Can Anyone Identify This GB Watermark?

This is the reverse of SG 420 (KGV 1 1/2d chestnut). The image has been solarised so as to make the watermark more clearly visible. To me, it doesn't seem to be either W111 or W111a as they are depicted in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue. The letters are not elongated enough to be W111, yet the 'R' does not have the shape of the 'R' in W111a.

Opinions anyone?

Enhanced it looks like a Wmk 35 (Scott)

Wow, AnthonyUK, that's brilliant! What did you do to enhance the image?

That's definitely the 'R' from W111, but the 'G' looks more like the 'G' from W111a than the 'G' from W111.

I don't know how to discuss this is Scott terms, unfortunately!

Another thing: it's funny how the two prominent 'R's have different right legs: one has a bend in it while the other is straight!

I mentioned it in the scanning tutorial - You need an image editor that can split your image into CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) as used by commercial printers.
For your example I used the Cyan layer only and enhanced the contrast a bit and also inverted the image in the 2nd pic.
I use Paint Shop Pro v8 which is quite old but I know my way around and it does what I need.
I wouldn't be surprised if it has been given away on a magazine at some point but there are alternatives such as Google Picasa or GIMP which are both free.

Going back to the watermark there is some error in that R possible from a faulty roller?

The icons used in watermarks, ie the make up of the dandy roller,
includes the process of brazing on of the icons around the drum.
The bent leg "R" was just a poor or damaged piece during construction
of the dandy roller.
This explains the mixed crown watermark "the king Edward's crown"
that one piece was inadvertently brazed on the drum during repairs.


stanley gibbons:

Watermarks

Watermarks were remarkably stable. There are very few examples of the inverted and sideways watermarks which occurred so frequently during the 1960's and 1970's. Over recent years however, more and more stamps printed between 1950 and 1952 have been found with missing crowns and without C's or A's in the watermark, due to damage to the dandy rolls used to impress the watermark into the paper. Bits were lost, resulting in a missing 'Imperial Crown' on some stamps. Subsequently these gaps were replaced in error with 'St Edward's' crown bits, providing unusual and expensive varieties. Missing and/or St Edward's Crowns watermarks have been found in all 15 values of the 1952 Seychelles definitives —the only complete set of stamps to be affected! Missing or faulty letters which are much more widespread have however, been recorded on all values from 1c. to $1.20 of the 1951 Dominica definitives and on all four stamps overprinted for the New Constitution. These are well worth checking for in your collection.

Rod you sure are a wealth of information.

I had never heard of a dandy roller. Learned something new today, thanks.

AnthonyUK, thanks for the info. I'm not very knowledgeable about these sorts of subjects and I'm not sure whether I would be able to do this with HP Photo Edit, which is the only image editing software I have.

However, if it turns out that I can do it, I will certainly be doing it in future because the results were just great!

BTW any opinion as to why the 'G' in this watermark is not the thinner, more elongated looking 'G' of W111?

You're welcome LG,
I think I should rather refer it to the "dandy roll"

Here is the best shot I can find of the mesh drum
with icons fixed

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb...Heinecke.htm



Pick the incorrect crown affixed to the mesh
in this wmk

This thread is just dandy.

Well, when you're on a roll...........

OK that's enough. We've reached a low watermark now.

Wow
You Dandy's are certainly on a roll.
you leave A lasting impression for sure.
David -DJD