King George V - Brown

The 2-cent 1Tc brown stamp first issued on 29th August, 1916, gave rise to complaints from the public who mistook it for a 2-cent stamp, instead of its face value, three cents. Consequently, the Department ordered 3-cent brown colour stamps in August, 1918. The public by this time had become accustomed to the prepayment of the War Tax on letters and postcards.

When a sovereign accedes to the British throne, a new issue of postage stamps is necessary. Many practical reasons prevent the change being made at once. Post Office departments nearly always keep large stocks of stamps bearing the portrait of the late monarch. Considerations of respect to the memory of the deceased sovereign, and less sentimental motivations of expediency and economy, usually combine to require that these stamps should continue to circulate for many months, on some cases even a year or two before an issue portraying the new sovereign appears. The accession to the throne of His Majesty King George V on 6th May, 1910, necessitated the issue of a new series of postage stamps bearing the portrait of His Majesty. The denominations first issued were the same as those of the King Edward VII series of 1908, but the colours of the 10- cent and 50-cent denominations were different.

Portrait of His Majesty King George V in an oval framework.

The King is wearing the uniform of an admiral.

The portrait is a composite from photographs by Walter Barnett and Messers. W. and D. Downey of London, England.