After several weeks’ debate, it was decided not to release the Toombs’ designs, but for new designs to be prepared locally withy brown hands. Samples of the original designs had already been distributed to philatelic journalists, and weren’t recalled, so the unissued stamps can be found, although at a very high price!

A similar event happened in 1968, whereby Ceylon was to release two stamps for the Golden Jubilee of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress. There were objections to the proposed 50c stamp showing a “footprint”, so the day before intended release, it was withdrawn. I have so far been unable to determine why the footprint caused an issue, but was important enough for the stamps to be completely redesigned at late notice. Some examples of the stamp were, however, sold by rural post offices.

Mark Steele.

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