The Crown Colony of Gibraltar is a narrow peninsula three in length and three-quarters of a mile in breadth, with a total area of one and seven-eighths square miles, situated in latitude 36°7'16' North and longitude 5°21'13' West, near the Southern extremity of Spain, being joined to the mainland by a low sandy isthmus. It may be said to command the narrow entrance through the Straits of Gibraltar to the Mediterranean Sea. The strategic value of this Fortress has been undoubtedly lessened by the developments in modern artillery and aerial attack.
Until 1886 the Colony used the stamps of Great Britain post-marked with the special cancellation - A.26 - although it would appear that at various times prior to that date Spanish stamps had been used irregularly in Gibraltar. The use of these stamps was discontinued on December 31st, 1875.
In the annual reports of the Postmaster-General it has been found possible to collect a few interesting references to Gibraltar and its postal system prior to the first issue of stamps in the colony in 1886.
The Report of 1858 contains reference to the success of the compulsory prepayment scheme, and states that it had been in use since the beginning of that year between the United Kingdom and the Australian Colonies. An extension of this system to the British West Indies, Malta, Gibraltar and Hong Kong had been effected, and a proposal made to the Governments of other British Colonies and Possessions for the adoption of the same system.
It would also appear from this annual report that no forgeries had resulted from the use of British stamps at Malta, Gibraltar and Constantinople, “and that the privilege has been extended to the British West Indies and to foreign ports touched by Mail Packets on the Western Coast of Africa, but that it is obvious that such an arrangement is possible of application only when the whole of the postage belongs to the British Post Office”.
It is obvious from the Official Records that the reason for overprinting the first issue of Gibraltar was that there was insufficient time to prepare plates for actual Gibraltar stamps, as sanction for the transfer of the Post Office from the Treasury to the Colonial Government was only given on December 2nd, 1885, and the stamps had to be ready by January 1st, 1886.
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