The Stanley Gibbons Australia catalogue indicates that some printers in the Australian colonies paid little attention to the watermark position and that consequently watermark varieties (inverted, reversed etc.) are frequently encountered. As such, they find it impossible to provide adequate prices for them.
Many collectors are therefore unsure of the rarity of specimens in their collection.
However, careful study of the stamps of the former colonies shows that while many issues are commonly seen with inverted watermarks etc., there are undoubtedly printings for which watermark varieties are rare.
The 2004 BW Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue (ACSC Kangaroos and the Early Federal Period 1901-1912) provided prices for watermark varieties on the state stamps issued during that period.
This topic is for philatelists to share information about the frequency of watermark orientations on the colonial Victoria stamps in their own collection.The bigger the sample size, the better, but small sample sizes are also welcome.
Members might also add relevant information from reliable philatelic sources (other than those mentioned above) regarding frequency of watermark orientation on the issues of Victoria.
Please use the SG (Stanley Gibbons) catalogue identifier where possible. If you don't know the SG number, provide your catalogue identification and other members might be able to provide the equivalent SG number.
Example of format
(numbers fabricated for demonstration purpose):
SG 337 1897 P 12.5 4d QV Naish design.
Watermark 82 (V over crown - 3rd type)
Sample size: 30
Comment: 4 of 30 found to have inverted watermarks.
Posted 05/14/2019 07:38 am
