Lot 311 Lagos SG#38a (SC#32a) 1/- Dull Blue Green & Black, Queen Victoria, 1887-1902 Bicoloured Crown CA Watermarked Issue, a VF Used Example of the 27th Printing, SON November 6, 1900 Lagos CDS, 2022 Scott Classic Cat. $29 USD

A very well centered and very fine SON used example of the 1/- dull blue green & black, Queen Victoria De La Rue Keyplate stamp from the 1887-1902 bicoloured Crown CA watermarked issue, tied to small piece by two strikes of Proud type D11 Lagos CDS dated November 6, 1900. According to J.F Ince in his definitive work, there were a total of 86,460 stamps sent to the colony and 26,220 remainders returned to London in 1905 for destruction. Thus, the net quantity issued was 60,240. This was spread out over what I believe to be 34 printings, made between March 1887 and October 1902. All the variation is with the head plate, which starts off printed in shades of deep yellowish green, and then the shades progress to blue green, before reverting back to the deep yellowish green in the plate 2 printings made right at the end of this issue's life. Like most values of this set, the progression of the printings can be identified by the degree of plate wear which first shows up in the detail of the Queen's hair and the diadem, as I explain in my blog posts. This stamp comes from the 27th printing.

Stanley Gibbons values a VF-75 used example at 35 pounds = $70. These high value stamps with the green head plates are VERY elusive in postally used condition, with original colour because they were printed in doubly fugitive inks that run and fade with exposure to water.

I have written two blog posts which outline the differences between the printings. You can access the first one here.

The stamp offered here grades VF-79 as follows:

Margins/centering: 44/60

Paper freshness: 3/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

Cancellation: 5/10