Getting started with Pre-Decimal Machins
Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 9:40 am
Hi all,
My first post here so let me first explain that I'm a bit of a newbie with philately. The usual story - picked it up again when I retired a couple of years ago. I'm beginning to learn that I know nothing!
I'm just starting my exploration of Machins. I have a reasonable collection of 'stock' that I'm now going to sort through and try to write up. I thought that the Pre-Decimals would be a good place to start - A closed group, reasonably well documented and understood ... and affordable!
So ... starting at the beginning .. the ½d.
Deegam says that there are 3 varieties - one without phosphor and the 2 others from Cylinder 2 and 3 with the stamps from 3 being noticeably lighter to those from 2. In my stock I have a reasonable collection that have been identified (by someone) using Deegam criteria and they all seem to be fairly accurate including direction of print etc ... so I'm thinking that the originator knew their stuff BUT the two ½d stamps seem to be miss identified to me (the wrong war around).
The stamp on the left in the picture below is identified as Cylinder 2 with the right hand stamp cylinder 3 but, to me, the right hand stamp is noticeably crisper, deeper, richer. I do have 3 or 4 stamps that are similar to both so I don't think that the left hand is just faded or washed.
I wonder if anyone has a view?
Bob
My first post here so let me first explain that I'm a bit of a newbie with philately. The usual story - picked it up again when I retired a couple of years ago. I'm beginning to learn that I know nothing!
I'm just starting my exploration of Machins. I have a reasonable collection of 'stock' that I'm now going to sort through and try to write up. I thought that the Pre-Decimals would be a good place to start - A closed group, reasonably well documented and understood ... and affordable!
So ... starting at the beginning .. the ½d.
Deegam says that there are 3 varieties - one without phosphor and the 2 others from Cylinder 2 and 3 with the stamps from 3 being noticeably lighter to those from 2. In my stock I have a reasonable collection that have been identified (by someone) using Deegam criteria and they all seem to be fairly accurate including direction of print etc ... so I'm thinking that the originator knew their stuff BUT the two ½d stamps seem to be miss identified to me (the wrong war around).
The stamp on the left in the picture below is identified as Cylinder 2 with the right hand stamp cylinder 3 but, to me, the right hand stamp is noticeably crisper, deeper, richer. I do have 3 or 4 stamps that are similar to both so I don't think that the left hand is just faded or washed.
I wonder if anyone has a view?
Bob