I 
 
THE 
 
 Postage Stamps, 
 
 $nbtlwpt$ f mxb fjost Cartm, 
 
 AUSTRALIA AND THE RpiTISH COLONIES OF OCEANIA. 
 
 Mttf) ^utotupc Illustrations. 
 
 COMPILED AND PUBLISHED 
 
 HY 
 
 THE /PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON 
 
 _J L 
 
 LOXDO^, 1887, 
 
 AN rights rest 
 
TTHE C PHILATELIC SOCIETY, 
 * London, has much pleasure in 
 presenting subscribers to their Catalogue 
 of the Postage Stamps of the British 
 Colonies of Oceania with an Autotype 
 Illustration of the sheet of the Registration 
 Stamp of New South Wales. The 
 Autotype is taken from an unused entire 
 sheet in the collection of a well known 
 Colonial collector, kindly lent for that 
 purpose, and of course gives the correct 
 arrangement of every variety of type. 
 The enclosed sheet will therefore replace 
 Plate M. previously given with the 
 Catalogue. 
 
 London, 
 
 Dec. 20th, 1888. 
 
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THE 
 
 Postage Stamps, 
 
 ®rtfael0pes, ratr |)0st ^arbs, 
 
 OF 
 
 AUSTRALIA AND THE BRITISH COLONIES OF OCEANIA. 
 
 Mttf) Autotype Illustrations, 
 
 COMPILED AND PUBLISHED 
 
 BY 
 
 THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON. 
 
 * • • 
 
 • • • » '. ' ' 
 
 LONDON, 1887. 
 
■iffy* 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IN the season of 1881-82 the Society commenced the preparation of the 
 Lists of Stamps of the Australian Continent, and has included in its 
 subsequent labours those of the Colonies of Great Britain which are 
 collectively designated Oceania. The following pages contain the results 
 of their investigations ; for the delay in the appearance of which some 
 explanation is perhaps called for. 
 
 A perusal of the papers of the President and Vice-President will inform 
 those members of the Society who have hitherto not been acquainted with 
 the facts, of the difficulties of the task, and of the causes which prevented 
 complete lists being compiled until the problems of the plates of the locally- 
 engraved stamps had been solved. It was found advisable to entrust these 
 specific investigations to individual members ; and the prosecution of their 
 enquiries, and the comparison and verification of the results obtained by 
 each, have necessarily occupied much time. The Catalogues of M. Moens 
 and of Major Evans have been freely consulted as the existing standard 
 lists. It is believed the postponement has been attended with the result, 
 that in the labours of the Society will be found the first systematic attempt 
 to settle questions of the highest interest to Philatelists, and which since 
 the earliest days of collecting have presented difficulties of an almost 
 insurmountable nature. 
 
 The lists have been completed to the end of 1886. 
 
 Collectors will find in the remarkable Autotype illustrations a complete 
 series of the entire plates, which, from their absolute fidelity to the minutest 
 detail, will enable them to reconstruct their own plates, and be of essential 
 service in detecting impostures. 
 
 London, October, 1887. 
 
 4 '4753 
 
LIST OF ABBEEVIATIONS. 
 
 T. 
 
 
 . Top. 
 
 B. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Bottom. 
 
 R. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Right. 
 
 L. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Left. 
 
 Perf. . 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Perforated. 
 
 Iniperf. . 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Imperforate. 
 
 M.-Perf. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Machine-Perforated 
 
 Pin-Perf. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Pin-Perforated. 
 
 Rou. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Rouletted. 
 
 Wmk. . 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Watermark. 
 
 Mm. 
 
 
 
 
 
 . Millimetres. 
 
FIJI ISLANDS. 
 
 Issue I. End of 1871. 
 
 Three values, type-printed ; coloured impression on medium white wove paper ; 
 watermark, " fiji postage," in single-lined letters, once in each sheet of stamps ; 
 white gum; shape, upright rectangular; perforation, 12£. Design : Each stamp bears 
 the initials "c.r." (" Cakambau Rex") in script type, surmounted by a crown, in white 
 upon ground of coloured horizontal lines within circular frame. Curved labels above 
 and below circle, with name of country and value in words. {Illustrations 1, 2, 3.) 
 
 One Penny. Beaded circle, with thin inner and outer lines. The upper 
 curved label has an ornament at each end resembling a cross pdtee, and is inscribed 
 with the word "fiji" in Roman letters. The bottom label, also curved, is plain, 
 and cut square at the ends by the frame of the stamp. It is inscribed " postage 
 one penny" in small block letters. Both inscriptions are in coloured letters on 
 white. In the upper spandrels are floreate ornaments, and the lower ones are filled 
 in with triangles containing other small ornaments. 
 
 Three Pence. The circle, firmed of alternate dice of colour and white, has 
 a thick inner line of colour, and an outer one formed of minute dots. Labels and 
 ornamentation of spandrels the same as in preceding value. Inscriptions in colour 
 upon white. 
 
 Six Pence. Toothed circle with two thin inner and one thick outer lines of 
 colour. The circle is dissected by a hexagon of white lines. The ornaments at the 
 extremities of the upper label are fashioned something like nippers. Floreate 
 ornaments in upper spandrels; beaded triangles in lower ones. Inscriptions in 
 white upon colour. 
 
 T. " fiji." b. " postage " and value in words. 
 
 Id., blue, very dark to light shades. 
 3d., green „ „ 
 
 6d., carmine (shades). 
 
 Varieties. — A series can be made, printed on distinctly yellow -toned paper. 
 All the values also exist imperforate. Copies of these latter, however, are not 
 known used, and they are. believed to be proofs. 
 
 Issue II. 1872. 
 Three values. The same stamps surcharged with the numerical value above 
 the crown, and the word "cents" beneath the initials "c.r." The surcharge is in 
 black, and each word has a capital letter. Same paper, watermark, and perforation. 
 (Illustration 4.) 
 
 2 cents, blue, dark and light, surcharged on the Id. 
 6 „ green „ „ 3d. 
 
 12 „ carmine and rose- lake, dark and light, surcharged on the 6d. 
 
 Varieties. — All the above are also found imperforate, to which a like remark 
 as in the unsurcharged issue applies. 
 
 B 
 
2 FIJI ISLANDS. 
 
 Issue III. 1875. 
 
 Three values, issued after the islands had heen annexed hy Great Britain, on 
 October 10th, 1874. The same stamps as the last, with the additional surcharge of 
 "v.r," in black, placed over the original letters "c.r." The letters "v.r." are 
 printed in two types — plain Koman capitals, with full stop after each letter ; and in 
 ornamental Gothic capitals, with punctuation to match. Both types of surcharge 
 are found upon the same sheet of stamps. The watermark and perforation of these 
 stamps is the same as in the preceding issues ; but the paper varies in substance. 
 
 (Illustrations 5, 6.) 
 
 (a) Surcharged in Roman capitals. 
 
 2 cents, blue and black, \ 
 
 6 „ green and black, > slight shades. 
 
 12 „ carmine-red and black, ) 
 
 Variety. 12 cents, carmine-red and black ; surcharge " v.r." inverted. 
 
 (b) Surcharged in Gothic capitals. 
 
 Same values and shades. 
 
 Varieties. (1) Surcharge " V.R." inverted. 
 
 12 cents, carmine-red and black. 
 
 (2) The letters " V.R." punctuated by a Maltese Cross. 
 2 cents, blue and black. 
 6 „ green and black. 
 12 „ carmine-red «id black. 
 
 (3) The preceding variety, with surcharge " v.r." inverted. 
 12 cents, carmine-red and black. 
 
 (4) All three values, with an inverted Gothic "a" instead of "v." 
 
 (5) 6 cents, green, Gothic " V.R." with plain instead of ornamental punctuation. 
 
 (6) 12 cents, carmine-red, Gothic " v.r.," plain period between the two letters. 
 
 Issue IV. End of 1875. 
 
 One value. Between the date of the preceding issue and 1876 provisional 
 stamps of the value of Two Pence were formed by the additional surcharge of " 2d." 
 above that of "v.r." (Illustration!.) 
 
 Two colours, red and black, were employed for this extra surcharge. 
 
 I. Surcharged on the 6 cents, green. 
 
 (a) Surcharged in red. 
 
 (1) Roman "v.r." 
 
 (2) Gothic " v.r." 
 
 Varieties. (1) Roman "v.r.," with stop before the "d" of 2d. 
 
 (2) Gothic " v.r., 2d.," without punctuation. 
 
 (3) „ „ punctuated with a Maltese Cross. 
 
 (4) Roman " v.r.," no stop after R. 
 
 (5) Gothic " v.r.," inverted a instead of v. 
 
 (b) Surcharged in black. 
 
 (1) Roman "v.r." 
 
 (2) Gothic " v.r." 
 
 Varieties. — Same as the preceding varieties in red. 
 
FIJI ISLANDS. 3 
 
 II. Surcharged in black on the 12 cents, carmine-red. 
 
 (1) Roman "v.r." 
 
 (2) Gothic "v.r." 
 
 Varieties. (1) Roman "v.r.," with stop before the "d" of 2d. 
 
 (2) Gothic "v.r.," without punctuation. 
 
 (3) „ „ and 2d. surcharged twice. 
 
 (4) „ „ inverted a for v. 
 
 (5) Roman " v.r.," 2d., without punctuation. 
 
 (6) Gothic "v.r.," inverted A for v, and plain period between the two letters. 
 
 Issue V. 1876. 
 Three values. In this issue the currency is changed back from cents to pence. 
 An ornamental script monogram is surcharged over the original initials "c.R." 
 The second value is also surcharged " Two Pence " in black, in a straight line over 
 the original value of Three Pence. The paper is thick, the perforation 12|, and 
 there is no watermark. {Illustration 8.) 
 
 Id., ultramarine, bright and milky shades, -\ 
 
 2d. on 3d., yellow-green, dark and light, > black surcharge. 
 
 6d., carmine-rose, ) 
 
 Varieties. — A peculiar flaw in the plate exists on certain specimens of the Penny. 
 A kind of white patch appears in the upper left corner, either as if the details of 
 the stamp had never been finished, or as if an injury to the plate had taken place. 
 
 Issue VI. 1878. 
 
 Four values. This issue is upon horizontally laid paper ; in other respects it 
 resembles the preceding. The fourth value, Four Pence, was formed by printing a 
 stamp from the Threepenny die in pale mauve, and surcharging it " Four Pence " 
 in black over the original value. {Illustration 9.) 
 
 Id., ultramarine (shades), \ 
 
 2d. on 3d., yellow-green (shades), f , . . , 
 
 . . _ , ' , 6 v " > black surcharge. 
 
 4d. on 3d., pale mauve „ I 
 
 6d.. carmine-rose .. ' 
 
 6d., carmine-rose 
 
 Varieties. — A. The same flaw, mentioned above, in the plate of the Penny 
 exists in this issue also. 
 
 B. The Penny, Three Pence green, and Six Pence are found without any 
 surcharge. 
 
 Issue VII. 1879. 
 
 One value, on white wove paper; perforation, 12£. The stamp is surcharged 
 with the value in the same way as in the preceding issue, but is without the script 
 monogram. The die was re-engraved, the letters "v.r.," in script type, being 
 substituted for the initials "c.R." In other respects it resembles the preceding. 
 {Illustration 10.) 
 
 2d. on 3d., yellow-green, slight shades ; black surcharge. 
 
 Issue VIII. 1880. 
 Tliree values. Die re-engraved, as above ; no surcharge. The paper is wove, 
 no watermark; perforation, 12^. {Illustration 11.) 
 
 Id., ultramarine, 
 
 2d., pale green, \ slight shades. 
 
 6d., carmine-rose, 
 
FIJI ISLANDS. 
 
 Issue IX. 1882. 
 
 Two values, type printed ; coloured impression, on medium white wove paper ; 
 white gum. Design : 
 
 One Shilling. Diademed head of Queen Victoria to left, on a background 
 of horizontal lines, enclosed in a circle formed by a single white line. White 
 arabesques, in spandrels on solid ground; the name of the country above, and 
 the value in full in two lines in white block letters below the circle. The design is 
 completed by a frame formed of a single white line. 
 
 Five Shillings. Diademed head of Queen Victoria to left, on background of 
 horizontal lines. This portion of the impression is printed in pale salmon-red, and 
 is enclosed in a circle formed by a single black line. The remainder of the stamp 
 is printed in black. The upper corners each contain the figure " 5," printed in 
 white on a black ground, and enclosed in a double-lined octagonal frame. The 
 name of the country above, and the value, in two lines, below the central circle, 
 are in white block letters on eccentric black cartouches. Above the upper inscription 
 is a row of pearls, and on either side of the word "five" is a five-rayed shaded 
 star. The design is completed by a single-lined frame. Shape, long upright 
 rectangular. Mach.-perf. 10. {Illustrations 12, 13.) 
 
 T. "FIJI." B. "ONE SHILLING." "FIVE SHILLINGS." 
 
 1 shilling, pale brown. 
 
 5 shillings, black and salmon-red. 
 
 Issue X. 1883 (?) 
 
 Four values. Same as the stamps of 1880. The fourpence is formed by print- 
 ing a stamp from the twopenny die in dull mauve, and surcharging it " fourpence " 
 over the original value in black. Wove paper. {Illustration 14.) 
 
 (a) Per/. 10. 
 
 Id., ultramarine. 
 2d., pale green. 
 4d., mauve and black. 
 6d., carmine-rose. 
 
 (b) Per/. 10 x 12£. 
 Id., ultramarine. 
 2d., pale green. 
 4d., 1 
 6d., carmine-rose. 
 
 FISCALS USED POSTALLY. 
 
 Several values of the stamp duty set have been seen postmarked. The Society 
 does not believe they have done postal duty, but considers they have been obliterated 
 at one of the Post-offices for the benefit of collectors. 
 
 PRIVATE STAMPS. "FIJI TIMES EXPRESS." 
 
 In 1870 the proprietors of the Fiji Times Express, in Levuka, issued a series of 
 stamps to prepay the postage on their newspaper. 
 
 Issue I. 1870. 
 
 Five values, type printed on rose-coloured paper. The design is of the sim- 
 plest character ; consisting of an oblong single-lined frame, containing the words 
 t. "times," b. "penny," "pence," or "shilling," l. "fiji," reading upwards ; and 
 r. "express," reading downwards in Koman capitals. In the middle is the figure of 
 
FIJI ISLANDS. 5 
 
 value, plain in the case of the Penny, Three Pence, Six Pence, and Nine Pence, and 
 ornamented in the case of the Shilling, which also, like the Six Pence, has the 
 numeral larger than the other values. The stamps are separated from each other 
 hy dotted lines, and all the values are printed together on the same sheet. Shape 
 oblong ; rouletted (about) 20, on the dotted lines on quadrille paper. {Illustrations 
 
 15, 16, 17.) 
 
 Id., black on rose. 
 3d., „ „ 
 
 6d., „ 
 yd., „ „ 
 
 Issue II. 1871. 
 
 On laid batonne paper, same values as Issue I. A third set is catalogued by 
 Major Evans on laid paper ; but no specimens have been seen by the Society. 
 
 Reprints. — In 1876 a reprint of these stamps took place for the benefit of 
 collectors. They may be distinguished from the originals by the design, which is 
 smaller, and is better printed, and by the fact that they are pin-perforated, and not 
 rouletted. A bogus set also exists on bright violet-rose paper. 
 
 OFFICIAL WRAPPER. 
 
 Issue 1884 (?) 
 
 This wrapper is employed by the Government Printing Office at Suva. It 
 consists of plain white wove paper, size 13|x4£ inches. In the upper part, to 
 right, is the franking stamp. Design : A plain upright rectangle contains the follow- 
 ing inscription in five lines (1st) "by authority," (2nd) "government," (3rd) 
 "frank" within a single-lined frame rounded at the four corners, (4th) "print, 
 office," (5th) "fiji." The 1st line is in old English characters; the 2nd, 3rd, and 
 4th are in block letters; the 5th in lower case; and the 1st and 2nd, and the 4th 
 and 5th, are separated by a thin line. At the top of the wrapper, in the centre, is 
 "O.H.M.S." (On Her Majesty's Service) in Eoman capitals, and some little distance 
 below, to the left, is "Govt. Printing Office" in italics, directly below which is "188 ." 
 
 Without value. Black on white. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 LOCAL STAMPED LETTER-SHEET FOR THE TOWN 
 
 OF SYDNEY. 
 
 Issue 1848 (?) 
 
 The first stamp issued for this colony was a local employed in the town of Sydney. 
 Its existence seems to have been unsuspected for many years, and the credit of its 
 discovery belongs jointly to Sir Daniel Cooper and Mr. Pemberton. Nothing further 
 has since transpired in reference to it, and it is simply proposed in this article to 
 reprint the main portions of the interesting paper read by Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart., 
 before the Society on May 29th, 1869, and published in the Philatelist for July, and 
 the Stamp Collector's Magazine for August of the same year. In the Philatelist of 
 September, 1869, appears a supplementary paper by Mr. Pemberton on the same 
 subject, and in the Stamp Collector's Magazine, vol. xii. page 5, there is a short note 
 by the author of The Postage Stamps of British Guiana. The only uncertainty 
 that seems to exist is in reference to the date of issue. The last mentioned writer 
 observes : " M. Moens erroneously gives the date 1848. The writer possesses a 
 specimen postmarked 11th October, 1843. The authority to the Postmaster of 
 Sydney to issue a cover franking this value will be found in the Government Gazette 
 for 1838." 
 
 On the other hand, Mr. Pemberton says, " Its authenticity is unimpeachable. It 
 is mentioned in 1849 by the Postmaster himself, and it appears in the Government 
 Printer's List as • 1848, embossed.'" 
 
 It is possible that what was apparently a figure 3 on the dated specimen referred 
 to was in reality a misprinted 8, and as there are several other inaccuracies in the 
 paper by the author of The Postage Stamps of British Guiana, which are fully dealt 
 with in the following papers on the " Sydney Views," by the Vice-President, it does 
 not seem unlikely that the writer in question was misinformed as to the date. It 
 would certainly be a curious fact if a town like Sydney, primitive as it was in those 
 days, had adopted stamped letter-sheets about two years before the introduction of 
 postage stamps in England, and the balance of probability therefore appears in 
 favour of 1848 being the correct date of issue. 
 
 Sir Daniel Cooper says, " Having passed many years of my life in Sydney, and 
 having been a member of the ' Select Committee of the Legislative Council of New 
 , South Wales,' which passed the Act to Establish a Uniform Rate of Postage, and to 
 Consolidate and Amend the Law for the Conveyance and Postage of Letters upon the 
 stamps in question, I may be said to be an authority. Being in correspondence with 
 Mr. Pemberton, I sent him a copy of the ' Votes and Proceedings ' of the above- 
 named Committee, which also contained the proceedings of the Select Committee, 
 which examined and reported upon the bill named above ; and he in return asked 
 me the meaning of the answer of Postmaster-General Raymond, in reply to question 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 7 
 
 No. 76 in the said report; viz., 'At the present moment we do not make a great 
 many stamps for the town delivery.' To question 79 he says, ' I charge eight shillings 
 a hundred for the present stamps, so that the vendor has fourpence profit on a 
 hundred.' And to question 80 he says, ' I have experienced some difficulty in 
 inducing persons to use these envelopes ; for although the charge for postage when 
 the envelope is not used is twopence, and the envelope only costs one penny, they 
 have heen very little used ; of late, however, they have been much more generally 
 used.' On a subsequent day Postmaster Kaymond said, 'The charge for letters 
 delivered in Sydney is now one penny when stamps are used ; twopence without the 
 prepaid stamps.' He further said, ' The stamps were supplied to several stationers, 
 who paid for them as they got them ; but they found they could not sell them.' 
 
 " The stamp here alluded to was to frank letters delivered twice a day within 
 the limits of the city of Sydney. It was an uncoloured, embossed stamp, the 
 design being the Eoyal Arms, encircled by the words, " general post office, new 
 south wales," and under the arms " Sydney." The impression was made on 
 wrappers or envelopes of half sheets of foolscap paper.* 
 
 "The impression was often very imperfectly struck, as the die was only an 
 ordinary Post-office seal, and the impression taken in a powerful letterpress. In 
 passing through the post-office, the hour of delivery, in an oblong, octagonal frame, 
 was imprinted in black ink on the stamp to obliterate it; and the envelope was 
 also stamped in red ink, with the word 'free,' the day of the month and year 
 within a circle, surmounted by a crown. 
 
 " I had forgotten the existence of this stamp, but on receipt of Mr. Pemberton's 
 inquiry I wrote to my friends at Sydney, and fortunately procured a used specimen. 
 This cover, after having passed through the post-office, had been used to write an 
 order for goods upon, filed as a voucher, and thus preserved ; and by this means is 
 authenticated by the handwritings written on the inside thereof. The date of the 
 postmark on this envelope is 'October 5, 1849.' Sydney being a moderate-sized 
 town, and the chief office being the only Post-office in the city, it was generally 
 as easy for a domestic to deliver a letter by hand as to take it to the Post-office. 
 The awkward shape of the envelopes also caused many to fold the embossed stamps 
 out of sight; and many letters prepaid were thus charged twopence before the 
 stamps were discovered. For these and other reasons the stamp was very little 
 employed, and had almost passed out of memory." 
 
 From another article upon this stamp in the Stamp Collector's Magazine for 
 March, 1870, we learn that the die used for striking the stamp had been chiselled 
 out, so that reprints were impossible. 
 
 The stamp is found struck upon medium white wove paper, and also on pale 
 blue laid paper. The size of the sheet when open is llf x8| inches, and the 
 stamp is placed in about the centre of one of the half sheets. (Illustration 18.) 
 
 (a) On white wove paper. 
 
 (One Penny.) Without colour or value. 
 
 (b) On pale blue laid paper. 
 (One Penny.) Without colour or value. 
 
 * The original illustration of this stamp was taken from a sketch supplied by Sir Daniel 
 Cooper, and was inaccurate, the word Sydney being misspelt Sidney. This was done intentionally, 
 with a view of laying a trap for forgers. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 THE FIRST TWO ISSUES OF THE ADHESIVE STAMPS 
 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 A Paper Read befoee the Philatelic Society, London. 
 
 By T. K. TAPLING, M.P., Vice-President. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 It will only be necessary to refer very briefly to the circumstances which led the 
 Society to entrust the task of preparing papers on the first two issues of New South 
 Wales to the President and myself some two to three years ago. It was considered 
 that in some respects we were in a better position to undertake the work than the 
 Society as a body, the President being in possession of certain official information, 
 and both of us having access to the finest known collections of these stamps. A 
 word of apology is needed for the long delay in the completion of our work, which 
 consequently, up to the present, has prevented the publication of the Society's 
 catalogue. The arrangement was for the President to obtain all the official infor- 
 mation possible, and to write what may be called the general history of the issues ; 
 my share being confined to study of the stamps, and to questions connected with 
 the different plates. 
 
 At the outset we were confronted with great difficulties. I understand that 
 even now our President has been unable, in several matters, to get at the particular 
 information he wanted ; and, as far as my task was concerned, it was not until I 
 was fortunate enough to secure large quantities of the stamps, through the kindness 
 of a friend in Australia, that I was able to put together anything like a connected 
 story, or to arrive at conclusions that I fear, in one or two instances, can still only 
 be considered approximate to the truth. When the papers are before you I think 
 you will realize the difficulties connected with a study which depended so largely on 
 the slow and laborious process of reconstructing the plates. Though the delay has 
 been a long one, in reality there has been no time wasted; and with these few 
 remarks I shall proceed to lay the results of my labours before you, and to give an 
 account of my stewardship. 
 
 I think it is true that no two series of stamps have excited greater or more 
 widely-spread interest among collectors than those which form the subject of these 
 papers. At one time or another, from the very earliest days of Philately, they 
 have received the attention of almost every philatelic writer of eminence, and have 
 furnished the materials for numerous discussions and articles in various magazines, 
 some of which are of great value, and to which I gladly acknowledge my in- 
 debtedness. Among them I may cite : 
 
 1. The series of papers by the late E. L. Pemberton, contributed by him to 
 the Stamp Collector's Magazine for March, 1865, May and June, 1867, November, 
 1868, and to the Philatelist of January, 1868, and January, 1869. 
 
 2. Two articles by the author of The Postage Stamps of British Guiana, 
 which appeared in the former journal in March, 1867, and January, 1874. 
 
 3. The paper read by Dr. Legrand before the "Congres International des 
 Timbrophiles " at Paris, on September 25th, 1878. 
 
 4. A paper read by Mr. Castle before the London Philatelic Society, and 
 published in the Philatelic Record of December, 1884, and January, 1885. 
 
 There are numerous other notices of lesser importance, but the above-mentioned 
 articles contain practically all the information that has to the present day been made 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 9 
 
 public. It is my object in this paper to take up the story where it was left by 
 Mr. Pemberton and Dr. Legrand. With the assistance and advice of our President 
 and Mr. Bacon, and by means of researches conducted jointly with two distinguished 
 collectors, MM. Caillebotte, of Paris, I am now in a position to supplement very 
 considerably the knowledge previously acquired. To the latter gentlemen, to whose 
 patient study was added conspicuous ability, I take this opportunity of tendering 
 my heartiest thanks. As will appear later, they were the first to indicate to us the 
 " right track " in several very important particulars. I am compelled to leave some 
 minor points still open ; but, in most other respects, I think, a final settlement of 
 questions which are as difficult perhaps as any presented by our science, has at 
 length been arrived at. 
 
 Issue I. 
 As everyone knows, the first issue consisted of three values only — One Penny, 
 Two Pence, and Three Pence. I propose to take each value separately, under the 
 four heads of — 
 
 1. Date of issue. 
 
 2. The engraving and the engravers of the plates. 
 
 3. The design, whether on different plates, or in different stamps on the 
 
 same plate. 
 
 4. The various kinds of paper on which the stamps are printed. 
 
 It will be found that a consideration of one of these points involves to some 
 
 extent a consideration of the others; but from the nature of the subject this is 
 
 unavoidable. 
 
 One Pbnny. 
 
 I. Date of Issue. — I copy the following extracts from the Stamp Collector 's 
 Magazine of December 1st, 1867 : 
 
 "By section 10 of an Act of Council, 13 Vict., No. 38, passed 12th October, 
 
 1849, postage stamps were directed to be prepared and issued for the colony, and to 
 be sold to the public. The period when this was to come into effect was 1st January, 
 
 1850. By section 11 any person forging the stamps to be liable to imprisonment 
 for such time as the court may direct, not exceeding seven years." 
 
