Lot 224 North Borneo SG#391-402 1c-75c 1961 Waterlow and De La Rue Pictorial Issue, a VFNH Short Set of all Waterlow Printings, Showing Slight Re-Entry on 75c

A mostly VF and all NH partial set of the 1961 Waterlow and De La Rue pictorial issue, from the 1c to 75c. The stamps are all on LF paper and are all Waterlow printings. Waterlow lost its printing contract to De La Rue in late 1961, so where an issue spans the period from 1953 to 1963, most, if not all values can and will exist printed by both printers. Generally speaking, Waterlow printings will have a thicker than normal perforation tooth at the top right, but the bigger difference is that the impression will have tiny whiskers of colour and ink spatter, making the print appear somewhat fuzzy. De La Rue printings will be printed with much cleaner lines, which causes the entire design to appear lighter and softer. The difference is most apparent in the shading of the Queen's portrait. The fluorescence of the papers is another way to distinguish the printings. Waterlow and some De La Rue Printings are on DF paper, whereas stamps on LF and MF papers are almost always De La Rue and come from printings made in the 1960's. The 75c shows a slight doubling of the portrait oval.

Gibbons values this partial set at 34.25 GBP = approximately $58.23. The stamps offered here grade between 70 and 84, with most stamps being at least 75.