Cuba-Filipinas

These 19th century stamps were issued to be used in Cuba and the Philippines, which were then colonies of Spain.

The cancellation determined whether it was used in Cuba or the Philippines.

Western Australia swan 1

This particular stamp of Western Australia has to be checked for perforation and watermark to determine the issue.

USA 3c perf/imperf

Again a profile of George Washington.

The imperf was issued in 1851 and the perforated stamp in 1857.

USA locomotive

A locomotive is pictured on this 1869 US stamp.

USA Washington stamp

This 1861 stamp of the United States features a profile of George Washington, its first president whose term of office lasted from 1789 to 1797.

India officials

Victorian stamps of India overprinted "On H. M. S." are official stamps.

The overprint means On Her Majesty's Service.

India Queen Victoria

It's Queen Victoria again, this time on stamps of India issued in the 19th century.

NZ 1898 parrots

Hawk-billed parrots are pictured on the one-shilling value of the 1898 pictorial issue.

NZ 1898 Otira Gorge & Mount Ruapehu

There are two names in this 5d value of the 1898 pictorial set: Otira Gorge and Ruapehu, a mountain.

NZ 1898 huia

A pair of huia rests on a branch in the 3d value of the 1898 pictorial set.

The female of this species has a longer beak than that of the male.

Sadly, this bird is extinct.

NZ 1898 Lake Wakatipu

It's Lake Wakatipu on the 2 1/2d value of the 1898 pictorial issue.
That's Mount Earnslaw in the background.

Interestingly, the lake is misspelled as Wakitipu on the first issuance of this stamp. The correct spelling was printed afterwards.

NZ 1898 Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo is pictured on the bicolored 1d pictorial issue of 1898.

NZ 1898 Mount Cook

The lowest value of a pictorial set issued by New Zealand in 1898 pictures Mount Cook.

NZ half penny

Yep, it's also Queen Victoria who's portrayed on this New Zealand issue of 1895.

NZ 1 shilling

And the one-shilling value of the 1882 issue.

NZ 4d blue green

This is the 4d stamp of the 1882 issue.

NZ twopence

There are different perforation measurements in the twopence issue of 1882.

NZ penny rose

A penny rose issued by New Zealand in 1882 features a profile of Queen Victoria.

This was used for both postage and revenue.

1899 provisional

The last issue of Canada in the 19th century were two surcharged stamps.

These provisionals, which were the first stamps of Canada to be surcharged, came out in 1899.

Surcharged were the 3c Maple Leaf and the 3c Numeral (shown above). The new value was 2 cents each.

Christmas 1898

Known as the Imperial Penny Postage Issue, this two-stamp set features a map of the British Empire (in carmine) with the inscription XMAS 1898.

Some collectors consider this to be the world's first Christmas stamp...some other collectors don't (you'll have to read elsewhere about this!).

The only difference in the two stamps, which were both issued on December 7, 1898, are the the three colors used: Top stamp has black, lavender and carmine, and Bottom stamp has black, blue and carmine.

These stamps were issued to mark the inauguration of the Imperial Penny Postage rate, which became effective throughout the British Empire on Christmas Day 1898.