<![CDATA[Kingston Stamp Club Community Forum - United Kingdom and British Colonies / Commonwealth]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:42:38 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Australia]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=199 Sat, 11 Oct 2025 03:51:56 +0000 RICHARD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=199
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]]> <![CDATA[GB to U.S.]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=167 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 06:21:09 +0000 RICHARD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=167 London Scott 160 one penny under paying, April 10 1907, To Baltimore Maryland  on arrival paying Two U.S. Precancels postage dues 6 cents.  perf 12,J 38 1 cent   deep claret,  perf 12, 5  cent  J 41 deep claret. For a total of 7 cents postage.
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]]> London Scott 160 one penny under paying, April 10 1907, To Baltimore Maryland  on arrival paying Two U.S. Precancels postage dues 6 cents.  perf 12,J 38 1 cent   deep claret,  perf 12, 5  cent  J 41 deep claret. For a total of 7 cents postage.
.jpg Handwritten_2025-10-08_020931.jpg Size: 282.55 KB  Downloads: 1
]]> <![CDATA[Great Britain Penny Reds : A short tutorial]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=76 Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:44:38 +0000 Webmaster]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=76 Great Britain Penny Reds : A short tutorial

This series of stamps, in use from 1841 to about 1880 causes a lot of headaches, and mis-identifications.

Here are the three basic types:
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Once you have learned to look at the upper corners first, the first one (#3) and last one (#33) do not present much of a problem. This tutorial is exclusively about the more complicated middle issue, Scott #8 to #20, with stars in the upper corners.

In my mind, if you have had a problem with these issues, it is not you, it Is the catalogue's fault! They seem to go higgly piggly all over the place -- but there is an underlying logic that can streamline identification.

The "set" has 4 basic properties, which show up in various combinations. If we pursue the properties in a logical order, everything becomes easy. These properties are:

Perforation : Either 14 or 16
Watermark: Either small crown (Scott wmk 18 = SG wmk 2) or Large crown (Sc wmk 20 = SG wmk 4) (See below)
Die : either original (equals SG die I) or re-engraved ( equals SG Die II) (See below)
Paper : either white or bluish (with varying depth of blue)

(SG means "Stanley Gibbons catalogue").

Sounds complicated, but it's not! Here's a useful ID table:

.jpg gb-penny-02.jpg Size: 45.9 KB  Downloads: 0



Here's the routine. Start with the perf gauge: 14 or 16? That puts you immediately into the top half or bottom half of the table, with only 4 choices now.

Next is the watermark: Small crown (18) or large crown (20)? Now you are down to 2 choices! Now the final narrowing down to one stamp may depend on either re-engraved or not, or bluish paper or not, but never both.

For example: Let's say your stamp is perf 16, wmk 20 (large crown). Only two choices for that combo, both of which are re-engraved -- either white (Scott #14) or bluish paper (Scott #18). Could it be much easier?

How about: perf 14, wmk 18 (small crown). Now you will see two choices again, both on bluish paper - the original die, and the re-engraved. Pull out your 10x magnifier and check the face -- that's it!

Here is the "close-up stuff" you are going to need:
.jpg gb-penny-03.jpg Size: 78.76 KB  Downloads: 146

.jpg gb-penny-04.jpg Size: 36.25 KB  Downloads: 146

.jpg gb-penny-05.jpg Size: 123.73 KB  Downloads: 145


Note that I have ignored the Scott sub-numbers ("a", "b"). These are mostly colour shades. Gibbons gives most of these colour shades major numbers. That's why one Scott number translates to as many as 6 Gibbons numbers. In my mind, it is a great error for a novice collector to concentrate on colour for identification. Colours change over time. The red pigment in these stamps contains iron, and is subject to oxidation (rust). Frequently, there are many printings that are slightly different in colour, but are considered still be be colour "A", whereas to the novice, he/she sees a slightly different colour and thinks "one of them MUST be the better shade!". -- not so! Colours are best left to long experience, or verification by experts. (This is the subject of a whole 'nother tutorial). If you have never actually seen a correctly identified "orange red" vs. a "brick red" vs a "red brown", don't believe for a minute that you can tell the difference from word descriptions!

