Tasmania 6p: Why Two Colors

I'm working up an Australian album for myself. In working through that, I noticed that the 6p of the 3/4 pose Victoria issue comes in two color types. There is a Gray Lilac type and a Gray/Blue/Slate type. See Scott 26/27 and 32/33 for examples.

I see this kind of 2 color pattern when countries enter the UPU, but these are a little earlier than that. And usually, when this happens the country switches to the new color--they don't maintain both colors across multiple issue runs.

Anyone understand what happened here, and why it only applied to the 6p issues?

Hi kflowers,

This is not unusual for Australian Colonies issues of this period.

The NSW large diadems have a kaleidoscope of shades (especially in the imperfs) and are very popular because of this.

My understanding is that for shade varieties, it comes down to, at least partially, inexact mixing of inks.

Ink availability would have been a factor also, thus explaining different coloured stamps. I guess you could say "you work with what you've got".

Things were still rather primitive in the colonies in the 1860s. We were a long way from 'civilisation' in those times.

Many of the stamps printed in the colonies (except Victoria) at that time were on plates provided by Perkins Bacon.

Thanks Bobby - I see the color variations across the colonies, that's clear and your explanation works well for that. The oddity I'm seeing is specifically on the 6p issues. They have two major catalog numbers with distinct colors. Somehow it feels a little different than color variations. Although, I can convince myself that Lilacs and Blues align with the "you use what you got." I would have expected minor catalog numbers in that case though. Oh well. Thanks again.

A synopsis from Basset Hull's book on Tasmania:

Perkins Bacon printed a lilac shade of 6d stamps in 1857, a superior impression but often seen faded to shades of grey, greenish or pale-brownish lilac.

In 1860 (Davies) and 1863 (Birchall) printed 6d stamps in slate or bluish-grey.

In 1865 the government printer issued 6d stamps in a bluish-grey shade then in 1867 and 1869 printed them in a red-lilac shade, which continued in use until 1875.

The shades found on perforated stamps are listed by Basset Hull as:

Perforated by Walch and Sons, 1864-1870

Perforated 10:
Lilac, Reddish-Lilac, Slate, Purple (shades)

Perforated 11.5:
Reddish-Lilac, Grey-lilac, Slate, Violet (March 1875 Bright violet), Violet with fugitive ink (Jan 1881 and Mar 1882) (shades of each colour)

Perforated unofficially in Launceston (by Harris?) 1864

Perforated 12 and 13:
Reddish-Lilac, Grey-lilac, Lilac, Slate (shades)

Roughly punctured roulettes (gauge about 8) by Walch and Sons, 1864
Slate (shades)

Rough irregular pin perforation (about 10.5) by unknown, 1867-1868
Grey

Rough parallel oblique 'saw-like' perforation (between 11 and 13) by Postmaster at Deloraine, 1867-1869
Grey, Slate (shades)

The Stanley Gibbons Australia catalogue lists further details on the various shades and perforation combinations, including a rare serrated perf 19 at Hobart (not observed on the 6d by Basset Hull) in Slate-violet and a 4.5 roulette in Reddish-mauve.

This forum is so helpful! Thank you!