
The Printings of the 4d Lilac and Black Queen Victoria Keyplate Stamp of Lagos - Part Six
I will start this post by re-producing the portion of last week's post dealing with printings 32-39 and noting how these printings compare to both the unoverprinted stamps from printings 1-31 and the surcharges.
The colour of this printing is closest to Gibbons's lilac, but is just a bit paler and duller. It has a bluish undertone, so it is not a pale version of the reddish lilac, and it does not have the blackish undertone that the slate lilac has, so I would call this a dull lilac. I have three mint examples as shown above, and two used examples as shown below:
After updating the last post to give effect to the reclassifications, I am left with 52 identified printings, which would seem to suggest that there were some sendings of stamps to Lagos which did not include any 4d's.
Now, the next step is to see if I can assign those surcharged examples which I was not able to assign before to any of printings 32-52. So what I will do is re-produce the section of the post dealing with the surcharged stamps where I had already identified most of them and see if I can identify the rest.
First Printing - Made From A Setting of Two - July 1893
First Surcharge
In my collection, I have a total of 16 stamps displaying this surcharge type. Eleven are mint, and five are used. The scans below show each group of four stamps more closely:
Here is the bottom row of mint examples. Note the similarity of the shades of the first three stamps. The last stamp on the right shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the fifth printing identified in part 1. The first stamp does not quite match any of the shades from printings 32-52, and consequently, I would consider this a separate printing (fifty third printing). The second stamp matches those of the thirty fifth printing, both in terms of shades and plate characteristics. The third stamp matches those of the thirty third printing, again both in terms of shade and plate characteristics.
Printings identified: 5th printing, 33rd printing, 35th printing and 53rd printing.
Here is the second row of mint examples from the bottom left. Again, all stamps but the third, which is badly tropicalized are of similar shade. This stamp, upon close examination matches the characteristics of the first printing identified in part 1. The fourth stamp at the right is the same shade as the 27th printing identified in step 2, although the hair lines above the crown are a little more clearly defined on this stamp. The first two stamps are from the first and second states of the plate, and the shades do not match any of the previously identified printings. Therefore, I would consider these to also be separate printings (fifty four and fifty five)
Printings identified: 1st printing, 27th printing, 54th printing and 55th Printing.
The top row of used examples. The first stamp from the left bears an October 3, 1893 Lagos CDS, which opens up the possibility of this being from either the first or second printings. The second stamp from the left is cancelled with a lovely August 12, 1893 Lagos CDS, which places it squarely in the first printing, in all likelihood, as the earliest known use for this issue was August 2.
The first stamp from the left matches the shade and plate characteristics of the eighteenth printing. The second stamp from the left matches the plate and shade characteristics of the fifth printing identified in part 1. The third and fourth stamps from the left match the shade and plate characteristics of the ninth printing.
Printings identified: 5th, 9th and 18th printing.
The second stamp from the right is a very close match to the shade of the 18th printing that was identified in part 2. The right stamp matches most closely the shade and plate characteristics of the 23rd printing that was identified in step 2. The second stamp matches the other stamp identified as the 55th printing. The first stamp matches the other example of the 53rd printing that was identified above.
Printings identified: 18th printing, 23rd printing, 53rd printing, 55th printing
Printings identified: 1st and 2nd printing.
The pair and the single in the middle are both dated January 1894, which is well within the date range given by Pemberton for this printing. The pair shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the 24th printing that was identified in step 2. The first stamp is printed from the second state of the plate, and is in a much deeper shade that is quite distinct from the other stamps identified so far. So I would consider this to also be a separate printing (57th printing). The second stamp shown here looks very similar to the used copy of the 36th printing identified, though the ink colour is just a little bit deeper, and the printing is just a bit sharper. But I have little doubt that both stamps come from the same printing.
Printings identified: 24th printing, 36th printing and 57th printing.
Here I have 19 regular mint examples of this surcharge, three with doubling of the surcharge, and one with an inverted "V" in place of the "A". The mint examples show a range of shades, which indicates that stamps from several printings made to 1893 were used for the surcharge. I also have six used examples of the regular surcharge, which will be shown below. The number of examples with this surcharge is the largest, which does support the notion that the third printing was indeed, the most common of the six documented.
Here is the first group of mint examples. Note the general misplacement of the letters in relation to the surcharge bars. The more misplaced ones are more likely to be from the third printing, than they are from the fourth printing.