Now attack your penny reds! I hope this tutorial will make it easier for you.

Roy]]> Great Britain Penny Reds : A short tutorial

This series of stamps, in use from 1841 to about 1880 causes a lot of headaches, and mis-identifications.

Here are the three basic types:
.jpg gb-penny-01.jpg Size: 106.92 KB  Downloads: 0



Once you have learned to look at the upper corners first, the first one (#3) and last one (#33) do not present much of a problem. This tutorial is exclusively about the more complicated middle issue, Scott #8 to #20, with stars in the upper corners.

In my mind, if you have had a problem with these issues, it is not you, it Is the catalogue's fault! They seem to go higgly piggly all over the place -- but there is an underlying logic that can streamline identification.

The "set" has 4 basic properties, which show up in various combinations. If we pursue the properties in a logical order, everything becomes easy. These properties are:

Perforation : Either 14 or 16
Watermark: Either small crown (Scott wmk 18 = SG wmk 2) or Large crown (Sc wmk 20 = SG wmk 4) (See below)
Die : either original (equals SG die I) or re-engraved ( equals SG Die II) (See below)
Paper : either white or bluish (with varying depth of blue)

(SG means "Stanley Gibbons catalogue").

Sounds complicated, but it's not! Here's a useful ID table:

.jpg gb-penny-02.jpg Size: 45.9 KB  Downloads: 0



Here's the routine. Start with the perf gauge: 14 or 16? That puts you immediately into the top half or bottom half of the table, with only 4 choices now.

Next is the watermark: Small crown (18) or large crown (20)? Now you are down to 2 choices! Now the final narrowing down to one stamp may depend on either re-engraved or not, or bluish paper or not, but never both.

For example: Let's say your stamp is perf 16, wmk 20 (large crown). Only two choices for that combo, both of which are re-engraved -- either white (Scott #14) or bluish paper (Scott #18). Could it be much easier?

How about: perf 14, wmk 18 (small crown). Now you will see two choices again, both on bluish paper - the original die, and the re-engraved. Pull out your 10x magnifier and check the face -- that's it!

Here is the "close-up stuff" you are going to need:
.jpg gb-penny-03.jpg Size: 78.76 KB  Downloads: 146

.jpg gb-penny-04.jpg Size: 36.25 KB  Downloads: 146

.jpg gb-penny-05.jpg Size: 123.73 KB  Downloads: 145


Note that I have ignored the Scott sub-numbers ("a", "b"). These are mostly colour shades. Gibbons gives most of these colour shades major numbers. That's why one Scott number translates to as many as 6 Gibbons numbers. In my mind, it is a great error for a novice collector to concentrate on colour for identification. Colours change over time. The red pigment in these stamps contains iron, and is subject to oxidation (rust). Frequently, there are many printings that are slightly different in colour, but are considered still be be colour "A", whereas to the novice, he/she sees a slightly different colour and thinks "one of them MUST be the better shade!". -- not so! Colours are best left to long experience, or verification by experts. (This is the subject of a whole 'nother tutorial). If you have never actually seen a correctly identified "orange red" vs. a "brick red" vs a "red brown", don't believe for a minute that you can tell the difference from word descriptions!

Now attack your penny reds! I hope this tutorial will make it easier for you.

Roy]]> <![CDATA[Great Britain Military Postmarks and Covers]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=66 Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:09:42 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=66
It was sent by Lance Corporal A. Jeffery (6972), a member of the British Army Occupying the Rhine [BAOR] stationed in Cologne following WW1. There is an A. E. Jeffrey (sic) in the database of the Imperial War Museum. He is listed as a sapper with the Royal Engineers with the same service number, 6972. In fact, the Anglo-Boer War medal roll index also lists A.E. Jeffrey, 6972, also as a sapper with the RE in South Africa. It would appear that L/Cpl Jeffery was a long-service army regular. The variation in the spelling of his name is an administrative error given that his service number is always the same.

He is writing to Mrs. A. Jeffery, probably his wife, at 1 Orchard Terrace, Victoria Road, Dartmouth, Devon, England.

