Help With Sg 328 Variety - N7(6)?

Hi, having some trouble identifying the stamp shown. I understand the SG number (328) but the N7(6) baffles me. Perhaps I need a specialized SG catalog. Not sure the difference between this and regular SG328. What does N7(6) specify and how can one verify it? I figured there are some UK people on this site that would know. Thanks in advance.

N7(6) is the number in the SG Specialised Catalogue of Great Britain, in this case Volume 2 (King Edward VII to King George VI). N7 identifies the stamp, while (6) refers to a particular shade.




My catalogue is the 1970 edition, but hopefully the number has not been changed since then.

Phil

There have been changes where "shades" have been added. Numbers have been added and listings revised where fluorescent inks exist. But as far as I am aware, the speciaised number has not changed. The description and the listing coincide.

For "shades" the specialised catalogue numbers are used. As the stock card shows, the stamp is not SG328, but SG328 var. This addition of 'var' is because the listed rose-pink falls within the shade band of SG328, but is not the colour used for the SG328 listing.

N-numbers are George V stamps. "7" is this specific 1d Downey Head (watermark / die combination). "(6)" is the shade number. Rose-pink coincides with the listing shown.

Sadly, it is impossible to say anything about shades from online pictures. Also, the common mistake is to think if six shades are listed and you have six different-looking stamps, you have all shades.

These listed "shades" are not that, but shade bands. You need some reliable reference or a dealer with the knowledge to identify these shades. Fortunately, rose-pink will look very different from the carmine shades.

In case you're thinking of buying, the "current" SG Specialised Catalogue (published 2015) quotes a price of £200 for the rose-pink shade, unmounted mint. But the "superb" example illustrated is badly centred.

If you're interested in detailed study of GB stamps, the SG Specialised Catalogue is enormously useful, and you can probably get an old edition cheap.

Thanks for responses, it's been helpful. I have an old part 1 British Commonwealth which doesn't break it down near as much as what flip138 shows. PJR, yes I completely agree on the centering description from Peter Mollett - definitely not superb.

I'll dig around a little to see if I can find a used specialized.

I have a Stoneham Great Britain Stamp Catalogue, 15th edition, Published September 2010, so is very much out of date. Here is the pertinent section from that catalogue for your stamp, listing many different shades, and a healthy premium for something they are calling, "Deep Carmine, varnish ink". Prices shown are in order Unmounted Mint, Mounted Mint, Fine Used, and on envelope.

Thanks Partime. What does each column correspond to? MNH, MH, used, on cover?

Hasn't Peter Mollett retired some time ago?

I agree that superb may be debatable because it is centred to the left. Normally, centring is quite good for Downey Heads. I, however, would not call this 'badly' centred. Very fine, probably, would be a better description based on the standards applied by Stanley Gibbons. - I am assuming only the centring is debatable. - That, still, would mean that the SG price applies.

Peter Mollett is no longer listed as a member of the Philatelic Traders' Society. Can we be sure that the stamp is the same one for which he wrote the description? (But it does seem to be Die 1A, at least.)

If the perforations cut into the design of the stamp, as these do, the stamp is badly centred, in my opinion.

As you can see in this scan better centered stamp are very common for this issue .

Also seeing the information about shades ,I need to redo my stock on these stamps . Also recheck all these to the S.G. breakdown to types .