2 shews a slightly
elongated left stroke of the letter m in Gambia; No. 5 on the same
sheet shews a similar defect in the right stroke of the letter. (See
plate III., which reproduction, however, only shews the variety on
stamp 2.) Stamps Nos. 1, 12, 13 on the same sheet illustrated shew
a peculiarity in the form of a broken nose. We have not been able to
trace other copies shewing a similar defect, so possibly it is simply
due to over-inking or faulty inking of the colour plate.

The plate of the 3d. was altered in the final printing, two additional
printers' guide dots being added in the [page 42] left margin, and the
top and bottom dot on the right being removed (plate VIII.). This was
printed in pearl-grey only.

The early printings of the 6d. value shew the sloping labels; they
also shew the slight enlargement of the stamps in the top row. These
varieties occur in the olive-green, bronze-green, and grey-green
shades. Later a new plate was made without the defect in the top row,
and this was printed in grey-green only. (Cp. plates XI. and XIV.)

It may be noted that there are two varieties of the overprint on the
SPECIMEN stamps of this series, one having the letters sloping upwards
from left to right, the other being horizontal.

[Illustration]

[page 45]

CHAPTER VI.

Queen's Head Series, 1898.

[Illustration]

On the 31st January, 1898, the following notice was issued in
reference to the postage stamps of the Colony:--

"WITHDRAWAL OF PRESENT ISSUE OF GAMBIA POSTAGE STAMPS.

"On the 1st May, 1898, the present issue, if not previously
exhausted, of all denominations of Postage Stamps in the
Gambia that are then in the hands of the Government will be
destroyed, and a complete new set of stamps will then be put
in circulation.

"ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE,
BATHURST, GAMBIA,
_31st January, 1898_."

[page 46]

After being faithful for nearly thirty years to the graceful design
of the "cameo" stamps the Colony adopted the regular De la Rue type
printed from a general key plate which did duty for a number of
colonial issues.

Essays were prepared by making impressions from this key plate,
shewing the profile of the Queen to left in a circle, and the words
POSTAGE--POSTAGE at the sides, the top tablet being left blank for the
name of the Colony, and a space for the sexagonal tablet of value at
bottom also being left blank. The essays consist of such impressions
wi