Lot 41 Niger Coast Protectorate SC#57 (SG#68c) 2d Lake 1898-1900 Watermarked Waterlow Issue, Perf. 12.2 x 14.1, The Scarce Compound Perf, Medium Vertical Wove Paper, A Fine Used Example, Estimated Value $30 USD

A fine used example of the 2d lake from the 1898-1900 Watermarked Waterlow Issue on medium vertical wove paper, perf. 12.2 x 14.1. Indistinct CDS cancel. Gibbons lists this scarce perf. (13.5-14 comp 12-13) at 35 GBP for a used single. Our estimate of the value based on the condition is $30.

There are several points of interest to collecting the 1893-1900 Waterlow Queen Victoria issues, and only one of these is covered in Gibbons, and none are dealt with in Scott. First and foremost are the perforations. These vary considerably from 12 to 16 and are found in many compounds. On some of the compounds the one side is one measurement, while the other side corresponds to the second measurement, as is the case with most other issues. However, there exist also many compex compound perfoations, in which the gauge changes part way along one or more sides. In our listings we would refer to these by giving the basic measurements and adding the word "comp", with a third measurement, indicating the measurement that is found part way along some sides of the stamp. Gibbons lists the perforations on these issues in ranges that cover half a perf. So, for example 14.5-15 is one perf, while 13.5-14 is another. We have measured the perforations precisely and quoted them to the nearest .05 of a perf. It should be noted that Gibbons are only approximate, and other measurements that don't quite fit any of their listings are frequently found. So, for example 14.3 x 14 would correspond most closely with 13.5-14. Another aspect is the paper, which can be either horizontal or vertical wove, and within this distinction can be translucent, with the design and mesh clearly visible, or slightly thicker and more opaque. Thirdly, there are several shades of each value that can be found, despite the relatively low number of printings. Finally, many re-entries can be found on the 1893 issue and fewer on the 1894 and 1898-1900 issues. Then of course there are the cancels, which are generally either CDS or squared circles, which although usually black, can be found in red, violet and blue. There are at least a dozen villages that can be collected and three time codes, A, B or C for each CDS type.