Identifying King George VI StampsAscension Issues
The Ascension Island King George VI set was printed by De La Rue, and was issued from 1938 through 1955. Most of the issues were printed multiple times. Each of these printings has visible traits that may help you identify your stamps. This article attempts describe these characteristics for King George VI collectors.
Before we get into to sorting stamps, let me tell you my methodology. I collect KGVI stamps based on printings. I try to accumulate as many copies as possible, and compare them to notice their various features. There are certain factors that I use to make these comparisons:
The Ascension Island set at first glance appears to consist of stamps that, except for perforation differences, are fairly similar. Many of the printings do not differ that much in terms of color. In fact, after sorting for perforation, I find that the most telling trait is the appearance of the paper and gum characteristics, which in many cases is a subtle indicator.. These traits seem to be fairly constant in most cases, and can be identified fairly easily once they are properly identified.
Before we begin with the identification process, let me give you a composite of the issues, as I have found them. My information comes from several sources:
The chart below shows the various printings as described by Potter & Shelton. However, since their book was published in 1952, later issues were not included. These are quoted from Mr. Baker's article, and are marked with a +. The issue dates and quantities printed are quoted from Mr. Baker's article. Descriptions or Issue dates supplied by me are marked *. The catalog numbers used are to help you identify your stamps based on the catalog you choose to use as a resource, and to help you find these stamps from the various dealers who provide them. Where there are multiple printings, the first issue of that type is shown with the appropriate catalog number. Additional printings with the same catalog number have a suffix "var" to indication that this is a variation to the printing that may be found under that listing..
I will admit that there are probably some discrepancies in this chart. If you note any errors, additional information would be appreciated. This article is posted on the Internet to invite collaboration. It will be updated without notice as more information is obtained.
One of my theories in studying stamp printings, is that stamps that were printed at the same time (by the same printing company) are very likely to have similar paper, gum, and color. This theory was originally proposed to me by my friend Larry Goldberg, the editor of George VI (see link below). Larry (who is in the advertising business) suggested to me that a printer makes a print run as efficiently as possible. The ink is measured to meet the required print run; and is used as soon as possible to avoid waste. The paper would also be allocated from some type of bundle, and would be typically used sequentially. In this type of circumstance, the gum would likely be applied in one process also. Naturally, there are known exceptions to this theory; but if you take a close look at the paper and gum characteristics of the Ascension Island issues, they do seem to follow a recognizable pattern. This pattern is what I use to sort the printings.
Okay, so if you agree with Larry's theory about stamp production, how do you figure out the characteristics of the various printings? Luckily, for this issue, there were significant changes in the perforations that can be used to identify specific printings, or groups of printings. In addition, where there are multiple printings of the same perforation; there are differences in color and paper type which can be used as reference copies to help identify other issues from the same printing. These factors were primarily used to make the assumptions that I have made about identifying the Ascension Island printings.
First of all, if you study the chart, you will notice that there are thirteen print dates. For the purposed of clarity, these are listed in the chart below:
Sorting a set of stamps where there are thirteen different print dates may seem impossible, but if you spend some time studying the trends here, you should notice that most of the stamps were issued in 1938, 1944, 1945, and 1946. The other issue years were typically just one or two stamps - some of which can be sorted just by comparing perforations or color differences. So, the major challenge in sorting the printings of Ascension is to find a way to determine the difference between four primary issue dates.
The 1938 printings were all perforated 13.5, so these are easy to determine. The 1944, 1945 and 1946 issues were all perforated 13 x 12.6, so some other characteristic must be found to identify these issues. It is my theory that most of these issues can be identified by the subtle differences in color and paper and gum characteristics. Ironically, although all printings were issued in 1944, there was only one value (1/) produced during both of the years 1945 and 1946. Each of these years' set included only a portion of the entire set.
