Type-set, in black, on medium, soft, dull yellow wove paper. The meshes of the.paper are coarse, irregular, and set in straight lines, so as to resemble laid paper somewhat; if one can imagine laid paper with lines less than a millimeter apart. The circle is evidently composed of two pieces of printer’s “lead-rule”, bent round, so that the two together form a circle. The separation between the two pieces of rule occurs between the letters GU, and after the last A of GUIANA; i.e., the circular outline is broken in the said places. The two ends of the line, in each of these places, are not exactly opposite to each other, but the long piece forms part of a larger circle than the short; and, consequently, the ends of the long piece stand out a little, while those of the short piece stand in slightly. The circle measures twenty-seven millimeters across at its very widest part, and twenty-five at its narrowest. The circular inscription, BRITISH GUIANA, is in ordinary Roman capital letters, just two millimeters high. The central inscription, 4 CENTS, is just eleven millimeters long, measuring from the left-hand point of the 4 to the center of the stop after the S. The 4 is a fat, closed figure; the vertical stroke being very nearly a millimeter wide, and the horizontal and oblique strokes are very fine hair-strokes. CENTS is in fat italics; the thickest stroke of each letter being fully half a millimeter wide. The final S does not lean over any more than the rest of the letters. Evans’s catalog says that there are initials in pen-and-ink in the center of the stamp; but my single specimen only shows some very slight traces of red; whether pencil or ink, I cannot say.

Type-set, on dull, dark blue wove paper, the same thickness and texture as that of the genuine 4 cents. The lead-line, forming the outer circle, appears to be all in one piece, as I can only see one break in it, just at the beginning of the T of BRITISH. The size of the circle is the same as in the 4 cents. The central inscription is the same height and width as before; measuring the width from the left-hand edge of the thick stroke of the 1 of 12 to the
 center of the stop after CENTS; this stop, by the way, in my specimen, being placed upside down; i.e., level with the top, instead of the bottom, of the S. The 1 of 12 is barely 1 1/2 millimeter high. The written initials are “H. A. B.,” or “H. A. W.,” I am not sure which.

Lithographed, in black, on thick, magenta-faced, white wove paper, unperforated. The catalogs call the color “magenta”; but I should rather name it “crimson”. The 1 of 1 CENT has no head-stroke; the C forms part of a circle; both upper limbs of the E are almost exactly of equal length. The line, in the shield, forming the bottom of the sea, if prolonged right and left, would cut well into the B of BRITISH and the last A of GUIANA. The tail of the Q of QUE hangs straight downwards; and the vertical stroke of the P of PATIMUS, if prolonged downwards, would pass between the letters VI of VICISSIM. The M of this latter word stands exactly centrally under the U, and the stop after it stands centrally under the S of PATIMUS. The outer frame of the stamp is much thicker all round than even the thickest part of the outline of the shield. To the left of the ship are two forts, close together; the right hand one showing three battlements; the other displaying four, with three loop-holes for cannon. The masts of the large ship slope very much to the right, so that the central mast, if prolonged upwards, would pass almost clear to the right of the T of CENT above it. There is a very thin, light-colored streak, along the center of the hull, so thin that it can hardly be traced the whole length of the vessel. To the right of the vessel, and apparently at a great distance in the offing, there is a three-masted ship, small, but perfectly distinct.

Lithographed, in black, on intense cobalt-blue-faced white wove paper, as thick as that of the I cent. The 4 has a closed top; the C and E of CENTS are the same as in the genuine 1 cent; and so is the line which forms the bottom outline of the sea in the shield. The Q of QUE, in this value, has its tail sloping very slightly to the right, and the letter itself is placed centrally under the A of DAMUS. The vertical stroke of the P of PATIMUS, if prolonged downwards, would pass along the first 1 of VICISSIM, which is exactly under it. The M of VICISSIM stands under the space between the letters MU of PATIMUS; and the stop after VICISSIM is under the space between the letters US of PATIMUS. The outer frame of the stamp is the same thickness as in the genuine 1 cent. The forts to the left of the large ship are also the same as in the genuine 1 cent. The masts of the said large ship slope very much over to the right; so that the central mast, if prolonged upwards, would pass almost through the center of the T of CENTS. The light-colored streak along the hull of the vessel is broader than in the 1 cent, but not at all conspicuous. The little three-master to the right of the large vessel is the same as in the 1 cent.

