Lot 288 Sierra Leone SG#257-269 3d on 1/2d - 3/6d on 3d 1963 Second Anniversary of Independence Issue, A Complete Set of the Overprints on Waterlow and De La Rue Printings of the 1956-1961 Issue

A VFNH set of second anniversary of independence overprints on the 1956-1961 Waterlow and De La Rue Pictorial issue. The stamps appear to be a mixture of Waterlow and De La Rue printings. The Waterlow printings are all on DF paper, and include the 1/3d, 7d, 6d, 4d, 3d, 6d, and 11d. The De La Rue printings are on LF paper, and include the 10d, 1/6d, 2/6d, 3/- and 3/6d. 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. In this case, this issue would have been produced from unsold remainders of the 1956-1961 issue, and so could include overprinted examples of either printing.

Gibbons values these stamps at 8.25 GBP = approximately $14. The stamps offered here grade between 75 and 84, with most of the stamps being 75 or above.