Lot 435 Lagos SG#39 (SC#34) 2/6d Dull Green and Carmine, Queen Victoria, 1887-1902 Bicoloured Crown CA Watermarked Issue, a VFNH Example, 2022 Scott Classic Cat. $27.5 USD for Hinged, Click on Listing to See ALL Pictures

A well centered and very fine NH example of the 2/6d dull green & carmine, 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 28,260 stamps sent to the colony and 18,060 remainders returned to London in 1905 for destruction. Thus, the net quantity issued was 10,200. This was spread out over what I believe to be 20 printings, made between March 1887 and August 1901. Both the head plates and the duty plates show significant shade variations. The duty plate ink exists in both aniline and non-aniline versions. 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.

2022 Scott Classic values a VF-75 mint example at $27.50 USD for hinged, but NH should be worth at least double, or $55.

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-84 as follows:

Margins/centering: 54/70

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10