The first step in finding a way to sort these issues is to find two stamps from each year set that can be found by some easily recognizable trait, like color. This will give us sample stamps that can be used to compare with other stamps to try to find the characteristics of the print date. My candidates for this process are shown below:
As you can see, each of these issues has a bright color, and one that is not so bright. I have found that it is fairly easy to find the difference between these traits. You should also note that there are no other issues for these year sets that were perforated 13 x 12.6, so any stamp that fits the perforation characteristic will be one of the issues shown above. As you compare for color differences, be sure to compare more than one copy. In my study, I accumulated about 10 copies of each stamp purchased over a ten year period (in many cases before anyone cared much about KGVI stamps so they were unsorted.). That gave me a sample that was statistically likely to include both copies. I sorted the stamps using the lighting as described earlier, comparing the stamps against both black and white paper. The bright issues were easily spotted when compared against either a background.
If you were lucky enough to find samples for each of these printings, your samples should match the characteristics described below:
Sort your stamps by the brightness of color, and separate them into two groups; one for each option. Compare the back of the stamps against black paper. The watermark should be visible on each stamp, but you should notice a difference in the way the watermark appears. On the brighter stamps, the watermark should be very visible. This is described as transparent. The stamps with the less bright red-orange color should have a more opaque watermark. It is not as visible. This difference in watermark is the trait I use to sort between the 1944 and 1946 printings.
Sort your stamps by the brightness of color, and separate them into two groups; one for each option. The brighter stamps should be from the 1945 printing, and the others from the 1944 printing. If you turn over the brighter stamps and compare them against black paper, you may also note that the border of the brighter stamps may be easily seen from the back. I think this is a function of the ink rather than the printing. Unfortunately, I have not found any other trait besides color that can be used to sort these two printings. The paper and gum look identical to each other. Luckily, the color differences should help you find all but the 1/ issues.
Normally, the first printings are among the more elusive issues for most King George VI sets. Bermuda is a good example, where a set of the first printing keyplates would sell for over $1,000 U.S. In the case of Ascension Island, there is a slight premium for the first printings, and they are easy to identify. They are all perforated 13.5. To find them, just get a proper perforation gauge. (like the Gibbons Instanta Gauge). The perforation gauges with a series of dots are virtually useless for this type of identification because there is no middle ground between the described perforations. The Instanta Gauge is a series of lines that cover the range of perforations between 9.75 and 18.2 perforations per inch (which is what we are actually measuring with a gauge). You should also note that the 1938 issues could tend to have a more yellowish gum than the later printings which are more of-white or bright white.
The first broad printing of the perf. 13 issues included all of the values. Stamps from this printing can be differentiated from the 1946 printing by the transparency of the watermark. The 1944 issues will have a more transparent watermark than the opaque 1946 issues. The paper is typically off white, and the gum is smooth.
The second broad printing of five perf. 13 issues; stamps from this printing can not be differentiated from the 1944 printing by any other means other than color differences. The paper is typically off white, and the gum is smooth.
The third broad printing of six perf. 13 issues; stamps from this printing can be differentiated from the 1944 printing by the transparency of the watermark. The 1946 issues will have a more opaque watermark than the transparent 1944 issues. The paper is typically off white, and the gum is smooth.
Now that you have an overall concept of the characteristics of the paper and gum for these issues, take some time to compare the colors. I have heard Potter & Shelton criticized for their color descriptions, but I feel they are generally fairly good if only for the reason that they were looking at Post Office fresh copies, and they were recording stamps from various countries from the same perspective. I do think they got a little lazy in later years. I have found some items by paper and gum "analysis" that were listed as "as last" (P&S slang for the same as the one preceding this one) and really were different. But imagine looking at and classifying all of the stamps issued for the Commonwealth. What an undertaking! Most research papers are written by an expert in one country. It is hard to correlate their view of color against other researchers because we have no method for comparison. Potter & Shelton described most of the Colonial Issues. As a result, if they say a color is Yellow-Green for one country, it is likely that it is similar when they describe a different country. This allows stamps from more than one country to be used for comparison and makes the process a little simpler.
