Duckworth Papers: Thin, Soft Blotting, And Bothwell

I'm slowly getting the hang of the LQ papers, but I'd like some expert eyes to quicky see if I'm on the right track.

In terms of BOTHWELLS..my research indicates the following clues: (1) vertical wove makes them TALLER (2) they curl at the sides when exposed to steam or water (3) of course, presence of a watermark would confirm.

Here is my crop thus far:




The 12c has a clear EL watermark...but I have a sneaking suspicion that somewhere along the line, someone penciled in MI onto the 1c. I've tried to gently to erase it; nothing doing. It's upside-down -- was this ever done? If not, then I guess have a fake marking...

Then, moving onto "Soft White/Thick Blotting Paper," (Duckworth #8)...I've identified some candidates in GREEN. I understand the indicators (apart from the obvious) are (1) weak perfs, confetti (2) a sharp, vibrant strike (3) very few visible grainlines on the backside--it should be smooth and opaque.

So here's 10 candidates, with frontsides and backsides. A RED number means I think it's a type of thin paper rather than SBP. Blue means I have no idea what paper it is...

Widen your screen if the two last images aren't side by side. I appreciate your expertise VERY much!

I've come across some strange oddities. Firstly, I found two vertically woven 5c #26 Greys...whereas p. 51 of Unitrade (the chart) says it only exists in horizontal wove. Ditto for the 15c #30. I suppose you could write the #30 off as a #29, but not so with the 5c. There's also some papers on the 1c Yellow that look...interesting (somewhat like SBP)...but again, apparently only the horizontal wove varieties exist..

Here's my best guess at a true SBP: dark, clear strike, perf/tearing issues/ whitish/slightly more opaque...plus a backside almost devoid of criss-cross grain lines...



Hopefully this will help other newcomers with the masochistic endeavour that is Duckworth papers...

See on the 12 1/2c how the Bothwell paper is usually thin and you can see the design fro the back. The design on the front is always clear and crisp. There are almost always blunt perfs, more than usual. These are some of the supporting features of Bothwell paper.

I have found that sometimes the watermark is unusually difficult to see. I have stamps that will only show the watermark in watermark fluid and one that only shows the watermark in tap water.

Your 1c is a Scott 23, the yellow orange shade. This stamp does not come on watermark paper. Only the Red Brown shade is on Bothwell paper.

Soft White Blotting Paper

For the Scott 23 - 1c on Yellow/Orange. You have a nice range of shades but this stamp only comes on Wove and the Rare Pelure Paper 9. No need to check these for Blotting paper.

5c Large Queen

This always comes on Vertical Wove.

Thanks for that Jim. So you're saying my 1c in the Bothwell section (pencil mark: 22a WMKD) is yellow-orange? I don't think that's right, it's one of the reddish-brownest shades I have of the 1c. Or are you saying that one or more of my 5 "Bothwells" is an imposter? What about that fishy watermark? The 1/2c black is Bothwell for sure, though.

As for the 5c Large Queen, it's supposed to only come on horizontal wove (check your Unitrade). I have 9 as such, but also 2 more on vertical wove...

Duckworth's book (2nd Ed.) states that "most" of the 5c LQ were on a vertical mesh, however not all.

There we go! Unitrade should get on this ...

I really should get that book -- is it worth the price?

vfstamp. I think I mistook your red-brown 1c for Deep orange. The colour on my monitor shows it as a dark orange shade. Disregard my commnets about the watermakr on the 1c.

Duckworth's book is quite detailed. Pretty expensive but for me worth the price as I do have a large collection of Large Queens on and off cover.

He goes over each stamp Denomination with the plate varieties pictured and details shades, varieties, multiples, etc. Then the covers, rates, destinations.

Then there are the papers, the plates, imprints, etc.

Good but pricey. For me, I've gotten my money's worth.

Hi Jim, The 1c LQ also looks like the orange shade on my computer, also. This color was not printed on Bothwell paper. This is a good example of why you can not do color comparison on computers. If this is the red brown shade the color is markedly different from the copies I own.

What does the book say about Large Queen perforations? Is there a perfect 12 perforation measurement?

jogil,

it is quite detailed. Here are some pics of the short paragraphs on perfs.

Is there any mention of Stephen J. Menich's study on Large Queen perforations? See: http://www.bnaps.org/hhl/TopicsDisp...p?issue=1830

Paper ID solely based on scan is not 100 % as one needs to see the stamp in person.

Your Bothwell papers all look correct. The watermark can be found inverted and / or reversed but it always seems to run horizontally, I have never seen an exception.

Your #6 is probably a Paper 10, with a small chance to be 9b. The 9b paper is soft and flimsy, I have seen very few. Your #10 looks a good candidate to be Paper 8, has that embossed look on back and a fine grain. Your 2c blotting paper looks to be 9a, personally I group them together with paper 8 as they are similar in every respect except thickness. Hope this helps.

PS the "almost blotting" paper 8/9a DOES exist on the 1c orange yellow, I have found or seen maybe a half dozen but it is rare on that stamp.

ARCHER: That was VERY helpful; thank you! I appreciate your comment about the 'embossed' look of #10...it's very noticeable now that you mention it. The paper is very opaque; but definitely not 'white.' The grain is super fine, but the strike/color is dull and the perfs seem stronger than we would expect. Nor does it seem to fit the "tissue white" description. So conflicting indicators...

Papers 9a and 9b? Oh nuts, I didn't know there were two varieties..? Can you briefly explain the difference in quality and valuation?

I have quite a few #23 1c copies that might fit under paper type 9. They're very white, without grain. The paper is opaque, yet seems thin. The strike/color is not vibrant... --> can you inspect my super yellowy '5?' What on Earth could that be?

Good news on the Bothwells and the Watermark. I've never seen an inverted one, but it is horizontal, thankfully.

ALL/JIM/WATERMARK: I know it's difficult with scans. Perhaps those perfs will assist me, thank you. Watermark--are you saying my 1c 'Bothwell Wmk' looks more like a #23 than a #22? My photos give you a good range of colors that I have for the 1c. From '3' to '5'... The one in question looks a lot more like the '3' (brown-red). That is, unless we consider the #23a (deep orange) variety.

I appreciate the continued discussion--I'm starting to love the LQs!

Paper 9a resembles Paper 8 except for thickness. The 9b has a coarser grain, visibly Is horizontal wove, but much of the stamp design shows through and the paper is thin and flimsy almost like bathroom tissue. So difficult to explain but once you have seen it you know it.

Your #5 looks like early Paper 10, stamp impression is less than razor sharp and I see an off-white creamy tone. Paper I'd expect is smooth surfaced and a bit more rigid.

Again a PS - Unitrade is responsive to additions and changes when they are presented with the research and evidence. The process of publishing mandates that changes be completed months in advance though. Perhaps a discussion for another thread...