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Postal Markings on cover:

Manuscript marking on Cover
Rhine Army 

Orderly Room Cachet
Oval hand-stamp, red ink
7th FIELD COMPANY / ROYAL ENGINEERS / 15 JUN 1920

By mid-1920 Britain was scaling down its forces on occupation duty due to postwar budget cuts. The BAOR was reduced to one infantry brigade group with supporting arms such as the Royal Engineers.

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Double ring CDS
ARMY POST OFFICE / S.40
16 / JU / 20

S40 was the designation PO for the BAOR in 1920 (Whitney, 15/65). In 1922, sub-offices would be added and designated as S40a-h. S = S(tationary Post Office).

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It was sent by Lance Corporal A. Jeffery (6972), a member of the British Army Occupying the Rhine [BAOR] stationed in Cologne following WW1. There is an A. E. Jeffrey (sic) in the database of the Imperial War Museum. He is listed as a sapper with the Royal Engineers with the same service number, 6972. In fact, the Anglo-Boer War medal roll index also lists A.E. Jeffrey, 6972, also as a sapper with the RE in South Africa. It would appear that L/Cpl Jeffery was a long-service army regular. The variation in the spelling of his name is an administrative error given that his service number is always the same.

He is writing to Mrs. A. Jeffery, probably his wife, at 1 Orchard Terrace, Victoria Road, Dartmouth, Devon, England.

.jpeg Image.jpeg Size: 315.39 KB  Downloads: 0


Postal Markings on cover:

Manuscript marking on Cover
Rhine Army 

Orderly Room Cachet
Oval hand-stamp, red ink
7th FIELD COMPANY / ROYAL ENGINEERS / 15 JUN 1920

By mid-1920 Britain was scaling down its forces on occupation duty due to postwar budget cuts. The BAOR was reduced to one infantry brigade group with supporting arms such as the Royal Engineers.

.jpeg Image 1.jpeg Size: 141.44 KB  Downloads: 0


Double ring CDS
ARMY POST OFFICE / S.40
16 / JU / 20

S40 was the designation PO for the BAOR in 1920 (Whitney, 15/65). In 1922, sub-offices would be added and designated as S40a-h. S = S(tationary Post Office).

.jpeg Image 2.jpeg Size: 79.07 KB  Downloads: 34
]]> <![CDATA[The Irish Exhibition of 1907]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=54 Thu, 07 Aug 2025 01:36:38 +0000 Janet MacD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=54
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Canada was represented at the exhibition with a pavilion in which a wide range of products was displayed. This postcard of the pavilion is from the government of Ontario archives:

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The exhibition was considered a success by many, but the Irish who supported independence - both in Ireland and emigrants living abroad - viewed it as a scheme of the English royalists. This article in The Gaelic American, a newspaper published in New York City, expresses those feelings (from Villanova University Library digital archives):

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Fifty-two acres of land were transformed into the exhibition grounds. An artificial lake was created with a 90 foot high water slide. My postcard has the exhibition postmark, but it is not a picture of the exhibition. The card I would like to find is this one, from the Toronto Public Library digital archives. It shows the view from the top of the water slide:

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]]>
.jpeg IMG_8374.jpeg Size: 616.14 KB  Downloads: 0


Canada was represented at the exhibition with a pavilion in which a wide range of products was displayed. This postcard of the pavilion is from the government of Ontario archives:

.jpeg IMG_8386.jpeg Size: 92.54 KB  Downloads: 0


The exhibition was considered a success by many, but the Irish who supported independence - both in Ireland and emigrants living abroad - viewed it as a scheme of the English royalists. This article in The Gaelic American, a newspaper published in New York City, expresses those feelings (from Villanova University Library digital archives):

.jpeg IMG_4529.jpeg Size: 337.23 KB  Downloads: 0


Fifty-two acres of land were transformed into the exhibition grounds. An artificial lake was created with a 90 foot high water slide. My postcard has the exhibition postmark, but it is not a picture of the exhibition. The card I would like to find is this one, from the Toronto Public Library digital archives. It shows the view from the top of the water slide:

.jpeg IMG_8398.jpeg Size: 143.98 KB  Downloads: 44
]]> <![CDATA[WW II Slogan Cancels]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=55 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 00:25:06 +0000 Janet MacD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=55
These two items have slogans to engage the families at home. The first is on a white mailing label affixed to a brown envelope:

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SAVE WASTE / PAPER METALS / BONES RAGS

The second slogan appears on a postcard portraying the National Museum of Cardiff. And yes, I would not have been interested in the card if I only saw the picture side, so maybe some of that British “slogan appreciation” is rubbing off on me!