Okay, if you have some idea of the papers, and some idea of the color options, let's look at each value and I will tell you how I arrived at my choices for each printing.
As a summary, I thought it might help to describe how I sorted each value to further explain my thought process. Please remember, this does not work with two stamps. I accumulated as many copies as possible prior to making the comparisons and laid out each value on a sheet of paper to make these comparisons. I tend to look first at the perforation, then the paper and gum, and finally the colors as described by Potter & Shelton in making my decisions. Here is my description of the process for each value, and remember, I am describing subtle differences.
Potter & Shelton list the first three issues, and Dr. Baker describes the remaining one in his article. Remember that Potter & Shelton printed their monograph in 1952 so later issues are not included. The 1938 printings can be identified by comparing the perforations, you can also usually pick them out even without the use of a gauge just by looking at the back of the stamps. The yellowish gum will usually be fairly visible. To sort the two 1938 printings from each other, compare the head of King George. You should notice that there are two very distinct colors: black, and greyish-black. The greyish-black copy looks like it may have sat out in the sun too long and faded. Since there is only one printing, and since these are so different, something must have happened to cause this change. The theory, according to Richard Lockyer in "King George VI Varieties Part 1 Introduction and Ascension" (Gibbons Stamp Monthly, August, 1986) is that the plate cracked, and had to be repaired. This would take several days. In fact, the plate was out of the safe for two weeks, compared to the normal three days for most issues. After the repair was completed, the ink would be remixed (it does not just keep you know) and the remaining stamps produced. The net effect would be two different shades that are both perforated 13.5. (The two "printings" are shown below.) If you are paying attention, you will ask two questions: What caused this to happen? & How do we know the second shade was not produced later?
What caused this to happen? According to the theory, the damage and subsequent repair of the printing plate is what led to the existence of the "long E" flaw. The "long E" flaw is found in position number 9 (second row of 10 and third column of 6). It was caused, presumably, when the plate was repaired after damage during the printing process. To quote Dr. Baker, "the centre bar of the second "E" of "Georgetown" is elongated". If you have a copy, the center bar is actually longer than the top and bottom bars in the "E" This flaw has been found on every printing except for the 1938 printing of the 1/2d value with the black head of King George that is perforated 13.5. It has been seen on the grey-black shade of the stamp perforated 13.5 by this author in a positional block. If you accept that the flaw occurred during the production run of the 1938 printing, and that the grey-black stamps which exhibit the flaw were from the second printing (two weeks after the first printing), then it stands to reason that the stamps with the black head of King George were from the portion of the first printing that was completed before the plate was damaged..
How do we know the second shade was not produced later? Both shades exhibit the same type of yellowish paper and gum as that of all the other 1938 printings; and Dickon Pollard of Murray Payne has reported a Specimen showing the "long E" flaw. Since specimens were only produced from the first printing, the "long E" flaw must have occurred during the production of the first printing of the 1/2d issue perforated 13.5, and the grey-black issue was the stamp produced after the delay in the print run. Now that the 1938 perf. 13.5 issues have been logically identified and legitimized, we can look for the three issues perforated 13 x 12.6.
The primary trait that will help you identify the perf. 13 issues is the look of the paper and gum. As you compare your stamps face down against black paper, you should be able to find the 1944 printings. These will be the ones with off-white gum and a transparent watermark. Put those aside. If you have any remaining issues, look at the color and texture of the paper and gum. Both should be whiter than the 1944 printing with a less transparent watermark. (The watermark is not opaque, it is just less visible than the 1944 printing.) If you have a stamp with bright white gum and paper, it is likely to be the 1953 printing. Compare the front of the 1953 candidate against black paper. You should notice the stamp has a slightly deeper frame color than the 1944 printing. If there is an additional stamp that did not match the 1944 printing, and does not seem to be from the 1953 printing, it is likely to be from the 1949 printing. This stamp should be a little brighter than either of the other two. Looking again at the paper and gum against black paper, you may note that the 1949 printing falls between the other two. It is whiter than the 1944 printing, but not as white as the 1953 printing. If you have any of the 1d green issues, look at the paper and gum of those issues. There were three printings, and two match the 1949 and 1953 1/2d printings. Although you may not be able to identify the 1d printings, they might help you isolate the two later 1/2d printings.
