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Unusual 1d Mt Wellington
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:01 pm
by Mick Fettes
Hello, I am a new member. I have a MH 1d. Scarlet Mt Wellington perfed 14.5 on all sides, there is no visible watermark and the gum is white and cracked. I hope the scans supplied will be of assistance in finding out exactly what I have.
- Mt Wellington Perf 14.5 Front.jpg (91.03 KiB) Viewed 2035 times
- Mt Wellington Perf 14.5 Back.jpg (57.6 KiB) Viewed 2035 times
Re: Unusual 1d Mt Wellington
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:51 pm
by Ross Ewington
Hi Mick and welcome to the TPS online forum - a most interesting 'first post'!
1st query - are you certain that the perforation is 14.5?? The 'Federal Period' pictorials were either perforated 11 or 12.4 or a compound thereof (there
is a report of a 12.4 x 11.8 compound perf but that's about "it"). The recess printed 1d Pictorial from 1899 was perf.14 - this stamp appears
to be an electrotype.
2nd query - when compared with another electrotyped 1d Pictorial or ten, would you say that the paper thickness is 1) thinner 2) thicker or 3) about the same??
Re: Unusual 1d Mt Wellington
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:02 pm
by Mick Fettes
Hi Ross. I took the stamp to the Ballarat Stamp Fair today, I ran it past a few people and it was pointed out that it was more likely perfed 14, it still shows 14.5 on my gauge though. The paper seems slightly thinner than usual. Max Watson suggested that it may have been regummed and David Cruikshanks tested it on his watermark detector and there was no watermark visble. A lot of detective work for one stamp in one day! I hope that is of help. Regards Mick
Re: Unusual 1d Mt Wellington
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:59 am
by Malcolm Groom
This stamp has an interesting possibility.
In consultation with Geoff Kellow it may be related to a series of stamps known for Victoria which are singles on no watermark paper perforated 14.25 comb.
These were believed to be prepared by Ronald Harrison, son of TS Harrison the Commonwealth Printer who, in July 1914, took impressions of existing printing plates on no watermark paper and perforated them using the perforating machine acquired to work on the Commonwealth KGV Heads.
Although the gum looks 'odd' and there is a faint resemblance of a crown A sideways watermark (on the actual stamp) it is most likely that this stamp is from the same source. The stamp is certainly electrotyped but has a shade and depth of colour which I cannot relate to any other printings I have which supports the probability it is a pull made by Ronald Harrison among the lines of the known Victorian examples.