Lot 264 Bahamas (C) #155c 1/- Grey Black & Bright Crimson King George VI, 1938-1952 King George VI Definitive Issue, A VFNH Single The 1944 Printing On Ordinary Paper

A VFNH single of the 1/- grey black & bright crimson King George VI from the 1938-1952 King George VI Defiitive Issue the 1944 printing on ordinary paper. This set was printed by both De La Rue, Bradbury Wilkinson and Waterlow. De La Rue printed the keyplate designs, while Waterlow printed the engraved low value designs, and Bradbury printed the 2/- and 3/- values. The initial 1938 De La Rue Printings can be identified by the plate-glazed paper, that appears completely smooth under magnification. The gum on these printings is usually yellowish and has a somewhat random crazing pattern. This crazing pattern is also common to all 1938 Waterlow printings, which can also be identified by the opaque paper. The initial Bradbury printings show the centres in a slate purple colour. Subsequent printings have this in what Gibbons calls brownish black, but in reality is a brownish grey that lacks the violet tone. The clarity of the watermark can be a guide to identifying the 1944 versus the 1942 printings, with the later having a less clear watermark.

Stanley Gibbons 2019 values this at GBP20. Our estimate of the value, in the condition offered is $20. The stamp offered here grades 84 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 54/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10