West Africa Study Circle       

 

The stamps and postal history of Sierra Leone: Later Issues

Pre-stamp mail

First Stamp Issue

Later issues

Airmails

QE2 and early independence

Postmarks

The 1897 series of overprints and surcharges includes some of the rarest stamps in British Empire philately. Another noteworthy issue is the Wilberforce set commemorating the centenary of the abolition of slavery in the British Empire and the death of William Wilberforce. The set of thirteen stamps went on sale on 2 October 1933 (Figs. 4 and 5).

Figure 4
Strip of three of 2½d / 2s surcharges showing, from left to right, Types A, D, and B surcharges from Sheet II (LP), positions 17, 18, and 19 of the setting. One of two such strips known to exist.
Figure 5
Freetown Harbour, the top value from the Wilberforce set.