Nearly twelve years after the island of Ascension became a Dependency of St. Helena, the 1934 definitive set of stamps was issued which concentrated on the island of Ascension, incorporating a map of the island and various pictorial views. However, even then some confusion as to the actual geographic location of the island seemed to exist, in that the Die Proofs of the 1d, 8d and 2/6 values at an early stage of the vignette design showed the top line of latitude as 8° 55'S instead of 7° 55'S.

This initial error seems to have had a marked effect on the stamps themselves when finally issued, as on all copies of the 1d, 2d, 8d and 2/6 values the figure “7” appears markedly blacker than the remaining numbers in the two lines of latitude.

The remaining stamps in the set illustrated Georgetown on the 1/2d, the Pier on the l1/2d, Long Beach on the 3d, the Three Sisters on the 5d, Wideawake Fair on the 1/- and the Green Mountain on the 5/-.

This issued was printed by De La Rue & Co., with paper watermarked Multiple Script ÑA and perforated 14.

All values of this issue are available perforated SPECIMEN.

Varieties

The major variety of this issue is usually described as the “tears” flaw and occurs on the 1d, 2d, 8d and 2/6 values on stamp no. 35 (5th stamp in the 4th row). The flaw consists of two black marks close together under the King’s eye on all four values with an additional green mark on the 1d value.

There are three other less obvious varieties namely:

A small black dot 3 mm to the right of the left hand buoy on stamp no. 16 of the 1d, 2d, 8d and 2/6 values.

Two small green marks on the island close to the turtle on stamp no. 34 of the 1d value.

Extended lines of shading across and to the right of the king’s head on sheet no. 51 of the 5d value.

A careful study of complete sheets of 60 of the first five values of this issue has not disclosed any varieties additional to those already described.

Photographic Designs

Colour washed photographic designs as accepted for the 1/2d, l1/2d, 3d, 5d, 8d, 1/- and 2/6 values.

Colour Trials

Set of full colour trials as accepted for all values. Values up to and including the 1/- are dated 3/4/34 and the 2/6 and 5/- values dated 6/4/34.

Die Proofs

• Set of five proofs printed in black showing the development of the vignette design for the 1d, 2d, 8d and 2/6 values with the top line of latitude incorrectly shown as 8° 55'S. There is also one additional proof showing the correct latitude 7° 55'S.
• Set of three proofs printed in blue showing the development of the vignette design for the 1/2d value and a similar set of three for the 1/- value.
• Die Proofs of the completed design with the frame in blue and vignette in black of the 11/2d, 3d, 5d, 8d and 5/- values. All except the 11/2d value are imperforate and stuck down on squared paper.
• Die Proof of the vignette in black of the 11/2d value, as finally issued.
• Die Proof of the 1/- value in the issued colours.
• Die Proofs of the 11/2d value in blue and black, one with the vignette misplaced downwards and the other with the frame incomplete at the right.
• Die Proof of the frame in blue of each of the 1d, 2d, 8d and 2/6 values. All except the 8d value are imperforate and stuck down on squared paper.

References:

1. Ascension. The stamps and postal history, J.H. Attwood, 1981