Nevis (named originally by the Spanish as "Nuestra Senora de las Nieves" - Our Lady of the Snows.
In 1778, the Bath Hotel was built to take advantage of the hot springs in the area hence the "Medicinal Spring" theme was featured on the first issues of Nevis 1861-1876
Before the introduction of special stamps for Nevis, the stamps of Great Britain with the cancel "A09" were used
From 1891 till 1903 Nevis used the stamps of the Leeward Islands.
Together with St Kitts it reissued stamps from 1903 on.
The Nevis stamps are unwatermarked.
There are 12 different types of each stamp (they were issued in 3X4 sheets).
In 1861 the values 1 p, 4 p red, 6 p and 1 Sh were engraved on bluish or yellowish paper, perforated 13.
In 1867 the values 1 p, 4 p orange and 1 Sh were issued engraved on white paper , perforated 13.
In 1876 the values 1 p, 4 p orange, 6 p and 1 Sh were issued lithographed with perforation 15 (also 11 1/2 for the 1 p).
Genuine Stamps
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| Sc# 3 6d grey - Sc# 5 1d Lake Rose |
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| Sc# 8 1sh Green - Sc# 10 4d Orange |
Plating the stamps - original sheets are shown (images are very large)
No. 1.—The top line of the left bottom-corner square juts out of the rectangular frame.
In the bottom right corner the frame lines are continued beyond the rectangle.
At the outside of the top right-hand square there is a slight point of colour.
There is a fine scratch starting under the E of NEVIS and extending right into the hills.
No. 2.—The pitcher has a double-lined neck-band.
There is a strong and separate line of shading above NNY.
No. 3.—The top frame line juts out to right, and the bottom line of the top right square juts in.
The rock line immediately above waterfall is one continuous line.
The waterfall is comparatively straight below the arm.
The centre bar of E in ONE is at a lower level than normally.
No. 4.—The drapery on extended arm of the kneeling figure shows a clear white spot.
The right lower ray of star in bottom left corner juts diagonally through the frame line.
No. 5.—Comparatively large second N in PENNY which has flat foot to second vertical stroke.
The water does not appear below the arm.
No. 6.—There is a diagonal cut of colour below and between the P and E of PENNY.
The waterfall is in one straight line not extending below arm.
No. 7.—The P of PENNY has a distinct coloured spot in the curve.
The dot after the Y of PENNY is raised.
The left outer line juts out below bottom line.
No. 8.—Coloured spots on P and E of PENNY.
The frame is a single line at the right
No. 9.—The top line of the ONE PENNY tablet juts into the right corner-square and joins the ray of the star.
There is no outline to the shading of the décolleté of the standing figure.
No. 10.—Very broad second N in PENNY, the top of which joins the top of the first N.
The ray of the top right star extends through the corner of the rectangle.
No. 11.—The bottom line of the lower right angle is broken near the Y of PENNY.
There is a coloured flaw on the bottom stroke of the E of ONE.
The frame line at the right is a single line
No. 12.—The bottom line extends beyond the frame to right.
The Y of PENNY is very cramped and the period is minute.
There is a square hollow at the top of the cliff.
No. 1.—The left top serif of the I of NEVIS slopes upwards nearly touching the white line of the label.
No. 2.—The inner vertical frame-line at left runs right through the white line and out of the frame at the top.
The hair on the shoulder of the standing figure is missing
No. 3.—The head of standing figure is very close to the circular line.
The water descends on to the reclining figure.
No. 4.—The base of the pitcher is broken.
There is a much shorter stroke on the breast of the standing figure.
No. 5.—The left vertical white line of the bottom right square is very thick.
In the triangular space there is a vertical white cut instead of dots under the final E of PENCE.
The left end of the NEVIS label extends through the vertical white line.
No. 6.—The space between the circle and outer line at the left is all white.
The mouth of the standing figure is open.
There is a faint coloured dot over the N of NEVIS.
No. 7.—The vertical white lines at each end of the NEVIS label are both very thick above the circle, but are normal below the circle.
There is a strong neck-band on the pitcher.
No. 8.—The FOUR PENCE label breaks into vertical white lme at the right.
No. 9.—The top and bottom frame-lines jut out to the right.
No. 10.—Under and between the letters P and E two of the short vertical lines have joined, making one
short thick white line. A similar mark appears above and between the V and 1 of NEVIS.
