½d & 2d Litho Pictorials with SPECIMEN overprints

Message

Jerry Weirich · #1 Post by **Jerry Weirich** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:51 am

I would like to do a study of the ½d and 2d lithographed pictorials with Specimen overprint.

The ultimate objective of the study is to determine if studying the ½d litho Specimen (where all the stamps can all be plated) can help with plating the 2d stamps (where most of the stamps from the plates used for the Specimen overprint are not plated). I hope to accomplish this by examining the printing and font irregularities on the ½d Specimen overprint and trying to match those to 2d Specimen overprints. Assuming that the same device and configuration was used to overprint both the ½d and 2d stamps, it might be possible to deduce 2d plate positions. To test this theory, I need to find common flaws on the overprint between the two denominations, then determine if they match by plate position.

On the few stamps that I have examined to date, I’ve seen the Specimen overprint with a broken “S”, doubling on the “C”, a missing top serif on the “N”(two types), and a black spot resembling a period in front of the “S”. These irregularities suggest that we might be able to have some success.

Additional objectives are to determine if the ½d Specimen stamps are only found on stamps from Plate 1 (i.e., I have not seen any examples from Plate 2). Similarly, were only Plate 11 stamps used for the 2d litho with Specimen. I have seen fewer examples of the 2d Specimen, but all that I have been able to plate have been on Plate 11.

As these stamps are relatively expensive, I would like to request assistance by everyone posting scans of your ½d and 2d litho Specimen pictorials. The scans need to be the highest resolution possible (600 dpi tend to work very well). If your examples are from the top or bottom rows, that would be great to know as well because the top and bottom rows of the 1/2d Plate 1 and 2d Plate 11 have been plated and that would give a known control sample to use as part of the study. (You can tell if they are top or bottom row stamps because in addition to the V over Crown watermark, there will also be a horizontal line watermark above (top) or below (bottom) the crown watermark.)

Appreciate the assistance. Thanks, Jerry

Revenuer · #2 Post by **Revenuer** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:59 pm

oops i should know my lithos from my recess

Jerry Weirich · #3 Post by **Jerry Weirich** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 9:52 pm

That's a great flaw on the "P". The second "e" on the 2d is not complete as a nice second flaw. The scans are excellent, exactly what I'm looking for on the lithographed stamps. Unfortunately these stamps are from the the engraved or recess-printed series. The lithographed Specimen is all capitals. I've scanned an example from Plate 1, Position 55 with a broken serif on "N".

: 1-55.jpg (352.02 KiB) Viewed 6405 times

Revenuer · #4 Post by **Revenuer** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:18 am

Jerry I just picked this up in auction. The bottom bar of the 1st E appears week.. Dave

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Revenuer · #5 Post by **Revenuer** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:29 am

This came in yesterdays mail, i presume the damage top left which looks like a scuff but under glass appears not to be so, is well known to collectors of this issue?

Also the green dot above the E of LAKE.

Also the 1st E in SPECIMEN appears curved on the vertical.

: half.jpg (139.74 KiB) Viewed 6160 times

Jerry Weirich · #6 Post by **Jerry Weirich** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:51 am

This stamp is from Plate 1, Position 35. The unusual top left corner is not common to any of the stamps I have from this position. Since you indicated it is not a scuff, maybe it's a paper adherence. I would say that it is not normal.

Thanks very much for posting this example. Jerry

Geoff Dane · #7 Post by **Geoff Dane** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:20 pm

Jerry

an example of the 1/2d for you

: specimen.jpg (159.74 KiB) Viewed 6110 times

Jerry Weirich · #8 Post by **Jerry Weirich** » Tue May 08, 2012 8:24 am

Thanks Geoff. Your stamp is from Plate 1, Position 37 (major variety). This continues the trend that all halfpenny lithographed SPECIMEN stamps are from Plate 1. None have been identified from Plate 2 (yet). Thanks for sharing!

Can anyone provide any example from Plate 2?

Revenuer · #9 Post by **Revenuer** » Wed May 30, 2012 1:04 pm

Butler copies, best i can get!

Both N's appear trimmed at right

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: Screen Shot 2012-05-30 at 12.46.35 PM.png (217.42 KiB) Viewed 6052 times

Jerry Weirich · #10 Post by **Jerry Weirich** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 6:15 am

I agree both examples show missing top right serifs on the N. Unfortunately I can't determine the plate or position of either stamp. However keep them coming! Jerry