Lot 40 Australia - Victoria (C) SG#357avar 1d Bright Rosine Queen Victoria, 1899-1901 Stamp Duty Issue, A Fine Used Single Wmk V Over Round Jeweled Crown, No Visible Mesh & Nearly Invisible Wmk, Unlisted, Feb 21, 1901 Geelong Cancel

A fine used single of the 1d bright rosine Queen Victoria from the 1899-1901 Stamp Duty Issue wmk V over round jeweled crown, no visible mesh & nearly invisible wmk, unlisted, feb 21, 1901 geelong cancel. Normally this watermark is readily visible in fluid and the paper usually shows clear, coarse mesh even without any backlighting or watermark fluid. This example shows no visible mesh unless held up to a strong backlight, when very fine mesh can be seen. The watermark is only visible when the stamp is held at a slight angle to a good light source. The watermark completely disappears in fluis. An interesting paper variety that we do not recall ever having seen before.

Stanley Gibbons 2019 does not list this. Our estimate of the value, in the condition offered is $5. The stamp offered here grades 68 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 30/60

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

Cancellation: 8/10