Curiosities from the Post Office. 
253 
CENT. 
The next stamps that appeared were in 1851 (fig 2.) — 
A ship in shield, value above, name at 
sides, " Damus petimus que vicissim" 
in two lines, black impression on 
coloured paper. 
7. One cent, magenta 
8. Four cents, blue. 
They are of a long ungainly shape, 
peculiar from having the " petimus" 
petimus." This was, however, purely an 
DAMUS PAT1MUS 
QUE VICISSIM 
Fig 
misspelt 
engraver's error, the stamps having been produced 
by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons of London. Several 
types exist of these stamps, as each specimen was 
separately engraved to form the sheet. They were 
reprinted in 1864 for a firm of stamp-dealers, on thicker 
paper, and perforated, as no original ever was. 
I pass over an issue in 1853, as they are comparatively 
common, having been in use up to i860. 
In 1856 (fig. j) some provisional postage stamps, now 
much sought after, made their appearance. 
They are printed in black on co- 
loured paper in a plain, oblong, let- 
tered frame, name British Guiana, 
and full value. They are sometimes 
found initialed by the postmaster. 
9. Four cents magenta, (surface coloured) 
10. Four „ deep blue „ 
11. Four „ yellow „ 
12. Four „ indigo paper. 
These were only in use for a short time and are almost 
as rare as the 1850 circulars ; the 4 cents yellow are quite 
hs much, if not more so. 
BRITISH 
Damus Petimus ! & 
I ^ 
"I 8 
W 
1 & 
que Vicissim. ^ 
GUIANA. 
Fig. 3. 