The first stamp on the left matches the ink and plate characteristics of the fifth printing that was identified in part 1. The second stamp from the left most closely matches the tenth printing in terms of shade and plate characteristics. The third stamp from the left shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the ninth printing. The fourth stamp is another early printing, which appears to have been printed from either the first or second state of the plate. The shade is very bluish lilac, quite unlike anything I had already identified. So I would consider this to have come from another printing as well (58th printing).
Printings identified: 5th printing, 9th printing, 10th printing and 58th printing.
Printings identified: 9th printing, 18th printing and 40th printing.
Here is the third group of four mint examples. These are all relatively clean and unbattered, which indicates that they are very likely from this third printing. The first stamp from the left shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the ninth printing identified in part 1. The second stamp from the left is printed from the first or second state of the plate. The shade is similar to many of the other printings, but is rosier than the ones it would otherwise be closest to. Therefore, I would classify it as being from another printing (59th printing). The third stamp matches the other stamps of the 33rd printing in terms of shade and plate characteristics. The last stamp is printed from the first state of the plate and matches the shade of the two blocks from the 56th printing as well.
Printings identified: 9th printing, 33rd printing, 56th printing, 59th printing
Here are the next three mint regular stamps. Here there is a wide range of shades and a considerable amount of slippage in the typeface of the first example on the left.The third stamp on the right is an exact match to the 27th printing, both in terms of the shade, and the fact that it is from the third state of the plate. The first stamp is similar in shade to the 49th printing, but is a little deeper and brighter. Again, I think this is a match to the 49th printing. The second stamp is printed from what appears to be the second state of the plate, and the shade is similar to the 40th printing. However, the 40th printing is not printed from the second state of the plate. So it would appear that this is also printed from a separate printing (60th printing).
Printings identified: 27th printing, 49th printing, and 60th printing.
And the last four of the regular mint examples. The typeface is fairly clean for the first and fourth examples, and quite battered on the second and fourth examples. This would suggest that the first and third examples are likely from the third printing. The fourth stamp on the right matches the shade and plate characteristics of the tenth printing. The second stamp from the left matches the shade and plate characteristics of the 27th printing. The first stamp on the left is printed from the first or second state of the plate, but the shade does not match any of those for the other stamps from this state. Thus, I would consider this to be from a separate printing (61st printing). The third stamp matches the other stamp identified as being the 57th printing above.
Printings identified: 10th printing, 27th printing, 57th printing, and 61st printing.
Here are three examples that all show some degree of doubling of the surcharge. The first two show no doubling of the bars, and only partial doubling of the letters, but the doubling is far enough upward that it is more spectacular than the usual more common kiss prints. The third used example has a distinct second impression of the entire words, as well as very slight doubling of the bars. This used example appears to be cancelled either in October or November 1894.
The third stamp shown on the right shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the fifth printing that was identified in part 1. The first two stamps on the left shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the ninth printing.
Printings identified: 5th and 9th printing.
The third stamp in the top row shares the exact same characteristics as the first printing identified in part 1. The second stamp on the top row shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the ninth printing. The fourth stamp on the top row at the right shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the 18th printing. The first stamp in the top row is a distinctly different shade from the other printings identified so far. So it would appear to have been made from a separate printing (62nd printing).
The second stamp on the second row shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the 23rd printing that was identified in step 2. The first stamp on the second row is a distinctly rosy shade which is different from all the other printings already identified. So this would appear to be from a separate printing.
Printings identified: 1st printing, 9th printing, 18th printing, 23rd printing, 62nd printing and 63rd printing.
The dot inside the P is very clear on all but the last stamp, where it is fainter. However, with a magnifying glass it is clearly visible. The second stamp from the left matches the shade and plate characteristics of the tenth printing identified in part 1. The first, third, fifth and sixth stamps are all the same shade and plate state as the 18th printing identified in part 2. The fourth stamp shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the 27th printing that was identified in step 2.
Printings identified: 10th, 18th and 27th printing.
Here are my two used examples, both of which appear to be cancelled with 8-bar oval obliterators. These are both the same shade, and share the same plate characteristics as the 18th printing that was identified in step 2.
Printings identified: 18th printing.
Now, let's look at surcharge 6. I only have two used examples as shown below:
The stamp on the right is cancelled with an 8-bar oval obliterator, but the left stamp is cancelled with a November 19, 1894 Lagos CDS, which is consistent with this being a later printing.
The first stamp on the left also matches those of the 18th printing. The second stamp on the right matches the 31st printing identified.