 Sydney Gazette, 25th December, 1849, page 1927: "Notification that at first 
 stamps will only be issued for the subjoined values — One Penny, Two Pence, and 
 Three Pence." The following rates of postage were fixed : 
 
 For letters not exceeding in weight % oz. : 
 
 Within the limits of the town of Sydney . . .Id. 
 
 Inland (within the colony) . . . . 2d. 
 
 Ship letters . . . . . . 3d. 
 
 (In addition to any inland postage.) 
 
 All newspapers . . . . . . Id. 
 
 Gazette, 15th January, 1850, page 72 : "That sums under £1 may be remitted 
 in postage stamps." Prom these extracts we do not of course gather whether the 
 finely or the roughly-engraved One Penny came first. The consideration of this 
 point falls under our third question. 
 
 II. The Engraving and Engravers of the Stamps. — It is unfortunate that so 
 little trustworthy information is obtainable relative to the manufacture and the 
 manufacturers of the Sydney stamps. In the earlier days of collecting very little 
 attention was paid to these details, which did not appear to the philatelic fraternity 
 to possess any special significance. It is to be feared that in the case of the Sydneys 
 the opportunity has been lost for ever of acquiring that knowledge from official 
 sources, which alone can be relied upon. If I remember right, the Sydney Post- 
 office was destroyed by fire in 1864. Stamps, plates, archives, in fact, everything 
 there existing which could have thrown any light upon the subject we are 
 considering, perished in the conflagration. Questions that might easily have been 
 settled by application to the officials must now remain unanswered, perhaps in-- 
 
10 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 definitely ; and the fact that most or all of those connected with the administration 
 of the Sydney Post-office in 1850, as far as I have been able to ascertain, are now 
 dead, renders the hope of a complete history of these stamps being written a very 
 remote one. Under these circumstances I can give but an incomplete answer 
 to our second question, and can only indicate the names of certain engravers who 
 are known to have been living in Sydney at the time, and who are said to have 
 had a hand in the production of the stamps. For some of my information I am 
 indebted to Mr. J. Calvert, a gentleman who lived some years in New South 
 Wales, and who was present in Sydney when the project of postage stamps for 
 the prepayment of letters was first entertained by the government. Mr. Calvert 
 is a practical engraver, and though not employed by the Sydney authorities, he 
 was frequently consulted by them towards the end of 1849 in reference to the 
 issue of the postage stamps authorized by the Act of Council passed October 12th, 
 1849. He states that the first Sydneys were engraved upon wood. The designs 
 of all were drawn by a Mr. Wells on separate blocks of boxwood, or stringy bark, 
 and were then cut on the wood by several engravers, he (Mr. Calvert) having 
 himself cut eight of the specimens. The separate blocks were then clamped up 
 together in an iron frame, and proof impressions taken from them. This Avould 
 be about November, 1849. A considerable number of sheets were struck off, the 
 printing (according to Mr. Calvert) being done by boys in a small room at the 
 back of the Sydney Post-office in George Street. Later on the stamps were printed 
 at the Stamp Office. There can be no doubt that these specimens from wood blocks 
 were simply essays ; at any rate, no wood engraved stamps were ever issued to the 
 public. If any were passed through the post it was done as an experiment. 
 Mr. James Raymond, the postmaster, was apprehensive of forgery, and probably 
 for this reason, and also on account of the perishable nature of the wood blocks, 
 it was finally decided to have the stamps engraved on metal. A pair of the well- 
 known, but rather uncommon, essays of the One Penny lies before you ; and you will 
 notice that both specimens are of the same type, though unsevered from each other. 
 This is interesting as showing that some method of reproduction was known in 
 Sydney at the time, though why a similar process should not have been employed for 
 the stamps of the metal plates is a question to which I can give no answer. There 
 is, however, as I shall show further on, some reason for thinking that the entire 
 plate of the first Two Pence was reproduced or reduplicated early in 1850. The 
 essays before you of the One Penny are said by Sir Daniel Cooper, our ex-President, 
 who filled an important government appointment at the time in Sydney, to be 
 lithographic transfers by an engraver named Clayton ; though, the types being the 
 same, they cannot belong to the series mentioned above as having been separately 
 engraved by Mr. Wells. There is also a tradition of an essay of the Tivo Pence formerly 
 existing in the collection of Count Primoli, of Paris ; but this, so far as I can obtain 
 any information, was finely engraved on metal. Putting all this together, and 
 assuming the accuracy of Mr. Calvert's recollections, we get, first, the original essays 
 on wood, probably of all three values, separately drawn and engraved ; secondly, a 
 lithographed stamp of the One Penny value only, drawn by Clayton, and reproduced 
 by a process of transfer, of which the specimens exhibited are examples ; and, thirdly, 
 the three values separately engraved upon metal, and issued to the public on 
 January 1st, 1850. Mr. Calvert further states his belief that, economy being an 
 object in those days, the metal plates were merely what are called "casts" from 
 the wood blocks. Now the characteristic of a wood block is that those parts of 
 the block which are intended to produce coloured lines are raised, as in type 
 printing, the white spaces and interstices of the design being cut away. This 
 process is the exact opposite of that then employed in printing from engraved metal 
 plates, where the coloured lines are cut or sunk in the plate. I do not believe that 
 the metal plates of the Sydneys were casts from wood blocks, as the process of doing 
 this was then unknown. If early specimens of the One Penny are examined it will 
 be found that those portions of the design — for instance, the labels containing the 
 words "one penny" and "postage," which at first sight appear to be of solid colour, 
 are in reality composed of fine crossed lines. Obviously, in the case of a cast from 
 wood, no amount of re-engraving on the metal cast could transform a label (which 
 being of solid colour on wood, would be represented by a label of colour on metal) 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 11 
 
 into a linear label. The lines of the labels on the metal plate are so fine that I 
 cannot believe, with the imperfect appliances available at the time in Sydney, 
 impressions of the merit of these stamps could have been obtained from wood 
 engravings either by casting or transfer. It is beyond question that the Sydneys 
 were printed from plates composed possibly of copper, more probably of " printers' 
 metal." The latter is a soft compound of lead, antimony, and tin, and its use 
 would account for the rapidity with wbich the plate of the Two Pence wore away. 
 We are able to say, from a dated specimen, that as early as February, 1850, the 
 plate of the Two Pence already showed considerable traces of use. 
 
 Stewart and Wall are said to have prepared the wood blocks, and Clayton and 
 Dubois (or some similar name), two other engravers, are supposed to have been 
 connected with the engraving of the metal plates. The shape of the sheets rather 
 favours the theory that more than one engraver was employed to produce the metal 
 plates. The One Penny and Tliree Pence were each printed in sheets of twenty-five 
 stamps, arranged in five rows of five; the sheet of the Tico Pence, consisting of 
 twenty-four specimens, was arranged in two horizontal rows of twelve. 
 
 From information furnished through Sir Daniel Cooper we are told that the 
 plates of the stamps used for the first issue were line engraved, each stamp being 
 separately drawn, and thus showing separate details, though the general design was 
 the same ; and that the engraver was Robert Clayton, who was assisted in his work 
 by his son-in-law Mason. There is some reason to think that Mason's work was 
 limited to certain plates of the Two Pence. 
 
 I have now laid before you all the information I possess on this part of the 
 subject, and only regret I cannot give a more definite answer to our second question. 
 
 III. Design. — A full description of the design of the One Penny will save a 
 good deal of repetition in the cases of the Two Pence and Three Pence, so I make no 
 apology for dealing with it here at some length. 
 
 In the left background is a view of the town of Sydney on an unshaded hill, 
 which slopes down to the sea-coast or harbour. On the hillside are two trees. 
 Below the hill, on what looks like a level plain, is the figure of a man and animal, 
 apparently engaged in ploughing, or in some agricultural pursuit. On the sea, in 
 the distance, there is a brig at anchor, heading to the right. In the left foreground 
 there is a female figure, seated on a bale, and apparently holding a whip over the 
 shoulder. She is very imprudently leaning against what seems to be a beehive 
 placed upon the bale. The bale is divided into four compartments by double lines, 
 the left lower compartment containing the numerals 17, and the right 88 (1788 
 being the date of the foundation of the colony). The left hand of the figure is 
 outstretched. In the right foreground is a group of three other figures, two males 
 and a female; the figure on the right is kneeling, probably in supplication, but 
 possibly offering some gift which does not appear in the design. On the ground 
 between the three figures on the right and the single one on the left lie a pickaxe 
 and spade, to which the seated figure is apparently pointing. At the feet of the 
 three figures there is a chain of six or seven links. Below the figures, and divided 
 from them by a line of colour, is the legend, "sic fortis etruria crevit," in two 
 lines on a white ground, and printed in small block capitals. The quotation is 
 taken from Virgil (Georgic II., verse 533), and the translation is, "Thus grew mighty 
 Etruria." The sky is unclouded. The whole of this portion of the design is 
 enclosed by a white single-lined circular band, containing the words, "sigillum 
 nov. camb. aust." in coloured block capitals, and meaning, " Seal of New South 
 Wales." I may here mention that this portion of the design is a copy of the 
 Colonial Government seal. In the upper portion of the band, between the words 
 "aust." and "sigillum," is a small eight-point star-shaped ornament. The spandrels 
 are filled in with dots on a white ground. At the top and bottom of the stamp 
 are two straight labels, with ground of horizontal and vertical lines crossed, upon 
 which are the words, t. "postage" . b. "one penny," in white Eoman capitals. The 
 corners consist of white square blocks, containing Maltese cross ornaments. On 
 each side, and bounded top and bottom by the corner blocks, there are two vertically- 
 lined bands, divided from each other by a white line. The inner two, which are 
 
12 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 impinged upon by the circular band, contain a kind of trellis of white lines, and 
 the outer ones are similarly ornamented with white spirals. The whole stamp is 
 enclosed by a single-lined rectangular frame. 
 
 From the first, speculation was rife as to the allegorical meaning of the design, 
 and many absurd theories were started; one particularly preposterous, according to 
 which the three figures were " natives presenting a palm branch to some personage 
 seated in an armchair on the seashore." I believe this account of the design was 
 given in the Stamp Collector's Review, the first stamp journal ever published. 
 According to another theory, the design represents a party of convicts just landed 
 from the ship, whom the lady on the bale (the goddess of Australia perhaps) is 
 exhorting to lead a new and better life by means of the pick and shovel. This 
 explanation is not improbably correct; and I believe it used to be the custom in 
 Australia, when convicts of either sex arrived, for them to be taken into the service 
 of private residents, though of course they were still subject to police supervision. 
 Taken in conjunction with the context to the quotation from Virgil, it seems quite 
 possible that a semi-classical allusion is also intended by the design. In connection 
 with this point I may quote the words of a lady who wrote under the nom de plume 
 of "Fentonia" in the Stamp Collector's Magazine of April, 1866. She observes: 
 "With regard to the fettered convicts, the allusion is classical, and therefore 
 consistent with the supposed design. Some of the rustic slaves in Virgil's time 
 worked in fetters, and were distinguished as servi vincti, while those who worked 
 without personal restraint were called servi soluti." In concluding her remarks the 
 writer goes on to say, " Whether the theory which has been advanced by way of 
 key to the 'picture' on the Sydney stamps be true or not, it is at least plausible. 
 The fields (1st Geoi'gic), the trees (2nd Georgia), the flocks (3rd Georgic), the bees 
 (4th Georgic), together with the ship and important buildings, are highly suggestive 
 of ancient Ostia (the old port of Eome) ; while Britannia seated on her commercial 
 bale, and pointing with her left hand to the implements of labour, while she reminds 
 her convict suppliants, 'Sic fortis Etruria crevit,' not inaptly connects the idea of 
 Sydney being a modern Ostia to the great Australian colonies." 
 
 On the whole I am inclined to believe that something of this kind is the true 
 interpretation of the design. 
 
 We come next to the design as modified upon the coarse or roughly-engraved 
 plate. The hill is now shaded, there are clouds in the sky, the top and bottom 
 labels are apparently of solid colour (though this is possibly due merely to a greater 
 amount of ink being used in printing), and the lines generally of the stamps are 
 coarser and thicker. With these exceptions, there is no part of the foregoing 
 description that will not apply equally to the coarse as to the fine stamps. I may 
 remark en passant that these differences simply amount to so much evidence of 
 additional work done on the plate. 
 
 The stamps are usually divided in catalogues into — 
 
 1. Finely engraved, without clouds. 
 
 2. Coarsely engraved, with clouds. 
 
 We have now to enter into a somewhat detailed consideration of the following 
 questions : 
 
 1. How many stamps did the plate contain, and how were they arranged? 
 
 2. Were two distinct plates engraved of this value 1 or 
 
 3. Was one plate a retouch of the other 1 
 
 4. If there was a retouch, which was the retouched plate ? 
 
 We may deal with the second and third questions, which indirectly involve 
 the fourth also, together, as an answer to either in the negative would be to affirm 
 the other. 
 
 1st. With reference to the first enquiry as to the size and arrangement of the 
 sheet, I may remind you that the original theory, formally adopted by the author of 
 The Postage Stamps of British Guiana in the Stamp Collector's Magazine, assumed 
 forty as the number of varieties on the sheet. Dr. Legrand inclined to the same 
 view. However, an entire proof-sheet, which I have great pleasure in presenting 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 13 
 
 for your inspection, passed into my possession some months ago, and from it the 
 fact is proved beyond doubt that there were twenty-five stamps engraved on the 
 plate, and that they were arranged in five rows of five. It is only right to say that 
 previously to the acquisition of this sheet MM. Caillebotte, of Paris, who had access 
 to all the finest collections there, which in two notable instances contained accumu- 
 lations of these stamps dating from the very earliest days of collecting, had arrived 
 at precisely the same conclusion, and had even been able, by means of unsevered 
 and overlapping pairs and blocks of stamps, to replace the varieties of type in their 
 original order. The assumed discovery of Dr. Legrand of a twenty-sixth type is 
 now admitted by him to have been an error ; and, without a single exception, 
 MM. Caillebotte's arrangement of the varieties is completely confirmed by this 
 entire sheet. It also gives a quietus to the old idea that the fine and the 
 rough stamps were engraved on the same plate; the theory being that as he went 
 on the engraver improved in his work while constructing the plate. Mr. Pemberton 
 was easily able to disprove this in the Stamp Collector's Magazine of May, 1867. 
 He recognised the different style of workmanship in the two kinds of stamps ; but 
 arguing probably from single specimens, and, like Dr. Legrand, with an imperfect 
 knowledge of the constitution of the sheet, he fell into the error, adopted more 
 recently by Mr. Castle, of assuming that there were two distinct plates. This brings 
 us to the consideration of our second and third questions. 
 
 2nd and 3rd. On page 6 of the Stamp Collector's Magazine for 1874 the author 
 of The Postage Stamps of British Guiana remarks : " The plates of the One Penny 
 and Two Pence were renewed and retouched at a later stage, when is not precisely 
 indicated." This seems to be the first hint we get of the possibility of the plate 
 having been repaired or renewed owing to wear of the die, until the able article by 
 Dr. Legrand, read by him before the M Congres International des Timbrophiles " 
 on September 25th, 1878, and afterwards printed in the "Memoires." 
 
 In it the theory is for the first time brought definitely forward, with certain 
 arguments that I must be excused for calling inconclusive. Inconclusive, not that 
 I doubt for a moment that a retouch took place, but because the reasons given seem 
 to me scarcely sufficient to prove either the retouch or the further point on which 
 Dr. Legrand insists ; viz., that the finely-engraved plate was a retouch of the other. 
 
 At the time the paper was written Dr. Legrand had not succeeded in getting 
 together complete sheets of the varieties in both stages, though in all probability 
 his were more advanced than those in any other collection. I must point out to 
 you that to prove the retouch of any plate with certainty it is absolutely necessary, 
 in the absence of official documents, not only to possess all the varieties of type in 
 both stages, but also to be able to prove a portion at any rate of their arrangement. 
 This done, it becomes possible to compare the same stamps ; i.e. those occupying the 
 same position on the two sheets, and to indicate exactly which parts of the stamps were 
 left unaltered and which were retouched. The proof of the arrangement of the varieties 
 on the two sheets is obtained from the following list of pairs and blocks, &c. : 
 
 Plate I. Finely engraved, without clouds. 
 An entire sheet exists in my own collection. 
 
 Plate I. Retouched. 
 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . .are in Mr. Tapling's collection. 
 1,6 . . 
 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 
 
 8,9 
 9, 10 . 
 5, 10 . 
 9, 14 . 
 14, 15 
 18, 19 
 
 18, 23 
 
 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 
 
 19, 20 
 
 16, 17, 18 
 
 Mr. Kodd's 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 Mr. Garth's 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 The MM. Caillebotte and I have examined many hundreds of specimens of 
 the coarsely-engraved stamps, but we have never found more than the twenty-five 
 
14 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 varieties of type, and you may take it as absolutely beyond all doubt that the sheet 
 consisted of this number of specimens. I have thus given you a detailed proof 
 of the arrangement, and have indicated the collections where, to my own knowledge, 
 the various pairs and blocks are to be found. Now, if the two sheets of finely and 
 coarsely-engraved specimens are placed side by side, a remarkable similarity will be 
 at once observed in several particulars, which I will proceed to indicate. You will 
 notice that the words of the legend, the abbreviated words in the circular band, and, 
 further, the letters of each word, all vary considerably on each stamp of the same 
 sheet in their relative positions to each other, and to the other portions of the design. 
 It is not possible to find two stamps alike in these respects on either sheet. But 
 when a comparison is made between the two sheets, stamp by stamp, we find that 
 the relative positions of the words and letters, and, in some cases, even the very 
 shapes of the letters themselves, are absolutely and identically the same. Precisely 
 the same thing occurs in the relative positions of the two dots which follow the 
 words " kov." and " crevit ; " though, as between stamps on the same sheet, they 
 also vary very greatly. And, lastly, the shapes of the white lines forming the trellis 
 work and the spirals at the sides will be found to tally exactly with each other, if a 
 slight allowance is made for the touching-up of the interstices. We are therefore 
 left with this conclusion : We find that the engraver of one plate (assuming either 
 one to be the first) was unable to produce two stamps alike on the same sheet ; yet 
 we are asked by the upholders of the theory of two distinct plates to believe that in 
 twenty-five different instances another engraver was able to exactly copy the work of 
 his predecessor, not only in the difficult details I have mentioned, but in many 
 others I have not alluded to. It would be easy to accumulate evidence from any 
 given stamp on the two sheets, but I think you will consider this unnecessary. I 
 will mention one further instance only. Nos. 4 and 10 are the only two stamps on 
 the plate with the word " nov." placed so low in the circular white band as to be 
 at some distance from the perpendicular band at the side, which is cut by the circle. 
 This and the other coincidences of type occur on both sheets, and I have proved that 
 they occur in the same position. 
 
 The sheets are before you, and each member present can verify the facts I have 
 stated. Summarising briefly, my conclusion is that one plate is a retouch of the 
 other. 
 
 4th. We have, lastly, to decide which plate was the retouched one, and I may 
 shortly state my opinion that the coarsely-engraved stamps are from the same plate 
 as the others, but represent the results of a retouch or repair executed upon it. My 
 reasons are as follows : 
 
 (a) I believe I am correct in saying, that it is not possible to so alter coarse 
 workmanship on an engraved plate, that stamps presenting the appearance of being 
 finely engraved could be printed from it. Traces of the deeply-cut lines, due to the 
 heavier hand of the engraver, would necessarily remain long after the finer work of 
 his successor had worn away and disappeared with use of the plate. It would be 
 easy to fill in more details, and possibly to improve or modify the shape of some of 
 the lines ; but anything of this kind would only be in the nature of additional work 
 on the plate, and could never entirely disguise its former characteristics. It would 
 obviously be impossible to narrow the width or lessen the depth of a coarse or deeply- 
 cut line, and I have failed to find on the finely-engraved One Penny, in any stage of 
 wear, the slightest trace of coarse lines. It is a fact that on specimens of the finely- 
 engraved One Penny, in the earliest stage, there is not a vestige of the lines that are 
 intended to represent clouds. It is equally true that on the coarsely-engraved One 
 Penny, in the latest stages of use, traces of these lines can always be detected. In 
 other words, it might be possible to add lines on a plate, but not subtract from it, 
 without removing or erasing the engraving already there. I have shown that in 
 several important respects the stamps were practically unaltered, and, as I previously 
 remarked, the differences that do exist can all be ascribed to additional work on the 
 plate, and are, in fact, just what one would expect from it. 
 
 (b) I have never yet come across a copy of the coarsely- engraved stamps that 
 could fairly be described as much worn, whereas the others are met with in almost 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 15 
 
 every conceivable stage. This being scr, we may fairly ask, Where was the necessity 
 of retouching the coarsely-engraved plate 1 ? 
 
 (c) I submitted the two sheets without a word of comment to a skilled engraver 
 in the employ of Messrs. Waterlow and Co. He at once recognized the intimate 
 connection between them, but could only say for certain that the coarsely-engraved 
 sheet was either a retouch or transfer from the other. His opinion was rather in 
 favour of the latter, and he thought it likely that the best possible impression having 
 been taken from the plate in its worn state, it was transferred while still wet to a 
 fresh plate covered with a thin layer of wax, or some other special preparation. 
 What remained of the old lines could then be recut through the wax on the fresh 
 plate. A similar result might have been obtained by means of "transfer paper," 
 and the points of similarity and difference between the two sheets would be thus 
 accounted for. This is of course possible ; but though hesitating to set my opinion 
 against that of an engraver with technical knowledge of the different processes of 
 engraving and printing, I adhere to my belief that the coarsely-engraved stamps are 
 the results of a retouch and not of a re-engraved transfer. Before dealing with this 
 question, you will excuse my digressing for a moment to another point, which will 
 explain my reason more clearly. In order to explain the differences between the 
 two sheets, yet another theory has been propounded. It has been suggested that 
 the centre part of the design of each stamp, the view of Sydney, &c, was cut out, 
 and that a species of plug, of similar design, but freshly engraved, was inserted in 
 each case. I have shown that oven if this were so, the legend " sic fortis etruria 
 crevit " was not touched ; but it is not difficult to prove that no part of the plate 
 was cut away, and that the centre portions of the stamps, like the other portions, 
 were simply re-engraved either by retouching or transfer. The principal things to 
 notice are the relative positions of the whip held by the seated figure and the 
 houses towards the word "aust.," and the position of the bowsprit of the ship in 
 respect of the letters of " sigillum." The bowsprit and the whip in particular point 
 in very different directions on stamps of the same sheet ; but if the same stamps on 
 the two sheets are compared together they will be found to tally exactly in these 
 particulars, just as I previously showed they agreed in others. There are certainly 
 fewer houses on what I call the retouched plate, and one would naturally have 
 expected to find the contrary ; but on the early specimens of the coarsely-engraved 
 stamps on the sheet before you, you will still be able to trace between the retouched 
 houses the faint remaining lines of the houses as they were originally engraved. 
 Now it is these faint traces of old lines that convince me a retouch and not a 
 transfer took place. It is quite true that in any process of transfer everything in 
 the shape of a line that remained on the original plate would be found on the layer 
 of wax or upon the transfer paper. But it seems impossible to believe that in re- 
 engraving the transferred impression upon a fresh plate a new engraver, and one 
 evidently possessed of less skill, would go to the trouble of renewing old lines, 
 which, as they appear on the specimens before you, are mere meaningless scratches. 
 Again, I have already quoted a reference to a repair of the plate of the One Penny, 
 and it is scarcely likely that the word " repair " would have been used if a transfer 
 had taken place. I was not acquainted with these facts when I had the interview 
 with Messrs. Waterlow's engraver, and I have since had no opportunity of a fresh 
 discussion with him on the subject. Whichever theory, retouch or transfer, seems 
 most probable, everything tends to prove the intimate connection between the two 
 sheets, and my own opinion is still the one I first arrived at. 
 
 (d) The fourth reason for thinking the finely-engraved stamps came first is the 
 fact that all the early copies were printed upon a soft, yellowish paper, which, from 
 dated specimens I have examined, I can prove was used early in 1850. The 
 roughly-engraved are never found upon this paper. They were printed upon hard 
 white, slightly blued, or blue papers, which I shall be able to show were used at 
 a later date. 
 
 (e) All the best English catalogues place the finely-engraved One Penny first. 
 
 (/) We have, on the authority of Mr. Pemberton, the testimony of a member 
 of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, our ex-President (Sir Daniel 
 Cooper), who belonged to the Select Committee which considered the Postal Bill 
 
16 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 in August, 1849, in Sydney, and who says* that in 1850 all the One Penny and 
 Two Pence were of the fine type. 
 
 (g) Taking, lastly, the dated specimens, I have seen an unsevered pair of 
 Nos. 3 and 4 of the finely-engraved stamps on a letter, dated January 14th, 1850. 
 As the stamps were only issued on January 1st, 1850, this seems tolerably conclusive. 
 
 These reasons appear to me to establish beyond doubt the question of the order 
 of these two stages of the plate of the One Penny ; and, summing up briefly, I think 
 we may conclude that the One Penny stamps were first printed from a finely- 
 engraved plate, that the coarsely-engraved specimens are the results of a retouch, 
 or possibly of a transfer, and that in each case there were twenty-five varieties of 
 type on the plate, arranged in five rows of five. I am in some uncertainty as to 
 the exact date at which the retouch took place. You will notice a pair among my 
 specimens on a letter, dated August 21st, 1850, of the coarsely-engraved stamps. 
 Arguing from this, and for certain reasons connected with the employment of the 
 blue paper, in conjunction with the wear of the plate in its first stage, I think I 
 shall not be far wrong in naming the end of July or the beginning of August, 1850, 
 as an approximate date for the renewal or retouch. I have mentioned that each 
 stamp was separately engraved, and that there are consequently as many varieties 
 of type as there are stamps to the sheet. It would be easy to give the differences 
 in detail, or such a description of each variety that would enable you to identify 
 any particular stamp. This, however, would be a mere waste of time, and the 
 photographs which accompany this paper will be a better guide than pages ot 
 description. The most prominent variety is No. 15 of the retouched plate, which 
 is without clouds. 
 
 IV. We have, finally, to consider the different kinds of paper on which the 
 stamps were printed ; and here, to some extent, the observations I have to make 
 would apply equally to the Two Pence and Three Pence, though, for the sake of 
 clearness, it will be best to consider the values separately. 
 
