Morocco Agencies British Currency #234 (SG#61b) 1/- Bistre Brown, 1924-1934 King George V Heads, Watermarked Block Cypher, a Fine Mint OG Example of the Type 8 Overprint

A scarce and fine mint OG example of the type 8 overprint on the 1/- bistre brown from the 1924-1934 Block Cypher King George V Issue of Great Britain, which has been overprinted for use in Morocco. This is the overprint that has the horizontal ends to the "s" in "Agencies".

This issue in Great Britain is listed with many, many shades in Gibbons, due in large part to the interruptions in supplies of ink that occurred during WW1, as most of the dyes were originally sourced from Germany, and substitutions had to be made during the war. The result was an issue that is one of the best for the lover of shades. Of course, all the GB offices that used the basic issue with surcharges and overprints will exist with the same range of shades as the basic stamps, and for some of these there should very likely be a premium, as some of the shades are scarcer than others. Even after the war, and into the Block Cypher issue the shades persist.

Gibbons lists this stamp at 55 pounds (approx. $110) for fine mint. In this condition, it should be worth about $60. The stamp offered here grades 65 as follows:

Centering/Margins 35/70

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10