DOIG'S ETHIOPIA STAMP CATALOGUE

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Ethiopian Revenue Stamps


Waterlow & Sons Specimens
1930
Revenue stamps were prepared in Ethiopia in 1930, reported perforated and unperforated, punched and unpunched, all overprinted WATERLOW & SONS LTD. SPECIMEN. The values are in M.T.D. for Maria Theresa Dollars. (The Essay-Proof Jounal, No. 120, page 179). These are only confirmed to exist perforated 12-1/2 with a single punch hole 1-1/2mm in diameter. 

I. Background in ornamental scallops with WINCHESTER SECURITY PAPER in the design. No gum. Straight edges on margin copies.

RS1      5c     Violet

II. Plain background. With gum.
*  Reported but not confirmed to exist.

RS2      5c     Violet blue *
RS3    10c     Red
RS4    10c     Green *
.

Postwar Overprints
About 1942-1946
The Ethiopian Government's Short History of Ethiopian Stamps, (1955) states there were no revenue stamps before 1942. This history lists only two of the following overprint on the 1942 Second Restoration Definitives. It reports useage also as a postage due. The Amharic GEBI indicated Revenue, literally "that which is owed." The order of issue is not known.


I. GEBI only with no bars over value.

R1    10c     Carmine rose and black on #338.


II. Slanting red bars over value.

R2      5c on 4c     Green and black on #336. No GEBI.
R3      5c on 4c     Green and black on #336. With GEBI.


III. Straight bars over value. All overprints with GEBI.
* Reported but not confirmed to exist.

R4     0.05 on 4c     Green and black on #336. Black overprint.
R5     0.05 on 4c     Green and black on #336. Red overprint.
R6     0.10 on 4c     Green and black on #336. Black overprint.
R7     0.10 on 4c     Green and black on #336. Red overprint. *
R8     0.10 on 8c     Orange and black on #337. Black overprint.

R8A   0.50 on 4c    Green and black on #336. Black overprint.
R9     0.50 on 8c     Orange and black on #337. Black overprint. *
R10   0.50 on 12c   Red violet and black on #338. Red overprint.
R11   $1    on 8c     Orange and black on #337. Black overprint.
R12   $5    on 8c     Orange and black on #337. Black overprint.
R13   $10  on 8c     Orange and black on #337. Black overprint. PHOTO
.

Waterlow & Sons Revenues - Marie Theresa Dollars
Reported to have been ordered soon after the return of Hailie Selassie I in May, 1941. Earliest recorded date of use August 13, 1948.
5 Cents
10 Cents - Violet
25 Cents
50 Cents - Rose Carmine
1 Dollar
5 Dollars - Brown
10 Dollars


Waterlow & Sons Revenues - Ethiopian Dollars 1955-1964
Printed by Waterlow & Son with perforation of 12-1/2, 13 x 12-12, and 13. The various perforations and paper thickness indicate several printings. Value is Eth.D. for Ethiopian Dollars. Plain background. A $50 and $100 are reported to exist.
Plate
R20 5c Ultramarine 42997 1952, May 5
2,000,000
R21 10c Purple 42993 1952, Apr 20
1,000,000
R22 25c Olive green
R23 50c Rose carmine 43001 1951, Dec 13
500,000
R24 $1 Brown
a. Plate flaw by right ear		 43781 1951, Dec 17
200,000
R25 $2 Red
R26 $3 Purple
R27 $5 Bistre 42996 1951, Dec 17
100,000
R28 $10 Green


Second Waterlow Printing - Imperial Ethiopian Government
With grillwork background.

5 Cents - Blue on red
10 Cents - Purple on green
50 Cents - Red on blue
$1 - Brown violet on green
$2 - Red on yellow
$10 - Green on red


The Provisional Military Goverment of Socialist Ethiopia

10 Cents - Violet on light green
$1 - Brown violet on green
5 Birr - Brown on yellow


Peoples Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

5 Cents - Blue on light red
10 Cents - Violet on green
20 Cents - Red on yellow
50 Cents - Orange on light blue
1 Birr - 
2 Birr - Orange on bright yellow


Chambre de Commerce Addis Abeba
1949, Sept 13 - 1QL to 10T; 1961, May 18 - 25T and 50T; ordered through 1969, June 18.
Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson.
Reported used as a grain tax by weight, stuck on the driver's door of grain trucks. Colors are given from an article by Robson Lowe, and do not match the illustrated copies. The second color is the background.

1 QL Purple and yellow
5QX Purple and blue
1T Blue and rose
5T Brown and green
10T Green and lilac
25T Blue and lilac
50T Green on buff
.
Alcohol Revenue Stamps

Waterlow and Sons - An engraved die was made with text only (#18957) and another (#19013) which had the denominations Eth. $25, $50, and $100. No examples of the use of theses died is reported.

Waterlow and Sons - 
Design 126mm x 25mm (#18966) and values $0.10 (#19010), $0.25 (#19011), $0.50 (#19009), and $1 (#19008).
Design 201mm x 76mm (#18956) and values E. $25 (#18970), $50 (#18972), and $100 (#18971). 

$0.10 
$0.25
$0.50
$1 - Green (revalued $2.50, see below)
$25
$50
$100

$0.09 Blue
$0.12 Blue
$0.15 Violet
$0.25 Green

$0.10 Blue
$0.15 Brown
$0.25 Violet
$2.50 Green


$0.25 on $0.15 Brown (black overprint)
$2.50 on $1 Green (black overprint)
$2.50 on $1 Green (red overprint)

                Thanks to Joseph Ross and Robert Mason for supplying some of the photos and details.

                Last update: July 4, 2014