 I have shown that the finely-engraved One Penny came first. There are 
 equally strong reasons, as will be explained a little later, for thinking that the 
 Two Pence with vertical lines was the first plate of that value, and I can produce 
 early specimens of the Three Pence. All these stamps, in an early stage of the 
 die, are invariably found on a soft, yellowish paper, somewhat spongy in texture. 
 I conclude, therefore, that it was the first paper used, and in this I am confirmed 
 by Mr. Pemberton (Stamp Collector's Magazine, June, 1867), who went exhaustively 
 into the whole subject, and who in the same journal of November, 1868, gives as 
 the result of his study two kinds of paper for the first One Penny, and no less 
 than seven for the second. Some of the distinctions he makes of the latter appear 
 to be rather finely drawn, and I would suggest the following classification as being 
 sufficiently comprehensive for most purposes : 
 
 The finely-engraved One Penny is found upon — 
 
 1. The soft, yellowish paper. 
 
 2. Harder paper, white or slightly blued. 
 
 3. Paper white, but finely ribbed, producing the appearance of closely-laid 
 
 lines. 
 The worn impressions are nearly always upon the blue paper. 
 
 The roughly-engraved One Penny is found upon — 
 
 1. Medium paper, blue or slightly blued. 
 
 2. Hard paper, thick white or slightly yellowish, varying in substance. 
 
 3. Stout paper, white or slightly yellowish, deeply ribbed, and presenting 
 
 the appearance of broad laid lines. 
 
 4. Same as the last, but slightly blued. 
 
 I have taken these in the order given by Mr. Pemberton with one exception. 
 This is in the case of the retouched One Penny. I am inclined to think that the 
 blue, or slightly blued, wove paper should come first, as we find it used for the 
 finely-engraved One Penny at a period which could not have been long anterior 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 17 
 
 to the retouch of the plate. The earliest specimens I have seen of the finely- 
 engraved One Penny, on the bluish paper, are on a letter dated Sydney, July 18th, 
 1850. You will see this pair among my specimens, and I think I shall not he far 
 wrong in saying that the yellowish paper was used for about five or six months only 
 in 1850, and that May or June of that year is the earliest date for the employment 
 of the blue paper. The latter, and the white paper used subsequently, are probably 
 one and the same, the tinge of blue being due to some chemical property either in 
 the colour of the stamp or in the paper itself. How far these variations in the paper 
 may be due to some natural chemical process of bleaching I cannot say, though this 
 is a point that seems to merit the attention of amateurs. 
 
 The ribbed or laid paper, white or slightly bluish, I place last in both stages of 
 the plate. There is no evidence to constitute it a separate issue, and it seems more 
 probable that its employment was an accident, due to the temporary exhaustion of 
 the stock of ordinary paper. The earliest specimen in my possession is dated 
 March 3rd, 1851, and is an example of the deeply ribbed paper. 
 
 It is worthy of note that the ribbed paper, used for the finely-engraved One 
 Penny, is much finer (that is, the ribs in the paper are much closer) than that 
 employed for the retouched One Penny. Specimens of the first are very uncommon. 
 The gum used for all specimens of the Id. was yellowish, and it is almost superfluous 
 to add that they were unperforated. 
 
 The Two Pence. 
 
 I now approach the most difficult, though not the least interesting, part of the 
 subject — the question of the Two Pence in its various stages. Here, for some time, 
 I was led into error by the old theory of forty or fifty stamps to the plate, and 
 certainly the arrangement of the sheets that has at length been arrived at is about 
 the last that would, a priori, occur to anyone taking up the study of these stamps 
 for the first time. I shall have occasion to go more fully into this a little later, and 
 in the meantime it will be best to consider the stamps under the same heads as those 
 adopted for the One Penny ; viz., date, design, and papers. 
 
 I. Date. — The stamps from the first plate of the Two Pence were issued on 
 January 1st, 1850, together with those of the One Penny and Three Pence. I need 
 only refer you to the extracts previously quoted from the Sydney Government Gazette 
 to prove that this date is the correct one. The question of the order of issue of the 
 different plates naturally falls under this heading. I shall, however, defer any 
 consideration of it until the distinctions between the plates have been fully dealt 
 with. It would be useless to discuss data referring to the order in which the plates 
 appeared, before their characteristics had been explained in a way which will enable 
 you to appreciate the arguments I shall lay before you. 
 
 II. Engraving and Design. — The difficulties began here, and the amount of 
 research involved would have seemed almost beyond belief to anyone not engaged 
 in the study. It has only been after a prolonged examination of hundreds of 
 specimens, extending over several years, and after making innumerable notes of 
 everything that seemed important, that I have at length arrived at a solution 
 of some of the most perplexing questions that ever fell to the lot of a philatelist 
 to investigate. 
 
 Following the plan adopted for the One Penny, the case may be most 
 conveniently stated in the form of questions, which are as follows : 
 
 1. How many distinct plates existed, and were any or all of them transfers 
 
 from the previous plates ? 
 
 2. How often were these plates retouched, wholly or in part, and what 
 
 were the distinctions between the retouches ? 
 
 3. What was the number of stamps on the plates, and how were they 
 
 arranged 1 
 
 4. What order should the plates and the retouches be placed in, and what 
 
 were the approximate dates of their being put into use ] 
 
 5. Was more than one plate employed at the same time 1 
 
18 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 It will be noticed that one or two of these questions involve the consideration 
 of the others. But before proceeding to deal with them, it will be advisable to state, 
 in the first place, the conclusion at which I have arrived ; viz., that there were three 
 distinct plates, and three only, of the Two Pence ; Plate II. being a re-engraved transfer 
 from Plate I., and Plate III. from Plate II., all other varieties being assignable to 
 different processes of retouch or repair on the actual plates themselves ; and, secondly, 
 to fully describe the design, on the modifications of which the distinctions 
 between the various stages in the history of these stamps mainly depend. For the 
 moment I must beg the question of the order of the plates, and designate as Plate I. 
 the stamp that is ordinarily known as the Two Pence with vertical lines. 
 
 Plate I. — The design is similar in character to that of the One Penny, and, as 
 far as the central portion is concerned, the description given for the One Penny will 
 apply equally well to the Two Pence, with the following unimportant exceptions : 
 The bale is divided into four compartments by single lines, the upper two of which 
 contain the inscription " no " (evidently intended to represent a shipping mark), 
 and the lower two "17, 88." The hill is shaded in all early copies, and sometimes 
 there are four trees at the base, sometimes none. The ship is heading to the left, 
 and is three-masted. The abbreviated words "camb. aust. sigillum, nov." are 
 printed in small Roman capitals. Between the words "aust." and "sigillum" 
 is a small ornament of shaded lines, and between "camb." and "nov." there is a 
 shaded fan of seven segments. The remainder of the design is quite different to 
 that of the One Penny. The spandrels, and the space above and below the circular 
 band, are filled in with straight and wavy vertical lines crossed. One variety on 
 the sheet has crossed vertical wavy lines only. At the sides, and bounded top 
 and bottom by the white blocks mentioned below, there are two white single-lined 
 perpendicular bands. These are filled in with a series of interlacing reticulations, 
 which form pointed ovals, and are cut by the white circular band. At the top and 
 bottom there are two labels of solid colour, containing the words, T. "postage" 
 b. "two pence" in white Boman capitals. The corners are composed of white square 
 single-lined blocks, containing Maltese cross ornaments, with dot in centre, and the 
 design is completed at the top and bottom by a single line of colour, which meets 
 the outer lines of the square blocks and the perpendicular bands. Whether or no 
 this plate was reduplicated is a matter I shall have something to say about in dealing 
 with the third and fourth questions. 
 
 Plate II. — This plate in reality is very similar to Plate I., and to save repetition 
 I will merely indicate the differences between the two. The most important distinction 
 is in the spandrels. On Plate II. these are filled in with straight and wavy horizontal 
 lines crossed. The abbreviated words in the circular band are printed in small block 
 capitals. The bale is generally divided by double lines, and there are sometimes two, 
 sometimes three, trees at the base of the hill The corner blocks are filled in with 
 eight-rayed stars, with a small dot in the centre, and there are rather fewer reticulations 
 in the bands at the sides. Speaking generally, Plate II. is much inferior in execution 
 to Plate I., and in style strongly reminds one of the retouched One Penny. 
 
 Plate III. — To all intents and purposes the design is the same as that of 
 Plate II. The following are the only distinctions of importance : The bale is not 
 dated, and is divided into four compartments by single lines ; the fan is unshaded ; 
 there is no dot in the corner stars, the rays of which are somewhat thinner, and 
 present the appearance of being more separated from each other. There are trivial 
 differences in the lines of the spandrels and reticulations, and a few other un- 
 important modifications, of which description is unnecessary, and which you will 
 easily ascertain from the photographs of the two sheets. 
 
 It will be noticed that all three plates are divided into twenty-four compart- 
 ments by means of three horizontal and thirteen vertical ruled lines, giving two 
 horizontal rows of twelve stamps, each in its own compartment. The thirteen 
 vertical lines meet and stop at the upper and lower horizontal lines, intersecting 
 the middle one, and the three horizontal lines stop in the same manner where they 
 meet the two end vertical lines. A glance at the accompanying diagram will make 
 this more clear. We have been able to prove the position of every variety on the 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 19 
 
 three plates, and this somewhat bizarre arrangement of the sheets was only arrived 
 at after much trouble. These ruled lines, as will be seen presently, have an 
 important bearing on some of the questions we are considering ; and, further, it 
 was by their means that I was enabled to make a start in the arrangement. The 
 four corner stamps were thus ascertained without much difficulty ; but, of course, 
 specimens with good margins were necessary. At one time I was inclined to 
 believe that the stamps were each engraved on separate blocks, which were clamped 
 up together to print from, and it was suggested that the compartment lines would 
 be printed from thin pieces of brass, or what are called "metal lines," which 
 printers use in such cases to fix blocks tightly together. This theory would explain 
 a point in connection with certain specimens bearing double ruled lines in the 
 margin, which I shall speak of further on, and which has greatly puzzled me. It 
 is negatived, however, by the fact that the lines intersect one another. It would 
 not be possible to make separate pieces of "metal lines" fit as accurately as they 
 appear on the specimens before you, and the only possible inference is that these 
 lines were ruled upon the metal plate. 
 
 These " compartment " lines are characteristic of the Two Pence only, and this 
 fact corroborates the theory that more than one engraver was employed in the 
 manufacture of the plates. 
 
 1. I stated my conclusion that there were three distinct plates only of the Two 
 Pence, though I am aware that this theory, at least in the particular form I have 
 adopted it, is opposed to those of all previous writers on the subject. The foreign 
 catalogues recognize three, and the English four plates, but I shall have no difficulty 
 in showing that the classification given of the so-called Plates II., III., and IV. 
 relates in reality to different stages of, or transfers from, one matrix plate. The 
 foreign catalogues, of which M. Moens' is by far the best, fall into the error, in one 
 instance, of attributing to use of the die peculiarities found on certain specimens 
 which really belong to a distinct plate ; and in another of constituting, as a separate 
 plate, what is merely a retouch of a previous one. Dr. Legrand makes the same 
 mistakes in the article he wrote for the " Congr^s International des Timbrophiles." 
 He remarks : " We admit therefore the existence of three plates for the Two Penny 
 Sydney. One can see by Mr. Pemberton's articles that he recognizes four; but 
 evidently his third plate, which only differs from the second by the absence of 
 certain details of the design, can only be called an impression from a worn plate." 
 Dr. Legrand goes on to say that in his opinion the specimens with a pearl in the 
 fan were, without doubt, printed from a distinct plate, and his arrangement therefore 
 is as follows : 
 
 Plate I. Two Pence, with vertical lines in the spandrels. 
 
 Plate II. „ „ horizontal „ „ ,, 
 
 Plate III. „ „ „ „ „ „ and pearl in the fan. 
 
 Mr. Pemberton's articles in the Stamp Collector's Magazine are of great value, 
 and reflect the highest credit on the critical acumen of the author, who was working 
 in the dark, entirely without official information. Viewed in the light of later 
 discoveries, it is plain that he was travelling in the right direction, the only mistake 
 being that of considering the varieties with a pearl in the fan as proceeding from a 
 fresh plate. Mr. Pemberton classifies the stamps in the following order : 
 
 Plate I. Two Pence, with vertical lines in the spandrels. 
 
 Plate II. „ „ horizontal „ „ „ bale dated, dot in 
 
 corner stars. 
 Plate III. Two Pence, bale not dated, no dot in corner stars. 
 Plate IV. „ fan with pearl. 
 
 The above is a brief summary of the results arrived at by the two principal 
 writers on the subject, and before proceeding further I will deal with the two 
 mistakes just alluded to. 
 
 (a). Dr. Legrand 's remark as to the differences between Mr. Pemberton's second 
 and third plates is correct, but the conclusion he draws is wrong. A single instance 
 only is necessary to disprove his theory. The position of variety No. 13, the left 
 bottom corner stamp, has been definitely ascertained on both sheets. No. 13, on 
 
20 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Plate II., is the well-known variety with the word "crevit" wanting. An early- 
 copy of No. 13, Plate III., on the sheet before you, has "crevit" perfectly distinct, 
 and a little examination will show you that there are many other differences in small 
 details between the two stamps. Obviously, therefore, the variety on Plate III. 
 cannot be a worn impression from Plate II. It may be objected that if a retouch 
 or repair of Plate II. took place this error would naturally have been rectified, and 
 the specimen may still be said to have been printed from the same plate. Admitting 
 this as possible, it has really nothing to do with Dr. Legrand's theory that the 
 absence of the date on the bale and the dots in the corner stars, characteristic of 
 Plate III., is due to wear of the die. If early specimens of Plate III. and worn 
 ones from Plate II. are placed together (the comparison of course being made 
 between stamps occupying the same places on the sheets), lines will be found on 
 the former which do not exist on the latter, and vice versa. It would be easy to 
 accumulate evidence in disproof of this theory from every stamp on the two sheets ; 
 but the very marked illustration I have drawn your attention to in the case of 
 variety No. 13 will, I think, render this unnecessary. 
 
 (b). Both writers fall into the error of supposing that the stamps with the pearl 
 in the fan were printed from a distinct plate. I need not anticipate my remarks 
 on the retouched plates, but in the meantime I may state that it can be proved 
 conclusively that these specimens were the results of a second retouch of Plate III. 
 There can be little doubt that these two errors arose from the fact that neither Dr. 
 Legrand nor Mr. Pemberton had been able to reconstitute the entire sheets with the 
 varieties of type in the right order. 
 
 I have already given the distinctions between what are recognized as the 
 distinct plates, which are, in fact, nothing else but the first three of Mr. Pemberton's 
 classification. There can be little doubt that the specimens with vertically-lined, 
 and those with horizontally-lined, spandrels were printed from distinct plates. Had 
 Plate II. been merely a retouch or repair of Plate I., we should naturally have 
 expected to find certain traces remaining of the work of the first engraver, as in the 
 case of the One Penny. After a prolonged examination of the same specimens 
 on both sheets in an early stage, I have been unable to discover on Plate II. the 
 slightest trace of any of the old lines of Plate I. (I am speaking here of the stamps 
 themselves, and not of the compartment lines previously noticed). This fact, taken 
 in conjunction with the inferiority of execution of Plate II., seems to warrant the 
 conclusion that they were two distinct plates. There are, however, one or two 
 coincidences that seem to point to the theory of Plate II. being in reality a re- 
 engraved transfer from Plate I. In my remarks upon the One Penny I dealt with 
 one or two of the different methods of transfer that might possibly have been 
 employed at Sydney in the year 1850, though it is not possible now to say which 
 of them was selected. In this case I believe that the best possible impression by 
 transfer having been obtained from what remains of the design on Plate I., the old 
 lines were re-cut on the fresh plate, and the rest of the design filled in according to 
 the idea and fancy of the new engraver. It is quite evident that very little remained 
 of the original design beyond a few of the straight lines of the stamps, a little of the 
 lettering, and the lines of the compartments ; in fact, one or two of the impressions 
 on the sheet before you are almost illegible. My reason for thinking that a transfer of 
 some kind took place is mainly connected with the ruled lines previously referred 
 to, which divide the sheet into the twenty-four compartments. Now these ruled 
 lines are not always quite straight, and the stamps are sometimes engraved at 
 irregular distances and irregular heights within their respective compartments. The 
 accompanying sketch of the right hand portion of Plate I. will better illustrate 
 my meaning. It is certainly a curious coincidence that the same irregularities occur 
 in the same places on Plate II., as we are able to prove by specimens with good 
 margins, whose position on both sheets has been ascertained. Thus variety No. 10 
 is slightly higher in its frame than No. 9 ; the top frame line of No. 12 bends 
 slightly inwards towards the top right corner of the stamp ; No. 24 is placed very 
 close to the right outer frame line, which in the lower part bends away from the 
 stamp; No. 23 is nearly 1 millimetre longer than No. 24. In other parts of the 
 sheet it would be easy to point out similar coincidences, as, for instance, in the case 
 of Nos. 14 and 15, which are placed higher than Nos. 13 and 16. A glance at the 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 21 
 
 photographs of the two sheets will show that the stamps themselves offer also in 
 numerous cases certain rough points of resemblance, notably in the relative position 
 of the inscription "two pence" to the white corner blocks. Now these peculiarities 
 and irregularities occur in the same places on both sheets. You will recognize their 
 importance from the fact that they only became apparent after we had obtained, quite 
 independently of their means, the arrangement of the varieties on both plates by 
 overlapping pairs and blocks of stamps. All this is perfectly consistent with the 
 theory of a transfer. A point I shall have occasion to refer to presently in speaking 
 of a repair or renewal that was executed upon Plate I. about February, 1850, will, 
 I think, show conclusively that if there was any connection at all between the two 
 plates it took the shape of a transfer, and not of a retouch. In the face of this 
 evidence of apparently designed coincidence, circumstantial it is true, but almost 
 conclusive, it seems impossible to doubt that some kind of transfer took place. The 
 engraver would thus obtain a rough outline to work upon, the result being what is 
 commonly called Plate II., with horizontal lines in the spandrels and bale dated. 
 
 The points of resemblance between Plates II. and III. are far more numerous 
 and strongly marked, but the question of retouch or transfer is difficult to determine. 
 It is not without some hesitation that I adhere to the opinion that Plate III. is a 
 re-engraved transfer from Plate II. In my remarks on the retouched One Penny 
 I pointed out that in the case of early specimens from a repaired plate we should 
 almost inevitably find traces of the previous work ; that any alterations would be 
 of the nature of additional work, and that the stamps would naturally have a 
 somewhat coarser and heavier appearance. After a careful examination I can detect 
 nothing of this kind on Plate III. Mr. Pemberton very truly remarked that on 
 the worst copies from Plate II. there were always to be found some traces either of 
 the date on the bale or of the dots in the corner stars, and it is a curious fact that 
 this should always be the case. If this plate, therefore, had been merely retouched, 
 some sign of these details of the design would have remained, but not a fragment of 
 either date or dots can be discovered on Plate III. In certain details there is a 
 great similarity between the two plates, to which I shall refer directly, but on the 
 earliest copies I have examined from Plate III. I can find no trace either of old or 
 thickened lines. It is evident that if a line cut on a plate produces a blurred 
 impression through its edges becoming worn with use, it can be again made clear 
 and sharp by re-cutting it deeper and wider. On early specimens, however, of 
 Plate III. the lines of the engraving, while beautifully clear and distinct, are no 
 thicker than, if as thick, as those on Plate II. The later copies from Plate II. 
 were extremely blurred and indistinct, and in speaking of impression some allowance 
 should possibly be made for defective printing ; but arguing generally from the style, 
 Plate III. is, in my judgment, the work of a lighter hand. 
 
 I must now draw your attention to the points of resemblance between the two 
 plates, which seem to prove beyond doubt that if it is not a retouch Plate III. is a 
 re-engraved transfer from Plate II. In the first place we find exactly the same 
 irregularities of position of the stamps and their surrounding lines that were 
 described in the case of Plates I. and II., occurring in exactly the same places on 
 Plate III. A few minutes' examination and comparison of the sheets, stamp by 
 stamp, will show you many other similarities quite as strongly marked. The relative 
 positions of the words in the circular band to other portions of the design — those 
 of the words "postage" and "two pence" in respect of the corner blocks, and in 
 some cases even the shape of the letters and the oval reticulations at the sides — 
 are almost identical on both plates. These coincidences occurring on stamps 
 occupying the same position appear to place beyond doubt the intimate relation 
 between the two plates, and it would be wasting time if I entered into further 
 details. Of course these points of resemblance would fit in equally well with the 
 theory of a retouch ; but, in my opinion, the reasons to the contrary I previously 
 laid before you negative the supposition. And, lastly, I may quote an extract from 
 the Sydney Government Gazette of April 2nd, 1851, stating that the governor had 
 approved of the repair of the plates of the Two Pence. There is good reason for 
 believing that one of these plates was Plate III. ; and if, as I hope, I am able to 
 show, this was the last one made, then its existence as distinct from Plate II. 
 becomes morally certain. 
 
22 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 We have now dealt very fully with our first question. Some of the theories 
 advanced will, I fear, appear to you to rest on somewhat slender foundations. The 
 unfortunate fire which destroyed all records at the Sydney Post-office has put it 
 out of my power to either substantiate or disprove, from official documents, 
 conclusions which have only been arrived at by study of the stamps themselves, 
 and which every effort has been made to verify. 
 
 2. The consideration of our second question, which relates to the retouches and 
 repairs executed on the plates, involves to some extent that of our third also, since 
 it was the investigation into the number of stamps on the plates that led to the 
 discovery that certain varieties were, in reality, printed from retouched and not from 
 distinct plates, as was previously supposed, As before, I will first of all briefly 
 state my conclusion that a portion of Plate I. was retouched once, Plate II. (to the 
 best of my knowledge) remained unaltered, and Plate III. was retouched twice. 
 Putting this into the form of a synopsis, we get^ 
 
 A. Plate I. 
 
 B. Plate I., retouched. 
 
 C. Plate II., being a transfer from Plate I, 
 
 D. Plate III. „ „ Plate II. 
 
 E. Plate III., first retouch. 
 
 F. Plate III., second retouch, 
 Or six different states of the Two Pence. 
 
 In dealing with the retouches and repairs that were executed on the different 
 plates we are on firmer ground. To show the course of the researches it may not 
 he without interest to quote an extract from a letter I received from MM. Caillebotte, 
 of Paris, as far back as. 1884. At that time I and they were under the impression 
 that Plate I. contained forty or fifty stamps, which was confirmed by the acquisition 
 of an uncut strip of six specimens, proving that there were more than five in a row, and 
 also, as we thought, that this sheet was larger than that of the One Penny. Having 
 found far fewer varieties of type of Plate II., we concluded that it and the succeeding 
 plates, like the One Penny, probably contained twenty-five specimens, especially as 
 we were only able to muster, with our united collections, some twenty varieties of 
 the plate with the pearl in the fan, which we had always considered the last and 
 distinct from the others. Plate III. greatly puzzled us. We found considerably 
 more than twenty-five varieties, and there was no apparent reason why this plate 
 should have been larger than those which preceded and followed it. It was not 
 until MM. Caillebotte pointed a way out of the difficulty that we were able to 
 arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. Their letter is dated June 20th, 1884, and in 
 speaking of our united collections of varieties of Plate III. they remark : " There is 
 some complication here. If we add your stamps and ours together we find thirty- 
 four different types. Our opinion is that there are two sheets, each containing 
 twenty-five stamps, and that one is a retouch of the other." They go on in the 
 same letter to give the proofs of this assertion, and the distinctions between the two 
 sheets. Every word they wrote has since been completely substantiated, except that 
 there are twenty-four stamps to the sheet, and not twenty-five. This discovery of 
 MM. Caillebotte was of great importance, and, as you will now see from my previous 
 remarks, it was practically the key to the whole question. The idea of a retouch 
 having been started, of course threw a new light on the subject, and the difficulties 
 that so much perplexed us disappeared one by one. A short examination made 
 independently soon after the receipt of this letter showed conclusively that the 
 specimens with the pearl in the fan, hitherto considered to have been printed from 
 a distinct plate, were also printed from a retouch of Plate III., and were the results 
 of a second retouch. Absolute certainty was arrived at when we were at length 
 able, with pairs and blocks, to prove a portion of the arrangement of the stamps on 
 the sheets; and we think that, with the sheets and photographs before you, you 
 will have no difficulty in adopting our theory as correct. Our attention was next 
 turned to Plates II. and III. Mr. Castle, in his article in the Philatelic Record 
 of December, 1884, suggested that the latter was a retouch of the former, arguing 
 generally from the style. I have already given the reasons for thinking that it was 
 a transfer, and have nothing to add to my previous remarks. In reference to 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 23 
 
 Plate I. I mentioned that for a long time we were under the impression that there 
 were forty or fifty stamps to the sheet. It was not until after the whole arrangement 
 of the sheet had been ascertained that there was no longer any room to doubt that 
 it consisted of twenty-four only, and consequently that the other varieties of type 
 we were acquainted with at the time, numbering ten or twelve specimens, must 
 have been printed either from a distinct or from a retouched plate. Guided by our 
 experience in the other cases we instituted a careful comparison, and were at length 
 enabled to satisfactorily establish the fact that this plate also was retouched. 
 
 I must now explain the distinctions between these various stages of the plates. 
 
