Definitives From Around The World

The Guernsey Coin definitives, issued from 13 Feb 1979:




Revised 10p value:











The sheets were used to provide blocks for stamp booklets.

First Alderney definitives, issued from 14 June 1983:

Second set of Alderney definitives, issued from 5 May 1994:






(Not to same scale as first image - actual stamps are same size).

From Kuwait, Seif Palace definitives, issued from 16 September 1981:



This series presents a few challenges, in that there is a redrawn design, used from 1983 for some of the values.



original design:

redrawn design:

I've worked really hard to find and collect the new dies for the Kuwait palace definitives. One thing I've noticed that makes it a bit more complex is that despite the illustrations found in the SG Middle East catalog, there is more than one variation for some values that SG hasn't captured. Kuwait and Bahrain both have interesting definitives issued after independence. The Kuwait set of 1969-1974 has a multitude of shades and some perf varieties not listed by Scott.

The Bahrain definitives of 1976-1980 are even better. Line engraved designs which have seen additional printings into the 90's and 2000's, though the source of these additional printings is unknown. There are a huge number of shades due to the long history of the set (as much as 40 years of printings) and numerous perf varieties that Scott has never listed (that I know of).

Even in the original set of 1976-80 there are 2 distinct printings, more easily identified by the differences in gum than in shades although shades exist within each gum type! One gum type is quite shiny while the other is matte and very flat.

I agree with you, Shermae, on the Bahrain defs. SG comes close but there are so many degrees of each variation for the reasons you mention.

Now Saudi Arabia - airplane, gas/oil plant and dam defs - there's a challenge!

Two printers, several series with King Saud and Faisal cartouches, three watermark varieties that are difficult to detect and up to around 30 different values and colour combinations in some sets! Deep pockets needed for some values, too.

Just to give an idea, I mainly scan individual stamps but these came to me from an auction so these show a few of the variations of "dam" and gas/oil plant" defs:

Three of my favorites.

Robert

I love these stamps but don't have many of them. Expense is definitely part of it. The other issue I've found is that I am very reluctant to buy expensive individual stamps only to never complete the sets. It is really, REALLY hard to find these sets complete, so when I have added the few sets I have, they were complete.

Here's a nice set from Netherlands Antilles, Scott 164-169.

Robert