Identifying the Trinidad Queen Victoria 1896 issues is a matter of sorting the color shades for the 1/2d values, identifying the dies used on the 1d issues, and finally identifying the watermarks and paper type for the pound values. This set of stamps replaced the Queen Victoria issues showing the Queen's image beginning in 1896. It was replaced with new colors 1901.

If you have trouble determining the watermarks on these stamps, try looking at them face down against black paper. The lower value stamps were watermarked Crown CA. The watermark was modified for the higher values which is called CA over Crown. Other than the pound value, all later values have different colors - so the watermark identification is only needed for this value. Crown CA watermarks have sans serif letters with a crown that is narrow and straight edged. The Multiple Crown CA watermark has cursive letters and a crown that is more rounded. See the images of the three watermarks below for reference. They are shown as normally seen from the back.

Unlike modern stamps which are issued in the millions, definitive sets from this time period were issued very conservatively. I do not have the details on the printings for this set. Please feel free to supply them if you have this information.

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.

1d Type I
Notice the round shape
of the letter O
in One Penny

1d Type II
Notice the oval shape
of the letter O
in One Penny

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if you have it.

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