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HELP TO WIN / ON THE / KITCHEN FRONT]]>
These two items have slogans to engage the families at home. The first is on a white mailing label affixed to a brown envelope:

.jpeg IMG_8370.jpeg Size: 752.66 KB  Downloads: 0


SAVE WASTE / PAPER METALS / BONES RAGS

The second slogan appears on a postcard portraying the National Museum of Cardiff. And yes, I would not have been interested in the card if I only saw the picture side, so maybe some of that British “slogan appreciation” is rubbing off on me!

.jpeg IMG_8371.jpeg Size: 821.23 KB  Downloads: 0


HELP TO WIN / ON THE / KITCHEN FRONT]]> <![CDATA[The National Savings Movement]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=53 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:24:52 +0000 Janet MacD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=53
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Fun fact: the original “branding” for the National Savings plan used a swastika, which traditionally represented well-being. When that symbol was adopted by the National Socialists in Germany, the Savings Movement replaced it with St George slaying a dragon.]]>
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Fun fact: the original “branding” for the National Savings plan used a swastika, which traditionally represented well-being. When that symbol was adopted by the National Socialists in Germany, the Savings Movement replaced it with St George slaying a dragon.]]> <![CDATA[Great Britain Postmarks]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=52 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:48:44 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=52
Stamp: Great Britain
King Eward VII (1901-1910)
Issued on January 1, 1902
1d, Scarlet
SG 219

Manufactured by the US-based Columbia Postal Supply Company, the Columbia single-impression cancelation machine was used in Great Britain between 1901 and 1910. Unlike continuous impression machines the Columbia machine make one impression at a time with every drop of the cancelling head. Each envelope had to be individually positioned. In short, not a very rapid machine canceller. They were used primarily in the large cities - most commonly London.

This example was used in LONDON S.W. (South West) on APR 22 / 5:15PM / 1904. It has a single circle town die with the London district S W centered within seven straight lines as an obliterator. (Whitney 10/75)

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This next one is delightful. It was applied in LONDON. M. P. (Mount Pleasant Sorting Office) on Sep 28 / 6 PM / 1904. The single circle die is joined to an obliterator portion with two straight lines above and two below, and five wavy lines in between in three segments separated by two vertical lines after the first and second segment. The central segment has die number 3. Similar to Whitney 10/73.

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A great resource, if you don't already have it is ... Collecting British Postmarks by Dr. J. T. Whitney.]]>
Stamp: Great Britain
King Eward VII (1901-1910)
Issued on January 1, 1902
1d, Scarlet
SG 219

Manufactured by the US-based Columbia Postal Supply Company, the Columbia single-impression cancelation machine was used in Great Britain between 1901 and 1910. Unlike continuous impression machines the Columbia machine make one impression at a time with every drop of the cancelling head. Each envelope had to be individually positioned. In short, not a very rapid machine canceller. They were used primarily in the large cities - most commonly London.

This example was used in LONDON S.W. (South West) on APR 22 / 5:15PM / 1904. It has a single circle town die with the London district S W centered within seven straight lines as an obliterator. (Whitney 10/75)

.jpeg Image 45.jpeg Size: 221.9 KB  Downloads: 0


This next one is delightful. It was applied in LONDON. M. P. (Mount Pleasant Sorting Office) on Sep 28 / 6 PM / 1904. The single circle die is joined to an obliterator portion with two straight lines above and two below, and five wavy lines in between in three segments separated by two vertical lines after the first and second segment. The central segment has die number 3. Similar to Whitney 10/73.

.jpeg Image 46.jpeg Size: 293.62 KB  Downloads: 0


A great resource, if you don't already have it is ... Collecting British Postmarks by Dr. J. T. Whitney.]]> <![CDATA[Great Britain Stampless Covers]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=51 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:23:13 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=51
Here's a prepaid cover from Plymouth to London in the winter of 1828.

