Page 193 - Jarvis & Wright: Jamaica Display to RPSL

Jamaica: King Edward VII Period

Arms of the Colony
Frames 20-21 King Edward VII Period
Proofs and Colour Trials
The subject of the design is the arms of the colony as it appears on the seal.
The seal was conceived in 1661 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, an escutcheon, bearing a cross charged with 5 pineapples,
2 Indians for the supporters and an alligator for the crust.

The motto translates to “The Indians twain shall serve the Lord”, or “Both Indies shall serve one master”.

Composite Essay of Unadopted Design, produced August 1902

At the beginning of July 1902 DLR were asked to prepare a new design for the definitives.

Initially they offered the Fiscal arms used in the 1850s, but on 12 July they were instructed to prepare a new design.

In August 1902, four essays were produced:
Two of the ½d, the above plus another in green,
Plus two in a larger size, a 1d in red and a 2½d in black and blue.

Two further essays of the 1d were produced in October, one in red, the other in green and red.
These are close to the issued design.