 Plate I., retouched. — The first plate of the Two Pence wore away very rapidly, 
 and in February, 1850, a repair or retouch was found necessary. The earliest 
 specimen I have seen is on a letter dated " Maitland, Feb. 24, 1850." The 
 engraver employed, perhaps from want of skill or experience, seems to have done 
 very little to the plate, and to have confined himself principally to deepening the 
 straight lines of the stamps, such as the outer rectangular frame, the lines below 
 " postage " and above " two pence," and the inner lines of the perpendicular bands 
 at the sides. On one stamp (No. 16) he apparently tried to improve the lines of 
 the circular band ; but, as you can judge from the specimen before you, he did it 
 rather clumsily. On others he engraved a double line above "two pence," which 
 you will see did not exist on the plate as originally engraved ; and here and there 
 may be detected slight touches and alterations in the concentric reticulations at the 
 sides, and in the wavy perpendicular lines of the spandrels. The deepened or 
 double lines, however, above " two pence " and below " postage " are the chief 
 characteristics of this retouched plate. It is a curious fact that, as far as the stamps 
 are concerned, the bottom row only was retouched, the top row remaining unaltered. 
 We have examined so many specimens from the top row in every stage of wear, that 
 if a retouch had been effected in that part of the plate it is absolutely impossible 
 that we should not have found traces of it. But you will notice, on the sheet 
 before you, two or three vertical pairs of stamps, the lower specimens in each case 
 showing the deepened lines, while the upper ones are without the slightest trace of 
 retouch, though they evidently required repairing as badly as the others. I am quite 
 at a loss for an explanation, and can only mention the undoubted fact. Something 
 else, however, did occur in connection with the top row, which leads me to the 
 consideration of a point of great difficulty to which I have previously referred 
 incidentally — the question of whether this plate was reduplicated wholly or in part, 
 and whether it was in consequence of an intended reduplication that the retouch was 
 executed. A double riding was made of the upper horizontal compartment line. I 
 must draw your attention to three specimens of Type No. 1, two of No. 3, two of 
 No. 5, one of No. 4, and four of No. 10, photographed on a separate sheet, and 
 lettered respectively A, B, C, &c* Each of the three specimens of No. 1 has the 
 upper horizontal compartment lines differently drawn. In the first stage there is 
 a single line, in the second two parallel lines, and in the third two lines which 
 converge and meet. On B the lower, and on C the upper of the two lines represent 
 the original single line ; that is to say, they are drawn in exactly the same position, 
 the doubling of the line therefore taking place in a different position. You will 
 notice that B is in an earlier stage of wear than C. Taking next the two specimens 
 of No. 3, lettered D and E, you will observe that on E there are two parallel 
 compartment lines, which might very well be the continuation of the parallel lines 
 on B, but for the fact that the original line is the upper one, the new line (which 
 is the thickest) being within the old one. On variety 4, lettered F, there is an 
 entirely fresh line, which almost touches the stamp, and consequently cannot be a 
 continuation of any of the lines I have been describing. The two specimens of 
 variety 5, lettered G and H, are very curious. H has a double compartment line, 
 the new one being drawn parallel to and above the original line, at about double 
 the distance between the parallel lines previously referred to. An examination 
 
 * Owing to several of these lettered specimens forming portions of unsevered pairs and blocks, 
 it was considered unadvisable to separate them. They will be found on two different sheets ; 
 viz., the first plate of the Two Pence and the plate of the Three Pence. This arrangement is 
 inconvenient, but was unavoidable without cutting up the blocks. I should add, that the different 
 specimens were taken off the sheets, and accurately tried and fitted with their neighbours. 
 
24 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 with the microscope will show that H is printed from a plate in a later stage of wear. 
 There are, lastly, the four specimens of No. 10, lettered I, J, K, L. I and J are 
 from the same original plate, though in different stages. K, though in a much 
 earlier state than J, has the compartment line drawn much closer to the stamp. 
 L is a worn impression of K. On C, F, H, L, there are traces of what look like 
 perpendicular compartment lines, starting from the horizontal lines and running 
 upwards, as if another row of compartments for stamps had been drawn on the 
 plate. Taking the dates of such of the specimens as we have seen on letters, 
 we get— ^ pogtmarked u s y d n ey, Feb. 21, 1850." 
 
 K, „ "Windsor, March 19, 1850." 
 
 B, „ " Sydney, March, 1850." 
 
 H, „ "Tamworth, May 2, 1850." 
 
 G, „ "Sydney, June 24, 1850." 
 
 At the risk of being considered tedious I have given an accurate description of 
 all the specimens with double compartment lines that have come under my notice, 
 and you will easily understand how perplexed I have been to imagine what really 
 was done with this mysterious plate. Everything would have explained itself if 
 we could have adopted the theory of separate blocks for the stamps, clamped up 
 and fixed together by metal lines. In such a case some of the blocks might have 
 got loose, and additional metal lines been found necessary to tighten them. As 
 was explained before, this theory is inadmissible, and I can only indicate to you 
 what I think may possibly have been done. The original plate was divided into 
 compartments by single ruled lines, and very probably it soon became apparent that 
 sufficient stamps could not be printed from it alone to satisfy the requirements of 
 the Post-office. The idea might then have been entertained of adding another row, 
 perhaps two rows, of stamps to the plate. The traces I mentioned above of lines 
 probably intended for fresh compartments strengthens this supposition. This plan 
 being found impracticable, or unadvisable perhaps, on the score of the expense of 
 engraving fresh stamps, it was decided to reduplicate the plate. This might have 
 been done by means of a double cast in metal, which would give the reverse sunk 
 impression necessary to print from. Previous to taking this double cast, or to 
 whatever process of reduplication was employed, the stamps of the lower row were 
 retouched. This point is proved by the vertical pairs I mentioned above. For 
 some inscrutable reason a second compartment line was added to the top row of the 
 reduplicated plate, and possibly a slip on the part of an engraver attempting to 
 re-rule the line on the original plate will account for the third set of double lines. 
 
 These remarks are of course mere conjecture, but the lengthened examination 
 I have made has convinced me that they are not far from the mark. The different 
 sets of double lines point beyond doubt to four, if not to five, stages in the history of 
 this first plate of the Two Pence ; but which specimens belong to reduplicated and 
 which to re-ruled plates, and whether there was a reduplication on the same plate of 
 copper, are questions to which I can give but an incomplete answer, and which I 
 have puzzled over in vain. We have unfortunately not been able to get together 
 sufficient specimens of any one set of double lines to reconstitute an entire upper 
 row. For some reason or other these specimens are very uncommon, though their 
 scarcity is probably due to the former bad habit of clipping off the margins of 
 stamps. Anyhow, until this is done, nothing can be said with certainty. A little 
 study of the specimens I have drawn your attention to will show you that double 
 compartment lines exist on certain varieties in a comparatively early stage of wear, 
 of which there is no trace on specimens in a rather later stage, the varieties of type 
 being the same in both cases; and there is evidence before you to prove that the 
 plate with the lines, as originally drawn, was printed from down to the very last 
 stage of wear, and even in its last stage shows traces of the original compartment 
 lines. On the block of four in the retouched sheet, varieties 11, 12, 23, 24, the 
 traces are still visible of the original compartment lines, but there is no sign of the 
 double lines that we know were added about February, 1850. All this tends to 
 show that there was certainly one, if not two, reduplicated plates. It is curious 
 that the middle and lower horizontal compartment lines were never altered, but 
 are exactly the same on the plate in every one of its stages. To summarize briefly, 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 25 
 
 I conclude that, as far as the stamps are concerned, the lower row of this plate 
 was retouched once, but that in several different processes of re-ruling or re- 
 duplication the upper compartment line was doubled. I take leave of a difficult 
 and interesting question, which I regret must remain unsettled for the present. 
 I have placed the facts fully before you, have propounded the theory, and must 
 now leave it to some succeeding writer to give a solution of the difficulty, which, 
 with every care, I have been unable to arrive at. 
 
 Plate III., first retouch. — Passing to this subject, I may remark that the credit 
 of the discovery was entirely due to MM. Caillebotte. The distinctions between 
 Plate III. and the retouched plate lie in the corner stars and the bale. The lines 
 on the bale were redrawn and doubled, and a small circle was added within the rays 
 of the corner stars. Other slight alterations were effected in the reticulations, and 
 here and there the lettering appears to have been touched up ; but apart from these 
 differences, stamps printed from the plate in its original and in its retouched stage 
 are practically identical. You will notice that these distinctions, as in the other 
 cases, represent additional work, and consequently there can be no doubt that the 
 specimens are from a second stage, and do not represent the plate in its original state. 
 A comparison of the sheets and photographs will show how little alteration was 
 made, except in the details I have described. As a rule, the retouched stamps are 
 printed in rather a fuller shade of blue than the others ; but their characteristics 
 are briefly the double lined bale and the circle in the corner stars. One variety, 
 No. 10 of Plate III., has a double-lined bale, but has no circle in the corner stars. 
 
 Plate III., second retouch.— This, is very similar to the first retouch, but the 
 handle of the fan is replaced by a pearl, and the horizontal wavy lines of the 
 spandrels are rather further apart, and there are fewer of them. The reticulations, 
 the lettering, and, speaking generally, all the other details of the design, are almost 
 identical with those of the first retouch. "We can prove a good portion of the 
 arrangement of the stamps of these three states of Plate III. independently of each 
 other; and as we find the same varieties occurring in the same places, the fact is 
 placed beyond doubt that what we have called retouches are simply different stages 
 of the same original plate. It is not possible that our retouched plates can be 
 re-engraved transfers, as in the case of Plates I., II., and III. Faint traces of some 
 of the lines of Plate III., in its original state, which had nearly disappeared and 
 which were not re-engraved, can still be distinguished on the first retouch ; and the 
 same remark applies to certain details of the second retouch in connection with the 
 first. Nothing, however, we have said about the retouches of Plate III. would be 
 inconsistent with the theory of their being retouched reduplications of Plate III. 
 Once grant the possibility of some process of reduplication being known in the 
 colony at the time (and this is proved by the essays of the One Penny), it becomes 
 by no means improbable that it was employed for the plates of the Two Pence, the 
 demand being greater for this value than for the others. The similarities, as well 
 as the differences, between these three stages of the third plate are thus easily 
 accounted for. There is, however, but little evidence in connection with this theory 
 of a retouched reduplication to be obtained from study of the stamps themselves, 
 and there is only a slender inference to be drawn in its favour from the dated 
 specimens, which will be described in dealing with our fifth question. Many of the 
 dated letters overlap; for instance, specimens of Plate III., in its first stage, are 
 found used at a date long after the plate had been retouched ; and, similarly, 
 specimens of the first retouch are found used after the second had been executed. 
 Of course nothing can be inferred with certainty from these overlapping dates, as 
 the earlier specimens might easily have been kept back in small country offices 
 which had not exhausted their stocks, and which therefore did not require a fresh 
 supply from the plates in their later stages. This frequently occurs in England at 
 the present day, obsolete stamps being often procurable at branch offices long after 
 a new series has been issued. However this may be in the case of the Sydneys, 
 these overlapping dates, and the mention by the governor of the repair of the plates 
 of the Two Pence, are the only evidence we possess of distinct reduplicated and 
 retouched plates being in use at the same time. 
 
26 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 3. Our third question deals with the xramher and arrangement of the stamps on 
 the plates, and I have already referred to the error we were at first led into in 
 supposing that there were twenty-five specimens, in five rows of five. I should 
 be wearying you if I entered into details of the laborious process of reconstruction, 
 or of the method of measurement of the lines, &c, which enabled us to arrive at 
 the truth. But I may say briefly that the compartment lines I have spoken of so 
 much first set us in the right direction, and by their means we soon found out that 
 there were more than five stamps in a row. One or two vertical pairs, with sufficient 
 margin above and below to show that the vertical compartment lines ceased where 
 they met the upper and lower horizontal ones, settled the fact that there were two 
 rows of stamps only, and the examination of many hundreds of specimens, conducted 
 «by MM. Caillebotte in Paris and myself in England, showed conclusively that there 
 were only twenty-four specimens on each plate. Of course they might have been 
 printed in two panes of twelve, but we could never come across more than four 
 corner stamps (the position of which was proved by the compartment lines) to each 
 plate. If the arrangement of panes had been adopted there would have been of 
 course eight corner stamps, but we soon decided that they were printed in two rows 
 of twelve. The rest was simply a matter of time, and some six months since we 
 came across a pair which settled the last doubtful point, and enabled us at length 
 to place every stamp of all the plates in its right position. The following is the 
 proof in detail of the arrangement, the different pairs, &c, being located in different 
 collections : 
 
 Plate I. 
 
 No. 1 is the top left corner stamp (Mr. Firth's collection). 
 
 12 „ „ right „ (MM. Caillebotte's collection). 
 
 13 „ bottom left „ (Mr. Tapling's „ ). 
 24 „ „ right „ ( „ „ ). 
 
 Pairs and blocks. 
 
 Nos. 1, 2, 5, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 are in Mr. Tapling's collection. 
 
 2, 3, 4 „ Mr. Rodd's „ 
 
 5, 6 „ Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 7 is in the top row of the sheet . Mr. Rodd's „ 
 
 7, o ..... „ „ „ 
 
 8, 9, 10 . . . . „ Mr. Tapling's „ 
 10, 11, 12 . . . . „ Mr. Garth's „ 
 
 18, 19 „ Mr. Rodd's „ 
 
 20,21 „ 
 
 9, 21 „ Mr. Tapling's „ retouched plate. 
 
 10 > 22 » » » » 
 
 11,12,23,24 . . . „ 
 
 Plate I., retouched. — The arrangement of course is the same, and can be 
 ascertained from the plate in its original state. 
 
 Plate II. — I give as much of the arrangement as has been arrived at in- 
 dependently of Plate III. and its two retouches. The remainder of the stamps 
 have been placed according to the arrangement of Plate III. This was not done 
 without considerable difficulty and a very minute and careful examination; but, 
 as I explained before, there are numerous points of resemblance between the 
 specimens on the two sheets, just sufficiently marked to enable me to place them 
 in the same order. I do not pretend to infallibility, and there may be a mistake 
 in the arrangement ; but I have recently seen more than one fresh pair from 
 Plate II., and each one has fully confirmed the arrangement I made some months 
 ago by means of Plate III. The pairs, &c, are located as follows : 
 
 No. 1 is the top left corner stamp in my own collection. 
 
 12 „ „ right „ „ „ „ 
 
 13 „ bottom left „ „ „ „ 
 
 24 „ „ ri"ht „ „ „ „ and MM. Caillebotte's. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 27 
 
 Nos. 
 
 
 Pairs and blocks. 
 
 1, 2 . 
 
 . are in 
 
 Mr. Tapling's collection 
 
 3, 4 . 
 
 • iy 
 
 A Parisian „ 
 
 5, 6 . 
 
 7, 8 . 
 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 Mr. Rodd's „ 
 
 8, 9 
 
 9, 10 
 11, 12 
 
 ■ yy 
 
 5> » 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 A Parisian „ 
 
 3, 15 
 14, 15 
 
 19, 20 
 
 20, 21 
 23, 24 
 
 • >> 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 12, 24 
 
 • • » 
 
 Mr. Firth's „ 
 
 A little study of these particulars and of the accompanying diagram will show 
 you that the position of seven specimens only is absolutely certain at the present 
 moment, apart from the arrangement of Plate III. The other pairs and blocks, the 
 arrangement of which you may consider arbitrary, prove this much at any rate, that 
 certain varieties of type did exist side by side on Plate II. When therefore we find 
 the same coincidences in the types, &c, occurring side by side on Plate III. (the 
 complete arrangement of which is proved independently), it becomes morally certain 
 that the specimens are correctly placed on Plate II. As I pointed out, there is a 
 possibility of error, but I do not believe this is likely. 
 
 Plate III. Ditto, first retouch. Ditto, second retouch. — It will save time if 
 I give the proof of these together. They are so nearly alike, that no doubt can exist 
 that they are simply stages of the same plate : 
 
 No. 1 is the top left corner stamp (Mr. Tapling's collection), Plate III. ; ditto, first 
 and second retouch. 
 
 12 is the top right corner stamp (MM. Caillebotte's collection), Plate III. 
 
 13 „ bottom left „ (Mr. Tapling's „ ), „ second retouch. 
 24 „ „ right „ (Mr. Rodd's „ ), „ first retouch. 
 
 Nos. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pairs and blocks. 
 
 
 
 1, 2, 
 
 3 . 
 
 . are in Mr. Tapling's collection, 
 
 Plate III. 
 
 , second retouch. 
 
 3, 4 
 
 
 
 ,) 
 
 Mr. Firth's „ 
 
 » 
 
 first retouch. 
 
 4, 5 
 
 
 
 >» 
 
 A Parisian „ 
 
 » 
 
 
 5, 6 
 
 
 
 • » 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 6, 7 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 Mr. Rodd's „ 
 
 » 
 
 
 7, 8 
 
 
 
 » 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 9,10, 
 
 11, 
 
 12 
 
 » 
 
 » n 
 
 » 
 
 n 
 
 1, 13 
 
 
 
 jj 
 
 jj yy 
 
 » 
 
 
 13, 14, 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 » 
 
 second retouch. 
 
 16, 17 
 
 
 
 » 
 
 » » 
 
 » 
 
 
 18, 19 
 
 
 
 1) 
 
 jj jj 
 
 j> 
 
 
 19,20 
 
 
 
 ' 5> 
 
 yy J> 
 
 » 
 
 
 20, 21 
 
 
 
 
 Mr. Wilson's „ 
 
 >, 
 
 first retouch. 
 
 21, 22 
 
 
 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's „ 
 
 » 
 
 second retouch. 
 
 22, 23 
 
 
 
 J, 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 » 
 
 first retouch. 
 
 23, 24 
 
 
 
 » 
 
 5, J, 
 
 » 
 
 
 12,24 
 
 
 
 » 
 
 Mr. Firth's „ 
 
 » 
 
 
 A large portion of the arrangement of these three stages of Plate III. could be 
 proved independently, but this is not necessary. I have not come across specimens 
 of Nos. 16 and 17 connected with any of their neighbours, but a glance at the 
 sheet will show that there is no other place to put them in. 
 
 The process of reconstruction of the three plates of the Two Pence has been, 
 as you can judge, long and tedious, and necessitated a great deal of reference to 
 several different collections. Until it was completed nothing could be written, and 
 to the difficulty of obtaining or examining a sufficient number of uncut blocks and 
 pairs must be attributed the delay in presenting these papers for the consideration of 
 the Society. 
 
 4. I have all along been assuming the order of the plates and their various 
 stages of retouch or transfer, and it is now time to give some reasons for the 
 
28 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 arrangement that has been adopted. When this paper is printed, and you are 
 able to carefully examine into and criticise the theories I have ventured to lay 
 down, with your own collections of the stamps before you, you will, I think, be 
 convinced that there is internal evidence in several cases in support of the order 
 I have suggested. For instance, the only distinction between Plate III. and 
 Plate III. first retouch is that certain details do not exist on the former which 
 are found on the latter, the two sheets in other respects being identical. Obviously 
 therefore these details were added, and no question of priority can arise. We 
 have the confirmation of Mr. Pemberton, Dr. Legrand, and all the best English 
 and foreign catalogues as to the order of what I have styled Plates I., II., and III. ; 
 and lastly, though there is little official information, we have the confirmation 
 of dated specimens. Of these I have examined a large number, and give a list 
 of the oldest, which are of course the only ones that can be relied upon as 
 showing how early a plate or any stage of it was in existence. 
 
 Two Pence. 
 
 Plate I. Specimen, dated Sydney, Jan. 9th, 1850. Very early stage of 
 
 impression ; colour, pale dull blue (in my own collection). 
 Plate I. Eetouched. Dated Maitland, Feb. 21st, 1850 (in my own collection). 
 Plate II. Specimen, dated Sydney, April 20th, 1850. Very early stage of 
 
 impression ; colour, pale ultramarine (in Mr. Rodd's collection). 
 Plate III. Specimen, dated Oct. 23rd, 1850 (in Mr. Castle's collection). 
 Plate III. First retouch. Specimen, dated Jan. 20th, 1851 (in Mr. Eodd's 
 
 collection). 
 Plate III. Second retouch. Specimen, dated Paramatta, May 10th, 1851. Very 
 
 early stage of impression (in Mr. Rodd's collection). 
 
 These are the earliest dates I have seen, and the specimens are important 
 because they enable us to say in what order the plates and the retouches should 
 be placed, and to assign, within a month or two, a correct date to each. Thus 
 about three months after the stamps were first issued a new plate of the Two Pence 
 was found necessary, a probable interval of four or five months separating it 
 from the third. The retouches seem to have followed at about the same intervals 
 of time, the last one with pearl in the fan being executed in April, 1851, and 
 continuing in use till about the end of July or the beginning of August, when 
 the first Two Pence laureated was issued. The postal authorities evidently had 
 great difficulty in meeting the increasing demand for stamps, or at any rate in 
 supplying stamps that were sufficiently presentable. From the State Book of 
 March 11th, 1851, we learn that authority was given to J. C. C. Boyd and 
 A. H. Manning to destroy a quantity of damaged postage stamps. These were 
 probably the Two Pence, as on April 2nd, 1851, the governor sanctioned the 
 repair of the plates of the Two Pence. This brings us to the consideration of our 
 fifth and last question as to whether the different plates were in use at the 
 same time. 
 
 5. I have already alluded briefly to this point, which after all is not of 
 great importance, except as confirming my previous conclusion that Plates I., II., III. 
 were really distinct and separate plates, and not retouches of one another. The 
 entry just quoted as to the repair of the plates can hardly refer to anything 
 but Plates II. and III., and possibly to a re-engraved reduplication of the latter. 
 That a larger sized sheet of stamps was absolutely necessary is proved by the 
 fact that there were fifty specimens on each plate of the Two Pence laureated, 
 and it is very probable that, pending the preparation of the last-named stamps, 
 the authorities printed as best they could from more than one of the plates 
 of the Sydneys, the worn out state of which necessitated the repairs authorized 
 by the governor. These repairs were certainly not executed upon Plate II., which, 
 as I previously remarked, was not retouched, or altered; and judging from the 
 worn state of some of the specimens before you, it seems likely that the engraver 
 found the plate was not worth the trouble of repairing, or that an efficient repair 
 was out of the question. 
 
 Anyhow, the only results of the repairs that were done in April, 1851, 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 29 
 
 were the stamps with the pearl in the fan, and the use of the word "repair" 
 in the entry seems to negative the idea that a re- engraved reduplication of 
 Plate III. in its retouched stage took place. That more than one plate still 
 existed is however quite evident ; that the first retouch of Plate III. took place 
 some months previously is proved by the specimen dated January I mentioned 
 above ; and we are left consequently with the conclusion that if the first retouch is not 
 a re-engraved reduplication, the entry in question must refer to Plates II. and III. 
 
 Plate I. may, I think, be left out of consideration, as the repair upon it 
 was executed early in 1850, and I have never seen a specimen used later than 
 the autumn of that year. Perhaps I should mention that the whole of the 
 correspondence of a firm in Sydney was examined on my behalf, and if impressions 
 from Plate I. had been taken and issued in 1851, I should almost inevitably 
 have received specimens. The stamps came on this correspondence in a very 
 regular order; and I had so many sent me, that it was easy to trace almost 
 month by month the state of wear of the plates and the different kinds of paper that 
 were adopted from time to time. I found numerous specimens of Plate II. used in 
 almost every month from April, 1850, to as late a date as November, 1851. 
 Of course they may all have been kept back, as I mentioned previously ; but 
 this continuous use, and the fact that almost every specimen was in a different 
 stage of wear, point rather strongly to the probability of Plates II. and III. 
 being in use at the same time after about September, 1850. It is also worthy 
 of remark that the pair of stamps dated November, 1851, in fact all the specimens 
 used in 1851, are printed upon a peculiar grey paper, which does not appear 
 to have been used before that year. My experience of the comparative rarity 
 of the specimens strengthens this supposition, as, with the exception perhaps of 
 Plate I., specimens from Plate II. are more common than any of the others. 
 However, as I remarked before, dated specimens can only be relied upon to 
 prove how early a plate was in existence, and are but little guide as to the 
 length of time it was used, though in this case the overlapping dates are far 
 longer than those I referred to in considering the possibility of a re-duplication 
 of Plate III. We can only make a conjecture, and the arguments which were 
 insufficient in one case cannot be considered conclusive here. 
 
 In concluding this portion of the subject, I may add a word or two as to the 
 differences of style that may be traced between the two stages of the One Penny and 
 the three plates of the Two Pence. One cannot criticise the drawing of a postage 
 stamp like the style of a literary composition, and it is only those who, like some of 
 us, have devoted much time to the study of these stamps that are able to affirm, by a sort 
 of intuitive perception, that any two given plates are or are not by the same hand. 
 
 No reason can be given for what Mr. Pemberton called the " imperceptible sense ;" 
 and yet, from my own study, I feel convinced that the original plate and the retouch 
 of the One Penny were not done by the same engraver. Apart from the coarser 
 workmanship, there is a difference of style that cannot be mistaken, and which 
 reminds one very strongly of the engraving of Plate II. of the Two Pence. The 
 little dot in the corner stars occurs on both plates, and is a very characteristic detail 
 of style. If I may hazard a guess, I should say that the first One Penny and Three 
 Pence were drawn by the same engraver, the first Two Pence by a second, and the 
 retouched One Penny and Plate II. of the Two Pence by a third. I do not believe that 
 Plate III. of the Two Pence was drawn by the engraver of Plate II. ; but, of course, all 
 this is pure speculation, and I can bring forward no arguments in support of my opinions. 
 
 III. We have lastly to consider the various kinds of paper which were used for 
 specimens of the Two Pence. To a great extent they are the same as those employed 
 for the One Penny, and seem to have come into use about the same time. All the 
 earliest specimens of Plates I. and II. were printed upon the soft yellowish paper ; 
 in fact, Plate I. is found upon no other, though this paper occasionally absorbed a 
 little of the ink of the impression, which gave it a slightly bluish appearance. It 
 can easily be distinguished, however, from the hard bluish paper which succeeded it, 
 and which must have been used soon after Plate II. came into existence ; as com- 
 paratively early copies from this plate are found printed upon it. The earliest specimen 
 I have seen of the Two Pence on the bluish paper is dated June 3rd, 1850. A third 
 
30 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 kind of paper seems peculiar to Plate III., and Plate III. second retouch, and, as I 
 mentioned previously, to certain specimens of Plate II. It is hard, of medium 
 thickness, and in colour grey or dirty white. In my opinion, it is distinct from the 
 hard bluish paper, though it is possible that this paper, originally white, has become 
 tinged in some cases with the colour of the impression, which in these two stages of 
 Plate III. is of a greyer shade of blue than that of the first. On the other hand, it 
 is possible, as you can see from an unsevered block in my collection, that the 
 yellowish gum may have had something to do in changing the colour of the paper. 
 I may say, however, that as far as my experience goes, no specimens of the One 
 Penny or Three Pence are found upon this grey paper ; but in any case the point 
 seems of little importance. 
 
 Specimens of the first and second retouch of Plate III. are also found upon the 
 ribbed or laid paper, identical with that used for the One Penny. There can be no 
 doubt that it was used intermittently, pending a supply of the ordinary paper. The 
 earliest specimen I have seen upon this paper is dated February 27th, 1851. 
 
