Niuafoʻou (Tonga) 1989 "Evolution of the Earth" (II)


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Issue Date 01.08.1989
ID Michel: 149-152; Scott: 118-121; Stanley Gibbons: 127-130; Yvert et Tellier: 120-123: Category: pR
Designer Mr. Ray Edge, Walsall Security Printers of London, UK
Stamps in set 10
Value T$1- Carboniferous: Ichthyostega
T$1.50 - Jurassic: Stegosaurus
T$2 - Jurassic: Archaeopteryx and early mammals
T$5 - Pleistocene: prehistoric humans, Home erectus
Emission/Type commemorative
Issue place Niuafoʻou
Size (width x height) 25mm x 40mm
Layout
Products FDC x2
Paper
Perforation 14 x 14
Print Technique Offset, multicolor
Printed by Walsall Security Printers of London, UK
Quantity
Issuing Authority Post office of the Government of Tonga
Prehistoric animals on stamps of Niuafoʻou 1989

On August 1st, 1989, the Post office of the Government of Tonga issued, on behalf of their Niuafo'ou Island, additional four stamps for "Evolution of the Earth" stamps set.
The first part of the set was issued on June 6, 1989.

These four stamps show prehistoric animals including:
  • an amphibian (likely Ichthyostega)
  • Stegosaurus
  • Archaeopteryx and early mammals
  • a group of prehistoric humans, Home erectus and a wild dog on the background

Each stamp shows both a reconstruction and a fossil of the animal.



Products and associated philatelic items

FDC Monochrome Proof [1] Plate Proof
Prehistoric animals on FDC of Niuafoʻou 1989 Prehistoric animals on satmp proofs of Niuafoʻou 1989 Prehistoric animals on satmp proofs of Niuafoʻou 1989
Examples of circulated covers Unadopted Artwork, by Ray EDGE
Evolution of the Earth on stamps of Niuafoʻou 1989 Evolution of the Earth on stamps of Niuafoʻou 1989 Evolution of the Earth on stamps of Niuafoʻou 1989



Notes:
[1] The Monochrome Proofs were done on thin cards and in black and white by Walsall Security Printers of London UK, and were used to check the design. The perforations on the proof are only simulated.
The monochrome proofs were produced, in amounts of 20, after the Cromalin one, then sent to Tonga for the officials to check. When accepted, they were sent to stamp magazines to illustrate the upcoming new issues.

[2] Tonga did not issue any imperforate stamps from this set, the only imperforates known are genuine plate proofs, and come from the Walsall Security Printers archives.




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References




Acknowledgements

  • Many thanks to fellow collector Mr. Vincent David from France for sharing a scan of the Artwork from his collection.
  • Many thanks to fellow collector Mr. Peter Brandhuber from Germany, for sharing some scans from his collection.
  • Many thanks to Mr. Greg Jorgensen from Australia, who sells philatelic materials from the archive of Walsall Security Printers on the Internet under the moniker tonga2, for explanations about their printing process.
  • Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice from Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, for reviewing the draft page and his very valuable comments.


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