Two Barbados SG1 Stamps, One Collector’s Close Call

Two Barbados SG1 stamps now sit side by side, each with a certificate from the Royal Philatelic Society London. The collector who once spent ten years finding a copy he considered exceptional has a second one to compare it with—and can’t choose a winner.

The story began with a Facebook listing for early Barbados stamps. Among a group of strong material from what appeared to be a large Commonwealth collection, one SG1 stood out. The seller said copies of that quality were hard to find and pointed readers to a 2020 article about another fine example.

That earlier stamp had four clear margins and a certificate from the Royal Philatelic Society London. Its owner had searched for ten years before finding it, and described it as the best Barbados Britannia stamp he had seen. The new listing looked good enough to challenge that claim.

A shade question from a dark scan

The listing’s photograph made the new stamp look unusually dark. That raised a specific concern: could the stamp be SG2 instead of SG1? The distinction mattered to the collector, who commented on the listing and then contacted the seller directly to ask whether the stamp had a certificate.

The seller was dealer Harry Chapman, who explained that he had photographed the stamp in Thailand during a monsoon afternoon. The poor light, he said, had made its color appear darker. He had no certificate, but the stamp had come from Spink in London. Chapman also said he was content to keep it if a buyer had doubts, adding that he had nearly left it out of the listing because he liked the story of the first stamp.

That candid response helped turn a question into a purchase. The collector bought the SG1, along with several other stamps from Chapman that were too appealing to pass up.

From overseas listing to certified stamps

Buying valuable stamps from a seller the collector hadn’t met carried some uncertainty. Chapman’s service quickly eased it: he stayed in touch, went to the post office within a couple of days despite feeling unwell, and sent the stamps by recorded delivery. They arrived in five days. In the end, all the stamps from the purchase were certified by the Royal Philatelic Society London.

For collectors assessing a stamp through an online image, the episode is a useful reminder of how much a photograph can conceal or distort. Lighting can change the apparent shade, so a scan that looks unusually dark may warrant a question rather than an immediate conclusion. A certificate can add expert support to an identification, while clear communication with the seller can provide context about an image and the item’s history. Here, the buyer had both the initial shade concern and a direct explanation to consider before completing the purchase.

The collector and Chapman continued corresponding about Barbados material. The collector, a co-editor of the second edition of Barbados – The Britannia issues, was able to help identify some of the more difficult items Chapman encountered. Their exchange grew beyond a single sale into a shared interest in the details of Britannia issues.

A side-by-side comparison

The newly purchased stamp has since received its own certificate from the Royal Philatelic Society London. That gives the collector a chance to put the two SG1 examples together and compare them directly. One was a ten-year search; the other arrived through a Facebook listing whose photograph prompted a careful question about shade. Both have the quality and documentation to make the comparison worthwhile.

There’s no settled verdict on which copy is finer. The collector is happy to call it a draw, and invites other collectors to judge the pair for themselves. With both stamps shown together and individually certified, the comparison now rests on what viewers see in the margins, appearance and overall presentation of each example.

The tale’s lasting pleasure is in that close comparison: a strong stamp surfaced, a shade gave its buyer pause, and a conversation helped resolve the uncertainty. For Barbados collectors, the two SG1s offer a fine opportunity to look closely at a pair of striking Britannia issues.