 Mr. Pemberton went very carefully into the question of the different papers 
 employed in days when the distinctions between the plates were not so well 
 understood as they are now. His enquiries were made mainly with the view of 
 showing that there were three distinct plates of what he called the roughly-engraved 
 Tioo Pence ; and having found certain kinds of paper peculiar to certain varieties of 
 the stamps, he very reasonably argued that the latter must have been printed from 
 separate plates. That he was partly right and partly wrong in his conclusions I 
 have already shown ; but his researches all tend to confirm the order I have adopted 
 for the plates in their different stages. I recognize then four different kinds of paper 
 for the Two Pence : 
 
 1. The soft yellowish paper, occasionally tinged with blue. 
 
 2. Hard bluish paper, varying in substance. 
 
 3. Hard grey or dirty white paper. 
 
 4. Ribbed or laid paper, white or slightly bluish. 
 
 I omitted to mention that in the case of the Two Pence on laid paper the laid 
 lines are always vertical, those of the One Penny and Three Pence being horizontal. 
 I have some recollection of a specimen being mentioned on horizontally laid paper, 
 but this I have not been able to verify. 
 
 Three Pence. 
 
 My remarks upon this value will be brief, as it presents absolutely no point of 
 any difficulty. It was issued on January 1st, 1850, and continued in use until 
 December, 1852, when it was superseded by the Three Pence laureated. It was not 
 used to anything like the same extent as the other values, and consequently we never 
 meet with very worn copies. You will learn with satisfaction that only one plate of 
 the Three Pence was prepared, and though the varieties of type are very difficult to 
 identify, there are no perplexing questions of retouch or transfer to trouble us. 
 
 Design. — As far as the centre portion is concerned, it is practically the same as 
 that of the One Penny and Two Pence, with double lined and dated bale, the only 
 difference being that the legend " Sic fortis," &c, is printed in three lines instead of 
 two. There are two white perpendicular bands at the sides (impinged upon by the 
 centre white circular band), filled in with horizontal coloured ovals, which sometimes 
 touch and sometimes interlace each other. The spandrels are composed of straight 
 and wavy horizontal lines crossed, and the corners of white square blocks, containing 
 Maltese crosses, with four-point star centre. Straight linear labels above and below, 
 containing the words, t. " postage," b. " three pence " in coloured block capitals. 
 The design is completed by a single rectangular coloured line, and as in the One 
 Penny value there were no divisional or compartment lines to the plate. Mr. 
 Pemberton was under the impression that there were three distinct plates, and his 
 divisions were as follows : 
 
 1. Without clouds. 
 
 2. With clouds, side ovals touching each other. 
 
 3. „ „ interlacing each other. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 31 
 
 With regard to the two latter, you will see by the sheet before you that they are 
 simply varieties of type occurring on the same plate, and I am inclined to think that 
 specimens without clouds, if they really exist, should be merely considered as 
 similar varieties, or should be attributed to wear of the plate. The colour employed 
 for this value was often very ineffective, and it is sometimes difficult to trace out the 
 other details of the design in addition to the clouds. It is a fact that the well-known 
 proof impressions in myrtle green and the earliest copies on the yellowish paper 
 show the clouds perfectly distinct; and I believe therefore that if any specimens 
 without clouds exist, they are simply varieties of type, similar to the single specimen 
 on the retouched plate of the One Penny. It is probably the analogy of the two 
 editions of the latter value that has given rise to the error. At any rate, on the 
 complete sheet before you, of which the position of every stamp has been ascertained, 
 there are only one or two specimens which afford any reason for doubt as to the 
 presence or absence of clouds. The sheet consisted of twenty-five stamps, each 
 separately engraved, and arranged, like the One Penny, in five rows of five. The 
 varieties of type are minute, and, owing to the colour, much more difficult to identify 
 than those of the One Penny and Two Pence. However, every care has been taken, 
 and I believe the arrangement before you is the correct one. It is proved as follows : 
 
 Pairs and Blocks. 
 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 are in . . . Mr. Tapling's collection. 
 7, 12, 17 
 17, 22 
 1, 6, 11, 16 
 16, 17, 21, 22 „ 
 3, 8, 13 „ 
 
 13, 18, 23 „ 
 
 3,4 
 4,9 
 8,9 
 9, 10, 14, 15 „ 
 
 24 is in the bottom row in 
 
 25 is in the right bottom corner in „ „ „ 
 19, 2\) ,,...„ „ „ 
 
 No. 5 is unaccounted for, not having been met with in a pair or block ; but as 
 there is only one space left, it is of course correctly placed. The same remark 
 applies to No. 24, there being only one vacant place left in the bottom row. 
 
 The Three Pence is found upon four different kinds of paper, similar to 
 those already described for the One Penny and Two Pence. They are briefly : 
 
 1. Soft yellowish paper. 
 
 2. Hard bluish „ 
 
 3. White laid or ribbed paper. 
 
 4. Bluish „ „ 
 
 I have not seen a sufficient number of dated specimens to be able to say 
 with any certainty at what period these papers were used, but in all probability 
 their employment was contemporaneous for all three values. As you are no 
 doubt aware, specimens of the Three Pence on the laid paper have become 
 exceedingly scarce, and I have never seen an unobliterated copy. There is little 
 further to add in reference to the Sydneys. The four strongest collections of these 
 stamps I am acquainted with are those of Herr von Ferrary, MM. Caillebotte, Dr. 
 Legrand, and my own; and I can only once again express my acknowledgments 
 for the opportunities of reference that have been afforded me by these gentlemen 
 and others, and for the information that has been freely placed at my disposal. 
 You are now in a position to judge of the difficulties we have had to contend 
 with, and how far they have been successfully surmounted. I can only hope 
 that the Sydneys may not now be altogether looked upon in the light of a 
 "sealed book," and that some succeeding writer, more fortunate in obtaining 
 access to official information, may succeed in giving a solution of the questions 
 I have left unanswered in these papers. 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's 
 
 i) » 
 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 » j' 
 
 „ Rodd's 
 „ Tapling's 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
32 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Issue II. 
 
 The second series, commonly known as the laureated issue, presents comparatively 
 little difficulty, and has been very fully dealt with in the four following articles : 
 
 1. "Notes on the Second Series of the Stamps of New South Wales," by the 
 author of " The Postage Stamps of British Guiana." (Stamp Collectors Magazine, 
 1867, page 33.) 
 
 2. "A Contribution towards the History of the Stamps of New South Wales." 
 (Same Author and Magazine, 1874, page 5.) 
 
 3. "The Laureated Stamps of New South Wales," by E. L. Pemberton. 
 (Philatelist, 1868, page 3.) 
 
 4. The article by Dr. Legrand in the Memoirs of the Congres International 
 des Timbrophiles. 
 
 I have little to add to or correct in these articles, which contain what is 
 practically a complete history of the issue. Since they appeared, however, some 
 additional information has been obtained relating to the arrangement of the varieties 
 on the plates; and, with the exception of the Eight Pence and the registered 
 stamps, we have been able to completely reconstruct all the sheets of each value 
 as they were originally printed. It is almost superfluous to remind you that, 
 like the Sydneys, each stamp on the plates was separately engraved, thus giving 
 as many varieties of type as there were stamps to the sheet. Following the 
 course adopted in the case of the first issue, I shall consider each value separately 
 under the same headings of date of issue, design and engraving, and paper. This 
 adds a little to the length of this paper, but it is desirable for the sake of clearness, 
 and is certainly more logical. The different values were issued at different times, 
 but it seems more convenient to take them in order of value rather than in 
 order of issue, though this is a matter of individual taste. There are five values — 
 One Penny, Two Pence, Three Pence, Six Pence, Eight Pence. 
 
 One Penny. 
 
 I. Date. — From the Sydney Government Gazette of December 23rd, 1851, 
 we learn a notice was issued to the effect "that stamps of the Queen's head 
 with laurel wreath, of the value of One Penny, will immediately be issued." .. The 
 One Penny value was therefore issued on or about this date. 
 
 II. Engraving and Design. — One plate only of this value was prepared. In the 
 Stamp Collector's Magazine of 1874, page 7, it is stated that this value was engraved 
 on steel by John Carmichael, Kent Street, North Sydney, and consisted of fifty 
 stamps arranged in five horizontal rows of ten. Carmichael was in the habit of 
 putting his name at the foot of the different plates he engraved, but I have never 
 seen a specimen of the One Penny with sufficient margin to show whether he did so 
 in this case or not. Mr. Pemberton states that this plate was engraved by Carruthers, 
 but which of the two authorities is correct I cannot say. The writer of the article 
 just referred to remarks, "By February, 1854, a new plate of the One Penny 
 was ready ; it was engraved on copper by Carmichael, and contained fifty stamps, 
 all separately engraved, as in former instances. The One Penny and Two Pence 
 values were, in the month of February, 1854, printed and issued on paper water- 
 marked with double lined figure of value." This is evidently a mistake into which 
 it is surprising that the well-known collector who wrote the article, and whose name 
 I forbear to reveal, should have fallen. The colour of the stamps, printed on 
 watermarked paper, is a bright orange, and is certainly very distinct from the 
 red or lake shades used in the earlier stages of the issue ; bat a comparison 
 of the two sheets before you, on unwatermarked and watermarked paper, will 
 show conclusively that, as far as the design is concerned, they are absolutely 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 33 
 
 identical in every detail. There is not even a question of a retouch, and I 
 can only conclude that the remarks I have quoted were evolved from the inner 
 consciousness of the author. I have alluded to this mistake simply because 
 I have directed your attention to these earlier articles, and therefore it became 
 necessary to obviate the possibility of error arising in your minds. The design of 
 the stamps on this plate may be described as follows : 
 
 Laureated profile of Queen Victoria to left, on a background of straight and 
 wavy vertical lines crossed, enclosed in a rectangular frame. Above the head there 
 is an arched label of colour, containing the word "Postage" in white block capitals. 
 Straight white labels above and below, containing the words, t. " south," b. " one 
 penny," in coloured block capitals, the bottom label being an octagonal oblong. 
 The top label contains three leaf ornaments on each side of the word "south." 
 The sides are composed of interlacing pointed oval reticulations, broken in the 
 middle by two white labels, containing the words, l. "new" reading upwards, 
 r. "wales" reading downwards. The corners are composed of white square blocks 
 containing Maltese cross ornaments, and the design is completed by a single 
 outer line of colour. Shape, upright rectangular, yellowish gum ; imperf. This 
 plate continued in use until the One Penny, with the diademed head of Her 
 Majesty, was issued. Its arrangement is settled by the following list of pairs 
 and blocks, &c. ; and you will see that here, as in the case of several other values, 
 I am largely indebted to MM. Caillebotte for the information they have collected 
 and kindly placed at my disposal : 
 
 Nos. 1, 2, 3 
 
 g 
 
 
 are ir 
 
 Dr. Legrand's collection 
 
 3, 4 . 
 
 ... 
 
 j> 
 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 » 
 
 5, 6 . 
 
 . • . • 
 
 » 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
 » 
 
 6, 7 . 
 
 • • 
 
 >> 
 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 » 
 
 8, 9, 10 are 
 
 in the right upper c 
 
 orner in „ 
 
 » 
 
 7, 17 . 
 
 . . . . 
 
 are ir 
 
 i Dr. Legrand s 
 
 >> 
 
 8, 18 . 
 
 . 
 
 j> 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's 
 
 n 
 
 11, 12 . 
 
 ... 
 
 » 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
 » 
 
 12, 13 . 
 
 ... 
 
 » 
 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 » 
 
 15, 16, 25, 26 
 
 ... 
 
 » 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
 » 
 
 16, 17 . 
 
 • . • 
 
 >> 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 17, 18 . 
 
 ... 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 19, 20 . 
 
 
 j> 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's 
 
 » 
 
 20, 30 . 
 
 ... 
 
 }> 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
 » 
 
 11, 21 . 
 
 » • • . 
 
 » 
 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 » 
 
 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 34, Zt 
 
 » V 
 
 A Parisian 
 
 » 
 
 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 . 
 
 » 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
 » 
 
 14, 24 
 
 • » 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's 
 
 a 
 
 26, 27, 36, 37 
 
 
 
 ■ » 
 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 » 
 
 28, 38 . 
 
 
 
 ■ >J 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
 » 
 
 29, 30, 39, 40 
 
 
 
 >» 
 
 M. S. de Wilde's 
 
 » 
 
 37, 38, 39, 40 
 
 
 
 " » 
 
 A Parisian 
 
 5> 
 
 35, 36 . 
 
 
 
 ■ » 
 
 M. S. de Wilde's 
 
 » 
 
 31, 41 . 
 
 
 
 • » 
 
 Mr. Burnett's 
 
 » 
 
 41, 42 . 
 
 
 
 }> 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
 » 
 
 42, 43 . 
 
 
 
 >> 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's 
 
 » 
 
 43, 44 . 
 
 
 
 • » 
 
 Mr. Wilson's 
 
 i) 
 
 44, 45 . 
 
 
 
 • » 
 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 >> 
 
 45, 46 . 
 
 
 
 ■ » 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 35, 45 . 
 
 
 
 ' » 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's 
 
 » 
 
 47, 48, 49, 50 
 
 
 
 » 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 
 J> 
 
 An examination of these details, and of the photograph, will show you that 
 every stamp is accounted for, and that no other arrangements of the sheet is 
 possible. There are two or three prominent varieties of type on the plate that 
 are worth noticing : 
 
 No. 7 has no fioreate ornaments on the right of " south." 
 
 No. 9 is the error "wale." 
 
 No. 15 has one fioreate ornament missing. 
 
 No. 21 has no fioreate ornaments on the right of "south," 
 and on one or two specimens the corner stars are imperfect, evidently having been 
 left unfinished by accident. 
 
34 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 III. Paper. — The One Penny is found upon four different kinds of paper— 
 
 1. Blue paper un watermarked, the tinge of blue varying considerably in depth. 
 
 2. Stout white unwatermarked paper. 
 
 3. Blue paper, laid vertically. 
 
 4. Thinner white paper, watermarked with numeral of value. 
 
 These varieties call for no particular remark. Judging from the state of 
 the impressions, it is impossible to doubt that the blue wove paper was the 
 first used. I am unable to say whether the white wove paper preceded the blue 
 laid paper or not, but I am inclined to think the latter was only used temporarily, 
 during the exhaustion of the ordinary stock, and pending the arrival of a fresh 
 supply. We learn from the Sydney Government Gazette of January 31st, 1854, 
 that the watermarked paper was first to be put in use on February 1st, 1854. 
 
 Two Pence. 
 
 This was the first value of the series to appear, and there seems to have been 
 a far greater demand for it than any of the others, as no less than three plates, each 
 containing fifty stamps, were prepared and printed from between 1851 and 1856. 
 I alluded to the fact of this value being in such request in an earlier part of these 
 papers, and since writing I have come across some remarks of Mr. Pemberton's, 
 which are to be found in the Philatelist of 1868, page 3. He observes: "Until 
 the 15th of July, 1851, Victoria was a dependency of New South Wales; but 
 though commencing an independent existence of its own in that year, it still seems 
 to have used some of the higher valued stamps of the parent New South Wales, in 
 addition to its own primitive set known as the half lengths. Before its independence 
 Victoria (and the other Australian colonies till a later date) was amenable to New 
 South Wales in postal matters, using the stamps issued by the Sydney office, which 
 may, in some manner, account for the incomprehensible number of stamps (and 
 varieties) issued, as it supplies a reason for the wear of the plates, at first quite 
 inappreciable, if owing simply to demand for stamps in New South Wales." 
 
 Two Pence was the inland rate for letters, and the necessity for the large 
 number of different plates of this value is thus accounted for, and is indirectly 
 rather a striking proof of the great internal development of the trade of the Australian 
 colonies. I shall deal with the distinctions between the plates and their constitution 
 a little further on, and will now give you the ascertained facts as to the dates of issue. 
 
 I. Date. — Prom the Sydney Government Gazette of July 24th, 1851, we get a 
 notice to the effect that " it has been found necessary to provide new plates, bearing 
 the Queen's head instead of the present design (view of Sydney). That a new 
 design of the Queen's head, with a laurel wreath, has been already engraved, value 
 Two Pence, and that this stamp will be immediately issued to the public." I may 
 remark, en passant, that in 1849 there was a somewhat disloyal section in Sydney 
 who objected to the Queen's head appearing on the stamps of the first issue; but 
 the difficulties were apparently overcome by the time the laureated Two Pence was 
 issued, when, I believe, Major Christie had become postmaster. 
 
 We learn from the Stamp Collector's Magazine of 1874, page 6, that a second 
 plate was put in hand directly the first one was completed, and the date of issue for 
 this is given by M. Moens as December, 1851, when the One Penny first made its 
 appearance. We are also told in the same article that "on the 8th August, 1853, 
 authority was given to H. C. Jervis to engrave another plate of this value, which he 
 did on copper, fifty stamps to the plate. This plate was afterwards used for printing 
 on paper watermarked with the figure of value." The only difficulty that presents 
 itself here is in connection with the second plate. If it was in use as early as 
 December, 1851, it evidently ought to have had a lengthened existence. It is a 
 fact, however, that specimens of this plate, which I shall show directly were what 
 are known as the six-rayed star stamps, are extremely uncommon, and in reality are 
 as rare as any of the Sydneys. The only explanation I can offer is that in one 
 instance Jervis, who engraved this plate, is known to have worked upon copper. 
 If this was a copper plate, and it has every appearance of being so, its rapid 
 deterioration and early withdrawal are easily accounted for. I have never seen a 
 specimen dated earlier than 1854, but in the Stamp Collector's Magazine of 1867, 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 35 
 
 page 33, we find a specimen mentioned as existing on a letter dated December, 
 1852. On the whole, therefore, I am inclined to think that December, 1851, is 
 very probably the correct date for the second plate. 
 
 II. Engraving and Design. — We have here, fortunately, the fullest information. 
 The first plate of the Two Pence was engraved on steel by John Carmichael, and 
 contained fifty stamps, each separately drawn. The second was engraved (probably 
 on copper) by H. C. Jervis, of Pitt Street North, Sydney, and was similarly constituted. 
 As you can see from the sheets before you, each engraver signed his name at the foot 
 of the plates. Jervis evidently possessed nothing like the skill of Carmichael, his 
 work being much rougher, with a very distinct and characteristic style. As I 
 mentioned previously, Jervis engraved the third plate on copper in August, 1853, 
 though in this instance he does not appear to have signed his name. From the 
 Sydney Government Gazette of August 8th, 1853, it appears that he had instructions 
 at the same time to repair the steel plate. This, however, he does not seem to have 
 done, as, in my experience at any rate, no retouched specimens of the first plate 
 exist. There is, however, a very close connection between Plates I. and III., and I 
 shall be able to prove without difficulty that the latter is beyond doubt either a 
 retouch of or a transfer from the former. This question involves the consideration 
 of the only point of any difficulty in connection with the Tivo Pence ; viz., the order 
 of issue of the three plates. But before dealing with it, it will be more convenient 
 to explain the distinctions between them. 
 
 Design. Plate I. — If we substitute the words "two pence" in the bottom 
 label for "one penny," the description I have just given for the One Penny will 
 apply equally well to the Two Pence, though, of course, as each plate was separately 
 engraved, they differ from each other in the same way as the individual stamps. 
 Speaking generally, the design is the same, and I have only to direct your attention 
 to the background, which is composed of five straight and wavy vertical lines crossed, 
 and to the stars in the corners, which are multi-rayed. The stamps are finely 
 engraved, and are good specimens of workmanship. The plate contained fifty 
 specimens, and is without division lines or frames. 
 
 Plate 11. — Similar to the preceding, but of much inferior workmanship, almost 
 resembling etching work. All the details are poor copies of Plate I. except the stars 
 in the corners, which are six-rayed, and this will be found the easiest point of dis- 
 tinction. The plates contained fifty specimens, each separately drawn, and the rows 
 are divided, like the two Sydneys, by horizontal and vertical compartment lines, 
 
 Plate 111. — Very similar to Plate I., but the background is composed of 
 horizontal and vertical lines crossed. The plate is divided into compartments, as in 
 the previous case, and the crosses are Maltese crosses, similar to Plate I. The 
 remainder of my remarks on this value may be most conveniently stated in the form 
 of answers to the following questions : 
 
 1. Was any plate a retouch of or transfer from another] 
 
 2. What order should they be placed in 1 
 
 3. The number of the stamps on the plates and their arrangement. 
 
 1. A very short examination will convince you, when the sheets are placed side 
 by side, that Plate III., though much rougher in execution, is either a retouch of or 
 a re-engraved transfer from Plate I. I would direct your special attention to the 
 lettering of the words " south " and " two pence," and to the reticulations at the 
 sides. There is considerable irregularity in the relative positions of these words to 
 other portions of the design, and in the shape and size of the lettering. You will 
 notice the unusually small size of "south" on the two specimens of No. 19, and 
 the variations in the white interstices of the reticulations on Nos. 8 and 36. The 
 same varieties are found on both sheets, and we can prove that they occur in the 
 same position. Coincidences could be described if necessary on every stamp on the 
 two sheets; but the photographs will enable you to judge for yourselves as to the truth 
 of what I am saying. It is also worth remarking that the spaces between the rows 
 vary very considerably, and the stamps themselves are sometimes not placed quite in 
 line. As far as I have been able to ascertain from vertical pairs and blocks, the spacing 
 of both sheets was identical. The space between the two bottom rows in particular 
 is much wider than the others. These facts are, of course, quite consistent with the 
 
36 
 
 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 theory of a retouch, and the authorization to Jervis, in August, 1853, to repair the 
 steel plate rather points to this conclusion. It is known that at that date he did one 
 of two things : he either repaired the steel plate or constructed a fresh one on copper. 
 My own opinion is, that Plate III. is a transfer from Plate I, re-engraved on a fresh 
 copper plate. In the first place, no trace of the finer work of Carmichael can be 
 detected upon it ; hut there is another, and, to my mind, far more conclusive reason. 
 As you can see by my specimens, Carmichael signed his name under the bottom row 
 in the middle. There is no sign of a signature on Plate III., which a specimen with 
 a large margin on my plate proves clearly. If Plate I. had been merely repaired or 
 retouched, some trace of the signature would certainly have remained, unless it had 
 been erased by Jervis, which seems unlikely. Bearing in mind that Jervis had 
 orders to engrave a new plate, it seems morally certain that, to save himself trouble, 
 he took a transfer from Plate I., and then re-engraved the design upon a fresh copper 
 plate. One other point will probably occur to you when you have an opportunity of 
 considering these papers in print; viz., that the order to engrave a fresh plate may 
 possibly refer to what I have called Plate II., the plate with the six- rayed stars. 
 Against this we may place the following facts : As soon as Plate I. appeared, in July, 
 1851, instructions were given for another to be put in hand. It is known that 
 Carmichael, when pressed, employed Jervis to help him, and having to get the plate 
 of the One Penny ready, which he did by December, 1851, there is every 
 probability that it was on that account that Jervis was entrusted with the task of 
 engraving Plate II. ; and, as I mentioned before, it is stated that a second plate of 
 the Two Pence appeared in that month with the One Penny. There is also the 
 specimen dated December, 1852, and it is obvious that, if we can rely on the 
 statement of the writer in the Stamp Collector's Magazine, this dated specimen of 
 Plate II. proves conclusively that this plate was in use long before the order was 
 given to Jervis in 1853. And, lastly, if Plate II. was not engraved before August, 
 1853, we should have expected to find specimens of it on the watermarked paper; 
 but none such are known to exist. 
 
 2. Order of Issue. — I have already mentioned several matters connected with 
 the order in which the plates appeared ; but the paper by Major Evans, which you 
 will find in another part of this work, proves beyond doubt that what I have 
 designated Plate I. was the first one issued. The notice in the Sydney Government 
 Gazette proves that the plate which was afterwards printed from on watermarked 
 paper was the last, and it follows of course that Plate II. was intermediate. 
 
 3. The Number and Arrangement of the Stamps. — For the sake of brevity we 
 may take Plates I. and III. together, the proof of the arrangement being as follows : 
 
 No. 1 is the top left corner stamp . Mr. Tapling's' collection. 
 
 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 
 
 4,5,6 . . 
 6,7, 8 . . 
 8, 9, 10, 18, 19 
 11, 21, 31, 41 
 11, 12, 13, 14 
 15, 16, 17 
 
 17, 18 . 
 
 18, 28, 38 
 
 19, 20 . 
 
 21, 22 . 
 
 22, 23 . 
 
 23, 24 . 
 
 24, 25 . 
 15, 16, 25, 26 
 
 26, 27 . 
 
 27, 28, 29 
 
 20, 30 . 
 
 31, 32 . 
 
 32, 33, 34 
 35, 36, 46 
 37, 38, 39, 40 
 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 
 47,48 . 
 48, 49, 50 
 
 are in Mr. Thorn hill's 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 Mr. Thornhill's „ 
 
 Dr. Legrand's „ 
 
 ?> j» 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 » ?> 
 
 Dr. Legrand's „ 
 
 Mr. S.de Wilde's „ 
 
 Dr. Legrand's „ 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's „ 
 
 Dr. Legrand's „ 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's „ 
 
 Dr. Legrand's „ 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 Dr. Legrand's „ 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's „ 
 
 Dr. Legrand's „ 
 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 Dr. Legrand's „ 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 37 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 Mr. Wilson's 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 Plate II. — The entire constitution of this plate has not yet been definitely- 
 ascertained. Specimens are very scarce, and it is difficult to meet with any number 
 of them in pairs or blocks. Enough, however, has been proved to show that the 
 arrangement indicated below is not far from the mark. I should add that the 
 sheet before you is complete as far as the varieties of type are concerned ; it is only 
 the position of one or two specimens about which there is any doubt. Like the 
 other two, there are fifty stamps to this plate. 
 
 No. 1 is the top left corner stamp . Mr. Tapling's collection. 
 
 10 „ top right „ 
 41 „ bottom left „ 
 50 „ „ right „ 
 
 Nos. 2, 3, 4 are in the top row 
 5 is in the top row . 
 
 6, 7 are in the top row in 
 
 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19 are in 
 20 is on the right side 
 
 11 „ left „ 
 2, 12 are in 
 12, 13 „ 
 
 13.23 „ 
 
 23.24 „ 
 24, 25 „ 
 14, 15 „ 
 29, 30 „ 
 30 is on the right side 
 
 21, 22 are in . 
 
 22, 32 „ 
 31, 32 „ 
 31,41 „ 
 41, 42 „ 
 27,28 „ 
 28, 38 „ 
 35, 36, 37 are in 
 37, 38 „ 
 38, 39, 40 „ 
 38, 48 „ 
 33, 43 
 
 43, 44 
 
 44, 45 
 46, 47 
 49 is in the bottom row 
 
 From these details you will see that very little more information is wanted to 
 enable us to place every stamp in the right order, and it will be simply a matter of 
 time to ascertain the places of the one or two specimens whose position at present is 
 doubtful. The only prominent variety is No. 23, with the well-known error " waees " 
 instead of "wales." All three plates of the Two Pence wore away considerably 
 with use, and may be found in several distinct stages. To use of the plate must be 
 ascribed the spotted appearance frequently seen on specimens from Plate I. 
 