There is a mystery stamp that is perforated 13 x 12.6. It has a very deep black head color and a very dark shade to the frame. I originally thought it was from the 1949 printing, but Potter & Shelton do not describe the color, and my copies have transparent paper like the 1944 printings, although it is on whiter paper. One would conclude that the ink was just overused on this stamp, but I have found several identical copies from different sources, and both colors are significantly different meaning that too much ink had to be accidentally used on both runs (the head plate and the frame plate are printed in two processes). If you find any information on this stamp, please let me know. For now, I think it is probably a shade of either the 1944 or 1949 printings.
Still awake? Get some coffee, it is going to be a long night. The bad news about the 1d issues is that there were 9 printings, and some may be impossible to distinguish from each other. The good news is that there are three perforation variations, and three different color schemes and two designs so we can at least isolate stamps to a time period even if we cannot absolutely sort them into the exact printing. The first thing I would recommend is that you sort by color and design, and then use the perforation gauge to refine the sorting process. There will be three options to the color and design phase: the green and black "Green Mountain" issue; the orange and black "Green Mountain" issues; and finally the green and black "Three Sisters" issues. The green and black "Green Mountain" issue is the first printing, and can be assigned just by design alone. The other green and black issues will be studied later in this section. Put them aside for now and concentrate on the orange and black issues. There were five printings of the orange and black issues with three perforations, so get out your gauge and compare the perforations. The options include 13.5, 13 x 12.6, and 14. Since there was only one printing of the perforations 13.5 and 14, the only real mental work involves identifying the three printings that were perforated 13 x 12.6.
These orange and black issues include the printing dates of 1942, 1944, and 1946. Look at the paper and gum against black paper and compare them to your 2d samples. Assuming you have the 1944 and 1946 issues, you should note that the transparent and opaque watermarks help identify these stamps. There is slight variation to the colors, but not enough to help identify them by itself. Now the question of identifying the 1942 issue. Here is my theory. When I compared my stamps, I noticed that I had one stamp perforated 13 x 12.6 that was very similar in terms of paper and gum to the 1949 stamp which is perforated 14. It has whiter paper and gum than the 1944 or 1946 issues, and a watermark that is right in the middle of the other two printings. It is more opaque than the 1944 printing, and less transparent than the 1946 printing. That, in my opinion, is how you find the 1942 printing. For the record, the colors are a little paler than the other two printings, but it would be hard to make a determination based on this factor only. If you have found these issues, it is time to tackle the indistinguishable, green and black issues with the "Three Sisters" vignette. .
From the chart, you should notice that there were three printings of the green and black "Three Sisters" 1d issues. Of these printings, most stamps were produced in 1949, and this is the stamp you are statistically speaking, most likely to own. If you have multiple copies of these issues and compare them against black paper, you should notice that the paper and gum is whiter than the 1944 or 1946 printings, and that the watermark is visible, but not to the degree of the 1944 printings. The color is fairly consistent also. So how do you identify them? Well it is not that simple. My recommendation is use the 1/2d 1949 and 1953 issues for comparison, and try to match the paper and gum against these stamps. That is what I did, and I came to this weak conclusion: the 1949 printing is a little deeper color of green and black than the two other printings which tend toward a bluish-green and grey-black in comparison to the 1949 printing. The paper and gum of the 1949 printing is not as white or as textured as the later printings, and this seems to match the 1949 1/2d issue also. In my opinion, the 1953 and 1955 printings are very similar. They both seem to have the same frame color and bright white paper. The only difference seems to be the paper and gum. I have found stamps that have a little more texture than the 1953 1/2d issues. I assume these are from the 1955 printing, but would like to hear other opinions. (See additional comments below for more information on the 1d 1942 issue and identifying the Three Sisters 1d Green printings.)
