New Zealand: 1855 to 1872

Robert P. Odenweller, RDP, Hon. FRPSL, FRPSNZ

22 May 2008

The London Prints, all canceled with the #2 of Russell

This display covers the full range of the "Chalon Heads" from 1855 to the final issues of 1872. In concept, the display shows one unused and two used of each shade listed in the highly specialised catalogue of Campbell Paterson. Practically speaking, some of the earlier shades are represented by only a single example.

Frame 1 shows the origin of the design, including an "uncleared die" of the 1d, which has portions of the engine turning within the words "New Zealand." Also of note are two unique specimen banknotes, one with the oval and the other with the circular die of the Chalon Head. A page showing stamps from countries that previously had used the elements of the New Zealand design is followed by three examples of early covers with crowned circles.

Frame 2 opens with the unique set of London Prints canceled with the Perkins, Bacon #2 of Russell, (shown above) of which only six copies of the 1/- were used at Russell in two years, this being the only survivor. These are followed by the London Prints and the Blue Paper prints, featuring unused examples of all but the SG 1. It shows covers and varieties, including the bisected shilling. The white paper issues are shown through the 2d.X-ray fluorescence studies of the Richardson prints and a possible tool to use on the Dwarf and SG 3b 1d prints.

Frame 3 continues with the 6d in all shades and some covers, and the experimental separations that started with that issue. A unique cover with a strip of pre-cut 6d pays the postage and registry. On the page with the early separation varieties is a unique pair of the 1d rouletted 7 with no roulettes between, ex Marcel Stanley. The 1862 Davies prints through the 2d follow.

Frame 4 continues with the 3d Davies prints finishing with the perf 13 issues and a selection of the experimental separations. Note the range of shades and progression of plate wear of the 2d.

Frame 5 opens with the Pelure Paper issues, with unused of each denomination as well as of the 1/- perf 13, continuing with the Davies 2d provisional printing on white unwatermarked paper, and finishes with coverage of the NZ watermarked paper issues, other than perf 12½.

Frame 6 gives a full range of the NZ watermarked paper issues with perf 12½ and includes a copy of the elusive 1/-. It then shows the only known examples (a strip of four of the 1d and a single of the 6d) of the experimental first use of the perforation on earlier printings. The shades of the first 1d stamps as printed for and perforated on the government perf 12½ machine finish the frame.

Frame 7 continues with the 1d and the now very worn 2d plate. Examples of intermediate plate wear, whick happened before the NZ watermark issue were printed, show that some of the 1862 printings were experimentally perforated 12½ before the perforation was put to general use. The final pages introduce the damaged portion of Plate II.

Frame 8 shows the damaged and retouched portion of the 2d Plate II. The original reconstructions, particularly that of the damaged portion before retouch, have been a work in progress for over 45 years. The pre-retouch plate requires careful detective work to imagine how weaknesses become damage that matches specific plate positions. The selection that follows shows progressive damage and retouch.

Frame 9 continues with some 2d covers and proceeds through the 3d and 4d rose. Of interest are the examples of the "accidentally" imperforate 3d, as pairs and on covers, as well as distinctive large singles with common cancel- lations, showing that sheets were allocated without perforations to certain locations. A cover to a whaler in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, bears a strip of six of the 2d, the only example of such stamps paying that unusual rate.

Frame 10 starts with a 4d rose combination cover via Marseilles. The 4d yellow shades that follow contain a number of interesting varieties, most notably the orange-yellow and its close cousin the ochre-yellow, both of which fluoresce a dark brown, unlike the other yellow shades. The frame concludes with the unused examples of the 1/-.

Frame 11 continues with the used 1/-, and introduces the changed colour issues, starting with the 1d perf. 10. Next are the three denominations of the perf. 10 x 12½, including a previously unlisted copy of the 6d perf 12½ x 10. A number of other varieties, many ex Marcel Stanley, are also part of this group. Then comes the 1d of the perf. 12½ of the changed colour with large star watermark.

Frame 12 finishes the sequence of printings, but is by no means the least of those shown. Starting with the changed colour 2d, watermarked large star, it is accompanied by a reconstruction of the final state of the 2d Plate II retouched plate, with a full mint strip of 12 of the unwatermarked 2d as part of the reconstruction. The unwatermarked varieties include four copies of the 2d with script watermark and the 4d yellow, with watermark TH Saunders. These are followed by the NZ watermarked 1d and 2d, with two used examples of the former (and no unused are known), and two pairs of the 2d, with retouching on each stamp of the pairs. The final issue of 1872 was the 2d watermarked lozenges and "Invicta" and shows a unique example of watermark between the two patterns of lozenges, showing parts of both, from Row 17, No. 12. A horizontal overlap such as this is known, but there is no recorded example of a vertical overlap between the watermark patterns. The final page shows the official reprints of 1884, as an illustration of the wear and colour that identifies them from earlier printings.

2d Plate II

Remarks in the paper will include:

• The previously unknown final allocation of London
• Prints and conditions that led to their early use.
• The actual date of printing of the change from blue to white paper Richardson prints.
• New information about the bisected shilling use.
• X-ray fluorescence studies of the Richardson prints and a possible tool to use on the Dwarf and SG 3b 1d prints.
• An examination of the damaged and retouched portion of the 2d Plate II (see right).