 |
|
Type A. The original release of this stamp issue for Sierra Leone appeared on 4 August 1987. The issued stamps had the country name printed in black and were perforation 14. These stamps did not have an imprint date at the bottom of the stamp to indicate the year of printing.The denominations issued were 10, 20 and 40 cents, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 100 leones. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Type B.Subsequently stamps were released similar to type 1 in every way except that they were issued perforation 12. Stanley Gibbons list their dates of release between June 1988 (lower values) and March 1989 (le. 100).The denominations issued were as before, i.e. 10, 20 and 40 cents, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 100 leones. |
 |
|
Type C. A further issue of stamps similar to type A was made, but with imprint date 1989 at foot. There were also some new denominations and a change of design for the le. 3 value. Original le. 3 stamps show cymothoe sangaris, whereas the second type shows graphium ridleyanus, the design previously used for the 40c. value. The denominations issued were 10, 20 and 40 cents, 1, 2, 3 (type 1), 3 (type 2), 9, 12 and 16 leones. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Type D. Stamps as type C, but perforation 12.5 x 11.5 (with a larger perforation hole every sixth perforation, both vertically and horizontally). Postally used examples are not known although the author is informed that they were available in Sierra Leone.The denominations known are 10, 20 and 40 cents, 1, 2, 3 (type 1), 3 (type 2), 9, 12 and 16 leones. |
 |
|
Type E. Stamps as type C, but perforation 12 are also known. Postally used examples are not known although the author is informed that the stamps were available in Sierra Leone.The denominations known are 10, 20 and 40 cents, 1, 2, 3 (type 2) and 9 leones. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Type F. Stamps with Sierra Leone printed in blue and showing imprint date 1990 at foot were issued. Stanley Gibbons list their release date as October 1991. These stamps are widely available in used condition (except the 10c and 50c values rendered obsolete by inflation). Mint examples are scarce, possibly due to no philatelic distribution being made.The denominations issued were 10 and 50 cents, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 60, 80, 100 and 300 leones. |
 |
|
Types G & H. Stamps with the country name in blue exist with perforation 12.5 x 11.5 (with a larger perforation hole every sixth perforation, both vertically and horizontally) and also with perforation 12. These stamps are not known in used condition. The denominations known in these perforation variations are 50 cents, 50, 80 and 300 leones in both cases. There is also an aerogramme with an imprinted design, denominated 150 leones, of which the author possesses a front only (See illustration at left). An example of a similar aerogramme denominated Le. 50 has been forwarded to me by a kind collector in the United States. Both aerogrammes had adhesives added to make up the required postage rate at time of use. The Le. 50 imprinted stamp uses the same design as the Le. 150. |
I would welcome any comments, corrections or suggestions on the above. I am also interested in filling the gaps in my collection (see my want's list page).
