World Classic Doppelgängers

Great stamps, one of my favourite.
Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Just_fella!

Yet another...

Ireland, 1923 5d deep violet, and 1940 5d deep violet; which is the "evil twin"(?)...

It appears that no one is going to "stick their neck out" on this pair. Don't be shy. C'mon, wha'd'ya have to lose?

Right side looks to have a yellwish hue (could be my screen)
The hand and hilt have less clear detail.

Well, what's your verdict?

Had to double check, guessing right is the evil twin
Arguing with my self I have both copies unlabeled
The right looks like what I would expect from then,
The left looks office quality
But seeing I'm not 100% coin toss took right :)

Calling one of them an "evil twin" fails to communicate anything to collectors unfamiliar with Irish stamps.

Are we trying to identify what year each stamp was printed?
23's on the right, 40 on the left?

I was under the impression the only reliable way to tell these two definitive Ireland releases apart was by watermark, which cannot be seen in your photos. I am open to being corrected but I worked on an Ireland collection a few years back and recall the majority of my time was spent staring either at watermarks or at very minute overprint details for the earlier overprinted GB issues.

I wasn't stating anything as fact, was just guessing.

The one on the right is the doppelgänger, the "evil twin". It is of the second printing, and its colour is more like a deep ultramarine, more blue than red.

I once read, many years ago, that the first native issues of Ireland, 1922-23, were printed in secret, and in the basement of Dublin Castle.

Before I had scanned the "good 'un", of 1923, I converted it, to effect a fresher, newer appearance, and for its presentation...

I finally got round to doing that, and to save it from a fate worse than <insert here>.

Yes, the watermarks...

Ireland, 1922-23, 1/2d to 1/-...

Those of the first printing is the set to have, and to behold.

Nice!

From the perspective of the issuing entity, the change in the watermark - due to Ireland becoming a Republic (not officially recognised for another 9 years) instead of a Free State - does not constitute a new stamp. For us philatelists, it does.

This series also has a 6d issued on chalk-surfaced paper, and the 3d and 5d stamps printed in photogravure. The 5d printed in photogravure has two types.

A full history: http://goscf.com/t/78697

Almost all Irish permanent issues have doppelgängers. The birds even have several.

UK permanent issues since 1902 are also a good source.
And how about the UK's pre-decimal to pay labels?
Dutch permanent series are another source. Take the current set of three stamps in use since 2013. Each exists in 10 versions.

Thank you NSK.

Gold Coast, 1876-85, 4d deep mauve, and magenta...


Which is the doppelgänger of the other?