Type-set, printed in black, on rather coarsely-wove paper, colored a rosy magenta on the face, and showing pinkish white at the back. None of the letters of any of the inscriptions touch each other anywhere. The end of the tail of the R of BRITISH curls up. The G of GUIANA has a well-marked cross-bar, and the little tail below it hangs straight down. The head of the G comes down so that it almost meets the cross-bar. The R of FOUR is exactly like that of BRITISH, and the head and tail of the C of CENTS almost meet. The Q of QUE is a capital letter, the same height as the capital v of VICISSIM. The lines forming the oblong frame are not continuous, but consist of four separate pieces; the ends at the top corners are very wide apart, but the gap at the lower corners is not so wide. The word DAMUS is perfectly distinct and readable. The ship has only a single sail (topsail) high up on each mast, with no lower sails visible at all. In my single specimen, the right-hand, or fore-mast stands directly under the upright stroke of the P of PETIMUS, and the middle, or main-mast, under, and slightly to the right of the S of DAMUS; while the left-hand, or mizen-mast is under the U of the latter word. All the design is deeply sunk into the paper.

Type-set, on rather thick, rough, rose wove paper, rouletted.

TYPE I.—The lines separating the pearl border from the lettering are not continuous. Each little ornament is evidently cast as a pearl with a dash below it, the dash being of about the same width as the pearl. Thus, when the pearls are arrayed side by side, the dashes appear, at a distance, to form one uninterrupted straight line; but, looked at closely, the line is broken below the space between every two pearls. This is the case with all the eight stamps of this type. In the fifth pearl from the top, on the left side of the stamp, there is only the usual crescent-shaped shading, with no round black spot, to the left of the shading, in the pearl. T h e perpendicular side-line, to the right of BRITISH, and the similar one to the left of POSTAGE, are both broken into at least four, and in one case into five, separate pieces, instead of each forming one continuous line.

VARIETIES OF TYPE I.—The thirteenth stamp on the sheet (i.e., the first of Type I.) has an upright dash near the left-hand end of the GUIANA label, and a shorter dash before the P of POSTAGE. The fourteenth stamp has an upright dash after the H of BRITISH. The fifteenth stamp has a curious scroll-ornament, instead of a pearl, over the first A of GUIANA, and the fourth pearl from the left, at the bottom of the stamp below the E of ONE, is turned on its side, so that the crescent points to the right, instead of downwards, and the short line which should be between the pearl and the E appears as an upright dash between this pearl and its left-hand neighbor. There is a sort of colon after BRITISH. The I of GUIANA is a 1. The seventeenth stamp has a stop at the left-hand end of the GUIANA label. The nineteenth stamp has an upright dash at the left-hand end of the GUIANA label, and a colon of square stops before the P of POSTAGE. In the twentieth stamp the head of the T of BRITISH is faint, and the right-hand end of the line above ONE CENT is bent downwards a good deal.

TYPE II. — In all the twelve stamps of this type, the sharp ends of the ovals in the bottom corners point towards the center of the stamp. The sharp ends of the ovals down the right side of the stamp point obliquely upwards to the left. (See varieties below, for a few exceptions.) The fifth oval down the right side is the same pattern as the rest.

VARIETIES OF TYPE II.—The first stamp on the sheet has a “hook and eye” ornament, instead of a crossed oval, to left of the TI of BRITISH. The second stamp has the top oval, and the bottom oval but one on the right-hand side, with their sharp ends pointing downwards, instead of upwards. The third and fourth stamps have the oval in the right top comer pointing downwards. The fifth stamp (like the second) has the top oval, and the bottom oval but one on the right side, pointing downwards. The sixth and seventh stamps have the oval in the right top corner pointing downwards. The eighth stamp has the same, and, in addition, the sixth oval from the top, on the right side, points downwards, and there is a colon before the P of POSTAGE. The ninth stamp has the oval in the right top corner pointing downwards. The eleventh stamp has the same, and, in addition, the fifth oval from the top down the right side has a large dot in it, and the seventh oval from the top, down the left side of the stamp, points upwards, and the top of the H of BRITISH is broken. In the twelfth stamp, the third oval down the right side is a curious pattern, quite different from the rest, and the seventh oval on the same side points upwards and outwards. The H of BRITISH is broken, and there is a large dash before the P of POSTAGE in this twelfth stamp.

TYPE III.—Each of the two perpendicular lines, to the right of BRITISH, and left of POSTAGE, is broken into four, five, and even six separate pieces. The one to the right of BRITISH, if prolonged downwards, would pass clear to the right (or, in the last stamp but one on the sheet, would just graze the side) of the o of ONE; and the line to the left of POSTAGE, if prolonged downwards, would pass through, or graze, the last stroke of the N of CENT. The inner stalk of the bunch of grapes at the top left corner of the stamp does not touch the stalk of the bunch immediately to the right of it. The A and N of GUIANA do not touch each other.

