1/- QE A New or Retouched Die? N10b

I have put a question mark against the above heading solely to avoid getting too far out on a limb! In philately one learns to be cautious. However, “as of now”, I believe that a new transfer roller taken from a new die or (more likely) from the old 1/- Die retouched was put in use for the laying down of the mystery 1/- Centre plates 3A and 3B. To Stewart Larsen our thanks for making his 1/- 3A and 3B sheet available for study.

        In describing the difference between “new” and “old” Dies I am faced with the difficulty that practically no readers will have any 1/- from the “3” Centre Plates for study. So we must make do with the old.

        Taking any QE 1/- then, and using a good strong glass, look at the Queen’s nearer sleeve, i.e. that part of her dress which shows below the Ribbon of the Garter and above her arm. Direct your chief attention to the topmost portion of this sleeve. Here you see an area shaded by four diagonal lines, these being (distinctly) in two sets of two lines.  Between the two sets of lines the space is shaded by fainter cross-hatching lines. These cross-hatching

lines are the main point of interest; on the old Die (call it Die 1a) they are weak and barely stretch between the two innermost of the four strong diagonal lines; in the new Die (call it Die1b) they are much stronger and longer, extending clearly from the topmost to the lowest diagonal lines. At other points of the central figure there is a suggestion of strengthening of shading lines on the new Die but apart from the area described there is little that is definite. Nevertheless the whole figure appears to be more finely and clearly printed – possibly the result of a deeper engraving of the detail.

        With the thought of the all-photogravure pictorial set in preparation, I suggest that readers have a good look at the beautiful engraving work that makes these middle values (9d to 1/9d) such lovely stamps. The work on the pupils of the eyes and on the mouth is really masterly. Turning to photogravure, as NZ seems to be going to do, we can look forward to nothing so fine again. Even in the hands of the best printers, photogravure under a strong glass can never show results in any way comparable.

        To return to the new Die: this, on present information, is going to require a special listing and special illustrations in the Catalogue. We are faced then with a major variety of which only a sheet or two has been saved intact. For their own benefit and that of posterity I appeal to readers everywhere – especially in small outlying places, to see if they can locate any “Plate 3” 1/- at their local PO, that is sheets with plate numbers either 1A-3A or 1B-3B.

        Buy the whole sheet, not just the plate number block.

        We ourselves have not a single copy so obviously we will want to buy – but the main thing is to save as many as possible before it is too late. I suggest too, that used 1/- QE be watched, for it is known that sheets of “Plate 3” have been used up at some small Post Offices.

        Newsflash. Bernard Cox reports that he has seen “Die 1b”1/- in coil pairs – NC7(b)(Z) –

always in pair with “Die 1a” and very scattered. By that he means that the ones he has found give no suggestion of any big supply – only an odd sheet here and there has been used by the “coilers”.

        If the thought of a posterity starved for supplies of “Plate 1b” stamps does not move you perhaps the profit motive will. These stamps should be good.

New Zealand Stamp Exhibition Dates

Palmpex 2010                     12-14 November 2010

A New Zealand National exhibition, Arena3 Stadium Manawatu, Pascal Street, Palmerston North

CPS100 2011                 18-20 November 2011 

A New Zealand National exhibition for Christchurch Philatelic Society’s  Centenary, Student Union Building, Canterbury University, Christchurch 2011

Blenpex 2012                     21-23 September 2012 Blenheim

Australasia 2012                26-29 September 2012

A Themed National exhibition from the NZ Society of GB, British Society of Australian Philately, Pacific Island Study Circle, London 2012 (Part of Autumn Stampex 2012 at the Business Design Centre, Islington)

Upper Hutt 2013                 13-16 September 2013

A Specialised National exhibition.

ANZAC 2015, New Zealand 2015 World Stamp Exhibition, Auckland April 2015

A limited International Exhibition, Auckland 2015

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C.C., Canada

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P.G.,  Warragul, Australia