Frederick John Melville
Gambia
"Gambia" by Frederick John Melville is a comprehensive historical account published in the early 20th century. The book focuses on the stamps of the Gambia, a British West African colony, detailing various postal issues and their significance to collectors and historians. It provides insights into the history and development of the Gambia's postal system, from its establishment to the specifics of stamp designs and production. The content of "Gambia" delves into different stamp series issued through the years, starting with the Cameo issue of 1869 and detailing subsequent issues up until the early 1900s. Each chapter examines the evolution of postage stamps in the Gambia, focusing on aspects such as design variations, printing methods, watermarks, and engraving intricacies. The book also highlights the importance of these stamps to philatelic collectors, providing detailed descriptions and checklists for various stamp values and types, ultimately creating a rich tapestry of the Gambia's postal history.