"RS" = registration sheet (aka "imprimatur" sheet). Earliest dates are based on reported examples and are therefore indicative only.
Plate completed | 8 April 1840 |
Sheet registered | 1st: 15 April 1840, unhardened 2nd: 27 April 1840, hardened? |
RS: stamps removed | 1st: AL, SB-SL, TA-TL 2nd: AL, SC-SL, TA-TL |
RS: colour/shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black printings; NW 10 o'clock ray missing, except on CL, RL, SK-SL, TK-TL; NW 7 o'clock ray enlarged / thick, except on CL; NW 5 o'clock ray weak or missing, except on CL; intense black, except when worn; vertical guide lines NE common; die dot frequently seen |
Narrow horiz mgn | AI/BI, DI/EI, JK/KK |
Narrow vertical margins | JC/JD, KC/KD, JD/KD, NI/NJ, QF/QG |
Put to press: black | 11 April 1840: st 1, unhardened |
Taken from press | 22 April 1840 for hardening |
Returned to press | 27 April 1840 |
Taken from press | 22 May 1840 |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | 1 month / 14,400 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | Black state 1: 2 May 1840 |
Second states | Plate 1b |
Plate completed | 26 May 1840, state 2, after repair |
Sheet registered | No registration sheet |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black and red-brown printings; NW 10 o'clock ray same as 1a, but not quite so short. Faint trace may be visible on AA, AD, AE-AF, AL, BC-BF, CE, DB, EB-EC, EF, HE, HF, KC, KE, OK, PE, QJ, RC, SJ, TC; NW 7 o'clock ray weak or missing except on CL, FI, LG; NW 5 o'clock ray strong and normal; not so black as 1a; vertical guidelines not so evident; die dot rare |
Narrow horiz mgn | Margins same as 1a |
Narrow vertical margins | Margins same as 1a |
Put to press: black | After 26 May 1840: State 2 [1b] |
Taken from press | End August 1840 |
Returned to press | Late September 1840 |
Taken from press | Early December 1840 & repaired? |
Returned to press | 30 Dec 1840: state 2 |
Taken from press | January 1841 |
Provisional black printing | 22 January 1841 |
Taken from press | 3 February 1841 |
Put to press: red | 3 or 4 February 1841 |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | Black: 6½ months / 30,000 sheets [Alan Oliver: black 42,000 sheets] Red-brown: 2 months / 6,000 sheets |
Withdrawn | 23 March 1841 |
Defaced | 19 November 1841 |
Destroyed | 11 December 1841 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | Black state 2: 8 June 1840 Red-brown state 2: 25 February 1841 (Unconfirmed 18 February 1841?) |
Second states | All, except those below: |
Third states | AA-AB, AD, AH-AL, BL, CF-CG, CL, IB-ID, JA-JG,JI, KC, LA-LC, MD, ND, OA, PA, PL, QC-QD, QL, RA-RB, RG, RK-RL, SA-SE, SG, SL, TA-TL |
Fourth states | QL, RL, TB, TG-TH, TJ-TK |
Fifth states | QL, RL, TK |
Plate completed | 14 April 1840 |
Sheet registered | 1st: 22 April 1840 [unhardened?] 2nd: 27 April 1840 [hardened?] |
RS: stamps removed | AL, SC-SL, TA-TL |
RS: colour/shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black and red-brown printings; NW 10 o'clock ray missing, except on CI-JL; NW 7 o'clock ray missing on AA-FE and on KA-TL |
Narrow horizontal margins | EB/FB, FL/GL, KH/LH, KL/LL, OB/PB, QB/RB |
Narrow vertical margins | AD/AE, BD/BE, CK/CL, DB/DC, DH/DI, GB/GC, GJ/GK, HB/HC, ME/MF, MI/MJ, NI/NJ |
Put to press in black | 22 April 1840 |
Taken from press | May or June 1840 for repair |
Returned to press | — |
Put to press in red | Possibly Jan 1841 but unconfirmed? |
Provisional black printing | Possibly but unconfirmed? |
Put to press in red | 3 or 4 February 1841 |
Taken from press | March 1841 for repair? |
Returned to press | Not recorded |
Taken from press | April /May 1841? |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | Black: 6½ months / 30,000 sheets [Alan Oliver 32,000 sheets] Red-brown: 2 months / 8,000 sheets |
Defaced | 19 November 1841 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | Black state 1: 2 May 1840 Black state 2: 20 June 1840 Red-brown state 2: 1 March 1841 |
Second states | SD, TA-TC, TE-TL, KE, RD, TG-TL |
Plate completed | 9 May 1840 |
Sheet registered | 9 May 1840 |
RS: stamps removed | AL, SC-SL, TA-TL |
RS: colour/shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black printings; 'K' narrow; 'M' small; 'P' small loop; soft greyish impressions. |
Narrow horizontal margins | AD/BD, KA/LA, LC/MC, LE/ME |
Narrow vertical margins | AD/AE, BD/BE, GA/GB, GD/GE, IG/IH, NJ/NK, QF/QG |
Put to press in black | 12 May 1840 |
Put to press in red | No |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | 2 months / 20,000 - 22,000 sheets |
Withdrawn | 6 July 1840, replaced by plate 7 on 7 July |
Defaced | October 1840? |
Destroyed | After 2 January 1842 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 16 May 1840 |
Second states | None reported |
Plate completed | 23 May 1840 |
Sheet registered | 1st: 1 June 1840 [unhardened] 2nd: 11 June 1840 [hardened] |
RS: stamps removed | 1st: AL, SB, SC-SL, TA-TL 2nd: AL, SC-SL, TA-TL |
RS: colour/shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black and red-brown printings; many weak frame lines; bulging baseline each side of 'O' of ONE |
Narrow horizontal margins | IE/JE, IK/JK, JL/KL, KA/LA, KB/LB, NB/OB, OK/PK, PJ/QJ, PL/QL, QB/RB, QC/RC, RA/SA |
Narrow vert mgn | DD/DE, FK/FL, OA/OB |
Put to press black | 29 May 1840: state 1 |
Taken from press | October 1840: 1st repair |
Returned to press | October 1840: state 2 |
Taken from press | December 1840: 2nd repair |
Returned to press | December 1840: state 3 |
Taken from press | 30 December 1840 |
Put to press in red | 4 January 1841 |
Taken from press | 22 January 1841 |
Provisional black printing | 22-26 January 1841 |
Taken from press | 22-26 January 1841: 3rd repair |
Provisional black printing | 1-2 February 1841: state4 |
Put to press in red | 3 February 1841: state 4 |
Taken from press | 23 March 1841; 4th repair |
Put to press in red | After 23 April 1841: state 5 |
Lifespan at press / No. of sheets | Black: 6 months / 36,000 sheets. Red-brown: 3½ months / 16,000 sheets |
Defaced | 12 November 1841 |
Destroyed | After 2 January 1842 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | Black State 1: 16 June 1840 Black State 2: 21 November 1841 Black State 3: 21 January 1841 Red-brown State 3: 12 February 1841 Red-brown State 4: 6 March 1841 Red-brown State 5: 4 September 1841 |
Second states | AB-AD, AH, BA-BD, CC-CD, DA-DD, EA- ED, EH, FA-FE, GA-GC, GE, GH, HA-HC, HK, IA-IC, JB, KA, LA-LB, MA- MB, NA-NC, OC, OL, PB, QA- QC, RA-RD, RG-RH, SA-SD, SG-SH, TA-TD, TF-TG, TK-TL |
Third states | AB, AH, BA-BC, CC-CD, DA-DD, EA-ED, FA, NA, PB, RD, TA-TB |
Fourth states | BB, CC-CD, DA-DD, EA-ED |
Fifth state | EC |
Plate completed | 8 June 1840 |
Sheet registered | 17 June 1840 |
RS: stamps removed | Registration sheet missing |
RS: colour/shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black; slightly spotted; frames weak |
Put to press in black | 15 June 1840 |
Put to press in red | No |
Withdrawn | December 1840 |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | 6 months / 38,000 sheets |
Defaced | 9 January 1841 |
Destroyed | After 2 January 1842 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 29 June1840 |
Second states | FF-FG, KD-KF, LD, LE, LG, MD, ME, MK, NA-NE, NL, OB-OE, OG, OK, OL, PD-PH, PL, QC, QD, QL, RD, RE, SE, TA-TE |
Third states | MD, ND, PD, PE, PG, QE |
Later states | QE, TE scratches |
Plate completed | 19 June 1840 |
Sheet registered | 8 July 1840 |
RS: stamps removed | Registration sheet missing |
RS: colour/shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black;'O' flaw stage 1: GG-JB; 'O' flaw stage 2: AA-GF; 'E' tall & narrow; 'L' weak serif |
Put to press in black | 26 June 1840 Experimental paper used on 26 and 29 June 1840 |
Put to press in red | No |
Withdrawn | 22 December 1840 |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | 4½ months / 25,000 sheets [Alan Oliver 36,000 sheets] |
Defaced | 9 January 1841 |
Destroyed | After 2 January 1842 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 8 July 1840 |
Second states | FF-FG, KD-KF, LD, LE, LG, MD, ME, MK, NA-NE, NL, OB-OE, OG, OK, OL, PD-PH, PL, QC, QD, QL, RD, RE, SE, TA-TE |
Plate completed | 31 July 1840 |
Sheet registered | 31 July 1840 |
RS stamps removed | AL, SB, SD-SL, TA-TL |
RS colour or shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black and red-brown printings; 'O' flaw AA-OC, OF-OJ, PD, PL; white flaw in SE diagonal ray of NE star; red-brown with faked Archer perf 16 |
Narrow horiz mgn | ED/FD, MF/NF, QI/RI, QK/RK, QL/RL |
Narrow vertical margins | IB/IC, IC/ID, JJ/JK, MA/MB, PJ/PK |
Put to press | 31 July 1840 |
Taken from press | End August 1840 |
Returned to press | 24 September 1840 |
Taken from press | Late 1840 for 1st repair |
Returned to press | Late 1840 after repair |
Trial printings in red and blue | Early December 1840, 4 trial sheets each for the new inks in red-brown and in two shades of blue. |
Taken from press | 24 December 1840 |
Put to press in red | 4 January 1841 |
Taken from press | January 1841 for 2nd repair |
Provisional black printing | 22-26 January 1841 |
Put to press in red | February 1841 |
Taken from press | 23 March 1841 for 3rd repair |
Put to press | April 1841 |
Withdrawn | April/May 1841? |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | Black: 4 months / 30,000 sheets Red-brown: 3½ months / 22,000 sheets |
Defaced | 8 September 1841 |
Destroyed | After 2 January 1842 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | Black: 5 September 1840 Red-brown: 20 February 1841 |
Second states | AD-AL, BA-BL, CJ-CL, DI-DL, EG-EL, FD, FG-FI, FL, GL, HK- HL, II-IL, NE-NJ, OD-OI, OL, PA, PD-PL, QF-QL, RD-RL, SD-SJ, TB-TJ |
Third states | AD-AL, DK, PG, RF-RG, SE-SG, TE-TI |
Plate completed | 7 October 1840 |
Sheet registered | 9 November 1840 |
RS stamps removed | Registration sheet missing |
RS colour or shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black and red-brown printings; 'O' flaw stage 2; white flaw in SE diagonal ray of NE star |
Put to press | 9 November 1840? |
Taken from press | 1840 for 1st repair |
Returned to press | 1840 State 2 |
Taken from press | December 1840 |
Put to press in red | 4 January 1841 |
Taken from press | January 1841 for 2nd repair |
Provisional black printing | 22 January 1841 |
Taken from press | 1 February 1841 for 3rd repair |
Put to press | 4 February 1841 |
Taken from press | 23 March 1841 for 4th repair |
Put to press | 23 April 1842 [Granzow p122] |
Taken from press | 1842 and held in reserve? |
Put to press | Late-1842? |
Withdrawn | 26 January 1843 [Granzow p122] |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | Black: 2 months / 16,000 sheets Red-brown: 4-5 months / 35,000 sheets |
Defaced | 7 October 1843 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | Black: 18 November 1840 Red-brown: 19 February 1841 |
Second states | AA-AL, BB-BD, DG, EC-ED, FA-FF, GA-GE |
Third states | AC-AJ, EC |
Later states | AC-AJ, EC |
Plate completed | 2 December 1840 |
Sheet registered | 8 December 1840 |
RS stamps removed | Registration sheet missing but a complete sheet of Plate 10 in red-brown survives in a private collection. |
RS colour or shade | Black |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black and red-brown printings; 'O' flaw; 'J' square-footed; 'R' hand-cut from 'P': tail added; 'H' and 'T' stumpy; 'I' and 'N' tall; white flaw in SE diagonal ray of NE star |
Put to press in black | On or before 2 December 1840 |
Taken from press | 22 or 24 December 1840 |
Put to press in red | 30 December 1840 |
Taken from press | 22 January 1841 |
Provisional black printing | 22 January 1841 |
Taken from press | 3 February 1841 Possibly remained at press & cleaned? |