It was sent to R[obert] S[amuel] Palmer, Esq., 1 New Boswell Court, Lincoln's Inn, London. Robert S. Palmer (1800-1891) was a barrister, originally from Devon, who had chambers on a short cul-de-sac against the west wall of Lincoln's Inn.

On the front of the cover there is a manuscript 11 in red ink. This would indicate that the postal rate of 11d from Plymouth to London was paid in advance. This is confirmed by the handwritten p.p'd' [Postage Paid], written in the lower left corner as well as the red single line tombstone postmark marked C / PAID / 20 JA 28 / [1]828. The C in the postmark would be the sorting desk. The single line indicates that it was applied in the morning. [Whitney, 1/32]

The tombstone postmark has a 'pen cancel'. I wonder if this could be considered an early security measure to ensure that the paid tombstone could not be reused?

The inland rate, at the time, for a single sheet letter travelling 170-230 miles was 11d.

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On the back of the cover, there is a postmark from Plymouth in black ink - in an arc PLYMOUTH with JAN 21 / [1]8[2]8 / 218. 218 would be the mile marker between Plymouth and London. Again, confirming the postage as 11d.

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There is a remnant of a black, wax seal. The word FIDELITY (mirror reversed on the seal itself) is at the top of the impression. Underneath there is a slim, long-tailed hound a common sigil at that time. 

.jpeg Image 41.jpeg Size: 58.11 KB  Downloads: 0


The cover is constructed from a single sheet of folded wove paper 37x23cm (Imperial Post Quarto). Using a light-table a watermark is visible reading B.E.& S., BATH, 1825. This would be the De Montalt Mill, Combe Down, Bath. It was owned by John Bally, William Ellen and George Steart. The artist Joseph Mallord William Turner was known to favour their paper. The firm specialized in fine writing and artists' paper.

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The inside sheet contains two letters ... both written on the same day, January 20, 1828, at 1 George Place, Plymouth by Thomas and Mary Colby. The first (2 pages) is a friendly covering note to Robert Palmer. The second is a more formal (1 page) letter providing instruction to their two trustees Palmer and Charles William Johnson (in connection with the estate of a relative (which probably explains the black wax). This second letter The shorter, tells their trustees to “sell out the stock belonging to us in the 3 percent Consols and invest the same in the 3½ percent Reduced.”

Why? In 1827 the Treasury converted part of the National Debt into a new 3½% bond issue. Investors could exchange their low-yield 3% Consols (a perpetual, no-maturity, government bond created in 1751 when Parliament consolidated war debts into a single 'stock'. It paid a fixed 3% interest payment every six months) for the new, higher-paying 3½% at par, improving income without touching capital. The Colbys are simply asking Palmer and Johnson to execute that government-backed swap. The stock itself was just an entry on the Bank of England’s ledger. Ownership was transferred by a clerk writing your name in the ledger book. This was the job that Palmer & Johnson were being asked to do for the Colby's. ['Consols' meant Consolidated Annuities]

A nice little pre-paid cover dealing with the housekeeping of a Regency era trust fund. In short, the government got cheaper debt in the long run while investors enjoyed an immediate boost in income.

That's one of the reasons I like postal history. It's a fossil record of the grand sweep of history and how it affected the daily lives of the people who lived through it.]]>
Here's a prepaid cover from Plymouth to London in the winter of 1828.

It was sent to R[obert] S[amuel] Palmer, Esq., 1 New Boswell Court, Lincoln's Inn, London. Robert S. Palmer (1800-1891) was a barrister, originally from Devon, who had chambers on a short cul-de-sac against the west wall of Lincoln's Inn.

On the front of the cover there is a manuscript 11 in red ink. This would indicate that the postal rate of 11d from Plymouth to London was paid in advance. This is confirmed by the handwritten p.p'd' [Postage Paid], written in the lower left corner as well as the red single line tombstone postmark marked C / PAID / 20 JA 28 / [1]828. The C in the postmark would be the sorting desk. The single line indicates that it was applied in the morning. [Whitney, 1/32]

The tombstone postmark has a 'pen cancel'. I wonder if this could be considered an early security measure to ensure that the paid tombstone could not be reused?

