Some South African Postage Due Stamps

The best reference I have for plate flaws on South African postage due stamps is "The Stamps of the Union of South Africa 1910 - 1961" by Haggar, published 1986.

The above stamp, with a notch in the downstroke of the 'd' is not listed.

I bought the used copy because the flaw was so obvious, without checking my duplicates. The used copy arrived today, I saw it was not listed in Haggar but I already had a copy so the status as a permanent flaw is confirmed.

Does anyone know of any research on flaws on South African postage dues? I already have a couple of booklets for the collections of Mike Tonking.

I see a notch in the downstroke of both d's but not on either 3. Am I missing something?

I think your stamp is more of a Variety than a flaw.
"Flaw: A defect in a plate that reproduces as an identifiable variety in the stamp design."
Given that the 3d was printed after the stamp itself.
It seems there are a number of different printing varieties in the "d".


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https://stampauctionnetwork.com/zg/zg7284115.cfm




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Raised "d"
http://www.rhodesia.co.za/Item.aspx?ItemID=24873

Thick 2D variety
https://www.philatelicfriends.co.za...mode=feature

My bad, downstroke of 'd' not '3', now corrected.

I look at transient flaws, the result of a passing problem (e.g. something adhering to the printing plate or an inking problem) as less valuable than constant flaws where damage to the printing plate creates a longer-lasting flaw that requires some mechanical internvention (e.g. retouch, re-entry, cliche substitution) to correct.

Of course, transient problems can serve to create some great varieties (2½d Kangaroo below sold for $53,500 in 2013 but is just a transient inking flaw).





'Flaw' and 'variety' are interchangeable descriptions to me.

Stamps such as the postage due, with the frame printed in a separate process to the value are interesting as sometimes (often with Australian postage dues) the value plate placement was not constant in relation to the frame plate.

To answer your question about research on SA postage due varieties, apart from Mike Tonking's booklets there has been no systematic work. There are a large number of varieties, nearly all dents in letters and numbers, etc. and misplaced printings are often spectacular.

Likewise, the overprinted provisional postage dues from South West Africa are a gold-mine for variety hunters. Aside from the major varieties, there are printing flaws on the base stamps and many flaws associated with the overprints. Again, Tonking's work is the only and, therefore, definitive work. Worth tracking down a copy if you don't already have one.

Thanks Tim,

I have both booklets for Mike's displays. A shame he never focussed on Union issues too!


John