Page 131 - Jarvis & Wright: Jamaica Display to RPSL

Jamaica: The De La Rue Officials

Introduction.
Before 1890, official mail was either carried free or used ordinary postage stamps. Following the
example of India, on 21 November 1889 the Jamaica Post Office was authorised to provide
distinctive stamps for official use.
The Government notice of 2 April 1890 withdrew the privilege of free franking from everyone except
the Governor, his Private Secretary, his A.D.C., the Colonial Secretary and the Postmaster. The
attached Postmaster's notice of 11 March 1890 set out the new rules.
Officials were required to use only Official postage stamps; official letters with ordinary postage
stamps would be surcharged. Official postage stamps were to be on sale at any post office but the
public could not use them to pay postage. From the first, these rules were unenforceable.

De La Rue overprinted OFFICIAL on three of the values that they were then printing for Jamaica, the
½d green laureated head and the 1d and 2d keyplate designs printed in distinctive colours, using only
singly fugitive ink as they were only for official postal use. The overprint shows varieties, some
constant. The 1d and 2d were issued on 1 April 1890. The ½d, not part of the initial order by Jamaica,
followed in March or April 1891.

De La Rue provided the usual 400 copies overprinted SPECIMEN.

Variety, broken M
in SPECIMEN,
row 7, column 5.