Paper / Stamp Question - KGV 1/2d

Im sorting through a bunch of the below and have noticed a variation in the hue. Im guessing it's caused by changes in the paper? I think they are all the same stamp - Sc187 - Great Britain?

You'll be delighted to hear that my old GB Specialised catalogue lists six shades of green for the 1/2d with block cypher watermark - somewhat better than the eighteen listed for the same stamp with royal/simple cypher watermark!

HA! Maybe thats why I've got so many of these!! I remembered seeing something about shades somewhere - but then couldn't find it.

Thank you.

The left stamp, without doubt, is the 1924 'Block Cypher' issue.

The right stamp, I think, also is a 1924 'Block Cypher' issue. The gum is badly toned (tropicalisation?) and the watermark is not very clear,

The centre stamp, I cannot say. I cannot even be sure the watermark is upright. The gum is toned and there are even some more pronounced tone spots.

As for colours, Stanley Gibbons lists 18 'shades' for the 1913 'Royal Cypher' issue and six shades for the 1924 'Block Cypher' issue. That, however, does not say much as there are many 'unlisted shades.' I have been looking for a blue-green SG 356 ('Royal Cypher') for two decades. I, however, have a bright blue-green stamp that falls in that category but is very distinct from the listed 'shade.'

These appear to be at least two 'shades', but the terrible toning of the paper does change the perception of the colour.

These are the 1913 'Royal Cypher' stamps. There is an inverted watermark stamp from a booklet as well. I did not leave a space for the "very yellow- ("Cyprus") green" stamp (SG N14(10)). That is one for when I win the lottery, if I ever buy a ticket.




(The image optimiser does not like these stamps very much.)

And five of the six 'Block Cypher' shades with some others from the same set.
These have watermarks in any direction you can imagine and,probably, some you cannot imagine (stamp books, rolls, gummed on the wrong side, inverted and gummed on the wrong side).

Very nice and thank you for the follow up. Here is what im currently looking at. A new area for me and one ill not be able to ID the different shades - colors im afraid. Firstly im bad with color - but trying to get better and secondly, no reference chart.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p...o?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p...o?authuser=0

OFF TOPIC - So my scan quality is not so good after resizing. going to try and re-do - maybe remove them from the holder. Also, when I hover over yours, I get the message to click for larger image ( I do not get that option fro my image). But when I do, I get the ' ? '

I have the same issue with my pictures.
Your first picture does open in a separate window. Your second image does not.

msg received. tks. see if the above works. I've used google pics before so ill try that.

@Stamps4Life,

You do mix all kinds of series there. Photogravure Mackennals, PUCs, Downey Heads are mixed with typo Mackennals.
Those typo Mackennals come with three different watermarks and the watermarks on most of the George V stamps come inverted and sideways as well. They may even come sideways inverted. And that is not counting the errors of feeding sheets into the presses.

Yes - quite a mix. Shown as the way I received them some time ago from a mixed auction lot.

I wondering if the below Wmk pic is good enough to tell which it is? I think Sc Wmk 33 - Crown & GvR ? Sc 162a - Die II ?? It was in the sheet sideways but I think it's an upright/normal Wmk. Orange 2 Pence

That is the 'Royal Cypher' watermark. From what I can find Scott 162/a have that watermark.
It is upright if the stamp is upright. Otherwise, it is inverted.
It is not possible to say which die it is from the back.

from my 2nd link above, its on the 3rd row - the stamp sideways if you can get the page to come up. Can you tell from that?

Yes, I recognised the stamp from the corner perforation. It has the upright 'Royal Cypher' watermark.

The picture is not detailed enough to determine the die.