India 1A Red - Is It A #4 Or #7

Requesting expert help...

It seems to be like a India #4 as lines on the left seem to be having a gap.



Regards
Ananth

Anath, there's something that makes me a bit uneasy about the stamp. It initially looks like a Die II (SG7) to me, but the shading on the right of the chignon under the hair-bun looks too light. Maybe it's a worn plate?

I am thoroughly confused. It looks to be like a SG11 when I am looking at it again.

This is an absolutely genuine Br. India 1854 1A Vic. die II stone C Early 2nd Printing deep red lithograph (SG 13).

Identification of Br. India 1854 1A Die II (Early State) Lithographs

1. Chignon is connected to the hair strands of the head and this joint is visible as a curved white line.

2. All lobes of the chignon has curved lines, less in number than die III but more than die I.

3. The letterings INDIA and ONE ANNA are thickest among the 3 dies.

4. The upper two corner crosses are greater in size than die I.

5. Eye, nostril and bustline are same as die I.

Characteristics of Stone C Used for Die II of Br. India 1854 1A Lithographs

1. The bottom frame line is thicker.

2. The letterings of INDIA is thicker.

3. The colored triangle inside A of INDIA is not often conspicuous.

4. Hair below the band is often retouched.

@Tim H



I don't get what is that "something bit uneasy" about this stamp.

Secondly, Br. India SG 7 is 1854 ½A indigo lithograph, not 1A.
7 is the SG vignette type for Br. India 1854 1A die II.

Thirdly, this is an early state printing, characterized by busy lines in chignon, not worn out.

I will post an image of worn out 1A die II 2nd printing later when I get back home to give an idea how blank the chignon looks, alongwith the characteristics of worn out 1A die II.

Joy, thanks very much for clarifying. I don't often see these stamps and use the shading on the chignon to determine the die. Anath's stamp didn't look clear-cut to me.

If you don't mind, I will file away your ID criteria for future use if ever I need them!

Thank you guys..

At $0.10 sale price and a $0 certification/identification fee, I think I already made the buy of the year .. hurray

Sheesh! That's some bargain! Well done