Chapter IX

THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-1915. CHECK-LIST OF NEW STAMPS.

At New Year, 1915 it is too early to show more than a few of the first philatelic signs of the great world war which is being waged between

Great Britain,
France,
Russia,
Japan,
Belgium,
Serbia,
Montenegro,
Germany,
Austria-Hungary,
Turkey.

But the developments are already full of significance, and the stamps of each of the countries at war acquire a new interest in the occasions for their extra-territorial use as the armies invade the territories of their opponents. At the beginning of August the Germans invaded France and Belgium, accompanied, or followed shortly, by field postal organisations, of which few particulars are yet available. By the middle of August the French had entered Alsace and German Lorraine, and the Russians having invaded East Prussia set up posts there in which they used the current Russian stamps. The British Expeditionary Force, with its well-equipped Army Postal Service, was in France by the 16th. About this period the Germans invaded Cape Colony. The Tsar's promise of autonomy to Poland may ultimately demonstrate its fulfilment in the issue of new stamps for Poland. France issued its first Red Cross stamp, and similar war charity stamps have since appeared in Monaco, French Morocco, Russia, Austria, Hungary, and Bosnia. Japan's declaration of war, and successful attack on Kiaochow, probably led to the use of Japanese soldiers' stamps (_Figs._ 201, 202) by the forces engaged, possibly along with Indian stamps overprinted C.E.F. (China Expeditionary Force, _Fig._ 61), for the use of the co-operating British land forces. On the 26th the British along with the French took Togoland, and have already issued stamps of the Anglo-French occupation of that former German colony (_Figs._ 384-386). Prior to their issue the British Gold Coast stamps were used in Togo for a time (_Fig._ 370). Towards the end of the month the bombardment of Malines destroyed the Belgian State Stamp-printing works, rendering it necessary to create an entirely new series of Belgian stamps when the Government finds itself in a position to do so. On the 29th Samoa was taken by the New Zealand forces, and English stamps have been used there (_Fig._ 371), and already a provisional and a definitive set of British Samoa stamps have appeared (_Figs._ 382, 383).

German attacks in September on various British and French colonial possessions may in some cases leave philatelic records, chiefly in the way of war postmarks which may be looked for from the affairs in Nyasaland, British East Africa, Zanzibar, German South-West Africa, etc. Postmarks, too, record the withdrawal of the French Government to Bordeaux (_Figs._ 155, 156), and the sending of great loyal contingents from Canada (_Fig._ 372) Australia, and New Zealand (_Fig._ 373). The effect on stamp issues caused by Turkey's abolition of the capitulations has already been referred to as rendering a considerable number of stamp issues obsolete, and this event has been commemorated on the Turkish issue, which, by the way, was printed in London. Australia's capture of German New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago, is already reported to have been followed by the re-issue of the German colonial stamps of New Guinea (_Figs._ 370A, 370B) with a British "G.R.I." overprint.

Some postal aspects of the retirement of the Belgian Government to Havre in October (_Fig._ 216) and the issue of German stamps for Belgium (_Fig._ 209) have already been referred to.

Turkey's entry into the war in November may have the effect of removing Turkey from the list of European stamp-issuing States, and has already led to the long anticipated proclamation of a British protectorate over Egypt, and the annexation of Cyprus. The fall of Tsingtau renders obsolete the German colonial type of stamp for Kiaochow, although there may have been some interesting provisional issue here, and also possibly in the Marshall and Marianne Islands.

All these and many more happenings of the past few months will leave their traces in new stamps, or in new uses for stamps, and when at last the enemy shall be vanquished and Peace reigns once more, one of the most fascinating histories of the great War will be that recorded in the pages of the stamp album.

The following is a synopsis, or check list, of distinctive postage stamps already issued in connection with the war. Issues reported but not yet seen by or satisfactorily vouched for to the present writer are not included.

AUSTRIA.

October 4, 1914. War Relief stamps. Current design adapted (_Fig._ 258) sold at 2 heller over face-value.

5 heller green.
10 " carmine.

BELGIUM.

October 2, 1914. Red Cross Stamps. Lithographed on white wove unwatermarked paper. Perf. 13-1/2. White gum.

(a) _Head of King Albert (Figs. 210, 211)._

5c. green.
10c. red.
20c. purple (cross in red).

(b) _Monument design (Figs. 212, 213)._

5c. green (cross in red).
10c. red.
20c. purple (cross in red).

BELGIUM (GERMAN ADMINISTRATION).

October, 1914. Current German Empire stamps, overprinted in black "Belgien," and new value in Gothic type (_Fig._ 209). Perforated 14. Issued in Brussels.

3 centimes on 3 pfennig, brown.
5 " 5 " green.
10 " 10 " carmine.
25 " 20 " ultramarine.

BOSNIA.

October (?), 1914. War Relief stamps. 5 and 10 heller stamps of the 1906 issue overprinted 7 and 12 heller, respectively.

7 heller on 5 heller, green.
12 " 10 " carmine.

FRANCE.

August 18, 1914. Contemporary 10 centimes stamp, surcharged "+5c." in red (_Fig._ 150).

10c. + 5c. vermilion.

September 10, 1914. Definitive stamp. Sower design adapted, inscription reading "CROIX-ROUGE POSTES" (_Fig._ 151).

10c. + 5c. vermilion.

FRENCH MOROCCO.

September 1, 1914. Red Cross stamp. The 10 centimes "Rights of Man" type, already overprinted "10," and native inscription, further surcharged "+5c." (_Fig._ 153).

10c. + 5c. red.

HUNGARY.

