Handicraft Definitives: 1983-1988
 
 

1979 FishA new definitive set featuring Tuvaluan handicrafts replaced the Fish set, which had a life of four years. The original set featured 13 different values. Postal rate changes led to the surcharging of two different stamps, followed shortly by three new designs of additional values. All values, including the surcharges were overprinted OFFICIAL, with the exception of the 1c and 2c stamps.

 

 

  
  Images:
| 1c | 2c | 5c | 10c | 15c | 20c | 25c | 30c | 35c | 40c | 45c | 50c |
| 60c | $1 | $2 | $5 | 30 on 45c | 60c on $1 |
 
  Official Overprints:

Five types of overprints were used:

  1. 22mm x 5mm OFFICIAL on horizontal stamps (lithographed):
    1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 15c, 20c, 25c, 30c, 35c, 40c, 45c
  2. 22mm x 5mm OFFICIAL on horizontal stamps (typographed):
    30c on 45c
  3. 20 mm x 4.5mm OFFICIAL on vertical stamps (lithographed):
    50c, 60c, 60c on $1, $1, $2, $5
  4. 20 mm x 4.5mm OFFICIAL on vertical stamps (typographed):
    60c (very rare)
  5. 20mm x 4.5mm thick Official (lithographed in Fiji):
    5c

  
     


  Technical Details  
     
  Date of Issue:   1983-03-14 (13 values)  
     (60c on $1)  
    1984-02-01 (30c on 45c)  
    1984-04-18 (15c, 60c)  
    1984-04-30 (30c)  
  Designer: Gordon Drummond  
  Printer: Walsall Security Printers  
  Perforation: 14 x 14  
  Process: 4 Colour Lithography  
  Paper: Post Office watermarked  
  Format: Sheets of 40 (2 x 20 panes) with horizontal gutters  
  Size: 42.58mm x 28.5mm (H), 28.5 x 42.58 (V)  
       

POSTAGE SET
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1983-D01-01 1c Fisherman's hat, lures and hooks 183 200
1983-D01-02 2c Cowrie shell handbags 184 201
1983-D01-04 5c Wedding and baby food baskets 185 202
1983-D01-07 10c Hand-carved model of a canoe 186 203
1983-D01-08 15c Women's sun hats 186A 203a
1983-D01-09 20c Climbing rope platform and toddy pot 187 204
1983-D01-10 25c Pandanus baskets 188 205
1983-D01-11 30c Tray and coconut stands 188A 205a
1983-D01-12 35c Pandanus pillows and shell necklaces 189 206
1983-D01-13 40c Round Niutao baskets and fans 190 207
1983-D01-14 45c Reef sandals, fish trap 191 208
1983-D01-15 50c Rat trap 192 209
1983-D01-16 60c Waterproof boxes 192A 209a
1983-D01-17 $1 Pump drill and adze 193 210
1983-D01-18 $2 Fisherman's hat and canoe bailers 194 211
1983-D01-19 $5 Fishing rod, lures and scoop net 195 212
Notes:
  • All values exist overprinted Specimen.

SURCHARGE
  Date of Issue: 1984-02-01 (30c on 45c)  
    1984-04-18 (15c, 60c)  
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1983-D01-20 60c 60c on $1 Pump Drill and adze (lithography) 207 224
1983-D01-21 30c 30c on 45c Reef sandals (lithography) 230 234
Notes:
  •  Specimen overprints not issued.

BOOKLETS
The booklets consist of left marginal pairs of the 30c and a top marginal singles of the 60c torn from the regular sheets. They were attached to the back cover of the booklet by moistening the adhesive. Single stamps or panes are therefore indistinguishable as separate varieties.
Date of Issue: 1984
2 x 30c, 1 x 60c ($1.20 face value)

OFFICIAL STAMPS
  Date of Issue: 1984-01-02 (main set)
1985-?? (5c thin)
1984-04-30 (15c, 30c, 60c)
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1984-O01-01 5c Wedding and baby food baskets (litho) O21 O20
  a) Thick overprint (Fiji litho) -- O20a
1984-O01-02 10c Hand-carved model of a canoe (litho) O22 O21
1984-O01-03 15c Women's sun hats (litho) O23 O22
1984-O01-05 25c Pandanus baskets (litho) O24 O23
1984-O01-06 30c Tray and coconut stands (litho) O25A O25
1984-O01-07 35c Pandanus pillows, shell necklaces (litho) O26 O26
1984-O01-08 40c Round Niutao baskets and fans (litho) O27 O27
1984-O01-09 45c Reef sandals, fish trap (litho) O28 O28
1984-O01-10 50c Rat trap (litho) O29 O29
1984-O01-11 60c Waterproof boxes (litho) O29A O31
  a) typographed overprint -- O31a
1984-O01-12 $1 Pump drill and adze (litho) O30 O32
1984-O01-13 $2 Fisherman's hat and canoe bailers (litho) O31 033
1984-O01-14 $5 Fishing rod, lures and scoop net (litho) O32 O34
Notes:
  • The thick 20mm a 4.5mm Official overprint on the 5c value was produced in Fiji as the 5c value with the normal overprint did not arrive from England until early 1985.
  • Specimen overprints not issued.

 

OFFICIAL SURCHARGE STAMPS
  Date of Issue: 1984-01-02  
BRC# Value Description Scott S.G.
1984-O01-15 60c 60c on $1 Pump Drill and adze (litho) O20 O30
1984-O01-16 30c 30c on 45c Reef sandals (typo) O25 O24
Notes:
  • Specimen overprints not issued.

 
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