GB SC #33 With Odd Perfs

I found this in a lot I was plating--plate 97 position AA. The annotation on back says "rouletted" but I've never seen that--of course that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I think it looks more like the sheet was doubled perforated on three sides. One atop the other and misaligned on both left and right sides, and one above the other and perfectly aligned at the top. Has anyone seen this before?

The QV Specialised catalogue doesn't mention the existence of rouletted stamps from the series.

If you have another Scott#33 (SG43) and lay it on top you may see it as being perforated 14. The sides look either trimmed or pulled to quite an extent. You can rule out Roulette perforations certainly.

That issue was perforated with a comb perforator (it looked like a series of "U"s across a row. It would perforate the bottom and sides of stamps on one row; the sheet would be shifted one stamp height, and then struck with it again, finishing the top of the stamp and sides of the next stamp.

It appears that the comb was struck twice on this row of stamps, with the second strike about 1/2 hole higher than the first. This led to the appearance of "roulettes" on the sides and the elongated holes at the top.

It is a variety that specialized GB collectors would like to own. (sorry, can't give you an idea of the value, as I'm not of that specialized group).

Chip

(edited to change "1 hole higher" to "1/2 hole higher"

Thanks for the details Chip, that's as I suspected. I've just never seen one perfed like that, and I have thousands of these.

"It is a variety that specialized GB collectors would like to own."

In that case I too would like to add to my collection with more varieties. I am struggling to find any information in my reference books...Archer perfs, Napier machines etc... but there seems to be nothing regarding these stamps printed in 1865 and there seems to be nothing online also. Any information in actually finding a reference would be appreciated.

Ray Simpson and Peter Sargent are the experts on perforations on early GB. There is a new printing of their book on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/Stamp-Perfora...p/0900631538

A version of Ray's exhibit is online, but you won't be able to see it until you join the GBPS:
http://www.gbps.org.uk/displays/evo...ion-1840-80/

Chip

Thanks for info re book... it must wait until next Xmas for my wife to be instructed to get it for me as this year's allocation is complete.

That GBPS website is a good place for downloading PDF information ...

http://www.gbps.org.uk/information/downloads/