Lot 258 St. Christopher Nevis SG#106a-116 1/2c Olive - 60c Deep Green & Brownish Orange, 1954-1963 Waterlow Pictorial Issue, A Mostly VFNH Short Set, Including De La Rue Printings

A mostly VFNH short set of the 1954-1963 Waterlow pictorial issue, from the 1/2c to 60c. The stamps are mostly on DF paper, and are primarily Waterlow printings. However, on this paper there is a 2c De La Rue Printing and the 5c, 12c, 24c and 60c appear to be De La Rue. On NF paper there are 1c and 6c De La Rue printings, and there is a 3c in the deep violet shade on MF paper, which is a De La Rue printing. 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.

Gibbons values these stamps at 25.45 GBP = approximately $43.25. The stamps offered here grade between 70 and 80, with most being 75 or above.