The De LA Rue Stamps Of New South Wales

Eloquently put Frank !
and I am in complete agreeance.
Well done DLR

Rod,

It is John and 'agreeance' is not a word!


John

Ooops
Sorry John.

Now your turn

Rod,

It even is in the Oxford dictionary: https://www.lexico.com/definition/agreeance

Thanks NSK
we shall offer John a bit of slack
Quote : Now sometimes regarded as nonstandard.

Apparently genesis early 16th century...reflects my age.

Thank you John & Rod for your kind words.

There's plenty still to come

I did think it a modern, lazy version of agreement but I stand corrected. I will however, be pertinacous about the use of agreement in preference.

But back on topic.

Bobby,

do you want further DLR research material? I don't have much but you are welcome to it.


John

Thank you for the kind offer John. Please send me a scan of what you have!

Will post next part later today.

Just a quick note to thank 22crows for pointing out an error in the text.




This should say coarse, of course

Part 6

PERFORATION AND OTHER VARIETIES

There are numerous occurrences of horizontal pairs that are imperforate between the stamps. These are set out in the table below.





The 1d brownish red is listed in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue but not mentioned in Basset Hull or Hutson. The White collection had an example postmarked the 12th January 1871 at Sydney.

The 2d pale blue is not listed by Gibbons but is mentioned in Basset Hull and Hutson. I have not seen an example of this variety.

In the small crown over NSW group, the 1d in dull red perforated 13 is known imperforate vertically (horizontal pair) and the 1/- black perforated 13 is known imperforate horizontally (vertical pair).

Hutson notes that the Royal Collection contains a 2d Prussian blue perforated 13 strip of four with the middle two stamps imperforate between. He also notes a variety of the same stamp imperforate between (vertical pair).

Gibbons notes that the Royal Collection contains a 2d Prussian blue used horizontal pair imperforate vertically. Is this the strip of four that Hutson alludes to? The 2d in pale blue perforated 13 is known with a second impression of the words TWO PENCE behind the Queen's head.

The 9d perforated 11 is known with the surcharge doubled, one in black and one in blue.

Basset Hull mentions the existence of imperforate vertical pairs of the 1/- but perforated 13 on the left or right side only, as well as examples imperforate all round. The latter variety would have to exist in pairs as definitive proof of its existence, but I am not aware of any such variety.

The Hutson collection contained an imperforate vertical pair of the 1/- that was perforated 13 on the left side only. He also notes the Royal Collection has a vertical pair perforated 13 all round but imperforate between and also imperforate at the base where it is described as cut close.

In the large crown over NSW group, the Carrington collection had two of the four known examples of the 1d in orange, perforated 13, which would suggest the earlier salmon shade with the same perforation does not exist. The salmon is unpriced by Gibbons and Hutson stated he had not seen an example.

Hutson had a 1d stamp perforated 12 all round, the top and bottom perforations being faked, with the original 11 gauge from the comb machine being removed.

The 2d Prussian blue is known printed double. An example imperforate on three sides, being the left stamp in a horizontal pair, is also known.

Two stamps, the 1d brick red from plate 2, watermarked single-lined 1 and perforated 13 and the 2d pale blue watermarked small crown, perforated 13, can be found printed on highly surfaced paper.

The 2d printed on the NSW watermarked paper is known imperforate but of course should be collected in pairs.

In the John Bell collection, auctioned by Prestige Philately in May 2013, two items in lot 1118 were highlighted. They are both watermarked large crown.

The first was a block of nine of the 2d perforated 11x12, which must be assumed to be line perforated, otherwise there would've been no reason to mention the block.

The other was a 1/- perforated 10 on the top and sides, but perforated 12 at the bottom. Hutson had an example of the 1/- stamp perforated 12 at the top and right and 10 at the bottom and left, but stated the 12s were faked.

Hutson mentions a 2d bisected on cover dated 28th April 1887. Another cover with a 2d bisect is known from 1877, on an OHMS cover posted from Gunnedah to Cassilis.

The 1884 plate of the 1d developed many plate flaws and scratches towards the end of its life and these are well worth studying.



The 1887 bisect cover, a 1d envelope with a 2d bisected diagonally,
posted from Adaminaby to Sydney


There is a note in the Scott catalogue at the beginning of the New South Wales listings, regarding stamps with perforations clear of the design. This note is absent from the Stanley Gibbons catalogue. It is very relevant to the De La Rue issues.

