Help With A Victoria Stamp

Hello all, I am brand new to this forum and very glad to have found it. I have a fairly old collection of world stamps that I was given by my father, and have one stamp that has puzzled me so far. I imagine that there will be more! Ok, it is a Three Halfpence stamp from Victoria, and all that I have been able to determine is that it was probably printed around 1900 or so. Any assistance with a Scott catalog number or any other information would be appreciated.

It looks like Scott #182 from Victoria (now a State in Australia).

- stamporator -

1886 red on yellow paper

Can't be the 1886, because it isn't inscribed STAMP DUTY. It must be from the 1901-10 printings: if perf 12x12½, SG 386-386ba, cat. £2.75 to £11; if perf 11, SG 403 cat. £140; if perf compound or mixed perfs 12x12½ or 12½ and 11, SG 411 cat. £1300.

Good luck with the perforation gauge!

Can't be the 1886, because it isn't inscribed STAMP DUTY.


...except for the ones that weren't. S.G# 333 and S.G.#355 have no inscription. Later issues would have "POSTAGE" added.

I'd say it's an 1886 S.G.355 and worth about four UK pounds.

It is interesting to see all the detailed information from the Stanley Gibbons (SG) catalogue on the stamp.

I have never compared the information between SG and Scott, I know that their number assignments are different, and that for the Commonwealth countries the SG is more detailed. But I would have though that their information on the general release of stamps would be the same, if not very similar.

In regards to this design, Scott does not list a 1.5 pence issue for 1886-7 issue.(only 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 1 shilling). The only design like this is that issue is the 0.5 pence with the 'stamp duty' added (all perf. 12.5).

In 1899, the 0.5 pence in issued again with the 'stamp duty' design, and the first issuance of this exact design as 1.5 pence in red on yellow paper (no perfs provided) assigned Scott #182.

In 1901, a similar design with 1.5 pence denomination is issued in red, on yellow paper, with Perf. 11, 12.5 and compound and assigned Scott 195.

So, in conclusion, my concern is that 'Scotzm' references an 1886 issue that the Scott catalogue does not even mention!

Is this normal, and be expected?

- stamporator -

Quite right, but it can't be SG 333 because that was apple-green. Therefore, it must be SG 355, the 1899 1½d with the V over crown watermark, perf 12½, cat. £4.

tonymacg is right. Stanley Gibbons Australia catalogue 2010 gives: Victoria, SG 355, 1899 (1 Aug), watermark 33 (sideways): crown with V above, one and a half pence; brown-red on yellow paper, perf 12.5;. CV then £3.00 mint £3.25 used.

Terry

Stanley Gibbons puts S.G.#355 in with the 1886 issues in their Stamps of the World catalog.

Its time for information in a specialist catalogue.

as stamporator says..."I would have though that their information on the general release of stamps would be the same, if not very similar."

Indeed. tonymacg thought it was SG 386-386b initially and I thought SG#355 but I think we are now in agreement on the S.G.#355. The year of issue seems to be anywhere from 1886 to 1899 according to which catalog you refer to. I'm completely happy with the latter date as Terry has found it in a more specialized catalog than my SOTW

The 1886-96 printings didn't include a 1½d; SG 355 is listed separately as issued 1 August 1899. My information is from the 2014 Gibbons Part 1.

tonymacg is still right.

Terry

oops sorry. My S.G. catalogue is wrong then. I shall write a stiff letter to the editor ...as soon as I can find some cardboard.

Hi scotzm,

tonymacg put it as an SG355, 1899 issue, which it is, so he is right. SG's SOTW catalogue will not give the detail on the Australian States that is given in their more detailed Australia catalogue. No criticism was intended or meant. I was just pointing out that tonymacg was right. As are you, as you say you agree with the more specialised catalogue listing.

Terry

The real lesson here is that, if you only want to sort your stamps into date order, SOTW or Scott is fine and quite sufficient. If you don't want to leave any money on the table, you really need the proper tools. As a simple example, this Jammu & Kashmir red ½ Anna stamp



is SG 26, and cat. at £55 mint. This Jammu & Kashmir red ½ Anna stamp



is SG 38, possibly one copy known mint and three used, and cat. at £2000 used.