Nigeria SC#187-187a 1966 Wildlife Definitives, With Various Papers, Gums & Printings, 5 VFNH Singles, Click on Listing to See ALL Pictures, 2017 Scott Cat. $19.5 USD

5 VFNH singles from the 1966 Wildlife Definitives, with various papers, gums & printings. Harrison & Enschede printings. All except the 1970 Enschede printing with white 2d have streaky matte dex gum and HB front, backs are DF, LF-fl, LF & F-fl. The white 2d printing is HB/HF and has colorless PVA gum. 2017 Scott cat. $19.5.

The issues of Nigeria from 1956 to 1968 were, withy a few exceptions, printed by Harrison and Sons in the UK. So, they all share the general characteristics found in the photogravure issues that Harrisons produced for the Commonwealth countries at this time, namely in regards to paper fluorescence and gum. The paper was chalk-surfaced and the gum for this period was a very matte gum Arabic that looks almost like PVA, but isn't. It has horizontal striations, and you can find it on the definitive and commemorative sets of most British colonies from 1960 to about 1966-1967, when Harrisons replaced this gum with a shinier gum Arabic that has a crackly appearance, and more closely matches what we think of when we hear the term "gum Arabic". In terms of fluorescence the chalk coating is highly reactive giving a glow under UV that varies from LF to HB, but is most usually either HF or HB. The backs of the stamps are usually DF until the mid 60's when LF-fl or MF-fl is the standard. The DF backed stamps you can sometimes fid the paper flecked, but not sufficiently to make the paper look anything other than DF on the back.