My GB Album Journey - Novice Version :)

I went back to check the KEVII for perf. first two are perf 14 (1/2d & 1d). Here is the 3d - looks 14 perf to me, but I am not always the best with my gauge - even though many on this site have tried to help me :) so far I believe these 3 to be 14 and will be checking the others.

Nora,
Perforation guaging.
you may find it easier to employ a guage that has radiating lines.

You simply move the stamp up and down, until the teeth match the lines perfectly, then read off the major guaging and part thereof.

I hardly ever use "match the dots" guaging.

I have another gauge I'll see if it has that option. The 3d is 14 correct? Just double checking :)

Not that I can see, Nora.
The teeth move progressively right, from the guage teeth.
Make sure you hold the stamp squarely to the guage.

I usually use ancient cardboard gauges. This one isn't helped by the black background. Perhaps try the stamp perfs directly facing the gauge perf markings, rather than over them.

Since British definitive stamps are just over 2 cm wide, a 15-gauge will have 15 perforation tips and a 14-gauge stamp will have 14 perforation tips. Stanley Gibbons used to round the gauge in halves. Perforation 14 is closer to 13.75 than 14 and 15 is closer to 14.75 than 15.

Your example, indeed, is perf. 14. There are other ways to measure. All small definitive stamps from this period have a vertical perforation gauge near to 14. If the horizontal perforations line up with the vertical ones of any stamp, it is 14. If it shifts, it is 15x14.

You may also use your 4d brown and green, 5d or 1s King Edward VII. These are perf. 14. So, if your horizontal perforations line up with the horizontal perforations of any of those three stamps, its gauge is 14 all round. Otherwise, it is 15x14.

I switched to the clear plastic Instanta gauge that Stanley Gibbons makes: much easier to use. Believe Unitrade makes one that's quite similar.

Thanks all - your suggestions and encouragement truly help me learn - I look forward to engaging on here so much. I am going to look into the other type of gauge - and I did what NSK suggested - compared/lined it up to the 1s King Edward VII and indeed it is a 14 perf. Nora.

Ok - Queen Elizabeth II wildings (yikes). these are definitely going to take me a while to figure out. I pulled this 2 1/2p scarlet for practice. So #1 I need to figure out between Type 1 and 2. I am not really sure what I am looking for but based on what I read, I believe this is a type 1...half the width? ok, now on to the watermark - I admit pretty clueless. If I had to guess I would go with 322 (multiple crown). + assuming that I have the least expensive stamp, my novice guess would = 1958-1965 Scott 357.




The back picture with fluid is not so great - but I definitely see Edward's crown (seems like multiple).

Nice start on the country... It took me years before I got my first penny black, and you started with one. :)

Thank you Billsey. Many of the stamps I pulled from gifted stamps (a bit) and a few "off paper" unsorted bulk purchases that are not so high quality but inexpensive - I buy it because I like to sort countries and figure out stamps that I do not recognize (and I like sharing on the site :). there have been a few stamps that I have spent a little more - my rationalization has been that I am saving in other areas since I became work from home almost a year ago :). I hope to leave my stamps to my oldest (13 year old son) who is a Geography Whiz. He actually won National Geographic Geography Bee - State for Texas and was headed to Regionals last year when COVID hit and it was cancelled :(. While he studied the world, I sorted the World. :) Nora.

Nora,

The easiest way to distinguish between the Wilding 2 1/2d types 1 and 2 is the top line of the central cross in the tiara. This is not complete in type 1 and complete in type 2. There are other differences (like where the shoulder of the Qoeen lines up with the wreath), but not so clear. Below the left stamp is type 1, the right is type 2.



Your example is type 2.

I think you are correct that it is the "Multiple Crowns" watermark.
Did you check your stamp for phosphor bars on the front? I think I see two phosphor bars. Type 2, multiple crowns, two bars would be violet 9.5 mm phosphor. This exists on cream paper (5 June 1961) and whiter paper (SG614, 20 September 1964).

Ohhhh. The top line I see it now. Ha. I was looking at the actual cross and was seriously confused. I totally see it now. Very helpful. Now to look up how to detect phosphor bars. Gracias.

Mirta

Send me an email

I may be able to help you with some stamps to fill holes in your collection as I have a ton of GB spares.

Dianne