Like the 1d issues, there are quite a few printings of the 1-1/2d, eight in fact. Fortunately, there are three different perforations, and three color variations so it is not as difficult to identify the printings. It is a good idea to start by checking the perforations of all the stamps. There is only one printing (1938) that is perforated 13.5, so it is easy to isolate. There are two distinctly different colors that are perforated 13 x 12.6. These are the scarlet shades of 1944 and 1946 (which look like the 1938 printing) and the rose carmine shades of 1953 and 1954 which do not look like the 1938 printing. Finally, there are the issues which were perforated 14. These will fall into three distinct colors. There is a carmine-rose issue which will look like the carmine-rose stamps that were issued in 1953 and 1954 and were perforated 13 x 12.6; a scarlet issue which looks like the earlier scarlet stamps of 1944 and 1946; and then there is a scarlet-rose issue which is a deeper shade of red than the scarlet (which to me tend toward orange-red) stamps, and does not have the pinkish cast of the carmine-rose issues. If you managed to find all of these stamps, you have three primary tasks: 1) separate the scarlet 1944 and 1946 perforated 13 x 12.6 printings, 2) identify the carmine-rose and scarlet-rose perforated 14 printings of 1949, and finally 3) differentiate between the carmine-rose perforated 13 x 12.6 issues of 1953 and 1954. We will look at each of these topics.
The scarlet shades of 1944 and 1946 are similar in color to the first printing, so they can easily be isolated from the other perforated 13 x 12.6 issues. Separating them from each other is simply a means of comparing the paper and gum to the 2d control samples that we found earlier. The 1944 printing has transparent paper, and the 1946 printing is more opaque. If you actually find both issues, look at the color of the stamps. The 1946 is a duller shade of scarlet than the 1944 printing. However it is not as dramatic a difference as the 2/6 carmine issues.
The carmine-rose and scarlet-rose perforated 14 printings of 1949 can be easily separated by comparison to the carmine-rose printings of 1953 and 1954 that were perforated 13 x 12.6. As you might guess, the carmine-rose perforated 14 looks similar to these later carmine-rose issues. The remaining issue (assuming you have a copy) is the scarlet-rose printing. For the record, it is described as dull carmine by Dr. Baker, which I feel is a better description. It is more reddish than the scarlet shade, and not as pinkish as the carmine-rose shades.
The two carmine-rose perforated 13 x 12.6 printings of 1953 and 1954 can be separated by color. There is a noticeable difference in the frames of the two stamps. As you will observe from Dr. Baker's color descriptions, the 1953 printing is rose-carmine and the 1954 printing is bright rose-carmine. Potter & Shelton would have listed these as carmine-rose, because that is what they called the 1949 printing which is a similar color. Placed side by side, there is no mistaking the bright red color of the 1954 printing.
There is one final topic before we leave the 1-1/2d issues. There is a perforated 14 issue that has a greyish cast to the paper. The theory according to Dr. Baker is the grey was caused "due to faulty wiping of the vignette plate". The net effect is that the paper looks a little grey, and the color is a deeper reddish shade than any other 1-1/2d issue. It looks deeper than the scarlet-rose shade, but you will see some grey. Look at the 1-1/2d in the value tablet. The color will be more grey than the white color found on the other issues. It is impossible to tell how many of these exist, but I have seen a few copies which suggests that it is not an impossible rarity to find.
If you feel that you are bored and tired, remember I suggested coffee earlier. Luckily, we are past the hardest part. There were only five 2d printings, and there are three perforations. In fact, if you found the 1944 and 1946 2d perforated 13 x 12.6 printings earlier, you are already finished. For the record, there is a 1938 printing and two 1949 perforated 14 printings. The two 1949 printings are easily identified. One is orange and the other is scarlet. Before we leave this area, I should point out that there is a greyish printing of the scarlet 2d issue also. Just like the 1-1/2d issue, the entire stamp appears darker. Look in the value tablet to compare the color of the surface paper.
