| CHURCH OF SCOTLAND REWARD STAMPS. |
| Gilbert E. Oliver, of Edinburgh, was a
Banknote , Security and General Purpose Engraver, who set up business in
1863. He was responsible for some remarkable examples of the engraver's art, including the superb series of sets of Reward Stamps which were published, by him, on behalf of the Church of Scotland, between the years 1890 and 1913. Some sheets were produced having five different stamps, repeated in five rows on the sheet. Other sheets contained twenty-five or thirty different stamps. Special albums were produced for these stamps, and in the usual practise, stamps were given to the children for good attendance at Sunday School. The stamps are quite rare in sets, although some remainder sheets have appeared around, from time to time. Complete sets are most desirable, and few of these are to be seen in the hands of collectors. Some errors of perforation exist (imperf between etc) but I have not listed all of these as there are so few and they are consequently extremely rare. I can supply a packet of 250 different of these gems in exchange for the same number of similar vintage cinderellas of equal interest. Email me for offers. Or I will sell 250 different for $250 post paid. Email me first for availability. SERIES ONE. Issued in 1890 and available for many years afterwards. These sheets contained only numeral designs. A row of five diffent designs, each of which incorporated the numeral "5", was repeated five times , giving a total of twent-five of the stamps in each sheet. The stamps were lithographed in black on pink, green, yellow and blue papers and the sheets were perforated. When found in old-time collections, these stamps can be mistaken for revenues. SERIES TWO. Issued in 1892 and available for many years afterwards. These sheets portrayed Scottish Saints ---St Michael, St Cuthbert, St Nicholas, St Ninian and St Margaret. The row of five designs was repeated five times to make up a sheet of twenty-five stamps. The stamps were perforated and were lithographed in the same colours as Series One. The black on green set exists in a strip of five, imperforate between vertically. SERIES THREE Issued in 1896. A first sheet was issued portraying Scottish Abbeys --- Kelso, Melrose, Jedburgh and Dryburgh Abbeys and Coldingham Priory. These made up a row of five stamps which was repeated five times to make up a sheet of twenty-five stamps. The stamps were perforated and lithographed in blue on pink, green, yellow and blue papers. The Coldingham, black on yellow, exists treble perforated on the right. The Coldingham, black on green, exists with an additional diagonal line of perforation across the bottom of the stamp. A second sheet was issued in the same colours, showing Iona, Dalmeny Church, Leuchars Church, Dunfermline Abbey and St Andrews. SERIES FOUR. Issued in 1896. The first sheet of this series portrays Scottish Cathedrals. Dunkeld, Dunblane, Brechin, Elgin and St Magnus, Kirkwall are side by side and repeated in five strips to make up a sheet of twenty-five stamps. The second sheet has Glasgow Church motifs or views, namely Oatlands (exterior view), Oatlands (interior view), St Kentigern (also known as St Mungo), Glasgow Cathedral (interior view) and Glasgow Cathedral (exterior view). The group of five is repeated five times to make up a sheet of twenty-five stamps. Both sheets were lthographed in blue on pink, green, yellow and blue paper, and perforated. SERIES FIVE. Issued in 1897. This series comprises religious motifs. 1) Child in the manger, with the inscription "THE NATIVITY, CHRISTMAS" . 2) Woman clinging to the cross, with the inscription "FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN".3) Hope with anchor and inscription "WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE, ROM. VIII 24 4". 4) Mother and children (looking like a copy of the Prince of Wales Hospital Fund stamp of the same year) and the inscription "THE GREATEST OF THESE CHARITY". 5) Ram and banner with inscription "BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD". The five designs in a strip were repeated in five rows to make up a sheet of twenty-five. The sheet was lithographed in black on pink, green, yellow and blue paper and was perforated. SERIES SIX. Issued in 1897. A series of biblical illustrations, this set portrays various scenes from the Holy Land and the Bible They are lthographed in black on heavy white paper and there are thirty different stamps in the sheet. 1) Buildings with an inscription "THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT THE DAY IS AT HAND ROM 13-12". 2) Open bible leaning on eagle's back with inscription "VERBUM DOMINI MANET IN AETERNUM". 3) Communion vessel with inscription "MINISTERS OF CHRIST STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD". 4) Emmanuel with inscription "THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH". 5) Child and lamb with inscription "THE VOICE OF HIM THAT CRIETH IN THE WILDERNESS PREPARE YE THE WORD OF THE LORD". 6) Numeral "5" design. 7) Daniel with inscription "DANIEL PURPOSED IN HIS HEART THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF DAN 1:8. 8. 8) The Golden Gate. 9) Interior of the Golden Gate. 10) Jerusalem. 11) Mosque of Omar. 12) House of the rich man. 13) Via Dolorosa. 14) Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 15) The Tower of Antonio. 16) Pool of Siloam. 17) Numeral "5" design. 18) Cedars of Lebanon. 19) The descent from the cross. 20) Palm trees and inscription "THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM TREE Ps XCII:XII" . 21) Easter with inscription "HE IS NOT HERE HE IS RISEN". 22) Numeral "5" design. 23) Christ at the house of Mary and Martha. 23) Locust and inscription "I SHALL RESTORE THE YEARS THAT THE LOCUST HAS EATEN". 25) Olive tree and inscription "HE SHALL CAST OF HIS FLOWER AT THE OLIVE JOB XV-XXXV". 26) The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. 27) Abraham and Isaac. 28) Numeral "5" design. 29) The Ascension. 30) Roll of the Pentateuch. SERIES SEVEN. Issued in 1898. A very similar set in black on heavy white paper, perforated. have ornate line patterned margins. In this seventh series are repeated some of the designs of previous years. Set of thirty stamps in six rows of five. 1) Whitsunday. 2) The Holy Trinity. 3) Stamp Two of Series Five. 4) We are saved by hope. 5) The greatest of these Charity. 6) Elijah raising the widow's son. 7) Absalon's tomb. 8) Numeral "5" design. 9) David. 10) The tomb of David. 11) College Church, St Andrews. 12) St John's Church, Perth. 13) Dunfermline Abbey in 18th century. 14) St Oswald. 15) Dunkeld Cathedral interior. 16) Dunkeld Cathedral. 17) St Matthew. 18) Abbey Church, Haddington. 19) Numeral "5" design. 20) The child Samuel. 21) St Monan's Kirk. 22) The Monastery, Incholm, Aberdour. 23) St Luke motif. 24) St Giles Crown, Edinburgh. 25) Greyfriars Church. 26) Martyrs Monument, Greyfriars Churchyard. 27) Restalrig Church and St Triduana's Well, 28) Duddingston Church. 29) St Andrew. 30) Numeral "5" design. SERIES EIGHT. Issued in 1898. This set is of St Oswald's Church. Five different stamps side by side, and in five rows to make up a sheet of twenty-five. 1) Church of St Oswald inscribed "WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS". 2) St Oswald inscribed "ST OSWALD, 604-642, MAN'S CHIEF END IS TO GLORIFY GOD AND ENJOY HIM FOREVER". 3) Russell Aisle inscribed "HOLINESS BECOMETH THINE HOUSE, OH LORD". 4) Interior view of Church of St Oswald. 5) Side view of Church of St Oswald. The stamps are perforated and were lithographed in black on pink , green, yellow and blue papers. SERIES NINE. Issued in 1898. "NEVER ABSENT WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE" This was issued in sheets of twenty-five and was lithographed in blue on yellow paper, perforated. SERIES TEN. Issued in 1905. This comprises a sheet of six sets of five different stamps. Lithographed in black, blue, red and brown on white paper, perforated. 1) St John the Baptist. 2) Eagle on orb inscribed "HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAYBUT MY WORD SHALL NOT PASS AWAY". 3) Holy Grail on alter inscribed "MINISTERS OF CHRIST, STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD". 4) Cross over earth inscribed "REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND". 5) Mary and child inscribed "BEHOLD THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE". 6) Jesus. 7) Palm Sunday. 8) The field in the world. 9) Angel. 10) Out of Egypt I have called my son. 11) Crathie Church. 12) Crathie Parish Church interior. 13) Queen Victoria Memorial, Crathie Church. 14) South Transept, Crathie. 15) Crathie Church, front. 16) -20) Reprints of Series Two designs. 21) St Giles, front. 22) St Giles, interior. 23) Picture of St Giles, 640-=726. 24) Hoyrood Ruins. 25) Different view Holyrood Ruins. SERIES ELEVEN. Isuued in 1906. Sheet of thirty.different stamps in six rows of fiv, lithographed in black, blue, green, red and brown on white paper and perforated. 1) Ancient Font, Inverkeithing. 2) Saint Machar's Cathedral. 3) King's College, Aberdeen. 4) The Ascension. 5) Cross and inscription "THE HONEST BUILD THEY LABOUR IN VAIN EXCEPT THE LORD THAT BUILD IT". 6) Whitsunday. 7) St Patrick preaching the Holy Trinity. 8) St Columba. 9) Cambuskenneth Abbey. 10) The Transfiguration. 11) Jesus and Children. 12) The Carpenter, the son of Mary. 13) Jesus walking on the sea. 14) Oatlands. 15) Two scenes in Stirling. 16) Numeral "5" design. 17) The Stone of Destiny. 18) Dunfermline Abbey. 19) St Andrew's Church, Cairo. 20) Numeral "5" design. 21) Narazeth. 22) Rachel's Tomb. 23) Women of Nazareth. 24) Jerusalem. 25) Ruins of Cana. 26) Jesus and inscription "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD". 27) St Gerardine. 28) Pluscarden Priory. 29) Church of St Oswald (Stamp one from Series Eight). 30) Numeral "5" design. SERIES TWELVE. Issued in 1906. Five religious motifs, side by side and repeated in five rows to give a sheet of twenty-five stamps. Perforated and lithogrphed in brown on pale green, blue on pale yellowish and black on red, surface coloured papers.1) Angel. 2) The Holy Trinity. 3) Church of Scotland and burning bush. 4) Church of Scotland symbol. 5) The field is the world. SERIES THIRTEEN. Issued in 1906. Saints, colours as the last series. 1) St Matthew. 2) St Mark. 3) St Luke. 4) St John. 5) St Andrew. Lithographed and perforated. |
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| SERIES TWELVE. |
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| SERIES FOUR. |
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| SERIES THREE (error) |
