
The Unwatermarked Queen Victoria First Waterlow Issue of Niger Coast Protectorate Part Four - The 1d Blue
Last week I covered most of the aspects of the 1d blue stamp from this first Waterlow printed series. However, the two aspects that I did not cover were the paper, gum and perforations. Those aspects of this stamp will be the subject of this week's post.
Perforations
According to Gibbons, there are 4 basic perforations:
- 14.5 to 15.
- 13.5 to 14.
- 13.5 to 14 compound with 12-13 and
- 12-13.
- 14.9 x 15 x 15 x 15
- 14.6 x 14.75 x 14.6 x 14.75
- 15
- 15 x 14.6 x 14.8 x 14.6
- 14.6 x 14.5 x 14.7 x 14.5
- 14.5
- 14 x 12;12.6
- 14.2 x 14
- 14.5 x 14.5 x 14.8 x 14.5
- 14;12.3 x 14
- 14.4 x 14.6
- 14.6 x 14.5 x 14.5 x 14.6
- 15 x 14.8
- 15 x 14.6 x 14.5 x 14.6
- 13.9 x 12.4;14 x 14 x 14
- 14.8 x 14.9
- 14.8 x 14.5
- 14
- 14 x 13.9
- 14.7 x 14.7 x 14.7 x 14.6
- 14.5 x 14.5 x 14.5 x 14.75
- 14.5 x 14.7
- 14.9
- 14.6 x 15 x 14.8 x 15.1
- 15 x 14.9
- 14.9 x 14.6
- 14.6 x 14.5
- 14.6 x 14.8
- 14.75 x 14.5
- 14;12.3
- 15 x 15 x 14.7 x 15
- 14.6 x 15
- 15.1
- 15 x 15.1 x 15.1 x 15
- 14.6 x 14.7 x 14.7 x 14.7
- 14 x 13.7;12.4
- 12.1;12.7 x 13.2;12.8;13 x 14 x 13.9;13
- 15 x 13.65 x 15 x 15
- 15 x 14.6 x 14.8 x 14.5
- 14.3 x 14.5 x 14.5 x 14.5
- 15 x 15 x 15 x 15.1
- 14.4 x 14.1;12.1 x 14 x 12.1;14.1
- 14 x 14.1;12.2 x 14;12.2 x 12.2;14
- 12.5 x 14;
- 14 x 14;12.2
- 13.5 x 14;12.8
- 14.9 x 14.9;14.4 x 14.9 x 14.7
- 14.5 to 15 would include 1-6, 9, 11-14, 16-17, 20-29, 31-35, 39-41, 47 above.
- 13.5 to 14 would include 8, 18-19 above.
- 13.5 to 14 compound 12-13 would include 7, 10, 15, 30, 36, 37, 42-46
Paper
In examining these stamps, I have found four different paper types. All four are vertical wove papers. I have yet to find an example of the 1d stamp on horizontal wove paper. The four paper types are shown all together below:
The main difference between these paper types is the opacity, and the fineness of the mesh. The two stamps on the left are relatively translucent, while the paper of the two stamps on the right is opaque.
To appreciate the differences in weave, it is necessary to look at each paper individually, close up. So, to that end, I show each of the above stamps below:
Gum
The gum on this issue shows only slight variation it is generally thin and colourless. However, there is a fair amount of variation in the sheen, with some stamps showing a satin sheen, and others having gum that shows a definite semi-gloss sheen.
This concludes my examination of the 1d blue from this series. Next week I will look at the 2d green.
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