Tonga

under construction
Tonga is an archipelago in the south Pacific Ocean, north northwest of New Zealand.

 File:Tonga 6d George I.jpg|1888 6d George I File:Tonga !d stars.jpg|1891 stars overprint File:Tonga 2d George right.jpg||1892 2d George I File:Tonga 4d arms.jpg|1892 4d arms File:Tonga 2.5d full face.jpg|1895 2½d George II file:Tonga Half Penny resurch.jpg|1896 ½d re-surcharge 
 * In 1885-88, Tonga issued its first stamps with the profile portrait of George Tupou I. In 1892, the 6d was re-issued in a new color, yellow orange.
 * In 1891, FOUR PENCE. on 1d and EIGHT PENCE. on surcharges were issued. The 1d was also overprinted with stars in two corners by lithography, with errors of more stars existing. This overprint is known forged using typography.
 * In 1892, two new designs were also issued, featuring a coat of arms and portrait of George Tupou I facing right.
 * In 1893, more surcharges in various fonts/styles were issued.
 * In 1894, stamps were surcharged in new values including the word "SURCHARGED."
 * In 1895, the previous surcharges were printed in red.
 * Also in 1895, full-face portraits of George II were issued.
 * In 1896, Half- / Penny- re-surcharges on red surcharges were released.


 * In 1897, bicolor engraved pictorials in different formats were issued on Turtles watermarked paper. These were inscribed TOGA. Then in 1942-49, nine values were printed on Multiple Script CA sideways watermarked paper.
 * In 1899, the 1d value was overprinted T – L and "I June 1899" to commorate the royal wedding. Errors and varieties exist.
 * In 1920-35, the 1897 ½c arms of 1897 was reissued in green plus a design of Queen Salote with 1897-style frame was also issued in a num ber of values.
 * In 1923-24, "TWO PENCE / PENI-E-EU" surcharges were issued.
 * In 1938, a full-length portrait design of Salote was issued with bottom inscription dated "1918-38" to commemorate the Queen's 20th anniversary. In 1944, the dates would be changed to "1918-43" for the Silver Jubilee.
 * In 1949, a UPU set was issued, the first of the Commonwealth omnibus sets to follow.
 * In 1953, a new pictorial definitive series was issued.

File:Tonga 3d arch.jpg|1897 3d arch File:Tonga 5d engr.jpg|1897 5d George II File:Tonga 1920 2.5 Salote.jpg|1920 2½d Salote File:Tonga 20th anniv.jpg|1936 2½d 20th anniversary File:Tonga 1953 5d defin.jpg|1953 5d definitive 

 File:Tongo 1d coin.jpg|1963 1d gold coinage File:Tonga 5s banana.jpg|1969 5d banana definitive. The number is for accounting/inventory purposes. File:Tonga 50th anniv.jpg|From the 2003 issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth II's coronation. 
 * In 1963, round stamps on gold-colored foil were issued showing Tonga's first gold coinage.
 * Beginning in 1969 with the banana definitives, Tonga began issuing self-adhesive die-cut freeform designs for almost all its stamps.
 * By 1991, most issues were again perfed and gummed stamps.
 * In November 1991, seniti denominations no longer had an "s" following the numeral of value.
 * Beginning in 1998, stamps were inscribed "Kingdom of Tonga".
 * By mid-2002, "c" or "s" was often being used again with the figures of denomination.

Aimail special delivery issues
All are inscribed "Airmail Express". 
 * In 1990, a 10pa owl against Moon design was issued.
 * In 2012, 25pa owl designs followed. A limited edition sheetlet had stamps with only 2 white margins.



Official issues
 File:Tonga half surc on GFB off.jpg|1898 ½d re-surcharge Rile:Tonga UNICEF air off.jpg|1971 UNICEF 25th anniversary airmail official. The letters are die-cut to shape. 
 * In 1893, the designs of 1892 were printed in light ultramarine and overprinted G.F.B.. These are frequently found toned or faded and are not liked by collectors.
 * In 1898, the previous issue was surcharged in large numerals sideways. Again, toned and faded stamps are common.
 * In 1962, the emancipation commemoratives had "OFFICIAL AIR MAIL" added to the overprint.
 * In 1963, a 15 shilling gold coin stamp was issued.
 * Following this, many commemorative issues had airmail officials included as overprints or sometimes even in new designs.
 * Meanwhile, beginning in 1970, officials were also released with new definitives, and were either inscribed or overprinted "OFFICIAL".