British Colony Sheet Numbers

Hi all, just wondering the value implication of sheet numbers as opposed to plate numbers for these 1937 Coronation stamps of Hong Kong.

Aren't these control numbers rather than plate numbers? Plate numbers tend to overall remain similar, but control numbers which are used for stamp inventory purposes like keeping track of the number of sheets printed can differ from each other much more. I think that plate numbers may be more valuable as they are like a constant (plate) variety whereas sheet numbers are more like non-constant ones. However, this can vary from country to country so that an expert on this issue would know better.

Correct - these are not plate numbers. I heard they were called sheet numbers but maybe control number is more accurate. Can any experts out here tell me if there is any particular value for stamps with this kind of number? Thanks

They are Sheet numbers for the issue of the paper to the printers. They are extremely popular with specialists but the value depends on the demand. In the case of the Hong Kong issue the demand is high but in some of the other colonies there is little demand. Impossible to put a price on them but most probably in the range of $10 to $30 each, as a set most probably more,

Pagoda

So the sheet numbers went on before printing the stamps to account for the sheets after printing? Thanks

Leif,

yes,

it was an accounting method to keep track of the supply of paper from the papermakers to the printers,

Pagoda

Thank you very much!