Put to press in red | 3 February 1841 |
Taken from press | 23 March 1841 |
Put to press in red | Possible later use in 1841-1842? |
Defaced | 21 February 1843 |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | Black: 1 month / 9,000 sheets [Alan Oliver 8,000 sheets] Red-brown: 4-5 months / 35,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | Black: 2 January 1841 Red-brown: 16 February 1841 [11 February 1841 reported but unconfirmed] |
Second states | BA, BB, BC, BD, BG, BI, BL, CA, CB, CC, CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CI, CJ, CK, CL, DH, DK, DL |
Plate completed | 19 January 1841 |
Sheet registered | 27 January 1841 |
RS stamps removed | Sheet missing |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; black and red-brown printings; NE 7 o'c ray weak or missing; NE frame weak AA-GD, GG-HL; E frames weak; 'J' square; 'E' short and broad |
Put to press in red | 29 January 1841 |
Taken from press | 30 January 1841 |
Provisional black printing | 1 February 1841 |
Taken from press | 3 February 1841 Possibly remained at press & cleaned? |
Put to press in red | 3 February 1841 |
Taken from press | 23 March 1841 |
Put to press in red | 23 April 1841 Dickinson 'thread' paper printing trial |
Put to press in red | 24 April 1841 |
Withdrawn | 26 July 1841 |
Defaced | 16 January 1842 |
Lifespan at press / sheets printed | Black: 2 days / 700 sheets Red-brown: 4½-5 months / 40,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | Black: 4 February 1841 Red-brown: 19 February 1841 |
Second states | AE, AF, AG, AH, AI, AJ, BL, DC, EF, FA, FB, FF, GA, LE, TA, TK |
Third states | AF, AG, AH |
Plate completed | 16 February 1841 |
Sheet registered | 25 February 1841 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS stamps removed | AL, SB-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NE frame weak, except SI-TL; 'E' broad; 'H' short: 'I' tall; 'J' square; E frame-lines weak. |
Narrow horizontal margins | KG/LG-KI/LI, MG/NG-MI/NI, MK/NK, NB/OB, NJ/OJ |
Narrow vertical margins | CC/CD, EG/EH, FH/FI, FK/FL, HK/HL, MG/MH, NH/NI, PA/PB, PD/PE, QA/QB, QC/QD, RA/RB, RG/RH |
Put to press | 16 February 1841 22 April 1841 |
Second states or repairs | AA-AK, BA-BL, CD-CF, CH, CJ-CL, KE, KI-KJ, OA, OE, PA, PH, QG, RH, SJ-SK, TH-TI |
Third states | AC-AK, BB, BD-BJ |
Withdrawn | 21 March Early September 1841? |
Plate defaced | 15 January 1842 |
Lifespan / sheets | 5½ months / 40,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 2 April 1841 |
Plate completed | 14 April 1841 |
Sheet registered | 27 April 1841 |
RS colour or shade | Dull red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Medium to strong |
RS stamps removed | AL, SC-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NE frame weak; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'T' squat; 'J' square. |
Narrow vertical margins | AA/AB, AF/AG, CE/CF, CI/CJ, FB/FC, GE/GF, HB/HC, LB/LC, MA/MB, MH/MI, MK/ML, KE/KF, NA/NB, PD/PE, QB/QC |
Put to press | Around 27 April 1841 |
Second states or repairs | None reported |
Withdrawn | 9 July 1841 |
Plate defaced | 15 July 1841 |
Lifespan / sheets | 2½ months / 21,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 12 May 1841 |
Plate completed | 14 July 1841 |
Sheet registered | 23 July 1841 |
RS colour or shade | Deep chocolate |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS stamps removed | AL, SD-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NE frame weak, except EL, PE,PF; 'D' tall; 'E' broad; 'J' square; many doubled base-lines |
Narrow horiz margins | PK/QK |
Narrow vertical margins | EC/ED, EH/EI, KC/KD, KE/KD, RG/RH, RJ/RK |
Put to press | 23 July 1841 |
2nd state or repair | PC, PE, RF and possibly RB |
Withdrawn | 1842? |
Plate defaced | 21 February 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7-8 months? / 48,000 [Alan Oliver 30,000] |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 1 September 1841 |
Plate completed | 16 July 1841 |
Sheet registered | 23 July 1841 |
RS colour or shade | Very deep red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS stamps removed | AL, SD-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NE frame weak except FF, HF, IH; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'J' rounded; 'I' short; many basal shifts |
Narrow horiz. margins | QK/RK |
Narrow vertical margins | GG/GH, KH/KI, KK/KL, RG/RH |
Put to press | 26 July 1841 |
Second state or repair | AC-AG, AI, BD-BE, IA, OI, RG-RK, SI-SJ, TC-TE, TG-TK |
Withdrawn | 21 February 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7-8 months / 48,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | State 1: 16 August 1841 |
Plate completed | 15 September 1841 |
Sheet registered | 21 September 1841 |
RS colour or shade | Plum |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, EK-EL, FG-FL, GL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many horizontal and vertical guide lines; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'J' square |
Narrow horiz. margins | FA/GA, QE/RE |
Narrow vertical margins | CD/CE, CF/CG, CH/CI, DF/DG, TC/TD, TH/TI |
Put to press | 16 September 1841 |
Second state or repair | AI-AL, BG-BL, CI- CL, DI- DL, EI-EL, FI-FL, GJ-GL, RI-RL, QG-QL, SD-SF, TD-TI |
Withdrawn | 20 January 1842 |
Plate defaced | 5 March 1842 |
Lifespan / sheets | 4 months / 31,600 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 24 October 1841 |
Plate completed | 9 October 1841 |
Sheet registered | 3 November 1841 |
RS colour or shade | Very deep red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, TA, TD-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'J' square |
Narrow horiz. margins | FB/GB, IK/JK, KI/LI, ML/NL, OL/PL |
Narrow vertical margins | LC/LD, NK/NL, RG/RH, QK/QL, |
Put to press | 26 October 1841 [and 1843?] |
Second state or repair | None |
Withdrawn | 1843? |
Plate defaced | 7 October 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 6-7 months / 50,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 18 November 1841 |
Plate completed | 10 December 1841 |
Sheet registered | 11 December 1841 |
RS colour or shade | Light red-brown |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, TA, TD-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'J' square; small break in NE to AA-HE; many weak SE corners |
Narrow horiz. margins | FC/GC, IB/JB, IL/JL, QJ/RJ |
Narrow vertical margins | AB/AC, ED/EE, FJ/FK, GK/GL, HD/HE, JI/JJ, KH/KI, MD/ME, MI/MJ, PA/PB, QE/QF, RA/RB, RG/RH, TB/TC |
Put to press | 11 December 1841? |
2nd state or repair | OA, PA, QA, QB, RA, RB, SA, SB, TA |
Later states | CB |
Withdrawn | August 1842? |
Plate defaced | 21 February 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½ months / 50,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 7 January 1842 |
Plate completed | 11 February 1842 |
Sheet registered | 4 March 1842 |
RS colour or shade | Light red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Faint trace |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FK-FL, GG-GL, HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; triple NE frame-break AI, CA- CC, DH, EA-TL; 'J' square; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'T' short and stubby |
Narrow horizontal margins | KH/KL |
Narrow vert. margins | ED/EE, HG/HH, LI/LJ, OJ/OK |
Put to press | 4 March 1842? & March 1843? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later states | MB |
Withdrawn | August 1842 or 18 August 1843 |
Plate defaced | August 1843? |
Lifespan / sheets | 10-10½ months / 55,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 25 March 1842 |
Plate completed | 12 March 1842 |
Sheet registered | 17 March 1842 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Very weak |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, KJ-KL, LG-LL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; multiple NE frame- breaks AA-AE, AJ-TL, but CA-CB inner end only; 'J' square; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; most 'D's have defective serifs |
Narrow horizontal margins | HI/IJ, IK/JK, IL/JL, JA/KA, JC/KC, JD/KD, KH/LH, MC/NC |
Narrow vert. margins | KF/KG, OF/OG, PF/PG |
Put to press | 17 March 1842? |
2nd state or repair | AE, AF, AH, BA, BD, CA, DA, RA-RC, SA-SC, TA-TD |
Withdrawn | 27 January 1843 |
Plate defaced | 21 February 1843? |
Lifespan / sheets | 10 months / 55,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 11 May 1842 |
Plate completed | 12 September 1842 |
Sheet registered | 14 September 1842 |
RS colour or shade | Deep dull red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HF-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NW 10 o'c ray flaw; NE 1 o'c ray flaw; 'J' square; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; marks E of NW star on OK, OL, PA-PD |
Narrow horiz. margins | BK/CK, EH/FH |
Narrow vertical margins | BG/BH, FE/FF, IA/IB, IE/IF, JE/JF, ME/MF, RH/RI, SH/SI, TE/TF, TH/TI |
Put to press | 14 September 1842 |
Second state or repair | AA, BA, BK, IA-IB, MD-ME, FG, QG-QH, SJ, TD, TF-TL |
Later states | BK, IB, LD/MD, PG/QG/QH |
Withdrawn | 16 September 1843 |
Plate defaced | 7 October 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 8-9 months / 42,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 12 October 1842 |
Plate completed | 6 December 1842 |
Sheet registered | 6 December 1842 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Faint |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GJ-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NW 10 o'c ray flaw; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'F' tall; 'J' round; 'R' recut from 'P' |
Narrow vertical margins | AG/AH, BG/BH, EG/EH, HD/HE, RK/RL |
Put to press | 6 December 1842 |
Second state or repair | BA, BB, BC, BD, CA, CB, CC, CD, DA, DB, DC, DD, DE, EA, EB, EC, ED, EE |
Withdrawn | 18 August 1843 |
Plate defaced | 7 October 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7 months / 41,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 16 January 1843 |
Plate completed | 26 January 1843 |
Sheet registered | 27 January 1843 |
RS colour or shade | Deep dull red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Very faint |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HG-HL, IL, TA |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NW 10 o'c ray flaw; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'F' tall; 'J' round; 'R' recut from 'P' |
Narrow horiz. margins | EA/FA |
Narrow vertical margins | BE/BF, IF/IG, JA/JB, JC/JD, KI/KJ, NF/NG, RH/RI, TF/TG, TH/TI |
Put to press | 27 January 1843 |
Second state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | 16 September 1843 |
Plate defaced | 7 October 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½-8 months / 45,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 31 March 1843 |
Plate completed | 6 February 1843 |
Sheet registered | 7 February 1843 |
RS colour or shade | Dull red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BD-BL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NW 10 o'c ray flaw; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'F' tall; some 'R's cut from 'P's; 'J' square; frames of NA-NE to TA-TE skewed; deep blueing & ivory heads known |
Narrow horizontal margins | IC/JC, II/JI, JA/KA, JB/KB, MH/NH, RA/SA |
Narrow vertical margins | CJ/CK, GG/GH, GH/GI, JJ/JK, LJ/LK, NA/NB, NG/NH, NJ/NK, PA/PB, RA/RB, QA/QB, TB/TC, TJ/TK |
Put to press | 7 February 1843 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | 16 September 1843? |
Plate defaced | 7 October 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7 months / 50,000 sheets |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Earliest date | 27 March 1843 |
