Gold Coast: 1883 1d. on 4d. magenta, used.

The supply of 1d stamps in Gold Coast had become short in 1883 and a way had to be found to account for the money taken. In some cases two pence stamps were cut in half or "bisected", each half being used for 1d.

In the case of the stamp illustrated, a “1d” surcharge was applied to a four pence stamp, turning it into a 1d stamp.

Only one copy of this surcharged stamp has been recorded, it is beleived to have been purchased by the famous philatelist E.D. Bacon in 1883 at a stamp shop in Seething Lane, London.