Cook Islands 1938: 3/- Pictorial - Double Impression?

Is this a double impression of the blue vignette? Or something else? Stamp is Scott 114. Second image shows the vignette from the normal stamp, third image the vignette from my variety.

And, of course, Merry Christmas everybody!

In my opinion, not a double impression, but probably a kiss-print, or slightly wet ink to give a blurred impression.

And Merry Christmas to you as well. Happy and Safe New Years.

Thanks, Partime!

I've never been sure what a kiss print actually is.

I think the result is more beautiful that the regular stamp. It makes the scene look as if it were a misty morning.

Have a great day.

Based on my experiences on a certain stamp forum located down under, it appears that non-U.S. collectors of British Empire material routinely classify kiss prints as "double impressions" no matter how minute.

Different geographic standards, I guess.

How would you define a kiss print, revenuecollector?

I've also noticed that American collectors do not seem to use the term "re-entry."

This is nice. I have seen similar on some of the Zanzibar "dhow" high values, which have frames apparently doubled. As has been pointed out, it's not strictly a double print but where the plate has bounced a little on the paper during printing.

They are never listed in the catalogues but have a 50-75% premium over CV if they come up for sale.

Happy Christmas to you.

Thanks, Tim H. All the best from Sydney, Australia.

So is what you referring to (plate bounce) a kiss print?

Yes, thus is my understanding of a "kiss print". It's not a true double impression. Most people seem a bit vague about a definition but "bouncing" usually comes into the description.

The way I see it is that the paper is not 100% flat when the block makes contact, so there is an initial impression followed almost immediately by the "true" impression. The two are, therefore, slightly out of alignment giving a slight doubling or ghosting of the image. It's certainly unusual for recess-printed stamps, but more common on overprints/surcharges.

If anyone has a printing background, maybe they can help? I think one of our Canadian members is pretty hot on printing technology.

The following paragraph is taken from James H. Baxter's Printing Postage Stamps by Line Engraving Part Three Chapter III, page 118;

Partime posted a really nice link on the Stamp Production section of this forum which helps with a lot of answers to this thread:

http://www.re-entries.com/terms.html