Plate completed | 14 February 1843 |
Sheet registered | 20 February 1843 |
RS colour or shade | Dark red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, RG-RL, SJ-SL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NW 10 o'c ray flaw; 'D' tall; 'E' tall; 'F' tall; 'R' recut from 'P' 'J' rounded; corner frames strengthened; many bottom doubled; deep blueing & ivory heads known |
Narrow horizontal margins | JD/KD, JF/KF, KH/KH, LH/MH, RF/SF |
Narrow vertical margins | BJ/BK, CH/CI, EF/EG, KG/KH, MG/MH, NI/NJ |
Put to press | 21 February 1843 |
2nd state or repair | PA, QA, RA, SA, TA |
Withdrawn | 2 October 1843 |
Plate defaced | 7 October 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½ months / 53,000 sheets |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Earliest date | 25 March 1843 |
Plate completed | 12 April 1843 |
Sheet registered | 7 June 1843 |
RS colour or shade | Rich red-brown |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, RL, SE-SL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; NW 10 o'c ray flaw; 'D' broad; 'E' broad; 'J' square; many 'A's very high and tilt E; many horizontal guide lines; deep blueing & ivory heads known |
Narrow horiz. margins | EL/FL, HA/IA |
Narrow vertical margins | BI/BJ, GI/GJ, IC/ID, JB/JC, RE/RF, TB/TC |
Put to press | 7 June 1843 |
Second state or repair | PA, PB, QA-QC, RA-RC, SA- SE, TA-TH |
Withdrawn | Late January 1844? |
Plate defaced | 25 June 1843 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½ months / 52,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 14 July 1843 |
Plate completed | Early July 1843 |
Sheet registered | 7 July 1843 |
RS colour or shade | Deep dull red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Faint |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BD-BL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'D' broad; 'E' very broad & distinctive; KK/KL to TK/TL corrosion marks; deep blueing & ivory heads known. |
Narrow horiz. margins | AC/BC, CL/DL, DK/EK, QJ/RJ |
Narrow vertical margins | AF/AG, CJ/CK, EJ/EK, IB/IC, IF/IG, LI/LO, MD/ME, MJ/MK, ND/NE, OD/OE, PD/PE, QC/QD |
Put to press | 7 July 1843? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | 17 February 1844 |
Plate defaced | 25 June 1844? |
Lifespan / sheets | 6-6½ months / 40,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 17 July 1843 |
Plate completed | 17 August 1843 |
Sheet registered | 17 November 1843 [not October] |
RS colour or shade | Very deep red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Very faint |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GG-GL, HJ-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'D' broad; 'E' broad; 'J' square |
Narrow horiz. margins | JH/KH, JL/KL, ML/NL, OA/PA |
Narrow vertical margins | DA/DB, JH/JI, KC/KD, ME/MF, MH/MI, PD/PE, TD/TE |
Put to press | 17 November 1843 |
2nd state or repair | AF, AI, JB, KB, LB, TA, TB |
Later states | KB state 3; KB state 4 |
Withdrawn | 29 February 1844 |
Plate defaced | 25 June 1844 |
Lifespan / sheets | 3 months / 32,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 16 December 1843 |
Plate completed | 16 February 1844 |
Sheet registered | 29 February 1844 |
RS colour or shade | Rich red-brown |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BA-BF, CA-CC, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'D' broad; 'E' broad; 'J' square; 'P' flaw on AB, AD, BD-BG, BI, BL, CA, CF, CH, CI, DE, DI, DK, EB- EF, EK, EL, FA, FI, GB, HG, HH, IA, ID, JA, JB, JH |
Narrow horiz. margins | FK/GK, IC/JC, OB/RB, RF/SF |
Narrow vertical margins | GJ/GK, HC/HD, HJ/HK, IB/IC, MI/MJ, NK/NL, OD/OE, QC/QD, RK/RL |
Put to press | 29 February 1844 and January 1845? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Mid-1844?; March 1845? |
Plate defaced | 1 April 1846 |
Lifespan / sheets | 6 months / 40000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 16 April 1844 |
Plate completed | 22 February 1845 |
Sheet registered | 29 February 1844 |
RS colour or shade | Very deep red-brown |
RS ivory heads | Faint |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HG-HL, IJ-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'D' broad; 'E' broad; 'J' square; NW 10 o'c ray flaw; traces of 'E' flaw AA-NE; NE 1 o'c ray flaw |
Narrow horiz. margins | LD/MD, RE/SE |
Narrow vertical margins | AE/AF, CD/CE, DE/DF, FF/FG, GE/GF, IC/ID, JD/JE, LB/LC, OD/OE, LF/LG, PE/PF, QB/QC, SB/SC |
Put to press | 29 February 1844 and late-1844? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | 12 September 1844 and late-1844? |
Plate defaced | 27 February 1845 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9 months? / 48,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 23 April 1844 |
Plate completed | 19 June 1844 |
Sheet registered | 19 June 1844 |
RS colour or shade | Deep red-brown, 8E7-8F7 |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FG-FL, GJ-GL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'J' square; 'E' & 'T' flaw; NW 10 o'c ray flaw but not on all impressions |
Narrow horiz. margins | JC/KC, JE/KE, JG/KG, PD/QD |
Narrow vertical margins | CI/CK, CJ/CK, JI/JJ, TB/TC |
Put to press | 19 June 1844; returned late-1845? |
2nd state or repair | AD, AE, AF |
Later states | BD |
Withdrawn | 7 January 1845; later in 1845? |
Plate defaced | 1 April 1846 |
Lifespan / sheets | 22 months / 55,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 6 August 1844 |
Plate completed | End-Nov / beginning-Dec 1844 |
Sheet registered | 3 December 1844 |
RS colour or shade | Rich red-brown, 8E7-8E8 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Low, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GG-GL, HJ-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'J' square |
Narrow horiz. margins | LD/MD |
Narrow vertical margins | BE/BF, BF/BG, BH/BI, CB/CC, CD/CE, CJ/CK, DD/DE, DF/DG, EC/ED, FF/FG, GD/GE, HD/HE, HD/HE, ID/IE, IF/IG, IJ/IK, KH/KI, LF/LG, NF/NG to PF/PG, OJ/OK, PD/PE, PH/PI, PJ/PK, QE/QF, RD/RE, RF/RG to TF/TG, SD/SE, SH/SI, TJ/TK |
Put to press | 2 December 1844 [before registration] |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later states | BL |
Withdrawn | June 1845? |
Plate defaced | 1 April 1846 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7 months / 45,000 sheets |
Issued shades | Some a redder tone than earlier plates. |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 21 January 1845 |
Plate completed | 16 December 1844 |
Sheet registered | 17 December 1844 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 8E7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Central, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GG-GI, HJ-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; generally poorly laid down; stamps angled and badly spaced; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | BC/CC, BI/CI, DG/EG, DL/EL, GE/HE, MK/NK, ML/NL, PE/QE, PK/QK, PL/QL |
Narrow vertical margins | BA/BB, BB/BC, CJ/CK, DB/DC, DE/DF, EE/EF, FC/FD, FG/FH, Fl/FJ, ID/IE, KF/KG, KK/KL, OK/OL, PC/PD, PK/PL, QA/QB, QB/QC, RB/RC, RC/RD, RI/RJ, RJ/RK, SG/SH, TC/TD, TG/TH |
Put to press | 19 December 1844 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later states | KF, TB-TC |
Withdrawn | End-June 1845? |
Plate defaced | 1 April 1846 |
Lifespan / sheets | 6½ months / 48,000 sheets |
Issued shades | Usually a redder tone than earlier plates |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 12 February 1845 |
Plate completed | 23 January 1845 |
Sheet registered | 25 January 1845 |
RS colour or shade | Flat red-brown, 8D7-8E5/7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AL, RJ, SD-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'E' flaw on most impressions; 'J' square |
Narrow horiz. margins | JE/KE, RB/SB |
Narrow vertical margins | AG/AH, BB/BC, CB/CC, DB/DC, EB/EC, GB/GC, HB/HC, IB/IC, IJ/IK, JA/JB, KG/KH, NJ/NK, PK/PL, QC/QD |
Put to press | 25 January 1845 |
2nd state or repair | SH re-entered |
Withdrawn | Unrecorded: early-August 1845? |
Plate defaced | 1 April 1846 |
Lifespan / sheets | 6½ months / 60,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 1 March 1845 |
Plate completed | 6 February 1845 |
Sheet registered | 7 February 1845 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 8D7-8E5/7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Low, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AL, HL, RK-RL, SG-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'E' flaw on most impressions; many frame lines recut or strengthened; 'J' square |
Narrow horiz. margins | MK/NK |
Narrow vertical margins | BD/BE, KB/KC, MC/MD, PE/PF, RE/RF |
Put to press | 7 February 1845 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Unrecorded: mid-August 1845? |
Plate defaced | 1 April 1846 |
Lifespan / sheets | 6½ months / 60,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 27 March 1845 |
Plate completed | 4 April 1845 |
Sheet registered | 9 May 1845 |
RS colour or shade | Deepish red-brown, 8E6 |
RS ivory heads | Very, very faint to nil |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HG-HL, IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'R's recut from 'P'; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | BG/CG, BH/CH, FA/GA, FB/GB, FC/GC, GI/HI, GJ/HJ, IJ/JJ, PA/QA, QH/RH, QI/RI, QJ/RJ |
Narrow vert. margins | HC/HD, IF/IG, JJ/JK |
Put to press | 9 May 1845? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | late January 1846? |
Plate defaced | 1 April 1846 |
Lifespan / sheets | 8½ months / 74,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 30 July 1845 |
Plate completed | 20 June 1845 |
Sheet registered | 25 June 1845 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 8E6 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Quite low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GI, GK-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'J' square; 'O' oval |
Narrow horizontal margins | AK/BK, FJ/GJ, LI-LK/MI-MK, ML/NL, OB/PB |
Narrow vertical margins | OD/OE, PH/PI, QK/QL, RC/RD |
Put to press | 25 June 1845 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Mid-April 1846 |
Plate defaced | 15 May 1847 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9 months / 75,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 18 August 1845 |
Plate completed | 24 July 1845 |
Sheet registered | 14 August 1845 |
RS colour or shade | Deepish red-brown, 8E6-8F7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Quite low, very slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BD-BL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many blurs in NW, SW and W; break on the NE frame line on most stamps listed as NEWk; 'J' square; marks close to left frame line of many impressions |
Narrow horizontal margins | CH/DH, CJ/DJ, IK/JK, IL/JL, JA/KA, JB/KB, PA/QA, PH/QH |
Narrow vertical margins | CC/CD, EC/ED |
Put to press | 14 August 1845 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-June 1846? |
Plate defaced | 15 May 1847 |
Lifespan / sheets | 11 months / 84,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 3 September 1845 |
Plate completed | 13 August 1845 |
Sheet registered | 14 August 1845 |
RS colour or shade | Deepish red-brown, 8E6-8E7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Quite low, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BC, BE-BL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1 |
Narrow horizontal margins | JB/KB, JH/KH, JI/KI, QG/RG, QH/RH, QI/RI |
Narrow vertical margins | CF-EF/CG-EG, KC/KD, LC/LD, MI/MJ, QJ/QK |
Put to press | 14 August 1845 |
2nd state or repair | AF re-entered |
Later states | EC, JK, RB, TH |
Withdrawn | Early-July 1846 |
Plate defaced | 15 May 1847 |
