Pictorial issues printed in Melbourne

[Jeffharris]

By Jeff Harris

I am having difficulty in understanding the system that was used for the Melbourne printings of the Pictorial issues. The method used is referred to as "print and turn". Presumably, this meant that the double sheet was fed into the printing press from one direction and then turned 180 degrees. The sheet was then pulled through the press in the opposite direction - hence the inverted watermarks. But why use this method? If you fed a double sheet into a press that has two plates mounted side by side why is not possible to print the two sheets simultaneously? Another question I have is regarding the 4d. Lithograph printings on Plates 5 and 6. These were single plate [stone] printings, but the stamps were still printed using the print and turn system. Why do you need to print and turn when you only have one plate or stone? Obviously, there must be a sound technical reason for doing this, but I am puzzled by it and would be grateful if someone could explain why it occurred.

[bill]

Let's try to visualise the printer at work. In essence, if your sheet of paper
is just over twice the area of your plate, you simply feed in the paper so
that the half further away from you is printed on, take the paper out, turn
it around 180 degrees and feed the paper in again so that the blank half
receives the printed impression.

Thus, we have a work and turn invert. It is probably not practical to pull a
printed sheet further in so that the first printed impression is as far away
as possible while the second impression is printed. There could be a
mechanical obstacle to stop you pulling the sheet through - so you have
to pull the sheet out and push the other end in after a 180 degree rotation.
This mechanical obstacle would simply ensure that you can only place the
sheet of paper in the areas set aside for holding paper that is about to
receive a printed impression.

Thus, we will get half the stamps with watermark right way up and half
with watermark upside down (or sideways one way versus sideways the
other way). I hope this makes sense.

Bill

[Revenuer]

One would think it would be easier to just pre cut the paper prior to printing rather than chance smudging the wet ink upon turning the sheet and re feeding it into the machine.
Dave.

[Jeffharris]

Jeff Harris

Thank you for your explanation. However, I am still puzzled by the fact that the press had two plates which were mounted horizontally [or vertically] and double sized sheets were fed into the press; hence my question, why not print the two sheets simultaneously?

[Revenuer]

I think the paper size covered 4 panes so two plates [pairs] were done in a single opperation then turned and another pair done. Dave

[Jeffharris]

Thank you for clearing this up. I wrongly assumed that the paper used would cover only two frames as was done with the S.A. Long Stamps. Jeff.

[Jeffharris]

Whoops - my response should have read two panes not two frames. Jeff

[Jerry Weirich]

I would like to expand this topic to include the engraved (recess) pictorials printed in London by De La Rue. I understand the print and turn technique used in Melbourne and believe that technique was not used for the engraved printings. Is it correct to state that the engraved stamps were printed by four plates used simultaneously to print a sheet of four panes of 60 stamps each? In addition, is it possible to tell the position (upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right) of each pane of 60 stamps from the location of the screw marks that appear in the margins/selvedge?

I would appreciate any confirmation or corrections. Thanks, Jerry