VARIETIES OF TYPE III.—The twenty-second stamp on the sheet (first stamp of Type III.) has the bunch of grapes in the left lower corner pointing downwards to the left; i.e., it belongs to the set down the left side. The twenty-third stamp has this same bunch of grapes pointing downwards to the right; i.e., it belongs to the bottom row, and the second and fifth ornaments in this bottom row are quite different in pattern, both from the grapes and from each other. The top of the O of POSTAGE is broken, and there is a semicolon after GUIANA in my specimen, though I am not sure whether this is always visible. The twenty-fourth stamp bears the legend POSTAGE. (It is not a broken O, but a properly-formed C.)

Engraved, in épargne; paper, perforation, and type as above. The motto in the oval band is DAMUS PETIMUSQUE VICISSIM. The outer line of the whole stamp is very close to the frame. The O in the right bottom corner is cut off somewhat squarely at the top. The tail of the R of BRITISH turns up, so as to point distinctly above the foot of the following 1. The 1 in the left top corner of the stamp is exactly in the center of its containing-square. The whole length of the S of DAMUS is about equal in thickness. The v-shaped center of the M of PETIMUSQUE is cut
off square at the bottom; and the tail of the Q shows quite as much inside as outside the body of the letter. At the bottom of the oval garter there is a small, shield-shaped piece, which folds over obliquely, just above the C of CENT or CENTS; in it there is an irregular, white, eight-pointed star, and inside this star there is a dark circle, with a dark dot in the center of it. The tops of the masts are extremely faint, so as to be almost invisible. The highest point of the left-hand (mizen) mast only reaches as high as the level of the center of the highest (main-top-mast) sail of the middle (main) mast; and the highest point of the right-hand (fore) mast is not nearly tall enough to touch the outline of the oval above it. The buckle of the garter is no wider than the garter itself.

Lithographed, on medium to stout, white wove paper; pin-perf. 12 1/2. The inscription on the oval band is “DAMUS RETIMUSOUE VICISSIM!” This mistake of RETIMUSOUE instead of PETIMUSQUE renders this forgery easy of detection. The outer line round the stamp is at some distance from the frame; there being almost the width of the 1 in the left top corner between the line and the frame. The 0 in the right bottom corner is oval. The tail of the R of BRITISH points straight to the foot of the following 1. The 1 in the left top corner is a great deal too far to the right of its containing-square. The little dark ring in the shield-shaped part of the garter, over the C of CENT or CENTS, is irregular in shape, and thickest on the right side.

Very blotchily lithographed, on thinnish, very white wove paper, nicely perforated 124. The A of DAMUS has no cross-bar; the Q of PETIMUSQUE has only the very slightest indication of a tail, and the M of VICISSIM is much blotched. The bottom of the tail of the R of BRITISH points above the foot of the following 1, as in the genuine; but it is cut off obliquely, instead of being rounded off. The top and bottom of the S of DAMUS are much thinner than the body of the letter. In the shield- shaped part of the garter, over the C of CENT or CENTS, there are merely three small white dots, where the eight-pointed white star, containing a dark ring ought to be. The background of the central oval is solid (or nearly so); whereas, in the genuine, it is formed by horizontal lines. The tops of the masts are, of course, quite invisible on the solid background; and the hull of the vessel is also quite indistinguishable from the background. The lettering of the Latin motto is very ragged, compared with the neat block type of the genuine.

Engraved in épargne paper. In the central circle, the fine, horizontal lines of the sky give place to two small, white clouds, to left of the ship, near the P of PETIMUSQUE, one large white cloud above the ship, and one small one to right of it, near the V of VICISSIM. The boom of the lowest sail of the left-hand mast (mizen) extends horizontally, considerably to the
left of the ship, and, if prolonged, would cut off about one-third of the M of DAMUS. The left-hand mast, if prolonged upwards, would graze the left lop corner of the first U of PETIMUSQUE; the central mast, prolonged, would pass centrally between the U and S of that word; and the right-hand mast, prolonged, would cut through the Q, rather to the right of its center. The hull of the vessel has a light, horizontal streak near the gunwale. The sea is (roughly) divided into three horizontal portions; white near the vessel, then dark in the center, then white again, near the bottom of the circle. The dots, comprising the eight-pointed star-ornament at the base of the inscribed circle, are all more or less wedge-shaped, except the three central ones; and there is a distinct dot outside each of the long, horizontal arms. There is a stop after GUIANA, and one after CENTS, in all the values. There is an ornament just like a white V, in the left upper spandrel, below the 1; and a similar, but inverted v, in the right lower spandrel, just above the 3. There is a small round white dot in the solid part, above the first U, and a similar one above the Q of PETIMUSQUE.

