Lot 217 Natal #114d,f,g,h 1/2d on 6d Mauve Queen Victoria, 1895 Surcharge on Chalon Head Issue, Four Fine and VF OG Examples, Crown CC Watermark, All Different Varieties of the Surcharge

Four Fine and VF OG Examples of the 1/2d on 6d mauve Queen Victoria from the 1895 Surcharge on Chalon Head Issue, all different varieties of the surcharge.. Includes several of the listed overprint varieties, including "long P and long T", "long A", "long P" and "long P&A".

Gibbons values this at £13.75, but we're estimating at $6. The stamps offered here grade between 65 and 75 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 50/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

It is important to note that like all line engraved issues printed by Perkins Bacon, this issue was generally very poorly centered, due to the very narrow spacing between stamps in the sheets. In addition, the perforations are usually very rough with those described as rough perf, being almost indistinguishable as to specific perforation teeth. Even those stamps described as having clean cut perf, are still very rough compared to the subsequent De La Rue issues. On these, it is still the norm to find perfs that are hard to make out and both short perforations and somewhat rounded corners are the norm, rather than the exception. Generally speaking, VF stamps will be those that appear well balanced, but will generally have perforations touching, or cutting lightly into the design on at least one side, and on as many as 4 sides. Perforatons on VF stamps will be clearly all present, with no or very few pulled perfs, but the perforations will not be of even length. Fine stamps will be those that are noticeably, but not wildly off-center in 1 or 2 directions. Fine stamps may have between 1 and 3 short or pulled perforations. VG examples will be wildly off-centre and may have several pulled perforations.