Lifespan / sheets | 11 months / 96,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 8 September 1845 |
Plate completed | 30 August 1845 |
Sheet registered | 2 September 1845 |
RS colour or shade | Deep red-brown, 8E6-8F7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Very slightly low, central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GJ-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; most side frame lines very weak; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | IE-IK/JE-JK, JL/KL, KK/LK, PJ/QJ |
Narrow vertical margins | JJ/JK, NB/NC, NF/NG, PF/PG, QF/QG, QI-SI/QJ-SJ |
Put to press | 2 September 1845 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Mid-April 1846 |
Plate defaced | 15 May 1847 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½ months / 64,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 2 November 1845 |
Plate completed | 29 November 1845 |
Sheet registered | 3 December 1845 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 8E6 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FI, GG-GL, HK-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | CA/DA, CH-CJ/DH-DJ, EA/FA, EC/FC, LJ-LL/MJ-ML, QF/RF, QI/RI |
Narrow vertical margins | BC/BD, BF/BG, FC/FD, GC/GD, NC/ND, OC/OD, RF/RG |
Put to press | 3 December 1845? |
2nd state or repair | None reported; BH possibly re-entered |
Withdrawn | Mid-October 1846 |
Plate defaced | 15 May 1847 |
Lifespan / sheets | 10½ months / 98,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 5 February 1846 |
Plate completed | 26 March 1846 |
Sheet registered | 17 April 1846 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E7-8F7 |
RS ivory heads | Very weak |
RS watermark | Central, very slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AL, BL, SE-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; numerous burr rubs including every stamp of the 'K' row; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | EJ/FJ, EK/FK, GA/HA, GC/HC, GD/HC, GE/HE, GI/HI, GL/HL, HJ/IJ, HK/IK, JG/KG, KC/LC |
Narrow vertical margins | HK/HL |
Put to press | 17 April 1846? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later states | None reported |
Withdrawn | Mid-April 1847 |
Plate defaced | 15 May 1847 |
Lifespan / sheets | 12 months / 113,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 10 July 1846 |
Plate completed | 30 April 1845 |
Sheet registered | 8 June 1846 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 8D7-8E7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Extremely low, very slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AL, JL, RG-RH, SG-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; all corner square frame lines are weak but complete; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | JA/KA,JB/KB, JC/KC, JD/KD, JE/KE, JF/KF, JG/KG, JI/KI, NK/OK |
Narrow vertical margins | LC/LD, MC/MD |
Put to press | 8 June 1846? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later states | None reported |
Withdrawn | January 1848? |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 18 months / 154,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 7 September 1846 |
Plate completed | 17 June 1846 |
Sheet registered | 30 July 1846 [30 June 1846] |
RS colour or shade | Slightly pale red-brown, 8E5-8E6 |
RS ivory heads | Very weak |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HJ-HL, IG-IL, TA |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; signs of corrosion pitting [due to hardening]; the so-called 'NJ' 're-entry' is almost certainly due to this; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | CH/DH, GH/HH, IE/JE, IF/JF, JA/KA, JB/KB, JC/KC, JG/KG |
Narrow vertical margins | BC/BD, CJ/CK, ME/MF, RC/RD |
Put to press | 30 June 1846, before registration |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-November 1847? |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 16½ months / 133,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate Archer 11½-12 roulette trial |
Earliest date | 13 August 1846 |
Plate completed | Early-October 1846? |
Sheet registered | 21 October 1846 |
RS colour or shade | Rich red-brown, 8E7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Slightly low, central |
RS stamps removed | AL, ID-IL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'HJ' described elsewhere as 're- entry', but more likely caused by pitting from hardening; 'OA' similarly affected |
Narrow horizontal margins | FF/GF, FJ/GJ, GH/HH, KH/IH, LJ/MJ, LK/MK |
Narrow vertical margins | AJ/AK, EB/EC, EF/EG, EI/EJ, OI/OJ, PI/PJ |
Put to press | Shortly after 21 October 1846 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-January 1848 |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 14½ months / 145,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 3 November reported |
Plate completed | 19 October 1846 |
Sheet registered | 14 January 1847 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown/chocolate, 8E7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, JK-JL, KF-KL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many corner square frame lines recut and obvious ones listed; incompletely erased 'D' beneath 'H' of HA-HC; 'J' square; weakness in numerous impressions in NE on left hand side of top line |
Narrow horizontal margins | CJ/DJ, GA/HA, GD/HD, GL/HL, NI/OI, NJ/OJ |
Narrow vertical margins | BI/BJ, CI/CJ, EB/EC, FH/FI, TI/TJ |
Put to press | On or shortly after 14 January 1847 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later states | BI, HL |
Withdrawn | End-December 1847 |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 11½ months / 94,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 2 March 1847 |
Plate completed | 31 October 1846 |
Sheet registered | 14 January 1847 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 8D7-8E6 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Central, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HF-HL, IK-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many impressions show weakness in NE, on left-hand side of top line; most 'S' row stamps have bulges beneath the 'O' of ONE; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | DJ/EJ, HC/IC, HD/ID, HE/IE, HF/IF, HG/IG, HH/IH, KA/LA, KH/LH, MA/NA, MB/NB, PL/QL, QJ/RJ |
Narrow vertical margins | BI/BJ, CI/CJ, ED/EE, EJ/EK, KJ/KK, RF/RG, TJ/TK |
Put to press | 14 January 1847? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Mid-April 1848 |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 15 months / 100,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate [faked perf 14] |
Earliest date | 2 May 1847 |
Plate completed | 8 February 1847 |
Sheet registered | 19 April 1847 |
RS colour or shade | Light red-brown, 8E6 |
RS ivory heads | Faint |
RS watermark | Central, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HF-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many corner squares recut but only the most significant listed; 'J' square |
Narrow horizontal margins | BK/CK, DI/EI, EA/FA, EB/FB, FA/GA, FC/GC, GB/HB, GE/HE, GI/HI, KD/LD, NH/OH, NI/OI, NJ/OJ |
Narrow vertical margins | AK/AL, EG/EH |
Put to press | 19 April 1847? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-March 1848 |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 10½ months / 104,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 26 May 1847 |
Plate completed | 7 April 1847 |
Sheet registered | 19 April 1847 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 8E6-8F6 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | High, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BD-B, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many frame lines recut; many other strong frames are due to strong frame lines on the transfer roller with little or no burnishing; the few weak frame lines are listed in the lettering tables |
Narrow horizontal margins | EG/FG, EH/FH, FD/GD, FE/GE, FJ/GJ, FK/GK, MB/NB, OA/PA, OC/PC, ID/PD, OE/PE, OF/PF, OG/PG, OH/PH, OI/PI, OK/PK, OL/PL, PJ/QJ, RF/SF, RG/SG |
Narrow vert mgn | IK/IL, LK/LL, MK/ML, TF/TG |
Put to press | Mid-July 1847 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-October 1848 |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 15 months / 126,000 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 15 December 1847 |
Plate completed | 4 December 1847 |
Sheet registered | 12 January 1848 |
RS colour or shade | Deep, rich red-brown, 9E6-9F6 |
RS ivory heads | Strong - paper very blued |
RS watermark | Central, well right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BD-BL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; most of the letters are abnormal and many recut or distorted; only outstanding varieties listed; many corner square frame lines recut; many NE & NW square frame lines excessively weak; all 'S's inverted |
Narrow horizontal margins | JK/KK, KF/LF, LH/MH, LI/MI, LJ/MK, LL/ML, NA/OA, NB/OB |
Narrow vert mgn | EI/EJ, MI/MJ, QI/QJ, SI/SJ, TB/TC |
Put to press | 12 January 1848? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | End-October 1848 |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9½ months / 84,400 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 29 February 1848 |
Plate completed | 8 December 1847 |
Sheet registered | 12 January 1848 |
RS colour or shade | Deep brown, 9E4-9E5 |
RS ivory heads | Very weak |
RS watermark | Very low, right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BE-BL, TK-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; most letters distorted or undersize or blurred; many E frame lines recut and blurred to varying degrees; semi-constant roller flaw in NE square of 79, 84 & 85: a single frame line break at the E end of the top frame line |
Narrow horizontal margins | FG/GG, FH/GH, IB/JB, JC/KC, NG/OG, NH/OH, OA/PA, OC/PC, OE/PE, OF/PF, PK/QK, QC/RC, QD/RD, QF/RF, SD/TD, SE/TE |
Wide horizontal margins | R/S rows |
Narrow vertical margins | DA/DB, DJ/DK, EK/EL, PC/PD, QB/QC, TF/TG |
Put to press | 12 January 1848? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | End-October 1848 |
Plate defaced | 2 December 1848 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9½ months / 88,000 |
Separation | Imperforate; faked Archer perf 16 |
Earliest date | 4 February 1848 |
Plate completed | 13 December 1847 |
Sheet registered | 12 January 1848 |
RS colour or shade | Deep rich brown, 9E4 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | Slightly high, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BD-BL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; most corner square frame lines weak; 'A' tall and thin; 'B' small and cramped; some 'C's large and 'open'; 'J' thin; most 'L's split serif [4] |
Narrow horizontal margins | BA/CA, BB/CB, CJ/DJ, II-IK/JI-JK, NA-ND/OA-OD, OK/PK |
Narrow vertical margins | BA/BB, JB/JC, JG/JH, LE/LF, LI/LJ, TF/TG |
Put to press | 12 January 1848? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | March 1849 |
Plate defaced | 6 March 1850 |
Lifespan / sheets | 14 months / 90,800 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 18 February 1848 |
Plate completed | 16 December 1847 |
Sheet registered | 12 January 1848 |
RS colour or shade | Flat red-brown, 9E5 |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS watermark | Slightly high, central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BD-BL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; poorly laid down for lateral spacing; 'G' more rounded than normal |
Narrow horizontal margins | EK/FK, FF-FH/GF-GH, HA-HE/ IA-IE, HJ/IJ, HK/IK, IA-IK/JA-JK, KA-KC/LA-LC, NF-NL/ OF-OL, OK/OL, QA-QD/RA-RD |
Narrow vertical margins | FE/FF, FK/FL, HB/HC, IA/IB, JC/JD, JI/JJ, OK/OL |
Put to press | Early-March 1848? |