 III. Papers. — These vary considerably. Plate I. is found upon blue, greyish 
 or slightly blued, and white or toned paper, unwatermarked, and also upon closely- 
 ribbed paper, the ribs or lines being horizontal. Plate II. is only found upon the 
 blue paper. Plate III. exists on blue, greyish or slightly blued, both unwater- 
 marked, and also upon the white watermarked paper. The blue and greyish papers 
 seem to have continued in use till the early part of 1854, when we find a notice in 
 the Sydney Government Gazette to the effect that " in future all stamps would be 
 printed on paper bearing a watermark." As far as I am aware no specimen of the Two 
 Pence exists upon the vertically-laid paper, which seems peculiar to the One Penny. 
 
 Three Pence. 
 
 There is no difficulty in connection with this value, of which only one 
 plate was prepared. From the Sydney Government Gazette of December 7th, 1852, 
 we learn that " stamps of the value of Three Pence, of the same design as the 
 One Penny, Two Pence, and Six Pence now in use, have been prepared, and 
 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's „ 
 
 Mr. Tapling's and MM. Caillebotte's collection. 
 „ collection. 
 
38 
 
 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 Mr. Thornhill's 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 Dr. Legrand's 
 MM. Caillebotte's 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 MM. Caillebotte's „ 
 
 is No. 37, the so-called error 
 wales " being badly drawn. 
 
 will immediately be issued." The engraver was Carmichael, and I think I am 
 correct in saying that he signed his name at the foot of the plate as in previous 
 cases. There were fifty stamps to the plate, each separately engraved, and arranged 
 in five horizontal rows of ten. The design is very similar to that of the One 
 Penny and Two Pence, Plate I., the only difference being that the concentric 
 pointed ovals at the sides are replaced by vertical, wavy, reticulated, and interlacing 
 lines. The sheet before you is complete, and the proof of the arrangement of the 
 varieties is as follows : 
 
 Nos. 1, 2 are in Mr. Tapling's collection. 
 
 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 „ MM. Caillebotte's 
 
 11, 12 . 
 
 12, 22, 32, 42 
 21 22 
 
 15' 16, 17, 25, 26, 27 
 14, 24 . 
 23, 24 . 
 
 27, 28 . 
 9, 10, 19, 20, 29, 30 
 
 28, 29 . 
 21,31 . 
 33, 34, 43, 44 
 35, 36, 45, 46 
 
 37, 38, 47, 48 
 
 38, 39, 40, 48, 49 
 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 
 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 
 
 The most prominent variety of type on the plate 
 "wages." This is merely due to the letter "l" of 
 
 The engraver accidentally added a stroke to the top of the letter, something like the 
 top stroke of an "e.". 
 
 The paper employed is practically the same as that used for the Two Pence. 
 We get first the unwatermarked paper blue and slightly blue varying to greyish 
 and almost white, and next the white paper watermarked with a double -lined 
 numeral of value. 
 
 Six Pence. 
 
 On March 16th, 1852, authority was given to Carmichael to engrave a 
 plate of the Six Pence; and in the Sydney Government Gazette of April 30th, 
 in the same year, we find a proclamation by the Governor-General that in pursuance 
 of the Act 15th Victoria, No. 12 — "an Act to amend the laws for the conveyance 
 of postage mails " — a plate has been provided for stamps of the value of Six Pence, 
 of the same design as the One Penny and Two Pence stamps now in use. The 
 Six Pence stamps of this design will immediately be issued. I have seen specimens 
 with margins bearing traces of the words " Engraved by J. Carmichael," so there 
 can be no doubt that he carried out his instructions. We should have expected to 
 find this sheet the same size as the others with fifty stamps, but for some unexplained 
 reason the plate contained twenty-five only, without division lines or frame. 
 
 The design is very nearly the same as that of the One Penny and the first Two 
 Pence, the only difference being that the floreate ornaments are more numerous, the 
 lettering of the value and of the word " south " is rather larger, and the value fills 
 up the label between the Maltese crosses in large block capitals at the foot. 
 
 Two plates of this value were prepared, the second being easily distinguished 
 from the first by the coarseness of the lines of the background and of other 
 details of the design. There is very little doubt that the second plate was the 
 work of Jervis, and was either a retouch of or a re-engraved transfer from the 
 first. Reasoning by the analogy of the two plates of the Two Pence, I am 
 inclined to the latter opinion, though at present there is no direct evidence either 
 one way or the other. A comparison of the two sheets will show very strong 
 points of resemblance, though there seems no trace on the second plate of the 
 finer work of Carmichael. A specimen or two from the bottom row with a 
 large margin would probably settle the matter, but the style of the engraving 
 is so like that of the Two Pence, Plate II., and the Eight Pence, both of which 
 are known to have been prepared by Jarvis, that there really can be little doubt 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 39 
 
 as to this plate being his work. The question of the date of Plate II. is more 
 difficult to determine. Mr. Pemberton mentions May 16th, 1853, the date of the 
 Eight Pence, as being the probable date of the second plate. I am rather inclined 
 to think that as the original plate of the Six Pence only contained twenty-five 
 stamps, a second plate would have been found necessary at a somewhat earlier 
 date. Upon this point, however, there is absolutely no evidence, as far as I am 
 aware. Each plate contained twenty-five stamps arranged in five rows of five. 
 The arrangement of the second has been obtained from the first, and though 
 there may be an error in the placing of the types, no pair or group has invalidated 
 it up to the present time. The proof of the arrangement of Plate I. is as follows : 
 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 . . are in Mr. Tapling's collection. 
 . 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 „ „ ' „ 
 
 7> 12 „ „ „ 
 
 21,22,23,24,25 . . . . „ 
 
 20, 25 „ Mr. Lincoln's „ 
 
 The Six Pence is only found upon blue unwatermarked paper, the tinge 
 of blue varying, and upon stout white unwatermarked paper; the latter in my 
 experience being peculiar to Plate II. The most prominent variety of type is 
 the well-known error " walls," which exists only on the finely-engraved plate. 
 
 Eight Pence. 
 
 On May 16th, 1853, a notice appeared in the Sydney Government Gazette, to 
 the effect that a plate of stamps of this value had been prepared and approved, and 
 that the stamps would be immediately issued to the public. The plate contained 
 fifty stamps, each separately engraved, and was the work of Jervis, who signed his 
 name at the foot. We have unfortunately been unable to ascertain the position of a 
 single variety on the sheet, and it is consequently impossible to give even an 
 approximate idea of the arrangement. Pairs and blocks of this value are extremely 
 uncommon, and I fear it will be a work of time and much difficulty to place the 
 varieties of type in the right order. There is, however, no reason to doubt that, like 
 the other values, the stamps were arranged in five horizontal rows of ten ; but 
 beyond the fact that certain specimens, judging from their large margins, belonged to 
 the top, bottom, or side rows, I have absolutely no information to give you. 
 
 The design is practically the same as that of the Six Pence, Plate II., but the 
 lettering is rather smaller. There are none of the dividing compartment lines which 
 have proved so useful in other cases ; and, as far as I am aware, there are no errors, 
 and no varieties of type of any special significance. The photograph, of course, 
 represents a provisional arrangement only, which will no doubt have to be much 
 modified when the real arrangement has been ascertained. I ought to have 
 mentioned that MM. Caillebotte and myself just make up the fifty varieties, and 
 that the photograph represents our united collections. 
 
 The Eight Pence is only found on the blue unwatermarked paper. 
 
 In conclusion, I may say that you are now in full possession of all the 
 knowledge obtainable at the present time of the first two issues of New South 
 Wales. The study has been a long one, and the amount of research involved very 
 considerable. I can only hope that my share of the work may meet with your 
 approval, and I ought to add that I should welcome any criticism from any member 
 whose special knowledge would better qualify him to speak than myself. I trust the 
 subject may not be allowed to rest at the point I quit it, and that the questions I 
 have been compelled to leave in some obscurity may be taken up and settled by 
 some writer with more opportunities of access to official information. If this 
 should prove to be the case, I shall be quite satisfied with the knowledge that 
 an effort on my part has been the means of inducing further study and research, 
 and of aiding in a solution of some of the most difficult questions presented by the 
 science of Philately. 
 
 Note. — Since these papers were written, I have received a friendly criticism 
 from Mr. W. T. Wilson, to whom I have already been indebted for several valuable 
 hints. For the most part we are entirely in accord, and there are really only 
 two points of any importance about which there is any difference of opinion 
 between us. In reference to the Sydney Two Pence, Plate I., retouched, Mr. 
 
40 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Wilson remarks, "The mysterious lines above and intersecting the upper frame 
 line are undoubtedly where the engraver commenced to engrave another row 
 of stamps, so that more stamps could be printed from the plate. Doubtless this 
 could not be carried out because the plate was so much in use, and it was therefore 
 found best to engrave fresh plates. I draw this conclusion from the fact that 
 the upright divisional lines start upwards from the new horizontal base lines, 
 and that they constitute pretty equally-sized compartments, although not true 
 to the old stamps already on the plate." This is not unlikely, but a reference 
 to my remarks will show that it by no means explains the whole difficulty. For 
 instance, how is it we find three or four different sets of ruled lines on specimens 
 which are the same variety of type, and which consequently occupy the same 
 position on the plate? If Mr. Wilson's explanation is correct, it strengthens 
 my theory that the other sets of double lines were executed on another plate 
 probably reduplicated from the first. I can, however, add nothing to what I 
 have already written on this part of the subject. 
 
 Mr. Wilson goes on to say, "The material point upon which I differ from 
 you is that I consider the Two Pence Sydney, Plate III., first retouch and second 
 retouch, are really re-engraved transfers from Plate III., and not retouches. Your 
 own argument, as applied to the retouch of the One Penny Sydney, tells against 
 you here, as you say that a retouch cannot be finer in detail, but coarser. My 
 reasons for this opinion are that Plate III., second retouch, is so finely engraved 
 as to conclusively disprove in my mind all idea of a retouch. The material 
 alteration to the fan also supports this view. My reason for saying they are 
 re-engraved transfers is the fact that variety No. 20, showing six segments only 
 to the fan, as against seven on all other specimens on these plates, is found 
 on all three plates — viz., Plate III., Plate III., first retouch, and Plate III., second 
 retouch — taking them by your description. Another strong point in my favour 
 is that on neither of the last-named plates are any traces of old engraving 
 to be found." 
 
 I frankly admit that a recent prolonged and careful examination has convinced 
 me that there is some foundation for this theory of Mr. Wilson's. He is, however, 
 in error in thinking that no traces of the old engraving of Plate III. in its first 
 stage can be found upon Plate III., first retouch. On several specimens on the 
 sheet before you such traces are clearly distinguishable, but as regards Plate III., 
 second retouch, I must confess I made a mistake (as far as my own sheets are 
 concerned), and I cannot now point to a specimen on this plate showing indisputable 
 traces of the old work on Plate III, first retouch. I may, however, still be right 
 in my theory. Very few of my specimens on the sheet are in an early stage 
 of impression, and it is obvious that traces of old work would soon wear away 
 and disappear. It is also the fact that the Governor in the entry previously quoted 
 merely authorized the repair of the plates, and made no mention of the construction 
 of a fresh plate. On the whole I am rather inclined to believe Mr. Wilson 
 is right in respect of this last plate, but there are unfortunately no means of 
 speaking definitely either one way or the other, and after all the point is perhaps 
 not one of very great importance. I am also ' indebted to Mr. Wilson for drawing 
 my attention to two articles (which I overlooked) by Mr. Pemberton in the 
 Philatelist of 1869, pages 86 and 97. From them it appears that Mr. Kobert 
 Clayton was employed to prepare the plates of the Sydney stamps. Mr. Pemberton 
 mentions a copy of Mr. Clayton's tender to furnish " Press, dies, and plates for the 
 sum of £36, covering the whole expense necessary for the full completion of the 
 work required for the General Post-office establishment." 
 
 I have already given my reasons for thinking that the plates were not 
 all the work of one hand ; and if Mr. Pemberton's information is correct (and 
 he seems to have had access to official evidence), it is probable that Mr. Clayton 
 employed some of his subordinates to help him. In the other article Mr. Pemberton 
 mentions that the three lower values of the laureated series were engraved, the One 
 Penny by Carruthers, the Two Pence by Jervis, and the Three Pence by a deaf and 
 dumb engraver named Carmichael. I mentioned that I had seen no signature on 
 the plate of the One Penny, so I think we may accept Mr. Pemberton's statement 
 as correct. 
 

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NEW SOUTH WALES. 41 
 
 ON THE EARLIER ISSUES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 A Paper prepared for the Philatelic Society, London. 
 
 By FREDERICK A. PHILBRICK, Q.C., President. 
 
 Having been entrusted, in conjunction with the Vice-President, to assist in the 
 preparation of a Reference List of these stamps for the Society, and having taken 
 part with him in investigating these issues, and joined in the many discussions which 
 ensued as different points arose and were elucidated, it may perhaps be asked why the 
 Society should be troubled with a second paper on the subject, more especially as 
 the main conclusions which are embodied in the Vice-President's monograph are 
 those arrived at by our mutual consultation and agreement. 
 
 And yet, inasmuch as the same matter never strikes two minds precisely alike, 
 and on some points our views are not exactly in accordance, I may be excused for 
 travelling briefly over ground already so well occupied, and adding a few remarks on 
 different points and details which may be of interest to the Society. 
 
 Without further preface, then, I will make a few 
 
 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS, 
 by way of introduction to my remarks on the history of these stamps. 
 
 The first discovery of Australia, by Captain Cook, in 1770, and the subsequent 
 expedition, headed by H.M.S. Sinus, Captain Arthur Phillip, r.n., arriving in 
 Botany Bay, in January, 1788, which laid the foundation of the chief town 
 of New South Wales, are matters of general history; but so far as the present 
 subject is concerned, it may suffice to state that in the first settlement, Port 
 Jackson, now Sydney, a colonial Post-office, for the reception and distribution of 
 ship and other letters, was established in a small wooden building near the Queen's 
 Wharf. Some of the older colonists are still living who can remember this primitive 
 post office, and Mr. Paivon, who acted as Postmaster. 
 
 In 1828 the growing importance of the colony and its increasing correspondence 
 led to a colonial Post-office being organized on a more regular and extensive scale. 
 Mr. James A. Raymond was appointed Postmaster-General, and the requirements 
 of the community were met by the adoption, as far as possible, of the British 
 Post-office system as a model. 
 
 The New South Wales colonists seem to have been an enterprising and 
 progressive race, and the Postmaster-General was evidently a keen-sighted man 
 of business, fully alive to what was passing in the mother country. 
 
 When the agitation for cheap uniform postage began to give promise of fruit 
 in England, about 1838, Mr. Raymond entered into correspondence with the 
 English Postmaster-General on the subject of the prepayment of letters posted 
 in the colony to their ultimate destination in the United Kingdom, an arrangement 
 which had long been desired by the colonists with a view to facilitate their home 
 correspondence, the method of charging giving rise in practice to many complications 
 and overcharges, besides delay and annoyance at both ends. The system adopted 
 by the English Post office about this period, in the Reciprocal Treaties with several 
 of the Continental powers which secured this desirable end, was thought applicable, 
 
 G 
 
42 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 and strong representations were made. on the existing inconveniences and the over- 
 charges frequently made when exacting the prepayment in the colony. 
 
 The Postmaster -General replied officially, through Colonel Maberly, the 
 Secretary to the Post-office, on 30th May, 1839, that he had not the power to grant 
 the request, nor did he think it could be entertained, as many difficulties surrounded 
 the subject. It may here be remarked that the effort of those interested in 
 establishing the new system in the United Kingdom was to make prepayment 
 to the ultimate destination compulsory in all cases, so that this agitation from 
 the colony came at an opportune moment. 
 
 The official correspondence appears to have rested here till after the Penny 
 Inland Postage had got well into work in the United Kingdom, when, in February, 
 1841, Mr. Eaymond again returned to the subject, and wrote adverting to the 
 recent postal changes in England, and expressing a desire for legislation to permit 
 of prepayment of all letters and packets forwarded by post in full both for land 
 and ship carriage, and including delivery to the addressee, or if the authorities 
 should not see their way to accord these privileges, then that they would permit 
 the British stamps to be exported to Sydney and there sold, so as to ensure free 
 delivery in Great Britain. 
 
 This proposal, after being referred to the Treasury, met with disfavour ; indeed, 
 the Treasury are reported to have objected to the use of postage stamps upon letters 
 forwarded to England from the colonies or other parts abroad. Fortunately these 
 views no longer prevail, and we see the Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, 
 at the Jubilee gathering of the department in 1887, mentioning with complacency 
 the magnitude and extent both of the inland, colonial, and foreign postage of 
 Great Britain, and dwelling with pride on the immense sums represented by the 
 adhesive stamps distributed through the Post-offices both here and abroad. 
 
 It was not until the year 1849 that the difficulties and official reluctance 
 were overcome, and the desired system of prepayment by stamps brought within 
 measurable distance. A Select Committee was appointed by the Legislative Council 
 of New South Wales, and in conformity to the report of that committee, an Act 
 was passed in that year to establish a uniform rate of postage, and to consolidate 
 and amend the law for the conveyance and postage of letters. The date fixed 
 for the commencement of this new system was 1st January, 1850. The rates fixed 
 for letters of half ounce weight, including delivery, were as follows : 
 
 Within the town where posted , , . One Penny. 
 
 Within the colony . . . Two Pence. 
 
 To Great Britain . . , . Three Pence, 
 
 and increasing proportionately, according to weight; and, as will be seen when 
 the stamps issued 1st January, 1850, come to be treated of, the passing of this Act 
 led to the first creation of stamps for the colony. But long prior to this event the 
 Postmaster-General had anticipated the public requirements by the creation and 
 issue of a special stamp for the town of Sydney to frank delivery of letters within 
 the postal limits of the town. We have therefore a purely local official issue 
 which preceded the service of stamps for the colony, an occurrence almost un- 
 precedented in philatelic history, but bearing some analogy to the One Penny and 
 Two Pence temporary envelopes issued in England for the use of the Houses of 
 Lords and Commons in anticipation of the general issue of May, 1840. It will be 
 remarked, however, that the energy and perseverance of Mr. Raymond were in 
 advance of the English officials, who with diffident steps actually managed to 
 devise an issue restricted to certain favoured classes of the community, nor then 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 43 
 
 till after the general post rates had been reduced and the new system formally 
 sanctioned by Act of the Legislature, whereas the Postmaster-General of New 
 South Wales prevailed on the colonial Governor, Sir George Gipps, to authorise 
 an envelope for general use in the town of Sydney long before any postage stamps 
 were authorised for public use in the colony or indeed elsewhere. This issue I will 
 now describe. 
 
 Sydney Embossed Stamp of 1838. 
 
 The official notification was dated 1st November, 1838, and appeared in the 
 Government Gazette of the 3rd November following. As varying dates have been 
 assigned, it may be well to set the question at final rest by reprinting the 
 announcement : 
 
 "General Post Office, Sydney, 
 "1st November, 1838. 
 
 "Whereas it has been considered that by transmitting letters, invitations, notices, 
 bills, &c, under stamped or Post-office covers, the delivery thereof would be much 
 expedited, by avoiding the delay consequent on the letter carriers awaiting payment, 
 His Excellency the Governor, with this view, and in order to effect a reduction of postage 
 on such communications intended for delivery within the limits of the town of Sydney, 
 has been pleased to sanction their transmission under envelopes, which may be obtained at 
 the General Post-office on payment of one shilling and threepence per dozen, including 
 all charges for paper and delivery. This arrangement is not intended to suspend or 
 interfere with the present Twopenny post delivery, which will proceed in all respects as 
 heretofore. James Raymond, Postmaster-General." 
 
 This decisively settles all dispute as to date of issue, and shows the exact 
 nature of the information contained in a brief notice I wrote in the Stamp Collector's 
 Magazine, vol. xii. p. 5. It is there stated that, in the Gazette for 1838, the 
 authority to issue this cover would be found, but no further date or identification 
 was given by me. 
 
 The assumption by the writer of the notice on p. 6 ante, that I was "mis- 
 informed as to the date," is thus shown to be erroneous, and need not be further 
 referred to, except to class it in the already large list of unwarranted inferences 
 which the most acute may be excused for deducing in a subject like the 
 present. The date of 1843 on the specimen I referred to is also shown to be 
 perfectly possible, and it is odd that, when the point I was dealing with was 
 the very question of a figure being an 8 or a 3, it should be supposed by such 
 competent authorities as our respected Vice-President and Secretary that I had 
 blundered and confounded the two. It is satisfactory to have the unchallengeable 
 authority of the official document to fix a date which might a priori be deemed so 
 highly improbable as to be almost impossible, and to vindicate for the Post-office 
 of Sydney the honour of first issuing embossed penny postage covers. 
 
 The issue being thus authorised, a very ready mode of preparing the required 
 " stamped or Post-office covers " or " envelopes " was adopted. The Post-office seal 
 was utilized, and impressions struck from it by a letter or rather seal press on half 
 sheets of paper foolscap size. No colour being used, the embossing was in white 
 relief only. Design : The Royal Arms, Crest, and Supporters, with motto 
 " Dieu et mon droit," under which is " Sydney" in capitals, all in a circular ring 
 inscribed in capitals, t. "general post-office." b. "new south wales." The 
 outer circle measures 29 millimetres in diameter, and the stamp was impressed about 
 the centre of the upper part of the half sheet when folded as an envelope. 
 
 The paper used was white wove of ordinary thickness, and blue laid, the sheet 
 measuring 81-xllj 3 ^ inches. Examples are found laid both vertically and hori- 
 zontally. Inasmuch as some fastening — sealing-wax or gum — had necessarily to be 
 used, the contrivance was not particularly handy; and although the price (Is. 3d. 
 per dozen) was cheaper than the Two Pence fee paid on delivery of letters in the 
 town, the public did not greatly appreciate Mr. Raymond's efforts. 
 
 To stimulate the adoption of these covers a reduction in price was made 
 in 1841 to Is. per dozen or 8s. per hundred, as appears by the subjoined notice : 
 
44 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 "General Post Office, Sydney, 
 " Uh January, 1841. 
 "stamped covers. 
 "By a notice from this office, dated 1st November, 1838, it was signified that stamped 
 covers might from that time be obtained, at a charge of Is. 3d. per dozen, in which to 
 envelope letters, which being posted in Sydney would exempt such letters from any 
 further charge to the full limits of the Twopenny post delivery. His Excellency the 
 Governor now, with a view still further to extend this accommodation, has been pleased to 
 sanction a reduction of the charge to Is. per dozen, or 8s. per 100 ; and stamps or covers 
 may in future be obtained at this rate, in any number, upon application at this office. 
 
 "James Kaymond, Postmaster- General." 
 
 But still the circulation remained restricted, and these covers were never 
 popular. 
 
 The example bearing postmark of 11th October, 1843, which was in my 
 collection, was part of an envelope, so that in addition to the covers above referred 
 to, the seal must have been impressed on envelopes, though probably this was but 
 rarely done. 
 
 Major Evans recently reported to the Philatelic Record that a correspondent 
 of his in Sydney possesses an envelope, 5^ x 2i inches, with the above stamp 
 embossed. Unfortunately my copy was cut, so that it was not possible to ascertain 
 the size of the envelope. The conjecture was hazarded in the Record that the 
 envelope Major Evans refers to was made out of a stamped sheet. This is possible, 
 and collectors ought to be on their guard against any such. But in the case of my 
 own specimen the envelope had evidently been made before it was put under the die, 
 as the impression went through the two thicknesses of paper as the envelope was 
 folded, and the lines of the vergeures, for it was on laid paper, were on the slant 
 (d biais), as usual with envelopes on laid paper. 
 
 There is little more to add to the preceding to complete this notice, save 
 to advert to the fact that the forgers have recently produced copies in which the 
 word Sydney is properly spelt, and the stamp so well imitated that very great 
 circumspection is needed, and reference should be made to an undoubted original 
 copy, if accessible, before pronouncing in favour of any specimen. 
 
 The Colonial Engraved Stamps. 
 
 No collector of any experience will deny that special interest has always 
 attached to these. The Vice-President has enumerated some of the most eminent 
 philatelists who have made them the object of particular investigation. %o these 
 names ought to be added that of M. Georges Herpin, of Paris, one of the pioneers 
 of the science, who possessed in a remarkable degree that intuitive perception which 
 was so prominently developed in the late Mr. E. L. Pemberton ; of M. Hanciau, of 
 Brussels, who has also rendered great assistance, both in connection with Le Timbre- 
 Poste and by his critical acumen; and of the late M. Pauwels, of Torquay. 
 But first and foremost the name of Pemberton stands undisputed. To his unrivalled 
 sagacity and almost unerring instinct the science is indebted for the first real progress 
 made in the investigation. 
 
 The stamps of New South Wales, especially the Sydney views, possessed great 
 attractions for his enquiring and analytical bent of mind ; and when, after many 
 years collecting, I had succeeded in getting together a fair number of specimens, we 
 jointly examined, noted, and arranged them according to the best of our then 
 information. Just about that period (1868-9) Mr. Pemberton had undertaken the 
 task of preparing a reference list, in collaboration with Mr. Erskine, of Somerset 
 House, who was a patient and indefatigable collector, devoting his attention 
 exclusively to the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. 
 
 At that time of day the importance of establishing and reconstructing the 
 plates, and the relative positions of the stamps thereon, had not made itseli apparent. 
 The more advanced collectors were chiefly occupied with questions of watermark and 
 perforations, and I well remember the feelings of surprise with which I first saw, in 
 a Belgian collection, a successful attempt to assemble and place a complete sheet of 
 the forty stamps of the Philippines 10 c. (1854-5). Nor was I then prescient 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 45 
 
 enough to divine the valuable aid which was hereafter to be afforded to philatelic 
 investigations by what was then thought mere ostentatious collecting of a valuable 
 stamp in large numbers. Neither did Mr. Pemberton fully appreciate the truer 
 view until near the close of his career ; but had he been longer spared, no one would 
 more zealously or keenly have prosecuted the line of investigation thus opened. 
 
