King Edward VIII: A Study of the ½d Green, Cylinder 15
Introduction
The ½d Green, Cylinder 15
The Three Controls and the Four States
The Three Controls and the Four States
There has been long-standing confusion about the weakness of the controls of this cylinder and an absence of any visual reference for the different conditions of the control and the printing states. In this sense the two panes are very similar.
Careful computer analysis of several specimens shows that there are three distinct conditions of the control and four printing states. With the first printing the control of this no stop pane simply failed to make any image - although there is a small dark spot that is as constant microflaw in the tip of the upper arm of the 6.
The cylinder was taken down as soon as the missing control was noticed and an attempt was to improve the etched image by a little engraving. The result was negligible but considered sufficient to return to printing. It seems that the cylinder was soon taken down, rechromed and the control worked on a little more.
A fourth printing of the stamp was made but the control was not retouched any more.
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Frame 1NO STOP PANE STOP PANE |
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Frame 2STOP PANE (cont) |