2nd state or repair | TI reentered |
Later state | JA |
Withdrawn | March 1849? |
Plate defaced | 6 March 1850 |
Lifespan / sheets | 12 months / 124,400 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 1 May 1848 |
Plate completed | 25 March 1848 |
Sheet registered | 11 October 1848 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 8E6-9E6 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Slightly high, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HF-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; roller flaw as plate 79: break in the NE of the NE corner square, not constant on all impressions. |
Narrow horizontal margins | CJ/DJ, CL/DL, GD/HD, ME/NE, NG/OG, NI/OI, OD/PD, OF/PF, QD/RD, SA/TA |
Narrow vertical margins | FC/FD, FK/FL, GA/GB, HI/HJ, II/IJ, IK/IL, JK/JL, SK/SL |
Put to press | 11 October 1848? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | Sheet division marks added Nov 1849 |
Withdrawn | December 1849? |
Plate defaced | 6 March 1850 |
Lifespan / sheets | 14 months / 108,000 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 23 December 1848 |
Plate completed | 3 April 1848 |
Sheet registered | 11 October 1848 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 9E6 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | High, right? |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FL, GG-GL, HK-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; some impressions show roller flaw as on plates 79 and 84: see lettering tables; many are also 'spotted' on stamp and margins, resembling corrosion during the hardening process. |
Narrow horizontal margins | CA/DA, CB/DB, CJ/DJ, CK/DK, CD-CH/DD-DH, GA/HA, GE-GG/ HE-HG, II/JI, IJ/JJ, IL/JL, NE-NJ/ OE-OJ, NL/OL, OB/PB, PK/QK, PL/QL, SB/TB, SH/TH, SI/TI |
Narrow vertical margins | BC/BD, BF/BG, CF/CG, EK/EL, FF/FG, IF/IG, KF/KG, LI/ LJ, MF/MG, NK/NL, SK/SL |
Put to press | Mid-November 1848? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | Sheet division marks added Nov 1849 |
Withdrawn | December 1849? |
Plate defaced | 6 March 1850 |
Lifespan / sheets | 13 months / 121,600 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 16 December 1848 |
Plate completed | 25 September 1848 |
Sheet registered | 11 October 1848 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 9E4 |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, II, IK-IL, JG-JL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; tail of 'R' recut by hand from 'P'; many top and bottom frame lines, especially in the corners have been recut; 'E' defective, with small dot on back in AE-DE, ED-EH, EL, IE-LE, PE. |
Narrow horizontal margins | DK/EK, DL/EL, EH/FH, GA/HA, GB/HB, KD-KF/LD-LF, KL/LL, LG/MG, LH/MH, MC-MG/NC- NG, OB/PB, OG/PG, PC/QC, PD/QD, PJ-PL/QJ-QL, QE/RE, QF/RF, SA-SD/TA-TD |
Narrow vertical margins | EC/ED, EG/EH, HK/HL, OK/OL, QK/QL, RF/RG, TF/TG, TI/TJ |
Put to press | Mid-November 1848? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | Sheet division marks added Nov 1849 |
Withdrawn | December 1849? |
Plate defaced | 6 March 1850 |
Lifespan / sheets | 13 months / 118,400 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 13 January 1849 |
Plate completed | 28 September 1848 |
Sheet registered | 11 October 1848 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 9E5 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GJ-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; tail of 'R' recut by hand from 'P'; many impressions have strong corner square frame lines, mostly due to recutting: only the more obvious are listed; 'E' defective, with small dot on back, in EB, ED, W'E' of EE, EF, EJ, EK. |
Narrow horizontal margins | CL/DL, II/JI, NL/OL |
Narrow vert mgn | EJ/EK, JC/JD, PG/PH, QC/QD |
Put to press | Mid-November 1848? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | Sheet division marks added Nov 1849 |
Withdrawn | December 1849? |
Plate defaced | 6 March 1850 |
Lifespan / sheets | 13 months / 128,400 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 5 January 1849 |
Plate completed | 23 February 1849 |
Sheet registered | 20 March 1849 |
RS colour or shade | Deep red-brown, 9D4-9E4 |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS watermark | Well low, central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HJ-HL, IG-IL, TI |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many corner squares and frame lines strengthened and recut: outstanding examples listed; one sheet had the first-known 'SPECIMEN' overprint |
Narrow horizontal margins | G/H columns, CC/CD, CH/CI, CJ/CK, DB/DC, EA/EB, EC/ED, PE/PF, SE/SF |
Narrow vert mgn | CI/CJ |
Put to press | End-March/early-April 1849? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | Sheet division marks added Nov 1849 |
Withdrawn | Early-December 1849 |
Plate defaced | 6 March 1850 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9 months / 63,300 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 12 May 1849 |
Plate completed | 12 April 1849 |
Sheet registered | 24 May 1849 |
RS colour or shade | Red-brown, 9D4 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | High, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FL, GG-GL, HK-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; practically every frame line has been strengthened: marked C in lettering tables; unrecut frame lines shown in full; >1 sheet received 'SPECIMEN' overprints. |
Narrow vertical margins | BB-LB/BC-LC, BF-TF/BG-TG, BJ-EJ/BK-EK, LE/LF, MC-TC/MD-TD |
Put to press | Mid-April 1849? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | Sheet division marks added Nov 1849 |
Withdrawn | Early-January 1850 |
Plate defaced | 6 March 1850 |
Lifespan / sheets | 8½ months / 70,000 |
Separation | Imperforate & 1 sheet Archer perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 9 July 1849 Archer perf 16: 1 April 1854 |
Plate completed | 19 May 1849 |
Sheet registered | 24 May 1849 |
RS colour or shade | Dull reddish-brown, 8E4 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Central, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HI, HK-HL, IG-IL,TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; most NE stars have weak 10 o'c and 11 o'c rays; many vertical blurs in columns P to T; corner squares mostly recut any many extensions. |
Narrow vert mgn | B/C, G/H, H/I & J/K columns; BE/BF, HE/HF |
Put to press | End-May 1849? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | Sheet division marks added Nov 1849 |
Withdrawn | Early-January 1850? |
Plate defaced | 10 March 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½ months / 72,400 |
Separation | Imperforate & 50 sheets Archer perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 18 Sep 1849 Archer p16: 10 Nov 1850 |
Issued shades | Light brown to bright reddish- brown 7D6-8D6 |
Plate completed | 1 June 1849 |
Sheet registered | 6 December 1849 |
RS colour or shade | Very dull reddish-brown, 9E3 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HG-HL, IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many corner squares and right-hand frames recut resulting in blurs and extensions |
Narrow horiz. margins | QA/RA, QI/RI, SJ/TJ |
Narrow vertical margins | BH/BI, NA/NB, OA/OB, PA/PB, SA/SB, TA/TB; D/E columns down to JD/JE |
Put to press | Early-June 1849? |
Later state | None reported |
Withdrawn | July 1850? |
Plate defaced | 10 March 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 12½ months / 83,600 |
Separation | Imperforate; Archer perf 16, 400 sheets |
Earliest date | Imperf: 11 Jan 1850 Archer p16: 10 Oct 1850 |
Issued shades | Dull orange-brown to bright reddish- brown, 7D5-8D6 |
Plate completed | 11 June 1849 |
Sheet registered | 6 December 1849 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E6 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Central, slightly low |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HG-HL, IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many corner squares and right-hand frames recut resulting in blurs and extensions; all 'D's are very high |
Narrow horiz. margins | BG/CG, BI/CI |
Narrow vertical margins | BD/BE, CB/CC, CD/CE, DD/DE, C & D columns from N to T |
Put to press | December 1849 to October 1850? |
2nd state or repair | RL re-entered; TG retouched. |
Later state | RL, OL/PL scratched |
Withdrawn | Late-March 1851? |
Plate defaced | 22 October 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 17 months / 144,000 |
Separation | Imperforate; 300-350 sheets Archer p16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 20 Jan 1850 Archer p16: 16 Oct 1850 |
Issued shades | Dull orange-brown to light brown, 7D5-7D6 |
Plate completed | 28 August 1849 [as plate 100; original plate 95 rejected, June 1849] renumbered 95 on 3 January 1850] |
Sheet registered | 7 January 1850 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E5 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Central, right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FL, GG-GL, HK-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many corner squares recut and frame-line extensions; very few burrs or blurs; many extended serifs. |
Narrow horiz. Margins | BL/CL, CG/DG, KE/LE, KL/LL, QI/RI |
Narrow vertical margins | BD/BE, IF/IG, JD/JC, MB/MC to OB/OC, PF/PG, QD/QE, SB/SC |
Put to press | January 1850? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | January 1851? |
Plate defaced | 22 October 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 12 months / 106,800 |
Separation | Imperforate 'Archer p16' may not be genuine,[2019] |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 6 March 1850 |
Issued shades | Dull orange-brown to light brown, 7D5-7D6 |
Plate completed | 2 July 1849 |
Sheet registered | 6 December 1849 |
RS colour or shade | Deep red-brown, 9E4 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | Central, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FK-FL, GG-GL, HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many letter squares recut and 20% of framelines show extensions; very few blurs; unique sheet dividing marks AF/AG, TF/TG |
Narrow horiz. Margins | BA/CA, KH/LH |
Narrow vertical margins | BA/BB, BD/BE, LA/LB, OA/OB |
Put to press | Early-December 1849 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Mid-March 1851 |
Plate defaced | 22 October 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 15 months / 136,000 |
Separation | Imperforate 900 sheets Archer perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 14 Jan 1850 Archer p16: 8 Oct 1850 |
Issued shades | Light- to reddish-brown, 7D6-8E6-8D5 |
Plate completed | 23 July 1849 |
Sheet registered | 6 December 1849 |
RS colour or shade | Very dark red-brown, 8F5 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HJ-HL, IG-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many letter squares recut and 50% of framelines show extensions; all 'D's very high |
Narrow horizontal margins | CK/DK, EK/FK, KB/LB, KK/LK, QK/RK |
Narrow vertical margins | CA/CB, IA/IB, NA/NB |
Put to press | Early-December 1849 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-December 1850 |
Plate defaced | 10 March 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 12 months / 100,000-100,800 |
Separation | Imperforate; 500 sheets Archer perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 9 Jan 1850 Archer p16: 18 Oct 1850 |
Issued shades | Light red-brown to reddish- brown, 7D6-8D5 |
Plate completed | 8 August 1849 |
Sheet registered | 6 December 1849 |
RS colour or shade | Very dark red-brown, 8F5 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | Central, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GI, GK-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many corners recut; 10% show extensions; 5% of right hand and a few left hand frames recut; most 'D's very high |
