Great Britain Office Abroad Eritrea Scott Catalog Listing Question

Sc 1 - 5 for Great Britain for use in Eritrea have (II) next to the listings in the 2019 Scott catalog.

What does (II) stand for?

Its also on Sc 14 - 18.

I did not find it in the index. Tks!

The "II" is referencing the King George VI design types of 1937-8 and 1941-2. The first have a solid background and the second have a lightened background.

So these " (II) " are on the '48 - 49 and 1950 listing for Eritrea. So the (II) would mean that the stamp comes only (II), lightened background?

Sorry, this is the best I could do.... Which are these??

@Stamps4Life,

Without going into the somewhat incorrect terminology.
The permanent stamps of King George VI were issued from 1937. Only the original colours of the values over 3d were used for the 1948/49 'BMA' and 'BA' sets, as these colours remained unchanged.
To save ink and diminish wear of the printing cylinders - the metals were needed for the war effort - the most commonly used values (1/2d, 1d, 1 1/2d, 2d, 2 1/2d, and 3d) were printed in lighter colours from 1941 - 1942. These were in supply when the Eritrea overprints were applied. Both the 1948/49 'BMA' and 1950 'BA' set only exist on the lighter colour stamps.


In 1951, the colours of some of the stamps were changed to comply with the UPU's colour scheme for international mail, requiring some reshuffling. These were used for the 1951 'BA' set.

left to right. top to bottom

1941/1942 lighter colour (only ones used for these lowest 'BMA' values), 3 x original 1937/1938 colours (because they were never changed)
3x 1941/1942 lighter colour stamps (only ones used for these lowest 'BMA' values), 1942 ultramarine 10/- (only one used for Eritrea)
original 1937/1938 colour (because it was never changed), 1941/1942 lighter colour (only ones used for this 'BMA' value), original 1937/1938 colours (because it was never changed)

Another lovely display, NSK!

Thank you NSK. So if they only exist in 1 color, the (II) is a Typo??

I am not familiar with Scott, but from rogdcam's post, it is superfluous, but not wrong.
As I understand it
1/2d green: (I) = green, (II) = pale green; only (II) was used for the Eritrea overprints
1d ver(milion): (I) = scarlet, (II) = pale scarlet; only (II) was used for the Eritrea overprints
2d light or(an)g(e): (I) = orange, (II) = pale orange; only (II) was used for the Eritrea overprints
2 1/2d ultra(marine): (I) = ultramarine, (II) = light ultramarine; only (II) was used for the Eritrea overprints
3d violet: (I) = violet, (II) = pale violet; only (II) was used for the Eritrea overprints

The other stamps were never printed in the lighter colours. So, it appears Scott did not bother classifying them (I).

Stanley Gibbons lists the set in its original colours issued between 1937 and 1947.
It lists the lighter colour stamps replacing six of those in 1941/42 as a separate set.

From the description, it looks like Scott treats these as one set and recognises 2 varieties (I) and (II) for each of the six stamps that were printed in lighter colours from 1941 onwards. You, probably, will find these under the GB listing, were the (I) and (II) might become apparent.

Thank you all for the thorough help. Beautiful display. All I need now is Sc13 - 65c on 8p. I wish I could find where the explanation of this is the catalog...

These are earlier issues for the Middle East Forces that used the original colours.

That is the overprint on the British 8d bright carmine stamp from that 1937 set. This was issued in 1939. It looks like the middle two stamps in your top row, but the value is 8d and the colour bright carmine.
In my first two pages, it is the first stamp in the third row.

Yes - very nice. I guess I didnt pay attention when I got my set - I thought it was complete!

I guess the (ii) is implied in the Scott catalog - haha. I cant seem to find the explantation. Oh well - you have helped again. Thank you. Ill probably stumble on it one day - did not see in the GB section either.

The stamps you show also do not include the 2 shilling 50 cents on 2/6 stamp.
It can be very annoying when sellers split these sets as you may find it difficult to find the odd values.




I would expect that to be an implied (I) as it is the original colour that was never changed.




If Scott lists by year, look for the 1939 issues.

I guess I cut the 2/50 off when I cropped the scan to post. But yes, ill be on the hunt the 65¢. They list 1937 - 39 as one listing. But I dont see (I) or (II) anywhere. oh well.