Printings identified: 18th printing and 31st printing.
I have one used pair which consists of surcharge 4, followed by surcharge 1 as shown below. Pemberton had originally asserted that this printing was supposed to consist of surcharge 1-surcharge 2-surcharge 4 in a repeating pattern, but that the actual type used was surcharges 4, 5 and 6 in an indeterminate order. However, the existence of this pair would seem consistent with Pemberton's original findings, and would suggest that it is from the fourth printing:
I have eleven mint singles and eight used singles. The scans below, show each of these groups of stamps more closely:
Here are the first four mint examples. The third stamp is badly faded, but note how the shades of this group are generally paler, or duller than the earlier printings. This suggests that these were made from later printings of the 4d.
The first stamp on the left shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the 18th printing identified in step 2. The second stamp on the left shares the same characteristics as the 52nd printing. The fourth stamp is closest to the fifth printing. The third stamp is so badly faded, that it is difficult to assign with any degree of certainty. However, I would assign it to the 38th printing, which is its closest match.
Printings identified: 5th printing, 18th printing, 38th printing and 52nd printing.
Here is the second group of mint examples, with the middle two being kiss prints that show some doubling of the letters. The first stamp on the left matches the shade and plate characteristics of the fourteenth printing identified in part 1. The second stamp matches the shade and plate characteristics of the 26th printing that was identified in step 2. The third stamp matches the shade and plate characteristics of the thirty-third printing. The fourth stamp is a match to the other stamps identified as being from the forty ninth printing.
Printings identified: 14th printing, 26th printing, 33rd printing and 49th printing.
Here are the last three mint stamps, with the middle example showing a clear kiss print also. The first of these matches the shade of the tenth printing exactly, although this stamp shows a little more merging of the hairlines above the jewels of the crown. The third stamp on the right is the same shade, and has a similar degree of plate wear to the 27th printing that was identified in step 2. The middle stamp matches the 29th printing as to shade and plate wear.
Printings identified: 10th printing, 27th printing and 29th printing.
Here are the first four used examples. The first CDS example is cancelled in 1894, but the second one is dated August 1893, which again suggests that this printing may have actually been made concurrently with the others.
The first stamp on the left is the same shade, and exhibits the same degree of plate wear as the 29th printing identified in step 2. The third stamp from the left is very close in shade to the sixth printing identified in part 1, but is just a bit paler. However, the tone is exactly the same and the plate characteristics are consistent. The second and fourth stamps match the characteristics of the 10th printing.
Printings identified: 6th printing, 10th printing and 29th printing.
Here in this group of four used stamps, we have dates ranging from September 1893-December 1893. So again, it is possible that this printing was made quite a bit earlier than I thought. The first stamp on the left shares the same shade and plate characteristics as the first printing that was identified in part 1. The second and fourth stamps are the same shade, and share the same plate characteristics as the 27th printing that was identified in step 2. The third stamp matches the 10th printing in terms of shade and plate characteristics.
Printings identified: 1st printing, 10th printing and 27th printing.
Printing identified: 27th printing.
Here is a nice mint block of 6, from the left side of the sheet, showing incomplete "LF" of "Half" on the lower right stamp. This block matches the 56th printing in terms of shade, but this appears to have been printed from the third state of the plate. So I think this is actually from a separate printing (64th printing)
Printing identified: 64th printing.
Printing identified: 39th printing.
Printing identified: 39th printing.
- Surcharge 8 has a upper bar measuring 16.5 mm, and lower one 17 mm, with the later projecting slightly at each end.
- Surcharge 9 has both bars 16.5 mm, with the upper one jutting slightly to the right.
- Surcharge 10 has the upper bar measuring 17 mm and the lower one being 16.5, with the lower one overlapping slightly at the left, and the upper one overlapping at right.
You can see that there is a second impression located just below the first, and a third impression located above the first.
This stamp also matches the first printing in terms of both shade and plate characteristics.
Printing identified: 1st printing.
Printing identified: 48th printing.
This concludes my identification of all the printings of this stamp. All told, it would seem that I have identified 64 different printings, which is 3 more than the maximum number of printings that should exist. So it is possible that there may be a few printings that are actually sub-types of one another. The next logical step, which will be the subject of next week's post is to arrange the 64 "printings" into groups that represent the approximate chronological order of the printings. It will not be possible to arrange all of these into perfect chronological order, but it is possible to group printings from the same states of the plate together and then use shades and cancellations to further arrange them into groups that can then be placed in an approximate sequence.
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