imprint date at foot and a larger perf hole every sixth hole both horizontally & vertically during a visit to The Stamp Show 2000 exhibition at Earls Court (London UK). The author advised Stanley Gibbons of the existance of this stamp and it too was listed in the 2001 edition of their Part 1 British Commonwealth catalogue.
Reports of a 60 Leone denomination with country name in black and imprint date 1990 seem unlikely to be correct. This probably relates to the stamp in this denomination in the set issued with the country name in blue. The stamps with country name in blue do have a 1990 imprint date. However, if any reader has seen a copy of this stamp as reported, or indeed any other varieties not listed in the appropriate pages on this site, the author would be very grateful to receive any information on such stamps - including a scan if possible.
The stamps perforated 14 and with country name in blue are widely met with in used condition, apart from the two lower values which may have been made obsolete by inflation rendering them of no practical use. This set is, however, extremely difficult to locate in mint condition - some of the values particularly so. I am informed by contacts that the Scott catalogue (United States based) does not list some of the denominations at all. A member of the editorial team at Stanley Gibbons suggested to the author that for some unknown reason there appears to have been no philatelic distribution of this particular variety, thus explaining the scarcity of mint stamps. The releases with country name in blue and perforated 12.5 x 11.5 with imprint date at foot and also perforated 12 with imprint date at foot are more often met with mint and are seemingly unknown in used condition. For illustrated details of the varieties issued by Sierra Leone click on this Sierra Leone Issues link or the link at the top of this page.
I would welcome any comments, corrections or suggestions on the above. In particular reports of any commercially used stamps or covers from the issues with perforation other than 14 would be most helpful to my research. I am also interested in filling the gaps in my collection (see my want's list page).
