Nigeria #54var (SG#50) 1d Pale Carmine Red King George VI, 1938-1952 King George VI Definitive Issue, A VFNH Single, Line Perf 12, 1938 Printing

A VFNH single of the 1d pale carmine red King George VI from the 1938-1952 King George VI Definitive Issue line perf 12. There were at least 5 or 6 shades of the 1938 printing, two of which are extremely scarce: the dark carmine and the carmine vermilion. The other carmine shades are as scarce as most 1938 printings are of any value in the set. But, these two shades are of comparable scarcity to the 1.5d dark Carmine Gambia stamp, or the very first printing of the Barbados 1d.

2022 Scott Classic does not list the individual printings of this set, nor any varieties. Also, it does not list a separate NH premium for each stamp, but a 100% premium can generally be inferred. Our values are generally estimates that are based on the Scott or Gibbons values, adjusted for scarcity of individual varieties, condition and NH status. Based on this, our estimate of the value is $20. The stamp offered here grades 80 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 50/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

The 1938 printings are MUCH scarcer in mint condition than the catalogue prices reflect. Generally, if you take any KGVI set from the Commonwealth, any low value that lists for more than $5 is generally a 1938 printing. The only reason why the catalogues do not list them for most values, is due to the fact that you need experience to identify them, whereas the ones that are listed, are generally for values that only occur in that printing. They are more or less all of equal scarcity, and consequently they are really worth between $8 and $20 for most stamps. The one colony where you can see this very clearly is Gold Coast, where all of the values can be identified by the fact that the 1938 printings are all line perf. 12, whereas the perforation was immediately changed to comb 11.5 for all subsequent printings. In that case they all catalogue at least $8.25 each, up to $16 or so. So, this provides some support for my claim. Also, most of the 1938 printings exist with two or more distinct shades. Where this is listed in Gibbons is on Falkland Islands and Gambia, where the 1d and 1.5d values are listed in up to 3 shades, ranging from vermilion to dark carmine. Gibbons used to recognize the same variation for the 1d of Bermuda, but dropped it several years ago, as many believed they were colour changelings due to moisture. But this is a visual hobby if nothing else, so we have differentiated all variations of shades on these printings. 1938 printings can generally be identified by the gum, which has cracks that run vertically from top to bottom, rather than diagonally, or the gum is patchy and smooth.