Having found these three values with a reversed single 45° ribbing, I have since decided to look at them under longwave ultraviolet in order to differentiate the type of papers used to print them, and have discovered that both the left and right ribbing on the 1/- & 1/6d were printed on cream and whiter papers, but the 10d value was a different proposition, as the top left to bottom right could only be found on cream paper with the top right to bottom left on whiter papers only.
From my findings it would appear that the 10d value does not comply as with the other 2 values discovered, however, it does indicate that this particular reversed single 45° angled ribbing was in use on all three values before and after the changeover period in 1962, I have also noticed that with the whiter type papers traces of a contaminant (fluorescent fibres) can be seen, which leads me to suspect that impurities had crept into the manufacture of the paper since the changeover was made with the type of ragging that was used.
Here is a couple of scans of the 4 variations found with both the 1/- & 1/6d values :-
Does anyone have any comments to make with regards to these findings ? As the impression within the structure or embodiment of the paper given is almost like a watermark!
This type of paper is usually classified as wove due to the weft and weave pattern in the embodiment, but these particular ones give the appearance of a laid paper by only having single lines going in a 45° diagonal direction unlike the normal mesh pattern normally associated with this type of paper.
The following description is given by Wikipedia as to the difference :-
Here is a close-up picture of the 1/6d's in question, have you discovered any other values of a similar reversed nature ?
As this type of paper is certainly different from the norm.
And what's more ! Is that you can spot these little beauties without the aid of a longwave ultraviolet light as the reversed ribbing within the papers structure can be clearly seen in the visible spectrum.
Also it would appear that this is one of the few occasions when cream papers are more translucent than normal due to the low GSM of the paper produced at that time as normally they are quite opaque.
Another variety of single lined ribbing akin to laid paper has also been found, but in this instance the single lines were horizontal rather than diagonal as can be seen in my attachment with a relevant caption.
Also with a filtered version.........
With a further picture more at a distance, as the problem is trying to capture the correct image due to the fact that the sheen of the gum has a tendency to interfere when at the correct angle to give the best image of the single type ribbing.
Consequently it should be of interest as to it's assessment, is this a wove paper or a laid paper ?
With regards to the single reversed diagonals discovered, I can only come to one conclusion, and it's that the paper/roll must have been reversed prior to the stamps being printed, and consequently some of the stamps were printed on paper with a reversed watermark.
If anyone can think of an alternative reason for the reversed ribbing found, then by all means do so, it's all grist to the mill. WM.