defect
more prominently, as will be readily seen from an examination of
plates I., X., and XI. Curiously enough, the fault is not confined to
the two outside stamps, as is generally supposed. The trouble is in
the entire top row being 1/2mm. taller than the normal stamps of rows 2
and 3, except the left and right sides [page 19] respectively of the
end stamps (Nos. 1 and 5). The middle stamp of the top row shews a
further peculiarity in the shape of the base of the neck. (Compare
plates I., X., XI., with XIV.)

Copies of both values exist overprinted SPECIMEN, and we have seen
similar copies of all the regular issues of this Colony.

[Illustration]

[page 20]

CHAPTER III.

Issue of 1874.

The introduction of watermarked paper for these stamps occurred in
1874, the paper being that familiar to collectors of British Colonial
stamps as watermarked "Crown C.C." The paper was not readily adaptable
for the small sheets of the Gambia stamps, and the method of cutting
it to suitable sizes for these sheets has produced some varieties for
the specialist.

Major Evans, writing in the _Philatelic Record_ for January, 1883,
says:--

"Most collectors are probably aware that the stamps of the
British Colonies printed in England are, as a rule, in sheets
of 240, divided into four panes of 60, each pane consisting
of ten horizontal rows of six stamps. The Crown and C.C.
watermarks are arranged in the same manner upon the sheet of
paper; each pane is enclosed in a single-lined frame. Down
the centre of the sheet is a blank space of about half an inch
wide; across the centre is a wider space, watermarked with the
words CROWN COLONIES, which are also repeated twice along each
side of the sheet.

"Some of my readers may have noticed that the watermark is not
always very clearly shown in the Gambia stamps. This is due
partly to the fact of their being embossed, and partly
to [page 21] their being arranged in small blocks of
fifteen--three horizontal rows of five--so that a row of five
stamps is printed on a row of six watermarks, and in most
cases a complete watermark is not found on any one of the
stamps in a block. Very frequently the upper and lower blocks
on a sheet encroach on the margins, and consequently some
of the stamps show portions of the words CROWN COLONIES in
watermark; and I have seen a block which had been printed in