Tongan Girl Guides
Piece details
Identity
- Piece codeStamp code YYYY.ENT.SS-PP — series code plus stamp order (e.g. 1900.CGH.01-02).
1974.TON.01-08- SeriesThe set this stamp belongs to.
- Honouring the Girl Guides
1974.TON.01· piece 8 of 13 - EntityPostal authority that issued the stamps (country, territory, or historical entity).
Tonga (TON)- Year / date
- 1974-09-11
- Face valueDenomination on the stamp; +n is a charity surcharge when present.
- 29 s
- Format
- Stamp
- TypeIssue kind. Charity issue = postage + voluntary surcharge (e.g. 6+4), not an overprint.
- Airmail
- Colors
- Multicolour
- CollectionIn collection if you have it; Purchased if it is bought but not yet received (do not buy again); Wanted otherwise.
- ◔ Purchased€22.50 for 10 pieces · Postbeeld · 2026-09-06qty 2 of the 10v set; second set is a duplicate
Production
- Designer
- Maurice Meers
- Printer
- Walsall Security Printers
- Process
- Offset lithography
- PerforationsHole gauge between stamps (e.g. 12, 13½). Higher ≈ finer.
- Die cut (self-adhesive)
- Panes
- 20
- Quantity printed
- 10,000
- Size
- 47 x 57 mm
Catalog numbers
- DomfilDomfil thematic catalog number (scouting).
- 974.27
- ScottScott catalog number (Americas).
- TO C161
- MichelMichel catalog number (Europe / DE).
- TO 506
- YvertYvert & Tellier catalog number (FR).
- TO PA156
- Stanley GibbonsStanley Gibbons catalog number (UK / Commonwealth).
- TO 505
Notes
Die-cut shield-shaped airmail on square peelable backing. Oval colour photograph of Tongan Girl Guides posed outdoors among palms, with a leader in a patterned dress. Girl Guide trefoil and Honouring the Girl Guides above; TONGA, AIRMAIL and the value below. Teal shield with a red trefoil and red 29s.
Series history
Tonga issued thirteen self-adhesive die-cut stamps on 11 September 1974 honouring the Girl Guides. Maurice Meers designed them; Walsall Security Printers lithographed them, with the printing on the reverse of the release paper. Each value was issued in panes of twenty, ten thousand of each. Sources give no place of issue.
Five postage stamps are clusters of Girl Guide proficiency badges around TONGA, Honouring the Girl Guides, POSTAGE and the seniti value, the lettering changing colour with the denomination. Five airmails are shield-shaped, each with an oval colour photograph of Tongan Girl Guides among palms, a trefoil, Honouring the Girl Guides, TONGA, AIRMAIL and the value. Three official airmails are green teardrops on rectangular backing, with a portrait of Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS and OFFICIAL AIRMAIL, at 45 seniti, 55 seniti and 1 pa'anga.