Scarce Plate 3 Matthew Flinders $1 On Very Thick Paper

A mint unhinged scarce Plate 3 Matthew Flinders $1 on very thick paper, not yet listed in the ACSC.

Rob

How many examples are known Rob ?

Hi Aussie Al

Good question. I have no idea, but it is a question I am going to ask at the club meeting on January 17. Will let you know then.

Rob

Have you contacted the ACSC catalogue publishers?

info@brusden-white.com.au

Normally they need 3 examples (at least)before listing a new variety .

Hi jogil

Geoff Kellow is the editor of the ACSC and is also an expert on Australian stamps, I personally know him, he will be at the ACCC meeting on the 17.

There are a few questions I will be asking him and the plate 3 will be one of them.

Rob

Hi Rob

What is the thickness & perf of it please .

Hi Aussie Al

I never saw a plate number as a variety, to my understanding a variety is the result of errors such as foreign material, pigment alteration, misaligned perforations, imperforations, doctor blade faults to name a few.

I've seen very rare plate numbers where only one is known, so it would be impossible to list it as a variety if a minimal 3 examples are needed.

But then, that's my take on what a variety is.

Rob

Thick paper variety I was thinking.

Hi Aussie Al

Perforations: 14.75 x 14
Paper: Very thick

Rob

PS: Didn't see your comment posted only a minute before mine, it is quite thick, like stiff paper.

FYI Rob

KGVs have paper varieties smooth , rough ,thin , translucent & very coarse mesh paper .

Hi Hi Aussie Al

Yes, KGV stamps do have paper varieties such as smooth, rough,thin, translucent & coarse mesh paper, but this does not occur with QE II stamps.

Rob

Since there are four stamps in the block, wouldn't it count as four examples instead of one or does it have to be at least 3 separate examples? The point being is if they came from the same unique sheet and were separated into singles, Would that be considered as at least three examples where as a multiple would be considered as only one example? Would someone who had a multiple be better off in breaking it up into singles for this? In this case since it's a plate block with gutters in between, it is even much more scarcer and desirable to keep it intact since it may also be unique as well. This block of four stamps already has in it one more stamp than the minimum of three stamps needed for a new variety.

It seems to me that there are many thin paper, and possibly also thick paper varieties yet to be acknowledged. I have a small collection of KGVI definitives on very thin paper that are not listed in the ACSC. One is so thin that I think it must be half the thickness of the regular issue.

Hi jogil

Still one example, even if they were separated into singles it will still not be considered 3 examples unless all 3 have the same variety. Believe it or not, it would be more valuable if the varieties were in a multiple join than it would be if in singles.

This block of 4 is considered scarce because of the plate number and has a market value in the many hundreds of dollars, if it weren't for the plate number, the stamps would be of very little value and still valid for postage, which actually has been the case when a dealer has sent me mail in the past.

Rob

Hi Jimjamtwo

There are quite a few thin papers in the KGVI series; I have nearly all of them (will be receiving another soon), I have rare and very rare issues, as well as scarce (some unlisted) issues, the hardest to find thin paper I have is the unlisted 1942 5½d Emu, the specialist dealer I bought it from said it is the first time in nearly 40 years he has seen one, I've been collecting professionally since 1976 and it is the first one I have seen.

And it is true there is likely to be many varieties yet to be acknowledged, but I'm sure that I have nearly all of them bar one or two, though varieties in the normal paper there would indeed be many not listed as I have seen time and time again new varieties being discovered, some unique.

Some of the unlisted KGVI will be added to the new KGVI ACSC (Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue – 2018 edition) which is slated to be published sometime this month in colour.

The back of the very thin paper is actually very clean, the "dirty" appearance is actually the slate-blue ink saturating through the paper.

I normally do not collect stamps with missing perfs, hinges or used, but there is an exception for scarce and rare issues and stamps of great historical importance, and if no better can be found, I will collect it until a better specimen can be located, then I will have it in my collection, but I won't be holding my breath with this issue.


Normal issue


Very thin paper