home

Troublemakers

by

Dave Elsmore

 

This 'work in progress' page has been set up to add new information on the colours and watermarks found on Australian States Revenues. The watermark errors should be listed in new publications but the question is should the colour changes be listed as a separate issue?

 If you think you have an odd item please let Dave know.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been looking at the colours of some issues I have and they appear not to correspond with any published works. Below are the few items that concern me and are in need of further study

The colours are taken from published works and with the use of the Stanley Gibbons Stamp Colour Key I have shown various other colours found.

Shown below are some troublemakers from Australian States.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Victoria

--

 3d Stamp Statute.

This Turner Design value was prepared for sale of Electoral Rolls by Registrars, 4552 were issued.

1879 printing Mauve - Wmk V1

1891 Reprint for the U-P-U Violet - Wmk V2


Reprints have been recorded WITHOUT the printed overprint word 'REPRINT' Care should be taken as these can be difficult to identify unless you know your colours & watermarks.

The colour of the 3d reprint is violet. the colour of the issued stamp is mauve.

Points to remember:

1. Genuine is on watermark V1. Reprint is on Watermark V2

2. Genuine is Mauve. Reprint is Violet.

Genuine Issue with postal cancel over pen cancel

------------------------------------

 

Queensland

--

This little piggy has 2 tails

Major Watermark Error

  

2 tails to Q. See lower left Q, looking from the reverse there is a tail at 7 O'clock and at 10 O'clock

[closer detail below]

  

  

   

Picture sideways Crown looking left

[1st reported, here April 2008]

------------------------------------

 

         

On the left we have the listed colour Black. Yet on the right we have the colour of Brownish Grey.

[1st reported, here April 2008]

------------------------------------ 

             

On the left we have the listed colour Violet. Yet on the right we have the colour Blue.

[1st reported, here March 2008]

------------------------------------

 

New South Wales

--

               

On the left we have the listed colour Green and Purple. Yet on the right we have the colour of Blue and Brown rose.

[1st reported, here April 2008]

Chris Hayter Collection UK

          

On the left, the 1st dipping, on the right, a second dipping on the lower right half [dipped sideways] , but for only half the time.

As we know green can turn blue if dipped in chlorine or a bleach solution, so to check on Chris's find I found a damaged 5/- and half dipped it, just to see if it would turn blue. As you can see by the above graphic it just faded the green and completely removed the purple head. So in conclusion, Chris has a very nice find indeed. OK, what else will turn up?

------------------------------------

 

N8W

An odd watermark, which should read NSW sideways, on this Edward 8/- it reads N8W sideways.

[1st reported, here April 2008]

------------------------------------ 

                          

On the left we have the listed colour Pink and Violet. Yet on the right we have the colour of Magenta and Violet.

[1st reported, here April 2008]

------------------------------------

 

                           

On the left we have the listed colour Pink & Brown. Yet on the right we have the colour of Deep Carmine & Brown.

[1st reported, here April 2008]

------------------------------------

 

   

The listed colour Violet and Magenta [I do not have a copy in this colour]. Shown here a 15/- Brown Rose &  Brown.

[1st reported, here April 2008]

------------------------------------ 

Tasmania

--

Watermark Sideways

[1st reported October 2006 'Revenue Review' Stamp News Australasia by Bill Lloyd Smith]

------------------------------------ 

South Australia

--

Serif watermark on 1902 Edward revenue issue

[1st reported Jan 2007 'Revenue Review' Stamp News Australasia]

------------------------------------

 

The listed colour is Mauve to Bluish Mauve.

Here we have two different colours. The left stamp Blue, the right Grey.

[1st reported March 2008 'Revenue Review' Stamp News Australasia]

The colour swatch is Mauve [the colour swatch appears to be slightly darker on my computer screen]

------------------------------------ 

Information on an Impressed Duty Die from South Australia

I have three impressions taken from a die which appear to have had four date slugs [one in each corner] drilled out. No impression has come to light with date plugs inserted. It is possible this was a trial of some sort with the job being aborted and the four holes crudely filled in again.

Impressions ABC below, show progressive correction of poorly plugged holes.

A shown here 1-4 appears to be the most noticeable.

B shown here 1-4 appears to have had some work done on it.

C shown here 1-4 appears to be slightly better.

Unfortunately I only have the 3 strikes of the Violet Edward VII with the filled in date plugs so I cannot see if it finally progressed to completion.

What is clear as each hole was drilled out it appears to have pushed the outer rim of the die out, most noticeable in pictures 1B, 1C & 2C. Unless this was done at the time it was reworked back into shape.

I am now of the opinion all published works relating to one die only being used for Victoria [VR] and subsequently altered by drilling out the V of VR and replacing it with an E for Edward [ER] is wrong.

 

A

B

C

--

My studies indicate the Die for VR at 38mm was only used for the VR period and another two dies both at 41mm [one for Violet and one for the Red impressions] were produced for the Edward reign. 

All the VR impressions I have seen are 'proof like' strikes, whereas all the Edward impressions I have are no where as crisp in there appearance.

It could be argued that a collar was added to the VR die increasing its size from 38mm to 41 mm, but measuring the ER die minus the collar reads 39mm on all the impressions I have.

Looking at the E, on the impressions of ER I have above, there is no evidence that a V has been drilled out and replaced with an E, judging by the above shoddy workmanship on the date plugs, I really cant see an E being inserted so precise as to not show any signs of this on an impression.

We know the Violet impressions are exceedingly rare it is quite possible this die was scrapped very early, as it was in such poor condition. The die with the red impression only being put to work AFTER the violet die was scrapped.

Published works record the Violet impressions as R3 [11-30 complete documents in private hands] and R2 [31-100 cut out examples in private hands]. speaking to other SA specialists this is of course wrong, and in need of catalogue updating ASAP, it in no way reflects the true rarity of the violet die.

--

The replacement Edward VII die in Red

--

The later different GVI die with date collar, and a clear indication the G has been inserted replacing the E.

7-1-47 is the earliest dated evidence of a 'G insertion'

Mark Hancock collection.

--

From document piece 20-3-59

Again a clear indication the E has been inserted replacing the G

--

Maybe you have some violet impressions in your collection? if so could you please send me a 300 dpi scan to: Dave

[1st reported, here April 2008]

--

How many Crowns Exist?

                                        EKD 1887                                                                       EKD 1907

             

               Very faint horizontal bar dividing top and bottom.                            

                               1887 die Mark Hancock collection

                  

Unknown when values over 1/- were first Issued

All recorded publications on this South Australian issue of dies from 1d - £20, make no mention of various crowns being used.

According to Mark Hancock a South Australian specialist in this area, so few exist it is unknown. The author of one of the SA revenue books has seen all the original dies in archives but has makes no mention of different crowns  on different value dies being used.

Only five values have come to light, a 1d, 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/6, maybe you have a 3d or 1/-? maybe other values? if so why not share them here. I only have the 3 values shown above.

Note the 6d die has a - after N of Australian.

[1st reported, here April 2008]

------------------------------------

 If you think you have an odd item please let Dave know.

-------------------------------

copyright 1997 on

All Graphics. Dave Elsmore

No part of this page may be copied used, saved in electronic form or hard printed.

home