Identifying the Virgin Islands George V keyplate issues is a matter of sorting between the two watermark options: Multiple Crown CA (MCA) and Multiple Script CA (MSCA), and then determining the color shades for the 1/2d and 1d values. This set of stamps replaced the King Edward VII Multiple Crown CA watermarked paper beginning in 1913. It was replaced with a new design beginning in 1922.

If you have trouble determining the watermarks on these stamps, try looking at them face down against black paper. The stamps watermarked Multiple Crown CA will have sans serif letters with a crown that is narrow and straight edged. The Multiple Script CA watermark has cursive letters and a crown that is more rounded. See the images of the two watermarks below for reference. They are shown as normally seen from the back. Only the 1/2d and 1d values were printed on paper watermarked Multiple Script CA, so only those stamps are identified below with the watermark.

Once you have determined the watermark, the next step is to sort the colors. Color shades can be difficult to sort, especially when you only have a couple of stamps to compare. They typically occur when the stamps are printed after the initial printing. Today we have computer color matching, but during this time it was done by hand with components that might differ from the original ink formula. I like to place the stamps against black and then white paper and view them under a strong light. The images shown attempt to show the colors, but they do not show them as well as viewing the stamps in person. So use the images as relative indicators. The color descriptions for the 1/2d values as described by Commonwealth and Gibbons do not match up very well. I have marked the stamps below based on Commonwealth and then inserted the closest Gibbons description to the stamp.

Unlike modern stamps which are issued in the millions, definitive sets from this time period were issued very conservatively. I do not have the quantities printed for this set, and would appreciate getting the information from any knowledgeable readers.

The catalog numbers are from the 1980 Commonwealth Five Reigns Catalogue (CW), 2013 Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue SG) and the 2011 Scott catalog (ST). The description is from the Commonwealth Catalogue. Please contact Bridger & Kay to obtain a copy of this publication. You can access the other publishers using the "Links to British Colonial Stamp Sites" at the bottom of this page.

The images were saved in a larger size and at a higher resolution so you can more easily see the details used in sorting them. Please be patient if it takes a few minutes for this page to load.

This article was written to help you identify your stamps.
Please feel free to ask a question, or include a correction.