Lot 296 Sierra Leone SG#387-397 1c - 1L, 1966 5 Year Independence Overprints on Harrison Floral Definitive Issue and 1956-61 Waterlow Definitives and 1963 Red Cross Issue, a Mostly VFNH Set

A VFNH set of the 1965 five year independence overprints on the 1963 Harrison Floral Definitive Issue, the 1956-61 Waterlow Pictorial Issue and 1963 Red Cross Issue. The definitive issues printed by Harrison and Sons between 1960 and about 1966 show a wide variety of different fluorescent papers under UV light, as well as slight differences in the appearance of the dextrine gum used on the paper. The early printings, mostly made before 1963 are on chalky paper that is DF or NF on the front and either DF, NF, DF-fl or LF-fl on the back. Printings made between 1962 and 1966 are on chalky papers that give a much brighter fluorescent reaction on the front, and varies on the back from NF, DF, DF-fl, LF-fl and MF-fl. The gum used varies from a smooth white dextrine gum with vertical streaks, or a crackly gum. The floral stamps in this lot are on MF/DF paper. The 7c Red Cross design is on LF paper and the 3c and 20c are on DF paper, and both these stamps are De La Rue printings.

Gibbons values these stamps at 7 GBP = approximately $11.9. The stamps offered here grade between 75 and 84.