Sg 187 3-D Brown Definitive Of 1941-51

Here is a peculiarity. Looking at the two examples in the image below, the brown version on the left looks as it should. The red-brown example on the right, however, exhibits the thinning of the "T" in "POSTAGE" towards the base as in Die 1A, used in the earlier blue version of this stamp to remove the "TA joined" flaw.

Looking at other details in the this stamp, the dark eyebrow shading above the right eye (as you look at it) runs diagonally upwards to the left, whereas it is to the right in Dies I and II. It is thus definitely Die III. Does anyone have any references to this and the other significant deformation of the "T".

A final parting shot. From the copies I have, the quality of impressions seems to have deteriorated quite a bit with the introduction of Die III.

Hi itma

You definitively have a peculiar stamp there, although W.C.G. McCracken had used John Ash's plates (the former printer), the faulty plates of the original 3d that has those errors were destroyed before McCracken came onto the scene. The truncated "T" was on the 1937 plates and the stamp you have was printed in 1941.

But your stamp definitely shows some sort of truncation; I have looked in the recently published Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue (2015), and it shows no mention of the brown 3d having such a variety.

Just my opinion and what I can just make of it, there is a discolouring in the background, I'm not sure what may have caused it, but it might have been the cause of the "T" becoming truncated; you can also see a mark crossing half-way through the "T".

I've enlarged the image to show the discolouration.

I'm very curious, I'll be forwarding the image of your stamp to a friend of mine; he and his brother are internationally renowned experts on Commonwealth pre-decimal stamps, especially pre-decimal Australian (over 30 years experience).

I will get back to you by the end of the day with what my friend makes of it.


Discolouration in the background


Stamp on the left does not have the discolouration in the background

Rob

Hi itma

I emailed my friend the images of the stamp and enlargement. I also spoke to him, it is definitely a tapered "T" but it wasn't caused by a poorly engraved plate like the blue 1937 3d; but by misplaced ink.

The ink blotched a small part of the bottom of the stamp causing the "tapered' effect, some of the ink caused a streak half-way across the bottom of the "T"; the same blotching also distorted the top of the "T", a similar blotching occurred on the other stamp as well, going by the distortion of the word "POSTAGE" on the right.

The tapered "T" is in every meaning of the word a variety, but a minor variety as it was caused by some misplaced ink rather than from a plate.

Rob

Thanks, Rob. I really appreciate your help, and that of your high-powered friends.

Frank.

Hi Frank

Also speaking on behalf of my friend we are glad to help.

Rob