There are five 3d printings, but like the others, there is both a color difference, and a perforation variation. As a result, this is an easy printing to classify. First put the blue 3d issue aside. It is from the 1938 printing. Then take the grey stamps and use the perforation gauge to find the 1940 issue which is also perforated 13.5. The remaining issues are perforated 13 x 12.6. These include the 1944, 1946, and 1950 printings. We know we can identify the 1944 and 1946 printings by comparing the paper and gum for the transparent or opaque watermark. How do you identify the 1950 printing? It is the one with brighter, white paper and gum that is similar to the 1949 issues perforated 14. For the record, if you look at the front of the stamp, it will be a greyish-black compared to the blacker shades of the other stamps. I always look first at the head of King George. If it is grey rather than black, you will have found the 1950 printing.
The 4d issues are a little more difficult than the 3d stamps to distinguish. Luckily, there were only four printings. The first printing was in 1940, and is perforated 13.5, and there were three later printings (1944, 1945, and 1951) that were all perforated 13 x 12.6. Just like the other 1944 printings, the 4d 1944 issue has transparent paper and gum. It is easy to isolate when compared to the other 1944 printings. The other two are a little tricky. Although there are described differences in the frame and head colors, they look very similar to me. I look at the paper and gum. After you have isolated the 1944 printings, the remaining stamps should be from either the 1945 or 1951 printing. Of these stamps, first look for the bright white paper and gum of the 1951 printing. It will be similar to the others we have seen from this time period. Try comparing to the 1-1/2d rose-carmine printings that were perforated 13 x 12.6 as a comparison. If you have any stamps that do not exhibit the transparent off-white paper and gum of the 1944 issue, or the brighter white of the 1951 issue, they are probably from the 1945 printing. For the record, my presumed 1945 copies all have a more opaque watermark compared to the 1944 printings. Even though I told you earlier that the paper and gum of the 1945 printings looked the same as the 1944 printings, for some unexplained reason, the 4d issues do not follow that pattern.. They tend to look more like the paper and gum of the 1946 printings. When you have finished comparing the paper and gum, look at the front of the stamps. I have not yet seen one that I would describe as grey-black. They all appear the same black shade as the 1938 4d printing. If you find a true grey-black 4d shade, I would be interested in purchasing it if it is a double.
For sorting simplicity, there are no better stamps than the 6d value. There were three printings: 1938 perforated 13.5, and two issues from 1944 and 1946 which were perforated 13 x 12.6. After you have checked for the perforation differences, look at the back of the stamps and sort by comparing for the transparent and opaque paper and gum to determine the proper allocation of these stamps. For the record, the frame color of the 1946 printing is a deeper blue than the 1944 issue.
We have moved from relatively simple to the virtually impossible. Once again, there is a 1938 printing that is perforated 13.5, and there are three printings (1944, 1945, and 1946) that are perforated 13 x 12.6. There is a color difference between the 1944 and the 1945 & 1946 printings, but I can find no difference between the 1945 and 1946 printings. Dr. Baker and Potter & Shelton both suggests that the 1944 printing is black with sepia, the same color as the 1938 printing. The 1945 & 1946 printings are described as black with brownish-sepia by Dr. Baker and "Deeper. Colours" by Potter & Shelton which I have translated to Deeper Black & Deeper Sepia. I think both are correct. There is a definite difference between these printings and the 1944 printing which does look like the 1938 printing. Look first at the frame. The later printings are a much deeper shade of dark brown. Compare them to the 1938 printing, and it will be fairly obvious. If you have more than one copy with the deeper colored frame try to determine if it is from the 1945 or 1946 printing. If you find a difference, please let me know what it is so I can add it to this article. All of my copies have similar colors, paper & gum, and watermark. (See additional comments below for more information on the 1/ issue.)
