GIBRALTAR OVERPRINTED LETTERS AND POSTCARDS

1886-1937

Gibraltar issued its first ever stamp and overprinted card in 1886 when the Colonial Government of Gibraltar assumed control of its Postal Services. As an interim measure, Bermuda stamp plates were overprinted with 'Gibraltar' using different colours. These were replaced by Gibraltar's own design in December of that same year. Gibraltar's stamps were used with peseta values from 1889 to 1898 since trade was carried out in this currency.

After Queen Victoria died on 22 Jan 1901 the new king Edward VII (b1841) reined until 6 May 1910. The new stamps for his reign were not issued until 1902. The designs are mostly the same as the previous Jubilee issues with some minor exceptions. After King Edward came King George V

The Reign of King George V is really the gem for stamp collectors. There is a huge array of stamps of all types and for the first type the rather stereotyped designs were changes to more attractive pictorial illustrations. . The first George V stamps were not ready for issue until June 1911, over a year since his accession