Narrow horizontal margins | BG/CG, BL/CL, KD/LD, KG/LG, MF/NF, MI/NI, SJ/TJ |
Narrow vertical margins | BA/BB to EA/EB, BH/BI to EH/EI, JA/JB to LF/LG |
Put to press | Early-Dec 1849 and early-March 1850 |
2nd state or repair | AH and AL re-entered |
Later state | GA |
Withdrawn | End-Dec 1850 or early-June 1851? |
Plate defaced | 22 October 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 15 months / 133,200 |
Separation | Imperforate; 1,300 sheets Archer p16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 22 Feb 1850 Archer p16: 6 Sep 1850 |
Issued shades | Dull Venetian-red to light red-brown, 8D7-8D5 |
Plate completed | 11 August 1849 |
Sheet registered | 7 January 1850 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E5 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Central, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HF-HL, IK-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; comparatively few frame-line extensions or blurs; all 'D's are very high |
Narrow horizizontal margins | BD/CD, JD/KD, MA/NA, QF/RF |
Narrow vertical margins | BA/BB, BD/BE, CA/CB, FA/FB to HA/HB |
Put to press | 7 Jan 1850; returned to press Dec 1850 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | AF, SF |
Withdrawn | Taken July 1850; withdrawn Feb 1851 |
Plate defaced | 10 March 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7 months / 75,600 |
Separation | Imperforate; 300-350 sheets Archer p16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 21 Mar 1850 Archer p16: 8 Oct 1850 (2 Aug 1850?) |
Issued shades | Light brown, light red-brown to bright red-brown, 8D6-8D5-7D5 |
Plate completed | 14 February 1850 |
Sheet registered | 25 February 1850 |
RS colour or shade | Dull reddish brown, 8E4 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Very low,very much right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GI, GK-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; many recut squares and corner extensions, but few blurs. All 'D's are high |
Narrow horizizontal margins | BE/CE, CB/DB, CC/DC, EC/FC, GD/HD, HB/IB, HC/IC, IG/JG, JK/KK, KB/LB, KD/LD, KH/LH, PB/QB, PD/QD, PF/QF, QA/RA, KB/SB, RF/SF, SC/TC |
Narrow vertical margins | AF/AG to TF/TG |
Put to press | Late-February 1850 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-October 1850 |
Plate defaced | 10 March 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½ months / 61000-61,200 |
Separation | Imperforate; 850 sheets Archer perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 19 Apr 1850 Archer p16: 5 Oct 1850 |
Issued shades | Brownish-orange, dull orange- brown, bright reddish-brown, 7C5-7D5-8D6 |
Plate completed | 21 February 1850 |
Sheet registered | 25 February 1850 |
RS colour or shade | Dark reddish-brown, 8F6 |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS watermark | Slightly high, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GJ-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; very evenly laid down; nearly all squares strongly recut and many corner extensions; all 'D's high; all 'A's blind |
Narrow horizizontal margins | BA/CA, BB/CB, BI/CI, EF/FF, IH/JH, HE/IE, MA/NA, SD/TD |
Narrow vert mgn | F and G columns close |
Put to press | Late-February 1850? |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-January 1850? |
Plate defaced | 10 March 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 10½ months / 104,400 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate & 200 sheets Archer perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 19 Apr 1850 Archer p16: 20 Sep 1850 |
Issued shades | Brownish red- to bright reddish-brown, 8C6-8D6 |
Plate completed | 2 May 1850 |
Sheet registered | 12 June 1850 |
RS colour or shade | Very deep red-brown, 9E5 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BA-BH, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'clean' plate with very few blurs; most corners recut; many extensions; all 'D's high; all 'S's inverted; |
Narrow horiz. margins | CD/DD, DC/EC, IA/JA, IC/JG, ME/NE, PB/QB, SA/TA |
Narrow vert mgn | F and G columns close |
Put to press | 6 December 1850 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | End-May 1851 |
Plate defaced | 22 October 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 5 months / 42,000 sheets |
Separation | Imperforate; 1 sheet Archer perf 16? |
Earliest date | Imperf: 25 January 1851 Archer p16: |
Issued shades | Dull brownish-red to bright red-brown, 9D4-8D6 |
Plate completed | 19 March 1851 |
Sheet registered | 20 May 1851 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E6 |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS watermark | Slightly high, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HK-HL, IG-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; 'P' flaw is characteristic, especially in worn states; corners recut; many extensions & marks; few blurs; marginal stars added 16 Dec 1851. |
Narrow horiz. margins | None |
Narrow vert mgn | DA/DB, EA/EB |
Put to press | 24 May 1851 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | JA/KA, JL/KL marginal stars |
Withdrawn | 26 December 1851 |
Plate defaced | 26 May 1852 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7 months / 60,800; 2,500 with marginal stars |
Separation | Imperforate; 1 sheet Archer perf 16? |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 1 July 1851 Archer perf 16: 2 stamps known |
Issued shades | Dull orange-brown, bright red-brown, 7D5-8D6 |
Plate completed | 10 May 1851 |
Sheet registered | 20 May 1851 |
RS colour or shade | Light to deep red-brown, 8E5-9E5 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | Central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; most 'A's blind; very few blurs; numerous corner extensions; marginal stars added 16 Dec 1851; some lavender tinted paper. |
Narrow horiz. margins | None |
Narrow vert mgn | CA/CB, DA/DB, EA/EB, GA/GB, IA/IB |
Put to press | 30 May 1851 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | JA/KA, JL/KL marginal stars; DA |
Withdrawn | Late-January/early February 1852 |
Plate defaced | 26 May 1852 |
Lifespan / sheets | 8 months / 67,200 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 30 June 1851 |
Issued shades | Light brown and bright reddish-brown, 7D6-8D6 |
Plate completed | 4 July 1851 |
Sheet registered | 25 July 1851 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E6 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | High, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, JK, KG-KL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; majority show one or more frame extensions; few vertical 'A's blind; few blurs; marginal stars added 16 Dec 1851; some lavender tinted paper |
Narrow horizontal margins | BE/CE, BF/CF, BI/CI, EI/FI, HD/ID, MA/NA, OL/PL, QI/RI, QL/RL |
Narrow vert mgn | AA/AB, GA/GB, MH/MI, NH/NI, OH/OI |
Put to press | 25 July 1851 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | JA/KA, JL/KL marginal stars |
Withdrawn | End-February 1852 |
Plate defaced | 3 November 1851 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9 months / 70,000 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 20 November 1851 |
Issued shades | Light to bright red-brown, 8D5-8D6 |
Plate completed | 8 July 1851 |
Sheet registered | 25 July 1851 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E5 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Low, left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, JK-JL, KG-KL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; unevenly spaced; most corners recut; many extensions and vertical blurs; right hand frames rather firm; marginal star ornaments added 13 Dec 1851; some lavender tinted paper. |
Narrow horiz. margins | BI/CI, DI/EI, IH/JH, OF/PF, QG/RG, QH/RH |
Narrow vertical margins | BH/BI, CF/CG, CH/CI, FH/FI, HH/HI, JH/JI, MF-PF/MG-PG, NH-PH/NI-PI |
Put to press | 2 August 1851 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | JA/KA, JL/KL marginal stars |
Withdrawn | Late-February 1852 |
Plate defaced | 26 May 1852 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9½-10 months / 49,600 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 2 October 1851 |
Issued shades | Dull orange-brown, light brown, dull Venetian-red, 7D5-7D6-8D7 |
Plate completed | 10 July 1851 |
Sheet registered | 27 July 1851 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E6 |
RS ivory heads | Strong |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, QK-QL, RG-RL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; most corners recut; many extensions; few blurs; numerous extended serifs; marginal stars added 16 Dec 1851? some lavender tinted paper |
Narrow horiz. margins | BK/CK, BL/CL, KE/LE, KF/LF, KH/LH, KI/LI |
Narrow vertical margins | FF/FG, GF/GG, MA/MB, SH/SI |
Put to press | 3 September 1851 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | No copies JA/KA, JL/KL marginal stars reported? |
Withdrawn | Mid-April 1852? |
Plate defaced | 26 May 1852 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½ months / 61,600 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 10 December 1851 |
Issued shades | Reddish-brown, light brown, brick-red, 8E6-7D6-7D7 |
Plate completed | 16 August 1851 |
Sheet registered | 23 September 1851 |
RS colour or shade | Reddish-brown, 8E5 |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS watermark | Slightly low,slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; unevenly spaced; vertical frame-lines very firm and free of blurs; many extended corners and serifs; marginal stars added Dec 1851; some lavender tinted paper. |
Narrow horiz. margins | BB/CB to BE/CE, BG/CG to BL/CL, JC/KC, JG/KG, KI/LI, MK/NK, ML/NL, PI/QI, PJ/QJ, QE/RE, KL/LL |
Narrow vertical margins | MD/ME, MF/MG-TF/TG, NB/NC, ND/NE, NJ/NK, OB/OC, OD/OE, OJ/OK, QJ/QK |
Put to press | 3 October 1851 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | CE: HBlW; RL: re-entered? JA/KA, JL/KL marginal stars. |
Withdrawn | Mid-April 1852? |
Plate defaced | 26 May 1852 |
Lifespan / sheets | 6½ months / 62,000 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 9 November 1851 |
Issued shades | Mahogany-red and bright reddish-brown, 8E7-8D6 |
Plate completed | 25 August 1851 |
Sheet registered | 23 September 1851 |
RS colour or shade | Light reddish-brown, 8D5 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Very high, central |
RS stamps removed | AL, RL, SF-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 1; numerous blurs between A and H rows; 50% right hand frames have lower part recut; many extended corners and serifs; marginal star ornaments added 13 Dec 1851; some lavender tinted paper |
Narrow horiz. margins | AI/BI, AK/BK, BA/CA, JK/KK, KF/LF, KG/LG |
Narrow vert mgn | PA/PB, QA/QB, RA/RB, SA/SB |
Put to press | 3 October 1851 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Later state | JA/KA, JL/KL marginal stars added |
Withdrawn | Early-May 1852? |
Plate defaced | 26 May 1852 |
Lifespan / sheets | 8 months / 65,200 |
Separation | Imperforate |
Earliest date | 12 December 1851 |
Issued shades | Brown and light brown, 7E6-7D6 |
Plate completed | 4 September 1852 |
Sheet registered | 16 September 1852 |
RS colour or shade | 9 E7 |
RS ivory heads | Weak |
RS watermark | Slightly low, central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, RF-RL, SL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; tops of NW squares show weakness; most 'A's & 'P's open and few blurs. Sheets from plate 155 were officially perforated 16. Used as part of an official repair experiment and left unhardened; hence numerous later states. |
