Page 31 - Delcampe Collections classiques EN-007

Stamps

Shortly afterwards, the Governor These letters were all written by
was approached to arrange for all hand by Treasurer E.M. Phillips (2)
mail posted by the Red Cross to be and do not carry a special duty-free
carried free-of-charge by the Post allowance. The envelopes contai-
Office to publicise the collection, on ning a circular (1) were not sealed,
the condition that it was franked with so the postage was half a penny, the
a vignette issued by the Red Cross, domestic postage rate for printed
and that the letters were delivered to items.
the Post Office by a member of the Philatelists soon realised that this
Committee. The Post Office gave use of the vignette corresponded to
its consent on 17 September, and an exceptional issue, since it meant
at a meeting of the local Red Cross that it could be used officially as a
Committee, it was decided to send
a circular letter to landowners, sugar
factory managers, copra collectors
(for coconut oil) and local Associa-
tion Committees (1).
The Island of Trinidad vignette from
1914, simply bearing a large red
cross framed by the words RED
CROSS/TRINIDAD/SOCIETY/ONE
FRACTION. Printed in red on a white
background, size 37 x 32mm. It be-
came official on its day of issue i.e.
18 September 1914, and was nor-
mally cancelled on that date. Howe-
ver, there are also examples on let-
ters with later cancellations. It can
be found in light and dark red.
On 18 September 1914, the vignette
issued by the Trinidad Red Cross
was accepted for the franking of do-
mestic letters. It was sold for ½ pen-
ny, with the proceeds going to the
local Red Cross in Port of Spain. Fol-
lowing this decision, some 900 let-
ters, all the same size 9 x 14.7 cm,
were posted on 18 September 1914
and cancelled at the Main Office in
Port of Spain, following a note sent
by the Postmaster General, to en-
sure that no duties would be levied
on the letters upon arrival.

1 - Port of Spain circular of 11 September 1914 sent to companies.

Delcampe Magazine 31