Well we are in the home stretch at this point. There were three printings of the 2/6 issues. One is perforated 13.5, and the other two (1944 and 1945) are perforated 13 x 12.6. Sort by perforation, and then take the stamps that are perforated 13 x 12.6 and place them face-up (yes I do look at the front of the stamps some times). Compare the colors to the 1938 printing. If you have both copies, you should notice that some are similar in frame color to the 1938 printing, and some others are brighter colored. The ones that are similar should be from the 1944 printing. The brighter ones should be from the 1945 printing. The 1945 issues tend to show more of the printed frame design when seen from the back against black paper compared to the 1944 printing.
Just like the 2/6 issues, the 5/ issues can be sorted by color. There were three printings. The 1938 issues were perforated 13.5, and the later issues (1944 and 1945) were perforated 13 x 12.6. Sort the stamps by perforation and compare all of the colors to the 1938 printing. If you have both issues, you should notice that there is one that is similar to the 1938 printing. This is from 1944. The other which is from the 1945 printing should be a deeper shade of brown. Just like the 2/6 issues, the frame of the 1945 printing tends to be more visible from the back of the stamp when viewed against black paper.
We made it. This denomination is similar to the other high values in that there were only three printings. After you have isolated the 1938 printing by checking for the perforation 13.5, the other two issues (1944 and 1945) which are perforated 13 x 12.6 can be determined by comparing the colors under an ultraviolet. Although both issues will tend to glow, the 1944 printing is much brighter. If you do not have an ultraviolet light, it is also possible to find the 1945 printing by looking for the grey-black color. This is best done by looking at the mountains. They tend to look much lighter. For the record, the frame of the 1944 printing is deeper and a little brighter than the 1945 printing.
If you are still reading this article, you are to be commended. My goal was to put into writing all of the information that I have found, and observed about these interesting issues. This is meant to be a collaborative effort, so if you have additional information, comments, or disagree with any of the statements; please let me know. I would like this article to be a depository for all information about this issue.
March 4, 2002:
Dr. Richard Baker (a valuable source quoted in this article) emailed to add some information to the subject. Here are his comments:
1) The 1942 printing of the 1d. This was the first Ascension consignment to be printed after the De La Rue factory was bombed; hence the change in perforator. The paper used for this printing is known as "contractor's paper" and it arrived at the factory ready gummed; the paper was a poor quality rather hard, thin paper and in consequence the watermark is clearer on this printing than on any other. The gum is distinctly "blotchy". These are both consistent characteristics 2) The 1/- was also printed in 1954 and shares many of the characteristics of the 1-1/2d of that year. As regards colour, it seems to lack that hard sepia tint and might best be described as "brown" I rather think that you would find life somewhat easier if you used a 360nm UV lamp to look for differences in papers.
April 18, 2002:
Dr. Richard Baker emailed to add some information to the subject of the 1d Green Three Sisters printings. Here are his comments:
I think that the 1d "Three Sisters" printings are EASY to identify:
Check the upper corners of each stamp, specifically the tongue of paper between the corner perforation hole and the next perforation hole down the side of the stamp. If this tongue of paper is visibly wider than between other perforation holes then you are looking at the 1949 printing; there are only 14 perforation holes down each side of the stamp. Both of the other printings had 15 perforation holes but they are distinguishable because the 1953 printing was on a bright white paper (like the 1953 1/2d and 1-1/2d). The 1955 printing was on a creamy-white paper rather like that used for the 1954 printing of the 1-1/2d). The 1953 and 1955 printings of the 1d are quite scarce, so it is possible that you had none of the 1955 in your sample.
Incidentally, you mention the use of ultraviolet in sorting the 10/- printings. But have you ever looked at the frames of the 6d printings under U-V? Try it!!!
Editor Comments:
Thanks Dr. Baker. If there are any other opinions out there, I will be pleased to add them to this article.