Wide horiz. Margins | LG/MG, RB/SB, RC/SC, but no significantly narrow horizontal or vertical margins |
Put to press | 30 November 1852 |
| STATE 1 | STATE 2 | STATE 3 |
Taken from press | Early-May 1853? | | |
2nd state or repair | Whole plate repaired by re-entry in May or June 1853 | BB, BD, BI, CI, CK, DA, DC, FD, GC, GF, GI, GJ, HC, HL, JA, JF, JG, KG, LB, LE, LL, NB, NJ, OE, PJ, QC, QG, RA, TB, TF | |
Returned to press | | Early-November 1853? | |
Taken from press | | Early-April 1854? | |
3rd state or repair | | Whole plate repaired by re-entry, completed by 27 April 1854. | State 3: KD, PD, RB, RF, RH |
Returned to press | | | Late-May 1854? |
Taken from press | | | During August 1854 |
Plate defaced | | | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 5 months / 45,000 | 5 months / 40,000 | 2½ months / 14,000 |
Separation | Imperforate | Imperf: 17,000 perf 16: 23,000 | Perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 1 January 1853 | Imperf: 9 Feb 1854 Perf 16: 1 July 1854 | Perf 16: 15 Mar 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper and on thinner, deeply blued paper |
Plate completed | 6 September 1852 |
Sheet registered | 16 September 1852 |
RS colour or shade | 8 E6 |
RS ivory heads | Very weak |
RS watermark | High, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HL, IF-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; very few blurs or re-cutting; all 'P's and most 'A's are open |
Narrow horiz. margins | BG/CG, DC/EC |
Put to press | 17 September 1852 |
Taken from press | June/July 1853? |
2nd state or repair | A-row, BA, BL, CA, SE, TF-TH |
Put to press | End-July 1854 |
Withdrawn | August 1854? |
Later state | BL |
Plate defaced | 8 February 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9½-10 months / 84,000 imperf in 1st period and 1 month / 12,000 p16 in 2nd period |
Separation | Imperforate; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 18 Nov 1852 Perf 16: 4 Oct 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper and on thinner, deeply blued paper |
Plate completed | 20 December 1852 |
Sheet registered | 14 January 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 8 E7 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Very low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-SL, IK-IL, JG-JL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; spacing uneven; many corner extensions; very few blurs; NW flaws rare; all 'P's blind except PL |
Wide horiz. margins | LI/MI, RE/SE |
Narrow vertical margins | EC/ED, FC/FD, FG/FH, HH/HI, KA/KB, LA/LB, PA-SA/PB-SB |
Wide vert mgns | FH/FI, KI/KJ, LI/LJ, J/K columns |
Put to press | 27 January 1853 |
Taken from press | Early May 1854? |
2nd state or repair | HD, IA, IC, JB-TB, PF, QA-QE, RB-RE, RG, SA-SD, SF, TA-TJ re-entered January 1854 |
Withdrawn | August 1854? |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 18½ months / 86,000 imperf & 30,000 p16. |
Separation | Imperf; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 22 Feb 1853 perf 16: 15 Mar 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 21 December 1852 |
Sheet registered | 14 January 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 8 E8 |
RS ivory heads | Very weak |
RS watermark | Low, to the right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, IK-IL, JG-JL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; NW flaws prevalent; all 'P's blind except PA; half show recut frames |
Narrow vertical margins | MF/MG |
Put to press | 5 February 1853 |
Taken from press | Mid-October 1853 |
2nd state or repair | AD-AI, BD, BH, BK, BL, CL, SA, TB, TC, TE-TH, TK re-entered end-Sept / early-October 1853 |
Put to press | End-July 1854 |
Later state | BA, BG, BI, CA, KH, LC, RC, TA |
Withdrawn | End-August 1854 |
Plate defaced | 8 February 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets | 8½ months /77,000 imperf; 1 month / 12,000 perf16 |
Separation | Imperf; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 17 Mar 1853 perf 16: 18 Oct 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 22 December 1852 |
Sheet registered | 14 January 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 8 E7 |
RS ivory heads | Very weak |
RS watermark | Central, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, IL, JL, KG-KL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; many corner extensions; fewer blurs; all 'P's blind |
Narrow vertical margins | SE/SF |
Wide vert mgn | I/J and K'L columns |
Put to press | 17 February 1853 |
2nd state or repair | AD, AF, AG, AI-AL, BD, BJ-BL, CK, FD, GD, RL, SB, SF-SI, SK, TC-TF, TG?,TH,TI, TJ? re-entered Jan 1854 |
Withdrawn | May 1854 |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 14½ months / 84,000 imperforate / 33,000 perf 16 |
Separation | Imperf; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 7 April 1853 Perf p16: 15 April 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 22 December 1852 |
Sheet registered | 14 January 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 8 E6 |
RS ivory heads | Medium |
RS watermark | Slightly low, central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, BJ, KA-KF, LA, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; unevenly spaced; many corner extensions; fewer blurs; 'P's blind |
Narrow vertical margins | CB/CC, DB/DC, FC/FD, GC/GD, LF/LG, NK/NL, PB/PC, QD/QE, SE/SF, SK/SL |
Wide vert mgn | J/K columns |
Put to press | 12 March 1853 |
2nd state or repair | AB, BB, BD, SA, TK re-entered January 1854 |
Later state | QB |
Withdrawn | Mid-February 1854? |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 11 months / 74,000 imperf / 5,000 perf 16 |
Separation | Imperf; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperf: 20 April 1853 Perf 16: 22 March 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper and on thinner, deeply blued paper |
Plate completed | 31 March 1853 |
Sheet registered | 18 April 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 8 E 6 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FK-FL, GG-GL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; evenly spaced; comparatively few corner extensions or frames recut; all 'P's blind |
Narrow vert mgns | BA/BB |
Put to press | 19 April 1853 |
2nd state or repair | HL?, IL?, KA?, MB?, MJ? re-entries unconfirmed |
Later state | EL |
Withdrawn | 12 January 1854 or 17 February 1854 |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 8-8½ months / 70,000 imperf & one or very few sheets perf 16 |
Separation | Imperf; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 7 September 1853 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper and on thinner, deeply blued paper |
Plate completed | 7 April 1853 |
Sheet registered | 18 April 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 8 E 7 |
RS ivory heads | Very weak |
RS watermark | Slightly low, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AL, HK-HL, IG-IL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; more than 75% show blurs; all 'P's and most 'A's are blind; few corner extensions |
Put to press | 4 May 1853 |
2nd state or repair | Re-entered January 1854: IB, KL, LL, ML, ML, SB, TA, TD |
Later state | BH/BI, SC |
Withdrawn | Mid-February 1854? |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 9½ months / 74,000 imperf & 5,000 perf 16 |
Separation | Imperf; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 21 July 1853 Perf 16: 10 April 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 7 April 1853 |
Sheet registered | 18 April 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 8 E 6 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Central, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AL, SE-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; very evenly spaced; blurs mostly in upper half; fewer corner extensions; all 'P's blind; most 'A's blind; 'Q's slightly smaller than normal and loop blind, except QD-QE |
Put to press | 24 May 1853 |
2nd state or repair | AA, AB, OB, RB, SB-SE, TB, TE, TF, TK re-entered February 1854 |
Withdrawn | Late-April 1854? |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 11 months / 63,000 imperf & 33,000 p16 |
Separation | Imperf; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 17 August 1853 Perf 16: 11 March 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 7 April 1853 |
Sheet registered | 18 April 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 9D5 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Central, slightly right |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FL, GG-GL, HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; very unevenly spaced; blurs and corner extensions comparatively rare; all 'P's blind; most 'A's open |
Narrow vertical margins | AC/AD, BC/BD, BE/BF, CC/CD, CE/CF, DC/DD, DE/DF, EC/ED, EE/EF, FC/FD, FE/FF |
Put to press | 25 May 1853 |
2nd state or repair | AH, AJ, QA, RA, SA, SC-SE, TB, TG re-entered March 1854? |
Withdrawn | June/July 1854? |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 13 months / 58,000 imperf & 48,000 perf 16 |
Separation | Imperf; 'Treasury' roulette; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 4 October 1853 Perf 16: 28 February 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 27 May 1853 |
Sheet registered | 20 July 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 9D6-9E6 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Slightly low, central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GK-GL, HG-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; very unevenly spaced; blurs and corner extensions comparatively rare; all 'P's and most 'A's blind; 15% show frame lines recut |
Narrow vertical margins | BB/BC, CB/CC, DB/DC, BH/BI, DH/DI, EH/EI, FB/FC, IB/IC, IH/II, MD/ME, ND/NE |
Wide vert mgns | C/D, E/F, G/H, I/J, K/L columns |
Put to press | 19 August 1853; April/May 1854? |
2nd state or repair | Repair by re-entry of whole plate completed 23 March 1854 |
Later state | Imperf BJ, DH; perf 16 DL |
Withdrawn | March 1854?; end-August 1854? |
Plate defaced | 8 February 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets | 11 months / 44,000 imperforate & 47,000 perf 16 |
Separation | Imperf; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 27 September 1853 Perf 16: 28 April 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 20 June 1853 |
Sheet registered | 20 July 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 9D5 |
RS ivory heads | Very slight |
RS watermark | Inverted, high, central |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, JK-JL, KG-KL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; comparatively few blurs and corner extensions; all 'P's blind except PC; vertical frame lines strong especially on the right |
Narrow vertical margins | BB/BC, BH/BI, CB/CC, DH/DI, HF/HG, HJ/HK, ID/IE, LJ/LK, QF/QG |
Wide vert mgns | A/B, C/D, G/H, I/J, K/L columns |
Put to press | 27 August 1853 |
Taken from press | 19 September 1853 |
2nd state or repair | TB re-entered |
Returned to press | 13 January 1854 |
Later state | HA? |
Withdrawn | May 1854? |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 6 months / 14,000 imperf; 40,000 p16 |
Separation | Imperforate; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 21 October 1853 Perf 16: 17 April 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 28 June 1853 |
Sheet registered | 20 July 1853 |
RS colour or shade | 9D5 |
RS ivory heads | None |
RS watermark | Low, slightly left |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HK-HL, IG-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; few blurs, corner extensions or extended serifs; fair amount of frame re-cutting; all 'P's blind except PA and PK |
