My Australian Oddities

As promised, I will be posting some items that I can't initially identify in the ACSC catalog, but they are probably in there somewhere. Enjoy.

First item is Scott 60, ACSC 65, the 1/2d King George, Large Multiple Watermark (upright). There are some issues with the area behind the emu's neck that look closest to 65(6)h, which is known as the "Neckless emu (retouched)." My guess is that mine is the Neckless emu, before retouching, but I can't find that in ACSC. Any ideas?

I've seen the retouch but not this one, I can't see it in the new ACSC, interesting though. I'll look through a few more books, if everything else fails I'l head for the State library.

Rob

Hi Rob,
what about 63,65(4)d ? (Electro 4)

Looks like an extension of that.
Good Luck.

I think the 65(4)d is a little low on the Emu's back. Good luck, Rob, and thanks.

Here's another one. An unfortunate white spot and a bit of ink turned "Halfpence" into "Halepence". I'm not saying this is a variety, but it certainly is an oddity. Single Watermark 1 1/2p Black Brown. ACSC 83, Scott 24, Watermark 9.

Looks like Red-Brown to me.

My scanner's interpretation.
Your scan, then Black-brown, Red-Brown and Chocolate.

Hi Rod

I saw the illustration in the ACSC and I have to agree with Partime that it is a little too low on the emu's back. It seems I will be taking a little trip to the State library, hopefully I may find something on it.

There are many varieties relating to the KGV heads and not all are listed by the ACSC, because of the abundance of such a variety, but it is always interesting to have varieties and hoping for that special one to appear.

Rob

Rob,

Yes, probably red-brown. (Late at night, poor lighting, too many glasses of wine.)

For those without copies of the ACSC, here is my copy, then a page from the ACSC manual.





Both have a small white area at the edge of the vignette. Both have a much larger, vertical white area at the back of the emu's neck. The entire neck of the emu is also covered by a large, black splotch normally not seen on a normal stamp.

Here's one more. The 3d version with C of A Watermark, so it must be ACSC 109 (Scott 117). However, there is the prominent break under the "P" in Pence that is unlisted.

It does seem that illustration 63,65,66(6)h is very similar with the stamp you have.

This is great, keep up the good work guys!

I have a collection of KGV mostly used and mostly simple, but I might have to revisit them with a magnifying glass.

Cheers

Absolutely take the time to examine them more closely. Some of the plate varieties, though, are so subtle that you have to look at it for several minutes to spot them. And some are just simple dots or specks where they shouldn't be any. Clearly of some value to the Australian specialist, but many collectors wouldn't even look twice.

As I have a large amount of duplicate Roos and KGVs, I'll be posting some notes over the next few weeks on how to get them from me for a very low price (probably free). They will be used copies only. Keep searching!

OOOOH

Very interested as I have minimal Roo's and a few gaps in my KGV collection, especially the large multi WMK set!
please keep me in mind Partime and thanks for your words of encouragement.

Cheers

Another one, Scott 116 (ACSC 103). Here, there seems to be something wrong with the Emu's leg. There is a version known as a "thick rear leg", but that is not what I have here. I first show the entire stamp:



Then the area of interest showing a break in the Emu's leg, but notice that the horizontal lines still continue in the area of interest:



In a normal example, the area is completely covered with ink:



I just don't see how this could occur.

A bit of some foreign material on the plate?

That is a possibility, but it would have to lay perfectly to let a horizontal line come through just right. An oddity, but nothing special. Thanks for looking.