Due to the narrow spacing of the stamps on each plate, finding examples where the perforations are clear of the design is somewhat difficult. The 6d value is relatively easier to find than the other values, due to the wider spacing of the stamps on the plate.

This situation has given rise to fakery, as can be seen by the two examples below, which have had their perforations trimmed off. Might the 1/- be an example of the variety alluded to in Basset Hull?





In addition to the above varieties, I have seen a 2d watermarked double-lined 5 imperforate at right and bottom, a 6d mauve (watermark unknown) with part side inscription apparently imperforate at right and a 1/- with an 1879 postmark imperforate all round.

I have also seen an imperforate 2d stamp, without watermark, dated 22nd December 1865. There are fragments of the adjoining stamps on the left, bottom, and bottom left.

Part 7

OFFICIAL STAMPS

Stamps overprinted OS (on service) were issued to Government departments in October 1879. The overprint was in black, except on the 1/- where it was in red. The first issue of the 2d, 9d and 10d may also have received the overprint in red.

There is a seven millimetre space between the letters. The 2d and 1/-, both watermarked large crown and perforated 11x12 line are known with a double overprint. There are stamps showing only a slight doubling of the overprint also, this being attributed to chatter, rather than two definite processes.

The 1d perforated 13 and the 2d perforated 13x10 are known with an 8.5mm spacing between the O and S, the O being further to the left. This variety is also known on stamps watermarked large crown. The 1d watermarked large crown and comb perforated 11x12 is known with an 8mm spacing between the O and S, in this case the S being further to the right.

The 1d, 2d and 1/- watermarked small crown, and stamps watermarked large crown and comb perforated 11x12, are known with the O sideways. The 6d is also known with the O having a noticeable flat base. Many stamps watermarked large crown can be found with broken letters.

The 2d watermarked small crown and perforated 13 is known with at least two different fake overprints in red, including one made by Takuma. The 2d and 4d watermarked large crown and comb perforated 11x12 are also known with faked red overprints.

The 1d perforated 12x10 and the 6d perforated 12x11, both watermarked large crown, are listed by Stanley Gibbons but were not recorded by Hutson. I am unaware of the existence of either stamp.

The OS stamps were withdrawn from use at the end of 1894.

The 1d, 2d, 4d, 6d & 1/- OS stamps.

Thank you Bobby De La Rue .

I'm totally enjoying this topic & can't wait for more .

Thanks Aussie Al


Part 8

POSTAL STATIONERY

Postcards with an impression of the 1d De La Rue stamp were made available to the public in October 1875. No written communication in the form of a letter was allowed, although by 1888 this restriction had been done away with. Initially available only in packets of 12, from August 1879 they were available singly. Reply paid cards were introduced in January 1883. In October 1887 a new design was produced, showing a waratah on the left side of the postcard. From January 1880, cards overprinted OS in black were introduced for use by Government Departments.

There are many variations of these postcards, including size and the colour of the card stock used.

Envelopes with the 1d or 2d impression were introduced in January 1870 and September 1881 respectively. Again, there are many variations in the envelope design, including the shape of the flap and the colour of the paper. The 2d envelopes were priced at 2s 3d for a packet of 25 envelopes. From September 1881 the public could have their own envelopes impressed with the 1d or 2d design, subject to certain conditions.

Official envelopes, initially overprinted OS in black, were first issued to Government Departments in August 1880. In May 1885 envelopes were issued with the OS incorporated into the 1d stamp die at the top and bottom of the design in place of the spandrels.

In May 1889 the 6d De La Rue design, with OS incorporated at the top in the same colour, was used for a registered envelope for the Department of Public Instruction.

A newspaper wrapper showing the 1d design was introduced in March 1865. These were printed in sheets of 8 and 3 different types of watermarked paper are known. From the 1st April 1886 they were available for 2s 2d for a packet of 25. From 1st September 1887 they were available for 1s 3d for a packet of fourteen.

Telegram forms incorporating the 6d and 1/- De La Rue designs, for city/suburban and inland messages respectively, came into use in 1894.

Postcards and 1d envelopes showing the De La Rue designs were superseded in July 1888 with the centennial types, with wrappers being superseded later that year. The 2d envelope was superseded in January 1889.


The first postcard type, used in 1879


The second postcard type, used in 1888


Newspaper wrapper cutout


The top of the 6d and 1/- telegram forms




The two sections of the reply paid card


2d envelope, used in 1882

Nice work Bobby De La Rue.
Do you have any information on, or examples of, the first type of 1d postcard that was issued in 1875?