Nicely lithographed, on medium, very white wove paper, fairly pin-perf. 13 1/2. There are two very tiny clouds above the ship, instead of one large one. The boom of the lowest left-hand sail does not extend beyond the stern of the vessel. The tops of the masts are like the genuine. There is no light streak along the gunwale of the ship. The sea is uniformly composed of white, curly marks on a solid, dark background. The ornament above the C of CENTS is very different from the genuine. It is composed of three oval dots, placed in a perpendicular row, all touching, with a V on its side, each side of the center dot, and a colored flaw to left of the left-hand V. There is a V-shaped curl (but not an independent V) in the scroll, under the 1 in the left top corner, and no v above the 3 in the right bottom corner. There is a white dot above the Q of PETIMUSQUE, but none above the first U of that word.

Coarsely lithographed, on thick, very rough, yellowish-white wove paper, badly perf. 12. The horizontal lines of the sky are coarse, and far apart, and there are no clouds at all. There is 110 boom to the left lowest sail, and the point of the sail curls rather downwards. The left-hand mast, prolonged, would pass almost centrally through the first U of PETIMUSQUE; the central mast would cut into the S; and the right-hand mast would pass centrally between the letters QU of that word. Nearly the whole of the sea is solid, dark colour, and there are no large waves. There are 110 dots to right and left of the horizontal parts of the ornament over the C of CENTS. There is no stop after GUIANA or CENTS. The curly ornaments in the spandrels are very thin, and there is no v below the 1 or above the 3. There is no white dot above the first U of PETIMUSQUE, and none above the Q, though there is a sort of comma, laid on its side, above the second U. The bowsprit, in this forgery, has no dolphin-striker. The date-figures in the corners are very thin.

These are the ordinary stamps of 1867 and of 1876, surcharged OFFICIAL. In the measurements given below, I have taken the distance between the left-hand edge of the first F of OFFICIAL, and the right-hand end of the projecting, horizontal limb of the L. In this way, the measures can be taken very exactly, which would not be the case if I had tried to measure from the outside of the o.

I only have the 2 c. from which to describe, and my specimens are all perf. 10. There appear to be two types of surcharge; Type 1 measures very nearly 12 mm. from F to L, and the bottom of the L is 1 1/4 mm. long. In Type II. it is fully 12 mm. from F to L, and the bottom of the L is 1 1/2 mm. long. The O in Type II. is slightly sloping to the left. The blank center of the O is I mm. across, in its widest part. The C opens almost 1 mm. wide. From the top of the A to the bottom of its cross-bar is 1 3/4 mm. If the said cross-bar were prolonged to the left, the upper edge of it could go into the opening of the C. The height of the surcharge is 2 1/4 mm.

Of this I have only the 8 cents, perf. 15. The distance F—-L is nearly 13 3/4 mm., and the bottom of the L is 1 3/4 mm. long. The O is very narrow, compared with the genuine, and the width of the blank center is about 3/4 mm. only. The two ends of the C are very close together, being scarcely 5 mm. apart; the top end is cut off obliquely, but the bottom end is cut off square. The distance from the top of the A to the bottom edge of its cross-bar is 2 1/4 mm., and the whole of the cross-bar, if prolonged to the left, would go below the opening in the C. The height of the surcharge is 2 3/4 mm.

The watermark, as I have already said, is CC. The surcharge is better done than in the issue just described; it is 2 1/2 mm. high, and the distance F—L is 13 1/4 mm. The center of the O is nearly 1 mm. across. The ends of the C are cut off somewhat obliquely, and the opening between them is about 3/4 mm. From the top of the A to the bottom of its cross-bar, the distance is 2 mm. If prolonged to the left, the whole width of the cross-bar would be below the opening of the C. The bottom of the L is 1 1/2 mm. long.

Of this I have only the 2 cents, CA. The surcharge is very clearly printed; it is, however, only 2 1/4 mm. high, and the distance F—H is 13 mm. The O is too round, and it is much thinner at the top and bottom than at the sides, though the genuine is a block letter, equally thick all round. The ends of the C are cut off square, and are extremely close together, hardly 1/2 mm. apart. It is hardly a block letter, as the back is thicker than the rest. From the top of the A to the bottom edge of its cross-bar the distance is only 1 3/4 mm. The bottom of the L is nearly 1 3/4 mm. long.

Of this I have only the 4 cents, CA. The surcharge is badly done, the c being decidedly below the level of the other letters. It is 2 1/2 mm. high, and the distance F—L is 13 1/2 mm. The O is thin and narrow, and the blank center is only 1/2 mm. across. The bottom end of the C is cut off square, and the top end is slightly rounded; they are 1/2 mm. apart. From the top of the A to the bottom of the cross-bar, the distance is only 1 1/2 mm. If prolonged to the left, the whole width of the cross-bar would go into the opening of the C The bottom of the L is rather more than 1 1/2 mm. long. In this forgery, the central tongue of the second F is as long as the top limb of the letter, but the first F is like the genuine and the other forgeries. The first 1 is much thinner than the second.