Lot 300 Lagos SG#35 (SC#27) 6d Pale Slate Rose Lilac & Plum, 6d Plum & Deep Claret and 6d Pale Slate Lilac & Magenta, Queen Victoria, 1887-1902 Bicoloured Crown CA Watermarked Issue, 31st, 36th, 55th Printing, Three Fine and VF Used Examples

Three fine and very fine used examples of the 6d pale slate rose-lilac & plum, 6d plum & deep claret and 6d pale slate lilac & magenta Queen Victoria De La Rue Keyplate stamp from the 1887-1902 bicoloured Crown CA watermarked issue. According to J.F Ince in his definitive work, there were a total of 86,340 stamps sent to the colony and 23,400 remainders returned to London in 1905 for destruction. Thus, the net quantity issued was 62,940. This was spread out over what I believe to be 59 printings, made between March 1887 and October 1902. Although there is some variation in the head plate colour, most of the variation is in the ink used for the duty plate, which shows an astonishing amount of variation, from claret to aniline crimson. 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. The very last printings made in October 1902 are from the new plate 2, and show full detail in the Queen's hair and crown. These stamps come from the 31st, 36th and 55th printings respectively.

Stanley Gibbons values three VF-75 used examples at 9 pounds = $18, However, these cancels are all better than average and a more realistic value for these is $25.

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

The stamps offered here grade between F-70 and VF-80 as follows:

Margins/centering: 30/60 and 40/60

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

Cancellations: 10/10