THE 4d "Wilding" DEEP ULTRAMARINE PRINTED ON 3 TYPES OF PAPER !
Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 2:29 pm
The 4d Wilding value is a stamp that has lasted throughout the complete Wilding series, and was first issued on the 2nd of November 1953 going through various changes over the years involving 3 types of watermark, the addition of graphite lines, phosphor graphites and a variation of colour change from ultramarine to deep ultramarine, and can be found with 4 types of applied phosphor tagging 3 X 8mm bands, green, blue and violet concluding with with the 9½mm violet broadband.
It is from the colour change period of the 28th of April 1965 whereby the shade was deliberately altered from ultramarine to deep ultramarine of which I am concerned with.
According to the SG specialised Vol.3, I quote: "This 'Shade' was brought about by making more deeply etched Cylinders from a new multipositive, resulting in apparent depth of colour, but there is no difference in the colour of the ink.The change was made deliberately and coincided with the change in the letter rate from 3d to 4d on 17.May 1965".( Ultramarine produced on white paper 18.Oct.1962; Deep ultramarine released 28.April 1965).
Therefore in accordance to the specialised catalogue the only specified type of paper that the 4d deep ultramarine stamp was printed on was a whiter paper (meaning whiter than the original cream papers).
My study of this particular stamp leads me to believe via the use of long wave ultra violet light that this was not the case, due to the fact that I have found at least 2 other papers excluding contaminated, that have been used in their production, namely oxidised creams (a paper that is more translucent than the original cream paper) and a fluorescent paper variety created by the additional use of optical brightening agents giving 3 in total.
In fact it's not just me that has found discrepancies in the SG specialised catalogue listings. Here's information relating to the 4d contaminated papers that was reported to have been issued as late as February 1968 in a 10/- booklet in a report made by Hanns Fasching of the Modern British Philatelic Circle in their "Bookmark" journal along with a statement over finding cream type papers also......... This journal is normally reserved for members only, but Mr Fasching editor of "The Deegam handbook/catalogue" has kindly given his permission for me to show you the extract originally published in the BMJ in 2015 volume 45 no.3 pages 148/9. Thanks Hanns.
Here is a picture of those very same stamps that may also get included in the MBPC's catalogue as a variety one day perhaps > Why this type of paper has never been listed as a variety as with the cream and whiter ones goes beyond my understanding of what VARIETY means, if something is different it should be listed and classified as such ! After all, a stamp catalogue is not only about the price of stamps but is used as a source of reference. Don't you agree ?
So to begin with, my first exhibit is that of the plain 4d deep ultramarine, being printed on two different cylinders 13 + 16 no dot, and I am sure that you can see the difference in their reaction under long wave ultraviolet light as there are two totally distinct types of paper which have been used, the specialised catalogue only lists one. This is followed by a selection of violet phosphors showing 3 distinct papers having been used in their manufacture, the more prominent one being the oxidized cream paper used for printing the 9½mm violet phosphor version as seen from the front and reverse in the following two attachments, this cream type paper being more translucent than the original cream papers prior to the changeover in 1962. The difference in paper is not just confined to the sheet printings but can also be found in booklet format with variations of the watermark, this is a 4d plain watermark sideways with relevant captions. Along with the same stamps but as seen from the gummed side. With the next two showing the front and reverse of a 4d inverted watermark block compared to the upright stamps. It's amazing what you can find when you take the effort to look.
Further coverage on other variations of paper on different values is to be followed up on separate threads concentrating on the unlisted ones.
Should there be anyone with something constructive to report on this subject then please give details, or does silence absolute still prevail ?
Thank you WM.