The inland rate, at the time, for a single sheet letter travelling 170-230 miles was 11d.

.jpeg Image 39.jpeg Size: 365.14 KB  Downloads: 0


On the back of the cover, there is a postmark from Plymouth in black ink - in an arc PLYMOUTH with JAN 21 / [1]8[2]8 / 218. 218 would be the mile marker between Plymouth and London. Again, confirming the postage as 11d.

.jpeg Image 40.jpeg Size: 294.62 KB  Downloads: 0


There is a remnant of a black, wax seal. The word FIDELITY (mirror reversed on the seal itself) is at the top of the impression. Underneath there is a slim, long-tailed hound a common sigil at that time. 

.jpeg Image 41.jpeg Size: 58.11 KB  Downloads: 0


The cover is constructed from a single sheet of folded wove paper 37x23cm (Imperial Post Quarto). Using a light-table a watermark is visible reading B.E.& S., BATH, 1825. This would be the De Montalt Mill, Combe Down, Bath. It was owned by John Bally, William Ellen and George Steart. The artist Joseph Mallord William Turner was known to favour their paper. The firm specialized in fine writing and artists' paper.

.jpeg Image 42.jpeg Size: 260.66 KB  Downloads: 0


The inside sheet contains two letters ... both written on the same day, January 20, 1828, at 1 George Place, Plymouth by Thomas and Mary Colby. The first (2 pages) is a friendly covering note to Robert Palmer. The second is a more formal (1 page) letter providing instruction to their two trustees Palmer and Charles William Johnson (in connection with the estate of a relative (which probably explains the black wax). This second letter The shorter, tells their trustees to “sell out the stock belonging to us in the 3 percent Consols and invest the same in the 3½ percent Reduced.”

Why? In 1827 the Treasury converted part of the National Debt into a new 3½% bond issue. Investors could exchange their low-yield 3% Consols (a perpetual, no-maturity, government bond created in 1751 when Parliament consolidated war debts into a single 'stock'. It paid a fixed 3% interest payment every six months) for the new, higher-paying 3½% at par, improving income without touching capital. The Colbys are simply asking Palmer and Johnson to execute that government-backed swap. The stock itself was just an entry on the Bank of England’s ledger. Ownership was transferred by a clerk writing your name in the ledger book. This was the job that Palmer & Johnson were being asked to do for the Colby's. ['Consols' meant Consolidated Annuities]

A nice little pre-paid cover dealing with the housekeeping of a Regency era trust fund. In short, the government got cheaper debt in the long run while investors enjoyed an immediate boost in income.

That's one of the reasons I like postal history. It's a fossil record of the grand sweep of history and how it affected the daily lives of the people who lived through it.]]> <![CDATA[Identifying the Great Britain Seahorses]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=46 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 01:32:21 +0000 Webmaster]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=46 Great Britain Seahorse issues: A Brief tutorial

This very popular issue causes a quite a bit of confusion, but it's really quite simple to identify one from another. There are four different issues (except there is only one £1 green)

Here's a way to tell one from another!

First of all, neither perforation gauge nor watermark detector will help. All the issues are perf 11 x 12, and all are watermarked Crown and GvR (Scott wmk #34). So where to start?

The easiest path is to start with the latest issue and work backwards.



The last issue (Scott #222-24) is the easiest to tell. It is called the "Waterlow re-engraved issue". Look at this picture:

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The Waterlow re-engraved issue of 1934 (Scott 222-4) has a cross-hatched background behind the king's head. All the others have only horizontal lines. If your's is cross hatched, you've identified it! If it has horizontal lines, more investigation is necessary.

Ok, so you have horizontal lines -- could still be one of three issues. Look at this picture.

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See the dot in the top center of the stamp in back? If your stamp has one, you have identified it. Only the Bradbury Wilkinson (BW) printing of 1919 has the dot (Scott #179-181). If the dot is there, it's definite, but not all the BW stamps have the dot! so the absence of the dot proves nothing!

