Great Britain Queen Victoria Early Issue Questions

Hi,
I'm moved my Scotts Great Britain classic stamps to Steiner pages. I've completed the transfer except for the early Queen Victoria issues. I'm having a problem, and seek your help.

Specifically:
- What is the difference between A2 and A8 (blue)?

- What is the difference between A1a and A10 (brown)?

I've examined the Scott's Classic catalog and frankly I am just confused and can't determine any differences.

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Bill Anderson
Spring, Texas

Bill - perhaps you could tell us what the stamps are, or scan the catalogue page. Most GB collectors will never have seen a Scott catalogue!

Bill, I do agree with Geoff. Also, the numbers you give are NOT catalog numbers!


Peter

From the design pictures, it seems like the A8 and A10 have letters in the upper corners and the A1a and A2 do not. I think the A8 and A10 also have plate numbers in the scroll work.

Sorry folks, I should have added more information.

- The "Axx" refers to the Scott images.
- The Scott numbers for the "red brown" stamps are 3 (1841) and 33 (1864).
- The Scott numbers for the "blue" stamps are 4 (1841) and 28 (1858-69).

The difference between the A1a and A10 types is as NicholasC says, there are letters in the upper corners of the A10 and the plate number is incorporated into the design.

For the A2 and A8 there is no difference in the design. The latter is perforated, the former is not.

There is a 2d blue in the A1 design. The difference is that in the A2 and A8 there is a white line above the words TWO PENCE.

There is a difference in the design between A2 and A8, A8 has letters in all four corners, A2 has them only in the bottom two corners and 'stars' in the upper two. These are the same differences as with A1 and A10.

Bobby, thanks for pointing out the blue exists in the A1 as well and the white line is what adds the A2 design. I had noticed that after looking at all the entries, but didn't have time to post.

As for the A2 vs A8, it sure looks like Scott implies the difference is the letters in the upper corners. Scott wrote that four corner letters started in 1858 which is the 1st year of the A8 design. That said, there's a partial picture of an A2 that also shows letters in the upper corners. It's the thin lines version that seems to identify #19 and #21 which were issued in 1857/1858 according to Scott. With respect to perforations, Scott shows entries for A2 with perforations: Scott numbers #8 through #21, some issued in 1854/1855.

Something not adding up here. Gonna keep watching this thread.

Thanks billsey for the correction. I must learn to have my second coffee before posting!

Thank you all!
I got them sorted and installed. Sometimes the difference between issues is so obvious one can't see it.

Again, thanks all for your help!
Bill Anderson