1d vermilion of 1873 and 2d yellow-green of 1875
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:01 pm
We revisit the Sideface issues printed on the wide TAS paper from the era 1871-1878.
This is based on Chapter 8 of the Basset Hull book on that topic.
We quote from this Chapter as follows.
"In May, 1871, the new "TAS" paper was used for printing a fresh supply of the One Penny; and in June,
1872, it was also appropriated for the Two Pence, from which date something like uniformity began to
reign. The stamps in current use at the commencement of 1873 were as follows: One Penny, rose Two
Pence, green; Three Pence, brown-violet; Nine Pence, blue; and Five Shillings, mauve on the "TAS" paper;
Ten Pence, black, on that watermarked 10; and Six Pence, red-lilac, and One Shilling vermilion (from the
1857 plates), on the old Perkins Bacon paper, with large double-lined figures of value as watermarks.
"This arrangement remained undisturbed until 1878, with only the addition of the Four Pence value in 1876;
but considerable variation in the shades of colour is to be met with the most notable differences are in the
One Penny, which, though varying in a more or less marked manner in each of the thirteen printings, shows
quite a distinct colour in the printing of April, 1873, at which time it was printed in a bright vermilion, and
in a rather superior manner. The Two Pence appeared in varying greens, also differing slightly with each
printing, and in December, 1875, it was printed in a decidedly yellow-green shade."
In the case of the 1d vermilion of April 1873 (quite a scarce shade), is it possible that this variant arose
from a single day's work? The size of the April 1873 printing was 4 books, each of 500 sheets each. One
could not seriously hope to print 2,000 sheets of this shade in a single day. What could have happened is
that the ink was mixed afresh for each day of work until the required number of sheets were printed. On
one particular day, the ink was evidently mixed in a different manner from the normal and the vermilion
shade was the result, not to be repeated for many years.
It is suggested that a large part of the April 1873 printing was really of a more common shade with some
sheets being in vermilion from a single day's work or part thereof.
The 2d yellow-green stamp is not as scarce as the 1d vermilion. Again, is it possible that not all the sheets
from the December 1875 printing were in yellow-green? The observed proportion of yellow-green stamps
seems to be well under 1 in 20 if Basset Hull's quantities are anything to go by.
Comments from other folks are sought.
Bill
This is based on Chapter 8 of the Basset Hull book on that topic.
We quote from this Chapter as follows.
"In May, 1871, the new "TAS" paper was used for printing a fresh supply of the One Penny; and in June,
1872, it was also appropriated for the Two Pence, from which date something like uniformity began to
reign. The stamps in current use at the commencement of 1873 were as follows: One Penny, rose Two
Pence, green; Three Pence, brown-violet; Nine Pence, blue; and Five Shillings, mauve on the "TAS" paper;
Ten Pence, black, on that watermarked 10; and Six Pence, red-lilac, and One Shilling vermilion (from the
1857 plates), on the old Perkins Bacon paper, with large double-lined figures of value as watermarks.
"This arrangement remained undisturbed until 1878, with only the addition of the Four Pence value in 1876;
but considerable variation in the shades of colour is to be met with the most notable differences are in the
One Penny, which, though varying in a more or less marked manner in each of the thirteen printings, shows
quite a distinct colour in the printing of April, 1873, at which time it was printed in a bright vermilion, and
in a rather superior manner. The Two Pence appeared in varying greens, also differing slightly with each
printing, and in December, 1875, it was printed in a decidedly yellow-green shade."
In the case of the 1d vermilion of April 1873 (quite a scarce shade), is it possible that this variant arose
from a single day's work? The size of the April 1873 printing was 4 books, each of 500 sheets each. One
could not seriously hope to print 2,000 sheets of this shade in a single day. What could have happened is
that the ink was mixed afresh for each day of work until the required number of sheets were printed. On
one particular day, the ink was evidently mixed in a different manner from the normal and the vermilion
shade was the result, not to be repeated for many years.
It is suggested that a large part of the April 1873 printing was really of a more common shade with some
sheets being in vermilion from a single day's work or part thereof.
The 2d yellow-green stamp is not as scarce as the 1d vermilion. Again, is it possible that not all the sheets
from the December 1875 printing were in yellow-green? The observed proportion of yellow-green stamps
seems to be well under 1 in 20 if Basset Hull's quantities are anything to go by.
Comments from other folks are sought.
Bill