Lot 309 Lagos SG#38 (SC#32) 1/- Deep Dull Green & Black, Queen Victoria, 1887-1902 Bicoloured Crown CA Watermarked Issue, a VFNH Right Sheet Margin Example, 2022 Scott Classic Cat. $6.50 for hinged, Click on Listing to See ALL Pictures

A well centered and very fine NH example of the 1/- dull green & black, Queen Victoria De La Rue Keyplate stamp from the 1887-1902 bicoloured Crown CA watermarked issue. According to J.F Ince in his definitive work, there were a total of 86,460 stamps sent to the colony and 26,220 remainders returned to London in 1905 for destruction. Thus, the net quantity issued was 60,240. This was spread out over what I believe to be 34 printings, made between March 1887 and October 1902. All the variation is with the head plate, which starts off printed in shades of deep yellowish green, and then the shades progress to blue green, before reverting back to the deep yellowish green in the plate 2 printings made right at the end of this issue's life. Like most values of this set, the progression of the printings can be identified by the degree of plate wear which first shows up in the detail of the Queen's hair and the diadem, as I explain in my blog posts. This is a plate 1 printing, as is evident from the blurring of the details in the hair.

2022 Scott Classic values a VF-75 mint example at $6.50 USD for hinged, so NH should be worth at least double.

I have written two blog posts which outline the differences between the printings. You can access the first one here.

The stamp offered here grades VF-78 as follows:

Margins/centering: 50/70

Paper freshness: 3/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10