Lot 286 Sierra Leone SG#220-222 5/- Green & Black - One Pound Orange & Black, 1956-1961 Waterlow, and De La Rue Pictorial Issue, Fine NH and VFNH Examples

Generally fine NH and VFNH examples of the 5/-, 10/- and one pound from the 1956-1961 Waterlow and De La Rue Pictorial issue. The stamps are all on DF paper, with the 5/- and 10/- being Waterlow printings and the one pound being 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. The 5/- has a small corner crease at lower left, and so we have not counted it in the valuation.

Gibbons values the 10/- and one pound at 30 GBP = approximately $51. The stamps offered here grade 75 and 80 (the 10/- and pound).