No dot? Check the vertical dimension, from outer frame-line to outer frame line. The BW stamps are 22 3/4mm. If that's yours, you have Scott #179-81 -- dot or no dot! The remaining two possibilities are only 22mm. The difference doesn't sound like much, but if you have a good perf gauge, it should have a precise millimeter scale, and the difference is obvious. These pictures are not to scale!!

So your stamp is 22mm high! (It had better be at this point, or you missed something!) Still two choices -- the two earliest printings. Scott #173-176 was printed by Waterlow Brothers & Layton Printing in 1913. Scott #173a-75a was printed by De La Rue & Co.

Look at this picture:

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Now you look at the perfs. De La Rue (#173a-75a) has two big teeth top right and top left, plus smaller perf holes. This is the trickiest step and a reference copy would help a lot. But look at a few and you will soon see the difference.

Roy]]> Great Britain Seahorse issues: A Brief tutorial

This very popular issue causes a quite a bit of confusion, but it's really quite simple to identify one from another. There are four different issues (except there is only one £1 green)

Here's a way to tell one from another!

First of all, neither perforation gauge nor watermark detector will help. All the issues are perf 11 x 12, and all are watermarked Crown and GvR (Scott wmk #34). So where to start?

The easiest path is to start with the latest issue and work backwards.



The last issue (Scott #222-24) is the easiest to tell. It is called the "Waterlow re-engraved issue". Look at this picture:

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The Waterlow re-engraved issue of 1934 (Scott 222-4) has a cross-hatched background behind the king's head. All the others have only horizontal lines. If your's is cross hatched, you've identified it! If it has horizontal lines, more investigation is necessary.

Ok, so you have horizontal lines -- could still be one of three issues. Look at this picture.

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See the dot in the top center of the stamp in back? If your stamp has one, you have identified it. Only the Bradbury Wilkinson (BW) printing of 1919 has the dot (Scott #179-181). If the dot is there, it's definite, but not all the BW stamps have the dot! so the absence of the dot proves nothing!

No dot? Check the vertical dimension, from outer frame-line to outer frame line. The BW stamps are 22 3/4mm. If that's yours, you have Scott #179-81 -- dot or no dot! The remaining two possibilities are only 22mm. The difference doesn't sound like much, but if you have a good perf gauge, it should have a precise millimeter scale, and the difference is obvious. These pictures are not to scale!!

So your stamp is 22mm high! (It had better be at this point, or you missed something!) Still two choices -- the two earliest printings. Scott #173-176 was printed by Waterlow Brothers & Layton Printing in 1913. Scott #173a-75a was printed by De La Rue & Co.

Look at this picture:

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Now you look at the perfs. De La Rue (#173a-75a) has two big teeth top right and top left, plus smaller perf holes. This is the trickiest step and a reference copy would help a lot. But look at a few and you will soon see the difference.

Roy]]> <![CDATA[United Kingdom: Data Matrix Stamps]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=45 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:20:16 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=45
Here's a stamp I got recently on a package from the UK. It had no cancellations or postmarks of any kind. What's a postal historian to do? In the absence of other information, I wanted to look at what the stamp itself had to say.

.jpeg Image 28.jpeg Size: 149.16 KB  Downloads: 0


Using a barcode reader, I got the following readout. 

JGB S199 4 1017031 01107873 00020 080223 01 E11E7843FEB9611E01

A friend started me on the path to trying to understand these codes. Here's what I've found out (or think I have)

Tthe three digit prefix is the standard UPU code for the UK (Great Britain)

After that is the main data block followed by the security / checksum block.

Within the data block ... the part in blue, beginning with the S is the product code, series or rate

the light blue digit indicates the source ...e.g. a counter sheet

the seven-digit rose coloured series of numbers is an untranslated internal reference number. Some sort of proprietary number that very probably refers to the printing process or design.

the orange series of numbers would be the unique stamp number within its production batch

the green series would be the face value ... in the case of my sample, 20p

the grey series of six numbers is a date field. The question is what date? It's not the date of issue (that wouldn't necessarily known when the stamp was printed) it's probably the printing date or some other key production date.

the final two brown coloured numbers are the stamp indicator 01 for definitive (probably)

As for the security block ... E11 E7843FEB 9611 E01 ... this 18 character block would be used by Royal Mail to verify (if necessary) the authenticity of the stamp to prevent forgery. I assume the algorithm to do this is proprietary (if it's not secret it woldn't be of much use would it? - smile).