 The remarkable results it has achieved in the construction of the entire plates, 
 and the service thus rendered to the history of the science, cannot well be over- 
 estimated ; nor is it any reflection on the value of this method of procedure that 
 after the sheet of the One Penny (Sydney views) had been built up and constructed 
 by a tedious process, and many ineffectual trials, that an entire proof-sheet, with the 
 edges intact, supplying the full information so painstakingly sought for, should be 
 found, and afford a confirmation, if such were needed, of the accuracy of the 
 conclusions arrived at. 
 
 But to revert for a moment to earlier history. Soon after the formation of this 
 Society, Mr. Pemberton obtained from our first President, Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart., 
 a print of the Blue Book containing the proceedings of the Postal Committee, which 
 sat at Sydney in 1849. From this resulted, as has been already mentioned, the 
 discovery of the embossed cover for the town of Sydney ; and from it Mr. 
 Pemberton extracted all the passages he thought would assist in preparing an article 
 or monograph on these stamps. 
 
 Sir Daniel Cooper gave this book, with such notes and information as he had 
 got, to Mr. Joannis, the then Secretary, that a precis might be made to form the 
 basis of a paper to be read before the Society. Unfortunately the gentleman to 
 whom the Secretary confided that duty died before it was completed ; and when the 
 President saw the MS., he found it was too meagre for presentation, and therefore 
 determined to let it stand over for future revision. 
 
 Soon after this Mr. Ferrary became the possessor of Sir Daniel Cooper's collection, 
 and such notes and information as then were in his possession were, in 1878, given by 
 Sir Daniel to Dr. Legrand, who doubtless found them of service when writing his 
 excellent articles. 
 
 After Mr. Pemberton's death careful search was made among his papers for any 
 notes or MS., but without success, and the subject remained nearly in statu quo till, 
 in more recent times, the attention of MM. Caillebotte was drawn to it in collecting 
 the varieties on the plates ; and the Society, in compiling its Reference Lists, charged 
 the Vice-President and myself with the duty, if possible, of prosecuting these 
 investigations to some definite conclusion. 
 
 Sir Daniel Cooper wrote me, that Mr. Pemberton had from him a " large book 
 of mine," containing Reports of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, with 
 " evidence and report of the Select Committee on Postage Stamps, which gave all 
 the particulars about the first set of views of Sydney." This book cannot now be 
 traced ; but if it only contained what its description states, our labours would have 
 been facilitated in a marked degree, and most likely many points now open to 
 conjecture finally resolved. In default of these materials, Sir Daniel Cooper has 
 most obligingly furnished me with such information as he had at command. 
 
 One naturally desired to consult the file of the Government Gazette for the 
 colony, at the office of the Agent-General of the New South Wales Government. 
 The series there commences in 1863. At the Colonial Office there are no copies ; while 
 those who resort to the library at the British Museum will find the file of the Gazette, 
 from (say) 1848-56, the period within which all useful information is likely to 
 occur, fragmentary and imperfect. 
 
 Before referring to such details as have been obtained from the Gazette, I may 
 mention an event in my early collecting days which made a strong impression on my 
 mind. But one or two unused copies of Sydney views were known to exist in 
 English collections — the ordinary specimens were, as we but too well know, heavily 
 defaced in the post — when a friend casually informed me that a small dealer in the 
 City had a strip of eight unused Sydney Penny stamps, and was asking the (then) 
 enormous price of 20s. each, or £8 for the strip. On hurrying to the shop, I found 
 but two were left — an unsevered pair from the top row, margins and gum intact — • 
 and these I fortunately secured. They were fine copies of the coarsely-engraved 
 
46 
 
 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 type on thick bluish paper. No enquiry I could make led to any information as to 
 the whereabouts of the other six ; but the vendor (Mrs. Goodwin) spoke of them all 
 as one "strip;" and when, some few years afterwards, I questioned her as to the 
 precise number in the row, she was positive they were all in one horizontal row (we 
 now know this was not correct). Subsequently, in discussing this with Mr. 
 Pemberton, he found a note of a strip of four, vertically joined, with indications of 
 another above the top one. This gave us five vertically (which we now know is 
 correct). In this way we fell into the error of supposing there were eight and not 
 five stamps to the row ; forty and not twenty-five to the sheet. 
 
 To return from this digression, it will be convenient here to tabulate the dates 
 and summarize such details as have been collated from the Government Gazette, and 
 notes taken, in 1870, of correspondence preserved in the Colonial Secretary's office, 
 Sydney. 
 
 Act of Council, directing stamps to be ready on 1st Jan., 1850. 
 Gazette Notice. Id., 2d., and 3d. stamps would be ready for 
 
 issue on 1st January, and fixing postal rates. 
 Authority given to J. C. C. Boyd and A. H. Manning to destroy 
 
 damaged postage stamps. 
 Governor's approval of repair of plates of the Two Penny 
 
 stamps. 
 Gazette Notice, that new plate for the 2d., with head of Queen, 
 
 had been engraved, and would be issued to the public 
 
 immediately. 
 Governor's approval of 2s. 6d. per 1000 to printer for printing 
 
 stamps, he finding colours, oil, gum, &c. 
 Governor returning steel plate of Id. (head) approved for 
 
 printing, and ordering inspection of stamps, and old plate 
 
 to be defaced (view). 
 Gazette Notice. Id. stamps (heads) will be immediately issued. 
 That sheet of Id. stamps bearing Governor-General's approval 
 
 was in Colonial Secretary's office. 
 Board appointed to destroy damaged stamps. 
 John Carmichael to Inspector, should he commence engraving 
 
 6d. stamp. 
 Same, repeating request. 
 Governor approved of a 6d. stamp, and thought it had better 
 
 be printed in a distinct colour. 
 Authority to Carmichael to engrave 6d. stamp on copper plate, 
 
 at cost of £20. 
 Proclamation-Plate of 6d. had been provided, of same design as 
 
 Id. and 2d. "now in use," and would be issued immediately. 
 6d. plate returned to Inspector,with Governor-General's approval. 
 Memorandum as to a cancelling-stamp received fromCarruthers, 
 
 suggesting it be tried on damaged stamps. 
 Colonial Secretary returns to Inspector of Stamps plate of 3d. 
 
 (head), approved by Governor-General, but stating it was 
 
 inferior in execution to previous plates of same artist (Car- 
 michael) ; order to destroy old plate (view). 
 Gazette Notice, that plate of 3d. (Queen's head) had been 
 
 prepared, and would be issued immediately. 
 Relating to quality of paper on which stamps were printed. 
 Colonial Secretary returns to Inspector plate of 8d., approved 
 
 by Governor-General. 
 Gazette Notice. 8d. would be issued immediately. 
 Invoice, materials^ &c, for printing postage stamps, Perkins, 
 
 Bacon, and Co., for £449 7s. Id. 
 Governor-General approves employment of H. C. Jervis to 
 
 engrave a new plate for 2d. stamps on copper, as nearly as 
 
 possible similar to the steel plates now in use, at expense 
 
 of £40, and also to repair the steel plates for £40. 
 Colonial Secretary encloses invoice of postage stamps, plates, 
 
 paper, press, &c, shipped per Woolloomolloo. 
 
 Although this list is somewhat lengthy, it relates almost entirely to the laureated 
 heads ; the references to the earlier series are very scanty. 
 
 12th October, 1849. 
 25th December, 1849. 
 
 11th March, 1851. 
 
 2nd April, 1851. 
 
 24th July, 1851. 
 
 31st July, 1851. 
 
 18th December, 1851. 
 
 23rd December, 1851. 
 24th January, 1852. 
 
 13th February, 1852. 
 22nd February, 1852. 
 
 1st March, 1852. 
 
 13th March, 1852. 
 
 16th March, 1852. 
 
 30th April, 1852. 
 
 8th May, 1852. 
 
 8th November, 1852. 
 
 1st December. 1852. 
 
 7th December, 1852. 
 
 11th December, 1852. 
 16th May, 1853. 
 
 16th May, 
 27th July, 
 
 1853. 
 1853. 
 
 8th August, 1853. 
 
 3rd December, 1853. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 47 
 
 Issue of 1st January, 1850. 
 
 This well known series of three values — One Penny, Two Pence, and Three 
 Pence — known as that of the Views of Sydney, was supplied to the General 
 Post-office by Kobert Clayton, of Sydney, under a contract with that department to 
 furnish press dies and plates, for the "sum of <£36. The stamps were engraved on 
 copper plate, each stamp separately, in line engraving (faille-douce), the first and last 
 by Clayton himself, and the Two Pence by his son-in-law, Mason, the latter by his 
 work showing himself much the more skilful engraver of the two. The blocks of 
 the One Penny and Three Pence each contained twenty-five stamps, in five rows of 
 five stamps each, measuring about 111 mm. by 125 mm. There was nothing else 
 upon the plate but the block of stamps themselves. The plate of the Two Pence 
 contained twenty-four stamps, arranged in two horizontal rows of twelve each, 
 divided from each other by plain vertical lines, and the horizontal rows having a 
 similar line above and below, forming a frame to the whole block ; while a like line 
 separated the two rows. 
 
 The design being cut in sunken lines into the copper plate, the thick ink of the 
 impression, used in the earlier course of the series particularly, was deposited on the 
 surface of the paper, and formed a thick incrustation, from which it may be rubbed 
 or scratched. In this method of printing the paper is necessarily wetted, and 
 printed on while damp ; so that after it becomes dry any inequality in the make of 
 the paper causes an uneven shrinkage, and hence variations in size of the stamps 
 may be found, which might lead to a false inference, unless the true cause be borne 
 in mind. 
 
 The size of the One Penny stamps is 20 by not quite 24 mm. ; the copper- 
 plate measures 141 x 130 mm. 
 
 Design: Besides referring to the paper of the Vice-President (ante pp. 11, 12), 
 I wish to call marked attention to the circular inscription proclaiming the device to be 
 the seal of the colony. The stamps were imperforate, and the gum usually thick and 
 of a deep brown colour. After these general observations, I will deal separately 
 with each value. 
 
 In Jewitt's Life of Josiak Wedgwood it is stated that some clay from Australia 
 was sent home to him, with which he modelled a medallion, emblematic of the new 
 settlement. A cast having been sent out, the design was chosen for the colonial seal. 
 
 "It represents a figure of Hope addressing three emblematic figures. Peace, Art, and 
 Labour, on the shore of Sydney Cove, a ship, a few houses, and a church being in the background. 
 Underneath is the word Etruria, the well-known name of Wedgwood's pottery in Staffordshire, 
 and the date 1789." 
 
 The Anchor of Hope leads to the supposition that a chain cable is intended to 
 be represented, rather than fetters or gyves. The stigma of convicts must be removed 
 from the figures of Peace, Art, and Labour ; while the significance of the fields, trees, 
 flocks, and bees, and the propriety of the bale of wool as allegorical of the staple 
 product of the colony, may still bear their usual interpretation. 
 
 Those desirous of further details may consult a letter from " Fentonia," which 
 appeared in the Stamp Collector's Magazine, vol. vii. p. 191 (December, 1869). 
 
 One Penny. 
 
 There can be no question that the type, as originally issued, was that from the 
 finely-engraved plate. This seems clearly established by the Vice-President's 
 arguments, to which may be added that the information collected by Mr. Pemberton 
 and his own opinion alike agreed in this result. One striking fact is, that whereas 
 all three values were issued simultaneously, on 1st January, 1850, and therefore the 
 paper may be reasonably supposed to be the same in all the values, no other 
 complete set of all three can be found on one kind of paper. This finely-engraved 
 type consequently belongs to that set which was first issued. To my mind this 
 argument is conclusive. Further, this plate shows no clouds. The lines for them 
 could be added to a copper plate, but could not well be removed from it. In the coarsely- 
 engraved plate clouds appear on all save one of the stamps (No. 15 on the plate), to 
 which the engraver no doubt forgot to make the addition when at work on the 
 retouch. 
 
48 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Retouch of the One Penny. — It equally clearly follows from the above that the 
 coarsely-engraved plate must have been a retouch from the former, once the 
 identity of the two is established. The remarks of the Vice-President (ante pp. 14-16) 
 must be taken to represent our joint views on this. 
 
 The questions of when and by whom this retouch was done remain for solution. 
 I can offer no trustworthy information. The touch of the burin does not look like 
 Mason's handiwork, nor indeed does it resemble Clayton's; but it bears a strong 
 family likeness to the second plate of the Two Pence. The period when the plate 
 required to be retouched, of course, depended on the wear and tear to which it was 
 subjected. And on this, it must be borne in mind, that though the One Penny was 
 the rate for postage within the limits of a town, yet the then colony of New South 
 Wales comprised not only New South Wales as now existing, but also Victoria, 
 separated from the parent colony 15th July, 1851, and Queensland, separated in 
 December, 1859. This remark has also to be remembered when the necessity for 
 renewal of the plates of the Two Pence is under consideration. 
 
 The order given to deface the old plate of the One Penny (view) when the One 
 Penny (laureated head) was prepared, on 18th December, 1851, gives nearly two 
 years for the duration of the former plate in its two states ; and the relative plentiful- 
 ness of specimens of the later state appears to make the date of the Vice-President — 
 August, 1850 — probably near the mark for the retouch. 
 
 On the retouched plate the engraver omitted to insert lines for the clouds in the 
 fifteenth stamp ; in the eighth stamp the hill is left unshaded ; and in the seventh 
 stamp, though the hill is shaded, the trees are omitted. These three varieties are 
 the more prominent departures from the general type. 
 
 To what has been stated on the various papers employed at different times I 
 entirely subscribe, merely adding that there is a distinction to be drawn between 
 ribbed and laid paper. The former shows the inequalities on its surface, and on 
 being held to the light is of a uniform thickness ; the latter has less pulp where the 
 lines of the wires come, but presents generally a smooth surface to the eye. 
 
 I have never seen or heard of the finely-engraved One Penny on true laid 
 paper ; on the finely -ribbed paper it is exceedingly rare. The coarsely-engraved One 
 Penny is found on true laid paper of stoutish texture. In some examples of stamps 
 on this paper fragments of the watermark of Britannia, so common on old-fashioned 
 foolscap, are to be met with, as well as other watermarks, which were in the paper 
 used, no doubt on an emergency, for printing the stamps. Large double-lined 
 Roman capitals are also sometimes seen ; these formed portions of some legend. On 
 a square block of four copies of the Two Pence, Plate III. (the Vice-President's 
 first retouch), on stout white laid paper, formerly in the collection of Mr. Burnett, 
 the letters "ISKtS" are plainly visible, extending through several stamps. All the 
 above and similar marks, letters, and devices, are simply what are known as marques 
 de la fabrique of the paper, and have no philatelic significance. 
 
 I can quite confirm the statements of the Vice-President as to the rarity of this 
 stamp, first state of plate, on the ribbed paper. 
 
 Proofs and Essays of the One Penny. 
 
 There remain to be considered the above. 
 
 Proofs. — Most first-rate collections can boast of one or more specimens of the 
 first state of the One Penny, clearly and beautifully printed on a dull buff, or nearly 
 flesh, toned paper. The extreme care used in striking these impressions led me 
 minutely to examine my own copies, and all I was able to see elsewhere, and I have 
 never met with one showing any trace of gum having been originally applied to the 
 reverse. The shade of red is peculiar, one not to be found on any other stamps of 
 this value, used or unused. Those to which I am referring are distinguishable at a 
 glance, and are evidently taken before the plate had suffered the slightest trace of 
 wear. The conclusion I drew therefore was, they were proof impressions, and I was 
 fortified by the unhesitating verdict of Mr. Pemberton to the same effect. It is 
 known proofs were struck off, in deep myrtle-green, from the plate of the Three 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 49 
 
 Pence, which contributes to render the supposition that these are proofs more 
 plausible. No other proofs of the One Penny are known to me. 
 
 Essays. — In The New South Wales Stamp Collector's Magazine, No. 2. (April, 
 1880), Mr. Edward Buckley describes an essay in the possession of the New South 
 Wales Postal Department as follows : 
 
 "View of Sydney, One Penny, with figures in foreground, which is in dashed 
 lines, as in the ordinary types ; bale not inscribed ; on the hill two trees, and lower 
 down a figure ; hill most minutely shaded ; houses touching, no clouds. Inscription, 
 ' Sic fort is Etruria crevit ' (the ' ria ' in Etruria so crowded as to look like ' rm '), 
 within plain circle inscribed 'segillum (sic) Nov, camb, aust.' In top corners 
 Maltese cross, with radiating stars over the centres ; between them the word 
 ' postage ;' tops of the letters ' p,' 'a,' and f e ' in a line, all the same size ; ' o ' and 
 ' g ' smaller, and ' t ' decidedly larger. In bottom left-hand corner ' n,' and in the 
 right ' l,' between them the words ' one penny.' Rough border at sides, between 
 the centre circle and stars at top, or letters at bottom. Plain block ground. Printed 
 on thin wove paper, with the old gum on the part not attached to the sheet ; colour, 
 soft vermilion (probably toned with age). Note. — The inscription ' one penny ' has 
 been affixed in its place, a part of the stamp having been cut away for its reception ; 
 but the colour of the printing is identical." 
 
 From this not over lucid description, it appears as if some one (in the Post- 
 office 1) had been experimenting in the formation of a new stamp, by cutting up and 
 piecing together parts of others. Not having seen the specimen described, this can, 
 at most, be a conjecture on my part. The bottom lettering — ' n,' * l ' — does not 
 correspond, however, with any part of a stamp I am acquainted with, and whence 
 those letters came, or what they mean, is to me incomprehensible.* 
 
 In addition to tfte foregoing, there are certain lithographed stamps, described by 
 Sir Daniel Cooper in the paper he read before the Society 29th May, 1869. They 
 certainly are not from a wood block, nor do they look as if reproduced by a transfer 
 from a wood engraving. They are coarse in execution, and in general design like 
 the stamp issued, save that the spandrels are filled in with a pattern of overlapping 
 scale-work. 
 
 The paper is deep-toned yellow wove, and thin ; no watermark. The colour of 
 the impression, full soft vermilion ; not gummed. The row contained several stamps, 
 all identical, showing that by 1849 the Colonial lithographers knew enough of their 
 business to produce a repetition of the same design, line for line like the original. 
 An opinion, broached when these essays first came to light, that they were hurriedly 
 prepared, to ensure a supply of One Penny stamps being ready by 1st January, 1850, 
 seems likely to be correct ; but as a stock from the engraved plate was prepared in 
 time, these lithographs were relegated to the category of stamps intended for but 
 never actually put into use. 
 
 "Whatever be the fact, neither the public nor collectors have any reason other 
 than for thankfulness that these stamps never served postal purposes. 
 
 According to Sir Daniel Cooper, these lithographs appear to be lithographic 
 transfers by Clayton, from which I infer Sir Daniel draws this conclusion from the 
 appearance of the essays themselves. I must own I should have hesitated before so 
 doing. 
 
 With respect to the wood-engraved stamps, so circumstantially described by Mr. 
 Calvert, it is difficult to suppose his memory could be so treacherous as to induce 
 him to believe he had engraved eight of Well's block drawings with his own hand, 
 unless he had really done so. These separate engravings must necessarily have 
 varied from each other, thus showing that the essays lastly described cannot be those 
 mentioned by Mr. Calvert. No copy appears to exist in the Colonial Post-office, indeed 
 the existence of one anywhere has yet to be shown. Meanwhile the only information 
 we possess is that afforded through Mr. Calvert's statements communicated to the 
 Vice-President. (Ante p. 10.) 
 
 * They do not correspond with the initials of any of the engravers employed, so far as we 
 are acquainted with their names. A Mr. Nicholas Nelson was an assistant for many years in 
 the Sydney Post-office ; but I have not been able to trace any name there commencing with " L " 
 about this period. 
 
50 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 The Two Pence. 
 
 The plate first constructed and printed from was a copper plate, consisting of 
 twenty-four stamps, arranged in two rows of twelve, each stamp being framed by a 
 plain line. Eobert Clayton, who had obtained the order for the plates of the three 
 values, employed Mason, his son-in-law, to assist him, and entrusted him to engrave 
 the plate for the Two Pence. The stamps from the plate produced by Mason are 
 easily recognisable, the spandrels being filled in with vertical lines, whereas in all 
 other plates of this value the lines in the spandrels are horizontal. 
 
 There can be no question that this vertical-lined plate was that first produced, 
 from which the stamps issued 1st January, 1850, were printed. 
 
 In execution as well as design it is far the best of the Sydney views ; indeed, 
 the vignettes, as seen in clear copies, are highly creditable proofs of the engraver's 
 skill. It is almost ungracious to say they are too fine and elaborate for the rough 
 usage to which this plate was inevitably destined. 
 
 The arrangement of the twenty-four types on the plate has been satisfactorily 
 established by the labours of the Vice-President and MM. Caillebotte. 
 
 On examining the entire sheet, it will be seen that in Nos. 1 to 5 and 
 9 to 12 there are no trees, and in No. 19 the lines in the spandrels are wavy upon 
 oblique. These constitute the most salient varieties in the engraving. 
 
 The paper first adopted was without watermark, wove, soft in texture, and 
 yellow in tone. To this last quality is chiefly due the bronzy-green so often seen, 
 although want of practice in compounding the pigments may partly be the cause 
 that the original blue has gone off to a sort of sea-green shade. When a fresh, 
 bright copy is found, the blue is clear and distinct. Such specimens are unluckily 
 few and far between. 
 
 Owing to the fine work of the engraving, and the demand for this value in 
 service, the plate rapidly degenerated, and was retouched (or repaired) in the early 
 part of 1850, most likely by Clayton or some of his assistants. The period is 
 sufficiently proved by the specimen mentioned by the Vice-President, postmarked 
 24th February of that year. The best researches we have been able to make give 
 retouched stamps from the lower row only, and we have come to the conclusion that 
 such work as was then done on the plate did not extend to the upper row. 
 
 It is on this retouched plate that the various double-ruled lines of the external 
 frame, to explain the presence of which has caused so much embarrassment, occur. 
 
 We start with the fact, that to the twenty-four known types every known copy 
 of this value, vertical-lined plate, can be referred, either on the original or the 
 retouched plate. It follows that no other vertical-lined plate was printed from. 
 Whence then these lines ? 
 
 After the best consideration I can give, and bearing in mind the stress there 
 was for this value, and the wear on the current plate, I have come to the conclusion 
 that when the engraver set about his work, his first idea was to engrave on the plate 
 another row of stamps, above the existing top row; that he began to mark the 
 spaces out in which to engrave them ; but before he had completed the lines of these 
 compartments, it occurred to him that the press was not large enough to print from a 
 plate of the size which this addition would cause. It will be remembered that the 
 contract price of £36 included "press, dies, and plates," which is a tolerably sure 
 indication that the press was not of very large dimensions ; and it is inconceivable 
 the engraver should have begun to rule the lines if the copper plate itself was not 
 large enough to take, at least, one other row of stamps. It may also equally well be 
 supposed that some flaw or obstacle in the part he had begun to manipulate diverted 
 him from his purpose, and caused the attempt to put more stamps on the plate to be 
 given up ; or he may have despaired of producing work sufficiently good to pass side 
 by side with the old stamps without challenging objection. Another not impossible 
 suggestion is, that having commenced to rule the lines, the old plate was found so 
 defective that it was judged better to begin with a new plate altogether. 
 
 Amongst these various conjectures, each must take that which best coincides 
 with his ideas, unless he can form a more plausible theory for himself. But whatever 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 51 
 
 be the view adopted, I think the fact will be found to remain, that to an attempted 
 extension of the plate the first set of these lines is due. 
 
 As pointed out by the Vice-President in his remarks on Mr. W. T. Wilson's 
 criticism, this by no means explains the whole difficulty ; for the plate evidently was 
 put to press in different states of these lines ; that is, not only after some had been 
 added to the original plate, but after these additions had themselves been altered 
 or effaced, and others re-drawn in their stead. As pointed out, a line can be sunk on 
 a copper plate by way of addition to an engraving already cut thereon ; and by a 
 comparatively simple process a straight line can be filled up, and the plate printed 
 from, without showing traces of the effacement. Clayton and his assistants were 
 perfectly competent to do this ; and as the stamp vignettes appear to have remained 
 untouched, and the plate was in excellent condition for printing, as these impressions 
 show, I am driven to the conclusion that the engraver tried several successive 
 alterations of the lines before finally discarding the idea of making an addition of 
 stamps to this plate. 
 
 The continuous call for the plate in use, and the necessary short time it could 
 be spared to the engraver at any one occasion, perhaps accounts for its being put to 
 press in the intervals, a supposition which the rarity of these specimens with lines 
 in the intermediate states tends to favour. If these remarks are well founded, these 
 copies evidence a continued tinkering, producing successive alterations, which were 
 all obliterated when it was decided to have an entirely fresh plate. 
 
 From careful examination of these impressions, I think all these different sets 
 of lines were drawn on the one original plate. I am aware that on this point the 
 views of the Vice-President (ante p. 24) are not quite those I entertain ; but not- 
 withstanding the weighty reasons which led him to speak of " re-duplicated " plates, 
 deducing their existence from the various states of the ruling, I am more disposed to 
 believe that the engraver altered and varied, and finally suppressed, the added or 
 re-ruled lines, so that in the latest printings from Plate I. they entirely disappear, 
 rather than that there was a second plate, so absolutely identical with the first as to 
 have no point of difference whatever but these ruled lines. No process then known, 
 save the Perkins, could have produced this result. That process was not introduced 
 into the manufacture of these Colonial stamps, and I prefer to think that the marks 
 of the tinkering done to the plate were obliterated by the engraver, rather than to 
 adopt the former hypothesis. As the impressions of the latest use of the plate, not 
 showing these re-ruled lines, are " worn to the last stage," I should not expect to be 
 able to detect on them traces of the filling with which these added lines were 
 effaced ; and my conjecture therefore is that the intention of placing more stamps on 
 that plate having been definitely abandoned, the printers filled up and obliterated 
 these lines. The rarity of specimens with these ruled lines at the various stages 
 affords some proof that these states of the plate were very short-lived. 
 
 On present information, I therefore can admit but one plate only, put to press 
 in two states, so far as the impression of the stamps themselves is concerned, but 
 showing, by the ruled lines, various ineffectual attempts to introduce more stamps on 
 the plate. Having thus propounded my theory, I must, like the Vice-President, 
 leave to the future research of better-informed enquirers the final resolution of this 
 debateable and difficult question. 
 