Narrow vertical margins | BH/BI, BJ/BK, GH/GI, HH/HI, PB/PC, QF/QG |
Wide vert mgns | A/B, C/D, D/E, E/F, G/H, I/J, K/L columns |
Put to press | 15 December 1853 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | June 1854? |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 8½ months / 8,000 imperf; 38,000 p16 |
Separation | Imperforate; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 20 January 1854 Perf 16: 27 February 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 28 June 1853 |
Sheet registered | 20 July 1853 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, IK-IL, JG-JL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; E frame line notably good; few extended corners; blurs completely absent; most 'P's blind; many internal vertical frame 'bulges' due to misplaced check letters |
Narrow vertical margins | BD/BE, BH/BI, CD/CE, CF/CG, DB/DC, DH/DI, DJ/DK, FH/FI |
Wide vertical margins | BE/BF, BI/BJ, BK/BL, CG/CH, DI/DJ, DK/DL, EE/EF, FE/FF, FI/FJ, GI/GJ, IB/IC, LI/LJ, NE/NF |
Put to press | 12 January 1854 |
2nd state or repair | Repaired 23-28 May 1854: KD, RJ re-entered [&/or whole plate], reentry marks on AA |
Withdrawn | July/August 1854? |
Plate defaced | 8 February 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets | 7½-8 months / 55,000 sheets: 2,000-2,500 imperf & 52,500-53,000 perf 16 |
Separation | Imperforate; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 1 February 1854 Perf 16: 7 March 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 29 June 1853 |
Sheet registered | 20 July 1853 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, JL, KF-KL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; E frame lines notably good; few extended corners; blurs completely absent; most 'A's and 'P's blind; last plate issued imperforate. |
Narrow vertical margins | BD/BE, BF/BG, BH/BI, DF/DG, EF/EG HD/HE, HF/HG, ID/IE, IF/IG, JF/JG, OF/OG, QF/QG, SF/SG |
Put to press | 12 January 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-July 1854? |
Plate defaced | 24 August 1854 |
Lifespan / sheets | 6 months / 45,000 / 2,000-2,500 imperf & 42,500-43,000 perf 16 |
Separation | Imperforate; perf 16 |
Earliest date | Imperforate: 21 February 1854 Perf 16: 28 February 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 29 June 1854 |
Sheet registered | 12 July 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HK-HL, IG-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; many E and W frame lines intact, indicated by C in the tables; exceptionally clean plate; no blurs despite the amount of recutting; all 'A' and 'P's blind; many NW flaws, tilted letters and extended serifs |
Narrow vertical margins | F/G, HI, J/K columns; BH-HH/BI-HI, BJ-KJ/BK-KK, DF-PF/ DG-PG |
Wide vertical margins | G/H, I/J, K/L columns; CD/CE, GE-KE/GF-KF, LD/LE, NE-QE/NF-QF, PC/PD |
Put to press | 18 July 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-November 1854? |
Plate defaced | 8 February 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets | 3-3½ months / 28,000 sheets |
Separation | perf 16 |
Earliest date | 22 September 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 29 June 1854 |
Sheet registered | 12 July 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HK-HL, IG-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; about 20% E frames intact and many partly recut; most 'A's and 'P's blind; very few blurs; slightly extended corners appear on one third |
Narrow vertical margins | EB/EC, HB/HC, JH/JI, KF-MF/KG-MG, MH/MI, NH/NI |
Wide vertical margins | CC-FC/CD-FD, DK/DL, EK/EL, EE-EL/EF-LF, EI-JI/EJ-JJ, HG-NG/HH-NH, JK-SK/JL-SL, MC/MD, NC/ND |
Put to press | 13 July 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-November 1854? |
Plate defaced | 8 February 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets | 3½ months / 30,000 sheets |
Separation | perf 16 |
Earliest date | 22 August 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 29 June 1854 |
Sheet registered | 12 July 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HK-HL, IG-IL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; about 50% E frames perfect or nearly so; most 'A's and 'P's blind; very few blurs and extended corners; badly spaced |
Narrow vertical margins | BD/BE, CD/CE, CH/CI, DH/DI, ED/EE, EI/EJ, FD/FE, FF/FG, FH/FI, GB/GC, GD/GE, HB/HC, JB/JC, JD/JE, KD/KE, KF/KG, KH/KI, LD/LE, LF/LG, MD/ME, LH/LI, ND/NE, NI/NJ, OD/OE |
Wide vertical margins | CE/CF, CG-GG/CH-GH, CK/CL, FC/FD, FE/FF, FJ/FK, GC/GD, GE/GF, GJ/GK, JC-MC/JD-MD, JE-OE/JF-OF, JG-QG/JH-QH, KJ-NJ/KK-NK |
Put to press | 18 July 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Late-November 1854 |
Plate defaced | 8 February 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets | 4 months / 43,000 |
Separation | perf 16 |
Earliest date | 5 September 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 9 August 1854 |
Sheet registered | 11 August 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, FK-FL, GG-GL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; 10% E frame lines repaired by recutting and many intact; most 'A's, 'B's, 'P's and loop of 'Q's blind; few corner extensions and vertical blurs |
Narrow vert mgns | BF-HF/BG/HG, BH-DH/BI-DI |
Wide vertical margins | BE/BF, BI/BJ, CE/CF, CG/CH, CI/CJ, CJ/CK, DC/DD, DG/DH, DK/DL, EI/EJ, FB/FC |
Put to press | 12 August 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Late-November 1854? |
Plate defaced | 8 August 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets | 3- 3½ months / 35,000 sheets |
Separation | perf 16 |
Earliest date | 11 September 1854 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 14 September 1854 |
Sheet registered | 21 September 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AL, SE-SL, TA-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; W and E frames partly or wholly recut in 50% and extend in 30%; NW flaws occur in 25% and light vertical blurs in 60%; most 'A's, 'P's and loop of 'Q's blind |
Narrow vert mgns | D/E columns close |
Wide vert mgns | C/D, E/F, G/H, I/J columns |
Put to press | 23 September 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None confirmed |
Later state | BC |
Later change | Perf 14 introduced 2 January 1855 |
Withdrawn | Late-February 1855? |
Plate defaced | 8 August 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets / separation | 5 months / 43,000 sheets / 38,000 perf 16 & 5,000 perf 14 |
Earliest date | Perf 16: 10 November 1854 Perf 14: 6 February 1855 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 2 November 1854 |
Sheet registered | 8 November 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, GG-GL, HK-HL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; C in tables indicates NW 6 o'c.ray flaw, occuring throughout; 33% E frames are perfect; blurs frequent in lower half of plate; double chin variety occurs 40 times |
Narrow vertical margins | GD/GE, IC/ID, LA/LB, MA/MB, MC/MD, NB/NC, OC/OD, QC/QD, RC/RD, TD/TE |
Wide vertical margins | BJ-DJ/BK-DK, CB/CC, CE/CF, CJ/CK, CK/CL, DJ/DK, EI/EJ, EK/EL, FJ/FL, GB/GC, GE/GF, IB/IC, IG/IH, II/IJ, IK/IL, KK/KL, LJ/LK, MB/MC, MD/ME, MJ/MK, NI/NJ, OB/OC, PF/PG, PJ/PK, QB/QC, RA/RB, RI-TI/RJ-J/TJ, SA/SB, TB/TC, TJ/TK |
Put to press | 9 November 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-February 1855? |
Plate defaced | 8 August 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets / Separation | 3 months / 33,000 sheets / 28,000 perf 16 & 5,000 perf 14 |
Earliest date | Perf 16: 14 December 1854 Perf 14: 23 January 1855 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 2 November 1854 |
Sheet registered | 8 November 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, RH, SF-SL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; C in tables indicates NW 6 o'c.ray flaw, occuring frequently; the double chin variety occurs 146 times; most 'A's,'P's and 'Q's blind |
Narrow vertical margins | JF-QF/JG-QG, PF/PG, PK/PL, QK/QL |
Wide vertical margins | FB/FC-TB/TC, JJ/JK, KK/KL-OK/OL, PJ/PK, QJ/QK, D/E columns |
Put to press | 10 November 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Early-February 1855? |
Plate defaced | 8 August 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets / Separation | 3 months / 30000 sheets / 24,000 perf 16 & 6,000 perf 14 |
Earliest date | Perf 16: 7 December 1854 Perf 14: 1 February 1855 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 23 November 1854 |
Sheet registered | 30 November 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, SF-SL, TK-TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; NW flaw occurs in 20% cases, mostly in the top half; very few other varieties present |
Narrow vertical margins | BJ/BK, DH/DI, EH/EI |
Wide vertical margins | AK/AL-LK/LL, BG/BH-HG/HH, BI/BJ-II/IJ, DC/DD, HA/HB, GA/GB, |
Put to press | 2 December 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Mid-April 1855? |
Plate defaced | 8 August 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets / separation | 4½ months / 50,000 sheets / 36,000 perf 16 & 14,000 perf 14 |
Earliest date | Perf 16: 24 December 1854 Perf 14: 7 February 1855 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 24 November 1854 |
Sheet registered | 30 November 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, HL, QF-QL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; 25% E frame lines perfect; few extended corners; very many vertical blurs |
Narrow vertical margins | BA/BB, CE/CF, FH/FI, GH/GI, HJ/HK, OE/OF, SE/SF |
Wide vertical margins | BC/BD, BG/BH, BI/BJ, BK/BL, CC/CD, CK/CL, DI/DJ, EC/ED, EG/EH-GG/GH. EK/EL-GK/GL, FI/FJ, GC/GD, GF/GG, GI/GJ, HC/HD, HI/HJ, IA/IB, OF/IG, IK/IL, JA/JB, KF/KG, KJ/KK, LD/LE, MD/ME, MF/MG, MJ/MK, NK/NL, OC/OD, OF/OG, QC/QD, SF/SG |
Put to press | 20 December 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Late-March 1855 |
Plate defaced | 8 August 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets / separation | 3 months / 30,000 sheets / 22,000 perf 16 & 8,000 perf 14 |
Earliest date | Perf 16: 21 January 1855 Perf 14: 20 January 1855 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | Last week of November 1854? |
Sheet registered | 30 November 1854 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, RG, SF-SL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; comparatively few varieties; 15% vertical blurs; 10% tilted letters |
Narrow vertical margins | IF/IG-LF/LG, LH/LI, SF/SG, TF/TG; H/I columns close |
Wide vert mgns | FC/FD, HC/HD, TG/TH; D/E columns |
Put to press | 11 January 1855 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | Late-March 1855? |
Plate defaced | 8 August 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets / separation | 2½ months / 21,000 sheets / 13,000 perf 16 & 8,000 perf 14 |
Earliest date | Perf 16: 17 February 1855 Perf 14: 24 March 1855 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |
Plate completed | 13 May 1852 |
Sheet registered | 27 July 1852 |
RS stamps removed | AA-AL, IK-IL, JG-JL, TL |
Distinctive features | Alphabet 2; 50% of vertical frame lines recut and perfect, mainly E; NW flaw in most of 'A' column; extended serifs are noticeable; very few blurs; frame line extensions very numerous but mostly slight |
Narrow vertical margins | BA/BB, CA/CB, DA/DB, EA/EB, FA/FB, GA/GB |
Wide vert mgns | G/H columns, J/K columns |
Put to press | 22 November 1854 |
2nd state or repair | None reported |
Withdrawn | 18 April 1855 |
Plate defaced | 8 August 1855 |
Lifespan / sheets / separation | 4 months / 45,000 sheets / 35,000 perf 16 & 10,000 perf 14 |
Earliest date | Perf 16: 6 January 1855 Perf 14: 17 January 1855 |
Issued shades | Red-brown on blued paper |