Having said that ...

the initial E11 is probably the type of security algorithm being used.
the E7843FEB is probably a digital signature generated by the main data block. A sort of checksum.
the four digit black 9611 is interesting - perhaps another kind of check linked to the print or production batch? Who knows.
the final three characters, I'm guessing, is a final version or integrity indicator?

This is fun and in a way, one aspect of the future of philately. We're still figuring things out ... and that's part of the fun too ... until the details become public and documented. 

If you hold the stamp on an angle you can see another security feature. Holographic characters on the stamp. Notice that it says M23L instead of MAIL above the King's forehead. 

I don't really collect modern stamps. But these digital ones are, I have to admit, rather cool. Lot's more to discover.

Anyway, I could be wrong on all this ... so, corrections and feedback are more than welcome. 

Cheers, Hugh

.jpeg Image 29.jpeg Size: 415.39 KB  Downloads: 0
]]>
Here's a stamp I got recently on a package from the UK. It had no cancellations or postmarks of any kind. What's a postal historian to do? In the absence of other information, I wanted to look at what the stamp itself had to say.

.jpeg Image 28.jpeg Size: 149.16 KB  Downloads: 0


Using a barcode reader, I got the following readout. 

JGB S199 4 1017031 01107873 00020 080223 01 E11E7843FEB9611E01

A friend started me on the path to trying to understand these codes. Here's what I've found out (or think I have)

Tthe three digit prefix is the standard UPU code for the UK (Great Britain)

After that is the main data block followed by the security / checksum block.

Within the data block ... the part in blue, beginning with the S is the product code, series or rate

the light blue digit indicates the source ...e.g. a counter sheet

the seven-digit rose coloured series of numbers is an untranslated internal reference number. Some sort of proprietary number that very probably refers to the printing process or design.

the orange series of numbers would be the unique stamp number within its production batch

the green series would be the face value ... in the case of my sample, 20p

the grey series of six numbers is a date field. The question is what date? It's not the date of issue (that wouldn't necessarily known when the stamp was printed) it's probably the printing date or some other key production date.

the final two brown coloured numbers are the stamp indicator 01 for definitive (probably)

As for the security block ... E11 E7843FEB 9611 E01 ... this 18 character block would be used by Royal Mail to verify (if necessary) the authenticity of the stamp to prevent forgery. I assume the algorithm to do this is proprietary (if it's not secret it woldn't be of much use would it? - smile).

Having said that ...

the initial E11 is probably the type of security algorithm being used.
the E7843FEB is probably a digital signature generated by the main data block. A sort of checksum.
the four digit black 9611 is interesting - perhaps another kind of check linked to the print or production batch? Who knows.
the final three characters, I'm guessing, is a final version or integrity indicator?

This is fun and in a way, one aspect of the future of philately. We're still figuring things out ... and that's part of the fun too ... until the details become public and documented. 

If you hold the stamp on an angle you can see another security feature. Holographic characters on the stamp. Notice that it says M23L instead of MAIL above the King's forehead. 

I don't really collect modern stamps. But these digital ones are, I have to admit, rather cool. Lot's more to discover.

Anyway, I could be wrong on all this ... so, corrections and feedback are more than welcome. 

Cheers, Hugh

.jpeg Image 29.jpeg Size: 415.39 KB  Downloads: 0
]]> <![CDATA[Mail Rail]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=44 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:12:18 +0000 Janet MacD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=44
You can read it here:

https://www.postalmuseum.org/blog/why-di...ail-close/]]>
You can read it here:

https://www.postalmuseum.org/blog/why-di...ail-close/]]> <![CDATA[A favourite Machin FDC]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=13 Tue, 16 Feb 2021 00:57:01 +0000 Webmaster]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=13
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Roy]]>
.jpg machin-fdc.jpg Size: 141.45 KB  Downloads: 6


Roy]]>