Sierra Leone #12/20 (SG#17/22) 1d Rose Red - 1/- Green, Queen Victoria, 1876-1880 Keyplate Issue, Perf. 14, Watermarked Crown CC, Four VF Used Stamps

Four VF used stamps from the 1876-1880 Queen Victoria Keyplate Crown CC issue perf. 14. The 1d and 3d are line perf, while the other two are the later comb perfs.

On these early keyplates and throughout the crown CC period (i.e. before 1880) the centering of De La Rue issues tends to be very poor, much like the Canadian 1859-67 Cents issue. Therefore grading takes this into account, so that fine centered stamps will appear balanced, but may have the perfs touching the design on 2 sides, or just lightly cutting in. VG stamps will be notably off centre, and cutting in to the design quite noticeably. The numeral grid cancels were the predominant cancelling device until CDS's appear in the mid to late 1890's. So those types of cancels do not detract on these issues.

Gibbons lists these stamps in fine for 33 pounds (approx. $66). The stamps offered here grade 78 as follows:

Centering/Margins 44/60

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10 and 8/10

Cancellation: 8/10 and 6/10

Adjustment for light corner crease: -10 points