The outer line of colour framing the FOUR PENCE label does not appear to be fully drawn
under the label.
The shading of the shoulder-strap of standing figure is composed of short cuts almost horizontal.
No. 11.—There is a very large thick R in FOUR.
The dress of the standing figure nearly touches the circle above the final E of PENCE.
One of the short vertical white lines under C of PENCE is thick.
There are two small coloured dots in the circular white line in lieu of the continuation of the first slanting outer line of the NEVIS label.
No. 12.—The foot of the reclining figure is missing.
The outer circular line cuts across the diagonal white line framing the NEVIS label.
No. 1.—There is a distinct dot after the V of NEVIS.
The lines of shading on the bodice of the kneeling figure are vertical.
No. 2.—There is a dot before the N of NEVIS.
There is no neck-line on the pitcher.
The shoulder-strap of the reclining figure is shaded with short horizontal cuts instead of long diagonal lines.
No. 3.—The circle joins the frame-line at the right.
No. 4.—The line on the breast of the standing figure is long and angular.
There is a heavy tress of hair on the shoulder of the standing figure.
No. 5.—There is a dot close to the N of NEVIS.
The neck of the pitcher is indicated by a dot instead of a line.
No. 6.—There is a dot after the E of NEVIS.
The left hand of the reclining figure is partly cut away by the shading of the dress.
No. 7.—There are several extra lines crossing the wavy lines in the right-hand panel at the bottom.
No. 8.—There is a dot before the N of NEVIS, but it is level with the top of the letter instead of as in Nos. 1 and 5.
No. 9.—-The centre line of the top left corner ornament is missing.
The waterfall scarcely shows below the arm of the kneeling figure.
No. 10.—The line which finishes off the shading of the bodice of the kneeling figure is missing.
No. 11.—There is a short white line within the circle just above the P of PENCE.
No. 12.—The lower right-hand junction between the circular lines and the outlines of the panel is irregular.
No. 1.—The G of SHILLING is very round and the ens nearly close up.
No. 2.—There are no horizontal lines on the waterfall above the arm.
No. 3.—The top and bottom outer lines jut out to the right.
The hand of the reclining figure is over the second vertical stroke of the N of ONE.
No. 4.—There is a coloured cut below the right of the I of NEVIS in the white oval line.
There is a faint scratch on the oval band, about 1 mm. from the beginning of the NEVIS label.
No. 5.- The outer line of the loop meeting the NEVIS label at the left is broken.
The first long fold of the apron of the standing figure is white and unshaded.
No. 6.—There is a coloured cut below the V of NEVIS.
The network at the right joins the NEVIS label in a single point.
No. 7.—The inner line of the loop meeting the NEVIS label at the left is broken.
The outer frame lines at the bottom left turn out to a point.
No. 8.—A line juts out over the left shoulder of the standing figure.
There is a cut to the left below the I of NEVIS.
There is a cut between the bottom frame-lines under the second L of SHILLING.
No. 9.—There is a cut between the outer frame-lines at the right, opposite the G of SHILLING.
No. 10.—The cheek of the reclining figure has a long vertical cut.
The horizontal line enclosing the network at the top cuts into the white space above E of NEVIS.
No. 11.—The foot of the reclining figure appears like a dot to the second I of SHILLING.
There is a cut of colour above the NEVIS label, between the letters E and V.
No. 12.—There is a long white line behind the dress of the kneeling figure.
The N of NEVIS is unusually large.
Forgeries
There are many forgeries of these classics and with the better ones the issue is the variety of plating differences of the originals.
In particular the standing and kneeling figures are different in each stamp from the sheet.
The previous section on the plating should assist in determining authenticity.
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| Original left and 2 unknowns |
Note the large dot after the Y
The right one the right branch of the Y is almost missing
Both have differences in serifs, curved uneven letters
If these are forgeries, they are excellent and very dangerous.
Sperati has no listing for this stamp. He made a forgery of the 6d with an A09 cancel and 1 1sh proof is known.
The waterfall does not extend below the figure's arm
The designs have many white areas and lack details.
The cancels are typical Spiros
Note the long right foot on the R and the crosses in the corners
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| Another Spiro |
The 4d has the "Spiro" crosses in the corners but the letters are very different.
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| Illustrations from an 1864 Moens Catalog |
The following is a very crude forgery of unknown origin
