Somaliland Protectorate Overprint

I just noticed that my Somaliland Protectorate #21 is an "Almost 21b"! A #21, with the overprint reading "BRITISH SOMALILAND", catalogues at around $3.25, and a #21b with the overprint reading "BRIT SH SOMALILAND", goes for about 138 times that!

What do you think of this one? Did the overprint plate break off to create the 21b and mine is a "transition print" or is this just an inking issue?




Thanks for looking,

Al

Fairly simple,
If placing it in your album, pencil notes to that effect.
If selling, tell the truth, that you are undecided and let the market judge.

Nice item ,would be neat to place between a #21 and a #21b on a display page .

Thanks folks!

I am curious how these overprint varieties came to be. These exist on Scott numbers 1 through 26 and they are on stamps of India. The following varieties, with the suffix shown, are listed in the Scott Classic:

b: "BRIT SH" for "BRITISH" (2nd "I" missing)
c: "BR1TISH" for "BRITISH" (1 substituted for 1st "I")
d: Curved overprint
e: "SOMAL.LAND" for "SOMALILAND" (Period subst. for "I" - or is it missing ink on top?)
f: "SUMALILAND" for "SOMALILAND" ("U" for "O")

Were they printed with an engraving plates or by some other means? ...and were these substitutions and omissions design flaws or printing anomalies?





Al

Some sellers just take their chance !
https://www.ebay.com/itm/292928300033



This one is also doubtful:GBP 325.00

https://www.ebay.com/itm/362570722562