October, 1914. War Relief stamps. The 5 and 10 filler "inundation" stamps of 1913 overprinted in black in the centre of the stamp "Hadi S['e]g['e]ly" (War Relief) and on label at the foot, obliterating the original inscription, "Ozvegyeknek es arvaknak ket filler" (for the widows and orphans two filler) (_Fig._ 261).

Seventeen values 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 50 and 60 filler, and 1, 2, and 5 korona.

INDIA EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

October, 1914. Stamps of India overprinted I.E.F. in seriffed type, for use with British troops on the Continent (_Figs._ 76-85). Perf. 14.

3p. grey.
1/2a. green.
1a. carmine.
2a. mauve.
2-1/2a. (Die 2) blue.
3a. brown orange.
4a. olive.
8a. purple.
12a. claret.
1r. green and brown.

MONACO.

October, 1914. Red Cross stamp. Current 10 centimes stamp of this Principality, surcharged "+ 5c." in red (_Fig._ 152).

10c. + 5c. red.

NEW GUINEA.

October, 1914. Provisional Issue. German Colonial (Ship) type for DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA, overprinted "G.R.I." and new value in English. (Similar to _Figs._ 374-381.) Perforated 14.

1d. on 3pf., brown.
1d. on 5pf., green.
2d. on 10pf., carmine.
2d. on 20pf., ultramarine.
3d. on 25pf., black and red on _yellow_.
3d. on 30pf., black and orange on _buff_.
4d. on 40pf., black and carmine.
5d. on 50pf., black and purple on _buff_.
8d. on 80pf., black and carmine on _rose_.

RUSSIA.

November 26, 1914. War Charity stamps. Surface-printed at the Russian Imperial State Printing Works on enamelled surface coloured papers (_Figs._ 189-192, see frontispiece). Sold for 1 kopec extra per stamp.

1 (2) kopec.
3 (4) kopecs.
7 (8) kopecs.
10 (11) kopecs.

SAMOA (BRITISH).

September 3, 1914. Provisional Issue. German Colonial (Ship) type for Samoa overprinted "G.R.I." and new value in English (_Figs._ 374-381). Wove paper, unwatermarked. Perforated 14.

1/2d. on 3pf. brown.
No fraction bar to "1/2."
Comma after "G.R.I,"
1/2d. on 5pf. green.
Two small fraction bars to "1/2."
Comma after "G.R.I,"
1d. on 10pf. carmine.
2-1/2d. on 20pf. ultramarine.
No fraction bar to "1/2."
Inverted surcharge.
Comma after "G.R.I,"
3d. on 25pf. black and red on _yellow_.
Double surcharge.
4d. on 30pf. black and orange on _buff_.
5d. on 40pf. black and carmine.
6d. on 50pf. black and purple on _buff_.
Double surcharge.
Inverted "9" for "6."
9d. on 80pf. black and carmine on _rose_.
1s. on 1 mark carmine.
Error "1 shillings."
2s. on 2 marks blue.
3s. on 3 marks violet.
5s. on 5 marks carmine and black.

September 29, 1914. Permanent Issue. New Zealand stamps overprinted "Samoa" in _sans-serif_ type 2mm. high and 14mm. long. The type of stamp is indicated in brackets (_Figs._ 382, 383). Orange-red overprints for 1/2d., 2d., 2-1/2d.; and blue for 1d., 6d., and 1s. White wove paper. Watermarked "N.Z." single-lined and Star. Perfs. various.

1/2d. green (King Edward).
1d. carmine (Dominion).
2d. mauve (King Edward).
2-1/2d. blue (Pictorial).
6d. carmine (King Edward).
1s. vermilion (King Edward).

TOGOLAND (BRITISH ISSUE).

October, 1914. German Colonial stamps for Togo overprinted "Togo--Anglo-French--Occupation" in three lines in black (_Figs._ 384-386). Wove paper, perforated 14.

_(a) Surcharged with new value in pence (Figs. 384, 385)._

1/2d. on 3pf. brown (no wmk.).
1d. on 5pf. green (wmk. lozenges).

_(b) Without new value (Fig. 386)._

3pf. brown.
5pf. green.
10pf. carmine.
20pf. blue.
25pf. black and red on _yellow_.
30pf. black and orange on _buff_.
40pf. black and carmine.
50pf. black and purple on _buff_.
80pf. black and carmine on _rose_.
1 mark carmine.
2 marks blue.

TOGOLAND (FRENCH ISSUE).

October, 1914. Similar stamps, but with overprint reading "TOGO--OCCUPATION--FRANCO-ANGLAISE," and new value in French currency.

.05 on 3pf. brown.
10 on 5pf. green.
10pf. carmine.
20pf. blue.
25pf. black and red on _yellow_.
30pf. red and black on _buff_.
40pf. red and black.
80pf. red and black on _rose_.
1 mark carmine.
2 marks blue.

TURKEY.

October, 1914. Current stamps (_see Figs. 263 et seq._) overprinted (?) in commemoration of the closing of all foreign post offices in Turkey, as a consequence of the abolition of the Capitulations. The overprint is in two lines of Turkish characters.

5 paras, purple-brown.
10 paras, green.
20 paras, scarlet.
1 piastre, blue.
2 piastres, green and black.
5 piastres, deep lilac.
10 piastres, red-brown.

_NOTICE._

[This check list of stamps of the war will be revised, continued and presented as a supplement which will be given away from time to time with _The Postage Stamp_ (1d. weekly), of all newsagents, or by post 4s. 4d. per annum from the publishers, S. R. Le Mare, 21 Paternoster Square, London, E.C.]