In 1907 the Crown Agents decided to standardise the colours used for the different values of Crown Colony stamps and arising out of this decision, the Universal Colour Issue came into being. All the values had their colours changed as a result, except the ?1 value. Here we must note that the "debatable" 6d. was only issued and put on sale in Universal colours the day before the new Georgian stamps arrived from England.
This issue comprised nine values with Multiple Crown C.A. Wmk., perf. 14. The 1/2d., 2d., 21/2d., 6d. and 1s. were printed in sheets of 120 in two panes of 60; the 1d. in four panes of 60, the sheet being 240. The 2s., 4s., and 8s. in sheets of 60 in six rows of ten. The paper used was ordinary paper for the 1/2d., Id., 2d. and 21/2d., whilst the other values are found only on chalky paper. It should also be noted that the method of printing the 1d. in sheets of 240 at one impression, dispensed with a separate duty plate for this value. The other values were printed from a "key" and "duty" plate and the variety of the large "2" in the fraction of the 21/2d. is found as in the preceding issues. All the values were printed from Plate 1.
The "Universal" sixpenny is scarce in used condition with the postmark of the proper date, but quite a few copies are to be met with bearing the date "Jan. 1914".
Gibraltar SG 70 Six Pence stamp used on piece
1/2d. Blue-Green (SG 66)
| Date of Printing | Quantity Printed | Received at Treasury | Issued to Post Office | Notes |
| 06/07 | 240 960 | 06/07 | 10/07 | |
| 11/07 | 305 040 | 11/07 | 04/08 | |
| 11/08 | 183 000 | 11/08 | 01/09 | |
| 01/09 | 247 200 | 01/09 | 04/09 | |
| 06/09 | 245 640 | 06/09 | 01/10 | |
| 02/10 | 307 200 | 03/10 | 04/10 | |
| 05/10 | 308 640 | 06/10 | 01/11 | |
| 03/11 | 368 160 | 04/11 | 07/11 | |
| 02/12 | 243 120 | 02/12 | 04/12 | 219 531 Destroyed |
| Total: | 2 448 960 |
1d. Carmine (SG 67)
| Date of Printing | Quantity Printed | Received at Treasury | Issued to Post Office | Notes |
| 08/06 | 241 440 | 08/06 | 01/07 |
Sideway Wmk |
| 09/06 | 240 720 | 09/06 | 01/07 | |
| 01/07 | 600 000 | 01/07 | 04/07 | |
| 06/07 | 600 000 | 06/07 | 10/07 | |
| 02/08 | 611 760 | 03/08 | 04/08 | |
| 05/08 | 732 240 | 06/08 | 10/08 | |
| 11/08 | 367 200 | 12/08 | 04/09 | |
| 01/09 | 364 800 | 01/09 | 07/09 | |
| 06/09 | 616 320 | 06/09 | 10/09 | Wmk Inverted |
| 10/09 | 363 840 | 10/09 | 04/10 | |
| 02/10 | 731 520 | 03/10 | 07/10 | |
| 09/10 | 609 600 | 09/10 | 01/11 | |
| 03/11 | 1 474 080 | 04/11 | 07/11 | 243 773 Destroyed |
| Total: | 7 553 510 |
Watermark varieties
There are four vatermark varieties listed in Stanley Gibbons: 1/2d. with Wmk reversed (SG 66x), 1d. with Wmk sideways (SG 67a) and Wmk inverted (SG 67w) and 4s. with Wmk reversed (SG 73x).
This fine used pair of Gibraltar SG 67a one penny pair with variety
watermark sideways was sold at Grosvenor Auction in 2011
for ?3000 plus buyer's premium.
SG 73x Four shillings stamp with watermark reversed.
This fine mint lower marginal example was sold at Grosvenor Auction
in 2006 for ?750 plus buyer's premium
References:
- "The Postage Stamps of Gibraltar" by Geoffrey E. Duveen, First Edition 1932, Reprint 1972.
- The Rock, Newsletter of the Gibraltar Study Circle, Issue No. 62, 1990.
