New Zealand 3p Huia (Sacred Birds) With New Zealand Watermark

This is a New Zealand 3p Huia (Sacred Birds) stamp with a double-lined NEW ZEALAND watermark. A partial N and D are seen.


The stamp is perf. 11, so according to Scott, it must be unwatermarked (Scott 89, 1899) or watermarked "N Z" and Star Close Together (Scott 112, 1902). I suspect I'm seeing a marginal watermark not meant to appear on the stamp itself.

So, my question is, which stamp do I have? I'm going to create a custom album page and want to get the facts straight.

As always, responses will be greatly appreciated.

Robert

My understanding is that on the NZ & Star close together watermark, the marginal watermarks read "NEW ZEALAND" or "NEW ZEALAND POSTAGE", depending on which side.

There is an older discussion of this watermark layout in an unusual configuration on another stamp.

https://goscf.com/t/16761

Scott indicates for A23 Perf 12-16 unwmk __ Perf 11 A23 Wmk 63 (Scott 84-98 all perf 11)
If I got that right...Scott can be confusing at times because the "perf 11" is on the
right side of the column.

There are more listings for that set in Scott. If you look further on, #107-120 is perf 11 with Wmk 61 (NZ + Star close together).

My old Stanley Gibbons New Zealand Concise catalog has an explanation, following the single line watermark (SG 43) stamps.

"The 3d., 6d., 8d., and 1s. were printed on variety (1), but with watermark sideways: by reason of this, specimens from the margins of the sheets show parts of the words "NEW ZEALAND POSTAGE" in large letters, and some copies have no watermark at all."

I think I have this figured out from your responses.

My example is Scott 112, watermarked "N Z" and Star Close Together. However, the watermark is sideways, so it shows part of the NEW ZEALAND POSTAGE marginal watermark, not the expected "N Z" and Star watermark. This makes sense since the watermark seen on my stamp is reading down, i.e., sideways.

Thanks all,

Robert

A big thank you for this thread and the related one on a similar topic.
I was really scratching my head on the big sideways "S" watermark on the 3p Huia.
I think this is the S in "new zealand postage" as described by others.