Trinidad - Lady McCleod 1847

 

April 1847 5 cents blue

So  although a genuine is not in the realm of many collectors, some forgeries have appeared and it is truly a classic stamp of beauty.

Genuine Lady M. from a certified auction

The stamp was issued to prepay mail carried by the steamer LADY MCLEOD  for voyage between Port of Spain and San Fernando. 

The ship, named after the wife of the Governor of Trinidad, was built at Govan by Robert Napier, being completed on 2 September 1845.

She was a 67-ton paddle steamer, just over 109ft in length, and was built for John Lamont,

Her first captain was David Bryce. Bryce became her second owner in December 1845.

Her third owners, in 1851, were five Trinidad merchants. 

She foundered in 1854 off Vistabella Point near San Fernando and was abandoned. 

The ship’s bell was salvaged and is now in the office of the Town Clerk, San Fernando.

Although this issue did not emanate from an official source, the Lady McLeod is the first adhesive stamp issued in a British Colony. The ‘POST OFFICE’ Mauritius was issued some six months later.

The colors of the original vary from a dark blue to light blue.

The pen cancel in a cross was the usual method used but apparently some at a piece torn off. I am not aware if they were chewed off like early Afghanistan stamps.

The stamp was lithographed but given the fine details, some believe the original die was engraved.

A recent census shows

24 Unused

23 Used

39 on covers

Some of the unused are not in great shape so the selling prices vary a lot.

Some early auction examples sold for under $500

A recent auction for a very nice copy sold for $52,000

Forgeries

Peter Winter 1980's forgery

Well detailed but lacks the heavier background shading of the original

Winter used this forgery on covers which were is main area of production.

Probably another Winter forgery with more shading and removed from a fake cover.

Needs no explanation - very crude forgery

Another primitive forgery

A modern heavily shaded reproduction

From a seller who claims these fakes are "rare" - only $200

He also offers them in bogus red.

Fake cover - possibly Peter Winter

This has appeared on auctions with the same destination but stamps in different positions and cancels.