NSW 3 Pence Identification Request

I can't find this stamp in my Stanley Gibbons catalog. NSW perforation 11 x 11 3/4, watermark Crown and letters NSW inverted.

Stanley Gibbons describe NSW perforations like this:

"Collectors should note that the classification of perforations is that adopted by the Royal Philatelic Society, London. "Perf 12" denotes the perforation formerly called "11½, 12"..."

From my experience with the postage due stamps of New South Wales (and Australia) there were two perforators, one gauging 11.5, the other gauging 11.8. Although separately listed for many years, the two perforations have been merged as it is deemed impractical to determine the difference between them on single stamps.

Your stamp will be one of the 'perf 11 x 12' or '12 x 11' listings.

So the perforation case is explained. I am looking for stamps from the 1882-1897 issue, but I don't see the inverted watermark item there ???

Tip: Read the front of the catalogue, regarding watermarks.
this may explain why it is not listed in your particular edition.

To wit:
"Inverted and reversed watermarks have always been outside its scope"
SG British Commonwealth Catalogue 1993

Hi sopotsopot,

There's a note at the very beginning of the Australia section that discusses watermark varieties.

Your stamp is either SG 226e or 327c. If the spacing between NSW and the crown in the watermark is 2mm it is the former, if it is 1mm it is the latter.

Hope this helps

That watermark shows the small gap between NSW and the crown.
On the scan it looks like the yellow-green shade, so SG 327c.

No research (yet) from collectors on frequency of watermarks in this thread https://goscf.com/t/67868&whichpage=3 .

The 2004 ACSC provides no listing for inverted (only) watermark on perf 12x11 (ACSC N23) but a large premium for 'reversed' or 'reversed and inverted' watermarks.

With many of the Australian States' issues, the paper was of sufficient size to print two sheets of stamps. The blank paper would be placed in the printing press with half not printed on. The paper would be removed and turned around and the second sheet printed. This resulted in half of the stamps being printed upright in relation to the watermark and half inverted in a perfect 50/50 ratio.