Morocco Agencies 1898-1900 20c olive-green and brown, type 1 local overprint, variety 'Inverted V for A', horizontal pair, right stamp showing variety 'Inverted V for A', SG3a.
A fine mint pair with large part original gum, which is fractionally yellowish. A lovely example of particularly fresh appearance.
A very rare variety from the first printing, right-hand pane, R6/6. Only 708 maximum possible (both colours), with a high degree of postal usage.
The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £143+.
When the colonial posts became independent of the British GPO on 1 January 1886, Gibraltar retained responsibility for the Morocco Agencies. Further offices, each under the control of the local Vice-Consul were opened from 1886 onwards.
Following a decision to identify the exact revenue derived from the Morocco postal service, it became necessary to provide separate issues for the Morocco Agencies. The need was reinforced when the Revision of Fees Ordinance in Gibraltar required all fees there to be collected in sterling, while the Morocco Agencies continued to use Spanish currency.
These Queen Victoria Gibraltar stamps overprinted "Morocco Agencies" were the first issues from 1 June 1898.