 The duration of Plate L, from its preparation in the autumn of 1849 till the 
 retouch in February, 1850, was barely three months. Impressions from the next 
 plate, No. II., of this value were in use in April; so that the retouched Plate I. 
 could have been in use but six weeks or so. It does not appear probable, looking to 
 the worn-down state which the later impressions show, that the plate was put to 
 press after the new one was in service ; and although specimens of the Two Pence 
 from Plate I. are nearly as common as those from Plate II., and both much more so 
 than from any other plates, the comparative rarity of those after the retouch point 
 to a very limited use of the plate in that state. 
 
 Plate II. — This plate, with spandrels filled in with horizontal wavy lines, is 
 commonly known to collectors as that with the bale dated, and in this respect, while 
 it follows Plate I., differs from all its successors. 
 
52 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 There can be no question whatever that we have here a distinct plate. The 
 vignettes of the separate stamps are so entirely different in feeling and execution 
 from those on Plate I. as to strike even a superficial observer. 
 
 Arranging my remarks on the plan adopted by the Vice-President in his paper, 
 I consider — 
 
 I. Date. — The Government Gazette here supplies no information ; nor indeed is 
 any to be expected from this source. Proclamations or public notifications, it will 
 be seen, were not made except on the occasion of a change of type ; e.g. to the 
 laureated head, or of postal rates, &c. The notes taken from the correspondence 
 in the Colonial Secretary's office are equally devoid of anything that can assist us in 
 this investigation. We therefore were driven to rely on such data as an examination 
 of the files of letters and cancelled specimens of the stamps might yield. 
 
 As already explained by the Vice-President, we have been peculiarly favoured 
 in having the results of careful examination of all the leading collections of the day, 
 English and Foreign, collated for the purposes of our investigation, besides having 
 the continuous correspondence of the Sydney firm mentioned ante p. 29. 
 
 In the latter impressions from Plate II., the postmarks dated in April, 1850, 
 are the earliest we have been able to trace. They enable us to affirm, as a fact, that 
 Plate II. had been constructed and put to press by that period, and we infer as 
 probable that this is about the true date. More than this we are not in a position to 
 state. Here, as in so many other branches of our enquiries, the destruction of the 
 records of the Sydney Post-office has greatly impeded our labours, and prevented 
 many matters from being definitely and satisfactorily established. 
 
 II. Design and Engraving. — These stamps, though inferior in drawing and 
 execution to the preceding plate, are, taking all things into account, tolerably well 
 engraved. There is a vivacity and life in the vignettes which is wanting in their 
 more correct and finished predecessors. The roughness is not altogether unsuggestive 
 of the readiness and self-reliance of the people of Sydney. 
 
 Among the twenty-four varieties on the plate, one (No. 13) is distinguished by 
 the absence of the word "crevit" in the motto; No. 10 by the pick and shovel 
 being omitted; and the so-called fan ornament is peculiar in Nos. 1 and 16 — in the 
 one case anticipating that ornament as used on Plate III., but shaded on the inside ; 
 in the other the line of the circle is carried through the fan, and in No. 20 the fan 
 has only six segments. These constitute the prominent varieties on this plate. 
 
 As remarked, I consider this an entirely fresh plate, not formed by any process 
 of transfer or other duplication from Plate I. 
 
 But I am disposed to think that, to facilitate his task, and maintain identity of 
 the sizes of the stamps, when the engraver of this plate sat about his work, he took 
 off a transfer of the dividing lines and of the external edges of the vignettes from 
 Plate I., and applied it to the surface of the new plate, thus drawing the new 
 vignettes in precisely the same places as those of Plate I., and showing the lines in 
 the same positions. Nothing in common within the vignettes can be traced between 
 Plates I. and II. ; while, as stated in detail ante p. 20, the positions and lines, even 
 to irregularities, are absolutely identical. I will not here repeat the facts and 
 reasoning of the Vice-President's paper, but content myself with a statement of 
 the conclusion. 
 
 In this limited sense a transfer from Plate I. found its way on Plate II. ; but I 
 am not prepared to admit, because I do not believe in, any further use having been 
 made of Plate I. in the preparation of that we are now discussing ; and it is a use 
 of language therefore likely to lead to misconception to speak of Plate II. as being 
 transferred or taken from Plate I. 
 
 The engraver's name is not known. The style and touch are so similar to those 
 of the engraver who, in August, 1850, retouched the plate of the One Penny, that 
 we can hardly err in attributing both to the same individual, who not unlikely was 
 one of Clayton's assistants. 
 
 IIL Paper. — This plate is found (though rarely) printed on the soft yellowish 
 paper in which the issue of 1st January, 1850, appeared. This we consider indicates 
 the earliest impressions, the first dated copies — viz., those of April, 1850 — being on 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 53 
 
 this paper. To this succeeded a hluish wove paper of a hard, close texture ; and the 
 latest impressions are on a dull, very close, grey paper, indicating from their state 
 that the plate was nearly worn out. 
 
 I have a note of having seen one specimen on blue laid paper ; but I cannot 
 recall another. It is evidently exceedingly rare, as the catalogues do not mention it. 
 My note unfortunately does not enable me to trace the possessor. 
 
 IV. Printing, Colour, fyc. — The printing was done at the Sydney Post-office for 
 this and for all the other values, the plates being in charge of an official called the 
 " Inspector of Stamps," and being given out by him to the printers for daily use in 
 the press-room. We have been informed that in those cases where, from the needs 
 of the service, the plate could not be spared for long, the engraver attended at the 
 office to do any slight work that was wanted on the plates. This course would have 
 an especial application to the views I have expressed about the ruled lines tried on 
 Plate I. of the Two Pence, if adopted when the experiments with that plate were 
 on hand. 
 
 The normal colour of the Two Pence was blue of some sort. It will not escape 
 observation that the One Penny was in red, the Colonial Post-office thus following 
 the Mother Country in adopting these as standard colours for the Penny and Two 
 Penny values. 
 
 The gum was, as in the case of the lower value, thick and dark. The plates 
 bore no engraver's name, legend, or plate number. This remark applies to all the 
 values and plates of the Sydney views. 
 
 V. Duration of Plate in Service. — No stamps of the colony were ever put 
 out of currency ; consequently the lateness of a date in the postmark is no indication 
 that the plate was in use at any specific time. "We are driven therefore to look to 
 the paper. The grey or dirty white paper, employed in the later period of this plate, 
 is first found by us in use in the consecutive series already mentioned (September, 
 1850), indicating that this plate was being printed from about that period. 
 Examples of this plate are, in my experience, the most commonly met with of all 
 varieties of the Two Pence. They are found in every stage, from the beautifully 
 clear impressions of early days to the worn, deteriorated copies used in the autumn 
 of 1851. The date, 24th July, 1851, given in the Gazette for the issue of the 
 succeeding type of the Two Pence (that with the laureated head of the Queen), 
 shows that the printing of the new type began in that month, after which date it is 
 not likely that any plates of the Two Pence (views) were put to press. 
 
 But though this plate was so freely printed, the absence of specimens (other 
 than of the latest) on the ribbed or laid papers, which we know were used in the 
 autumn of 1850, points strongly to a cessation of its use in the latter part of that 
 year. 
 
 We consequently should assign a primary currency from March till about 
 September, 1850, or a period of six months, during which this plate seems to have 
 been the only one of this value available for use ; though, looking at the numerous 
 copies found in the later and worn state of the die, it is not unlikely that recourse 
 may have been had to the plate subsequently. All this, however, is pure conjecture. 
 
 It remains to be added that we have not found any evidence that this plate 
 was ever retouched or altered ; consequently it could hardly have been one of the 
 plates of this value directed to be repaired in April, 1851. 
 
 Plate III. — This plate and its sub-variety are usually known as " Bale without 
 date," and may also be distinguished by the absence of the shading in the fan and 
 of the dots on the corner stars. Pursuing a like course with this plate, I consider — 
 
 I. Date. — The same absence of information that we had to regret in Plate II. 
 attends us here. The earliest date on a postmarked copy we have been able to 
 register is on Mr. Castle's, 23rd October, 1850, which is printed on the hard grey 
 paper. 
 
 II. Design and Engraving. — This plate was also, in my opinion, engraved on 
 an entirely distinct plate of copper ; but the design was placed thereon by a transfer 
 taken from Plate II. For the reasons set forth on page 21, I do not think this a 
 
54 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 retouched or repaired state of Plate II. This point, many years ago, formed the 
 subject of considerable correspondence between Mr. Pemberton and myself, without 
 any satisfactory result to either of us, until we met and collated against our 
 collections a large number of the stamps kindly lent by M. Hanciau. A prolonged 
 examination then led us to the conclusion above stated, on the faith of which Mr. 
 Pemberton adhered to Plate III. of his arrangement. It was not without satisfaction 
 I found the Vice-President had, after carefully working at this plate, come to the 
 same decision. 
 
 In the engraving one stamp (No. 20) has the fan with six, in lieu of the 
 seven segments, which the other twenty-three varieties show; another (No. 10) has 
 the bale with double lines of the next plate; while in No. 3 the hill is left 
 unshaded. These are the principal departures from the general type on this plate. 
 
 The style of engraving is not unlike Clayton's handiwork, but may be from 
 one of his assistants, as the master's hand is always more or less imitated, consciously 
 or not, by those in his atelier. It is not so heavy as that of Plate II. 
 
 III. Paper. — This plate is found printed on a hard grey paper, without water- 
 mark, the pulp of which appears to have been insufficiently cleansed from the bleachers 
 used by the paper maker; for the bulk of the impressions show tendency to 
 oxidisation. Indeed, I have seen some where the rust has absolutely eaten through 
 the stamp. 
 
 The use of this paper is confirmatory of the date of September, 1850 ; and that 
 this plate is found only, so far as I am aware, on this kind of paper, is a factor in 
 helping to decide not only the date, but duration of plato in service. I concur 
 generally with the remarks of the Vice-President on the paper (ante p. 30), which 
 may be taken to embody the outcome of our joint researches and conclusions. The 
 only point in which I do not quite follow him is in doubting whether any paper on 
 which stamps of this series were printed was affected in colour by the adhesive 
 matter employed. The gum was a pure gum, if coarse and discoloured; and I 
 cannot trace any chemical agency affecting colour or paper to its use. 
 
 As the stamps were printed on wet paper, if, after inking, the surface of the 
 plate was not wiped off clean, a smudge or run, often colouring the whole face 
 of the paper, was produced in the press. A close observation can always pronounce 
 if this be the cause of an apparent variety in the colour of the paper, or if a 
 coloured or tinted paper was originally put under the plate ; for in the former case 
 the colouring is surface only, and frequently uneven or patchy; in the latter the 
 paper is evenly coloured through its whole substance. 
 
 By analogy one would expect to find Plate III. on the hard bluish paper, used 
 about this same period for printing the One Penny retouched plate. It does not 
 appear to be recorded in any of the catalogues or lists, nor have we seen any 
 specimen that warrants us in inserting it here. Perhaps, now attention is drawn to 
 the point, an example may be discovered. 
 
 IV. Printing, Colour, fyc. — There is nothing special under these heads to be 
 stated of this plate, except that, besides the grey shades of blue usually found, and 
 the full deep blue, a distinct, well-marked ultramarine is occasionally, though rarely, 
 to be met with. 
 
 V. Duration of Plate in Service. — For reasons sufficiently appearing when the 
 plate next in succession is treated of, I am led to believe this plate was in currency 
 until the early part of April, 1851, when, in common with its successor, it was 
 directed to be repaired. 
 
 Plate IV. — This plate, almost identical with Plate III., is generally known to 
 collectors by the cording on the bale being double-lined, and there being a circle 
 inserted inside the stars in the angles. I say this plate, because, as will presently 
 appear, I think it was a distinct plate, and not a second state or retouch of 
 Plate III. Considering then — 
 
 I. Date. — The earliest example we found was one belonging to Mr. Rodd, very 
 distinctly postmarked 20th January, 1851, indicating that this plate was in service 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 55 
 
 early in that year. Whether its use continued concurrently with other plates will be 
 discussed hereafter. 
 
 II. Design and Engraving. — This plate presents a closer similarity to Plate III. 
 than exists between any other two plates of this issue. One may say they are alike, 
 but that in this the bale is double-lined, and in the stars in the angles ,a circle is 
 placed. There are a few other minutice, indescribable, but showing slight differences. 
 From it general style we can safely infer this plate was by the same hand as 
 Plate III. 
 
 The fan with six segments makes its appearance on No. 20 ; No. 22 is without 
 clouds ; and No. 4 has the hill unshaded. 
 
 The transfer thus made was very exact, and the engraver faithful in cutting all 
 the lines of his pattern, without pausing to correct errors or supply omissions. 
 
 "Was it a distinct plate, or a retouch on Plate III. 1 On this Mr. Pemberton 
 expressed no opinion, as in his day the variations from what we call Plate III. were 
 taken to be only varieties on that plate. The Vice-President and MM. Caillebotte 
 think it a retouch. Mr. Wilson is of opinion it was a separate plate, taken, of 
 course, by transfer. To this latter view, and with great deference to the authorities 
 contra, I incline to adhere, though I think the point not one of very great importance. 
 
 It is obvious that if this were a retouch of Plate III., some other plate besides 
 that must have been in existence on April 2nd, 1851, when the Governor ordered 
 the plates (plural) of the Two Pence to be repaired. Could this other plate have 
 been Plate II. 1 It could not have been the variety " Pearl in fan," the last plate, 
 which was not (there is every reason to believe) engraved till later. 
 
 We therefore have Plate II., the only other that could possibly answer the 
 description, unless Plate IV. were a separate plate. I do not attach much (if any) 
 weight to the argument derived from the stamps showing no difference after the 
 repairs. If this reason carries any conclusion, it shows Plate II. could not be the 
 " other ; " for no one has ever pretended to find a trace of retouch on that plate. 
 Clearly the direct inference from the order of 2nd April, 1851, is, that there 
 were then two plates in use, wanting repair. To no two could this apply with 
 anything like propriety if Plate IV. had not been made as a separate plate. The 
 idea of a retouched Plate III. is negatived by the word " Plates " being in the 
 plural. 
 
 But I am inclined to admit that this reasoning, however valid, is based on the 
 word in the order being "Plates" in the plural. If singular, all the above is 
 unsupported, and in my judgment this is too slender a foundation on which to 
 present a conclusion differing from MM. Caillebotte and the Vice-President. 
 
 We must enquire a little closer ; and going to the real source of knowledge, a 
 critical examination of the stamps themselves, the earliest specimens we know of 
 what I have ventured to call Plate IV. show great clearness and fineness in the lines 
 of the engraver's burin. If the plate had been touched up, the engraver could cut 
 a fresh clean edge ; but this mud widen the line, and the general effect would be to 
 show a coarser engraving after the operation. Now this is emphatically not the case 
 with the so-called retouch of Plate III. As any one who carefully examines it, in 
 contrast with its so-called retouch, can judge for himself, I shall not further labour 
 this point. 
 
 Are there then " traces " of the old engraving of Plate III. to be detected on 
 this supposed retouch 1 I frankly own I can see nothing of so clear or distinct a 
 nature as to warrant the same conclusion that one draws without hesitation from the 
 retouched state of the One Penny. Where, I may ask, is anything analogous to the 
 lines of the houses in the first state, faintly showing through the houses, as altered 
 in the second edition of the plate 1 In the absence of such clearly-defined marks, it 
 would be unsafe to found on a few obscure patches or marks, which might be due to 
 imperfect "cleaning-off " of the plate in the press, or some other accidental cause. 
 If the " imperceptible sense " is of any use, it indicates to me a clear and freshly- 
 engraved transfer. We will next examine — 
 
 III. Paper. — Here we get the hard grey paper, introduced in September, 1850 ; 
 the hard bluish ; and lastly, the laid or ribbed, which is the last on which this value 
 
56 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 appeared. This " wealth " of papers points not only to a lengthened continuance of 
 the plate, but also to a similar period with the plate next described. 
 
 IV. Printing, Colour, Sfc. — The colours adopted show an admixture of pink or 
 lake with the blue pigments, in what we deem the later printed specimens. 
 Starting at first in a true shade of blue, the final printing was in a purplish tint, 
 which in full light is of a remarkable tone, almost violet, reminding one of certain 
 rare examples of the 1 real fuerte, Philippines (1854-55). Specimens of this shade 
 of the Two Pence are extremely scarce. 
 
 V. Duration of Plate in Service. — If, as is conjectured, this was one of the 
 plates referred to in the order to repair of 2nd April, 1851, we get a period of not 
 more than three months for its currency before it wanted repair. This want was 
 common to it and another plate, that which I venture to think was Plate III., its 
 predecessor. What were the repairs required, and whether occasioned by wear and 
 tear of current use, or by some accident, the minute does not tell us. It will be 
 remarked that this minute is exceptional, none referring to the various new plates 
 being found. One thing seems certain, no plate that would have been in use at this 
 time shows traces of any retouch done to the stamps after 2nd April, 1851, and 
 therefore I am disposed to think that such repairs as were directed did not, if 
 effected, extend to any work involving an alteration on the plates themselves. 
 Whether what I call Plate IV. be a transfer or a retouched state of Plate III. is 
 immaterial to the question, as, whichever be the right view, this plate, new or 
 retouched, was in existence in January, 1851; nor is any later "state" of either 
 plate alleged. The inference is irresistible therefore, either that the order remained 
 unexecuted, or that its performance did not affect that part of the plate which printed 
 the stamps. 
 
 Plate V. — This, the well-known fan with pearl, is and has always been deemed 
 the last type of the Two Pence (Sydney views). Its history is free from many of 
 the difficulties that surround the others. Conforming to the plan hitherto adopted, 
 I will take — 
 
 I. Date. — When engraved is not absolutely known. It certainly was after 
 2nd April, 1851. The first specimen we have seen with a date was 10th May, 1851, 
 a beautifully clear and early example from the plate. 
 
 II. Design and Engraving. — -A cursory inspection shows this plate is constructed 
 from a transfer from Plate III., following, as it does, that plate with extreme 
 closeness, down to the very varieties of type in the engraving. The salient 
 difference, which at once distinguishes it from all others, is the small circle or pearl 
 in the centre of the fan of the inner circular border bearing the legend. The 
 engraver appears, after he inserted this pearl, to have drawn the straight lines 
 dividing the segments, so as to appear to radiate from it. The style is clean, the 
 lines clear and distinct, and the whole effect light, indicating a new plate, and not 
 one repaired or retouched. The remarks made on Plate IV. being a separate 
 transfer from, and not a retouch of, Plate III., apply to this plate even more forcibly. 
 In forming a judgment, I do not attach any weight to the process of reduplication 
 being known in the colony, because, as we have seen, that which was known was a 
 multiplication of lithographs by a process that any lithographer was equal to. To 
 produce a facsimile from an engraved plate on a fresh sheet of copper is not 
 difficult. As good an impression as can be obtained is taken on thin transparent 
 paper. It is then stretched on the new plate, previously waxed or varnished to 
 receive it. Nothing more is required than to cut the lines exactly as they appear. 
 Manifestly a duplicate of the mother plate is thereby obtained. If the workman be 
 careful, his very fidelity reproduces the old design — errors, varieties, and peculiarities, 
 down to the least ink-mark. And this is what happened in these transfers. Plate 
 III., no doubt substantially a transfer from Plate II., itself became, in turn, the 
 parent plate of Nos. IV. and V. 
 
 The original theory of the Vice-President, that Plate V. is a retouched state of 
 Plate III., is, I am glad to see, now modified. We both agree that this plate 
 (No. V.) is a separate transfer. In this not merely Mr. Pemberton, but Dr. Legrand 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 57 
 
 coincide; and whatever question may still be deemed open on what I designate 
 Plate IV., I think we may now take the distinct existence of Plate V. as an 
 ascertained fact. 
 
 I cannot with any degree of certainty affirm that there is any difference in style 
 between Plate III. and its two transfers ; indeed, all three seem to indicate one 
 engraver's hand. 
 
 On this plate is also found the variety fan with six segments (No. 20) ; and 
 that with the labourer's pick and shovel wanting (No. 17); those catalogued with 
 hill and ground unshaded, with hill only unshaded, and with no clouds, do not 
 exist. 
 
 III. Paper. — Plate V. is found on the hard grey paper already described, on 
 the hard bluish, and on the vertically laid paper, on which, as we take it, the last 
 printings of this Two Pence took place. 
 
 IV. Printing, Colour, fyc. — A dull grey blue, varying in intensity, is the only 
 colour known to me. The printing presents no feature for remark. 
 
 V. Duration of Plate. — We learn that the new type of the Two Pence, with 
 laureated head of the Queen, was issued at the end of July, 1851 ; so that this 
 plate had an existence, for printing purposes, of (say) three months ; i.e. May, June, 
 and July, about an average period for a plate of this value. 
 
 Proofs and Essays op the Twopence. 
 
 I. Proofs. — No proofs of this value are known, nor can I trace any reference to 
 such in any of the philatelic publications I have consulted, and I believe my search 
 has been fairly exhaustive. 
 
 II. Essays. — In my collection was an essay of this value, which Mr. Pemberton 
 obtained directly from the colony. It generally resembled the ordinary type, and 
 bore a close affinity in design to Plate II., having horizontal-lined spandrels, dated 
 bale, and other like characteristics. It differed in being better and more carefully 
 drawn and engraved ; but was not so fine or elaborate as Plate I. The lower angles, 
 instead of ornaments, respectively bore the letters (Roman capitals) " e," " w." The 
 work was, in Mr. Pemberton's opinion, from a different hand to any of the stamps, 
 and in this opinion I agree. The impression was struck in bright blue on thick card. 
 
 On pages 10, 11, ante, the names of Wells and Wall are given as engravers 
 connected with this issue. One enquires if the letters " e. w." were the initials of 
 either man, who thus identified his work ? But beyond asking the question I must 
 stop, and leave the answer, if it ever be answered, to some one better informed on 
 the subject. 
 
 It is many years since I saw the collection of Count Primoli ; but the essay of 
 this value which he possessed was similar to the above, unless my recollection is 
 at fault. 
 
 I am not acquainted with any other essays of this value, nor did I ever know 
 of more than my own and Count Primoli's specimens. Prom The New South Wales 
 Stamp Collector's Magazine, already mentioned, it inferentially appears that no essays 
 of the Two Pence are in the possession of the New South Wales Postal Department. 
 
 The Three Pence. 
 
 This value, of which but one plate was engraved, presents much less debateable 
 ground for controversy. 
 
 I. Date. — 1st January, 1850. 
 
 II. Design and Engraving. — The former calls for no special remarks. The 
 view enunciated by the Vice-President (ante p. 31), that the so-called varieties 
 without clouds proceed from defective plate or printing, is one which I fully share. 
 No distinction of plates, based on whether the pointed ovals of the borders cut each 
 other more or less, can be made. These should be regarded as mere varieties on the 
 plate. In this matter the views of Mr. Pemberton are entirely erroneous. 
 
58 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 The plate itself was modelled on that of the One Penny, which in formation it 
 exactly followed, containing twenty-five stamps, in five rows of five each. The 
 engraver was Robert Clayton, and, as in the original plate of the One Penny, there 
 are no varieties to record. 
 
 III. Paper. — This stamp is first found on the yellow-toned paper of the first 
 One Penny and Two Pence, and afterwards on the hard bluish and the hard grey, as 
 also on ribbed or laid papers, both white and blue. As the plate was never changed 
 till the Three Pence (laureated head) was issued, in December, 1852, this value 
 would naturally be printed on whatever paper was in use when it was put to press. 
 
 IV. Printing, Colour, fyc. — Although there was not great demand for this 
 value, yet the printing strikes one as often careless and poorly done, partly due 
 perhaps to the washy and indecisive tints of green employed, though sometimes a 
 fairly good clear colour was made. The variations are great — from a pale yellow- 
 green, almost illegible, through a full sap-green to a bright emerald. Sometimes the 
 paper is so yellow it is impossible to distinguish the design, and the heavy defacing- 
 marks in use practically spoil a large proportion of used specimens in collectors' eyes. 
 Unused examples, I need hardly remark, occur but seldom. 
 
 Most of the early catalogues chronicled this value as printed both in pink or 
 flesh colour and in broivn, as well as green. The former was originally inserted by 
 Mount Brown, on the authority of information from the colony, which he subsequently 
 discovered to be erroneous, and he therefore omitted to enumerate it in his later 
 editions. No information of recent years refers to it, and we may consider that its 
 existence as a stamp is entirely mythical. No proof has ever been heard of or seen 
 in this colour, so that we may equally reject it as such. Red was from the first 
 appropriated to the lowest value, so that, a priori, a trial in pink colour for higher 
 denominations would be most unlikely. 
 
 The so-called brown-, several specimens of which have been in my possession at 
 various times, was a green stamp when printed, and changed by atmospheric or other 
 agency to a brown colour, as careful scrutiny of the examples never fails to reveal. 
 
 I therefore expunge both the flesh and brown from the list of stamps, nor can I 
 admit either to the category of proofs. 
 
 V. Duration of Plate in Service. — This plate was never retouched, and 
 continued in use, when required, till superseded by its successor, of the new type, 
 in December, 1852. 
 
 Proofs and Essays of the Three Pence. 
 
 I. Proofs. — A proof of this plate was taken in dark myrtle-green on stout 
 yellowish card. Copies were in several English and foreign collections before 1865, 
 and several were obtained by Sir Daniel Cooper on his visit to the colony in 1868-9, 
 and exhibited en bloc before the Society on the 29 th May in the latter year. 
 
 Proofs were also struck in black on similar card ; but these are of exceptional 
 rarity. 
 
 II. Essays. — In the Post-office at Sydney the following essay is described : 
 "View of Sydney, centre same as that described in No. 1 [the essay of the One 
 Penny, ante p. 49], except the 'ria' can be plainly read, and bale is inscribed 
 'ms.' In the top corners Maltese crosses, with radiating stars, and the word 
 ' Postage ' inscribed between them ; whilst underneath the circle, from side to side, 
 is the value ' three pence ' in blue letters on white ground. Colour, deep indigo, 
 except centre and inscribed circle, which is of a rich carmine-vermilion. Printed on 
 thicker paper than No. 1, with old gum showing where the specimen has not attached 
 to the sheet." 
 
 It is evident some one has made this so-called essay by a scissors and paste 
 operation, taking a type of the Two Pence, probably Plate II., and applying the 
 central part of the One Penny, most likely from the retouched plate. 
 
 This is all the information I possess as to essays of this value, and I will now 
 conclude what I have to say by a few remarks, applicable to the issue generally. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 59 
 
 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 I propose here to notice a few stray facts, and to give some miscellaneous details 
 not stated previously, and which hardly ranged themselves conveniently under the 
 foregoing heads. 
 
 Governors of New South Wales. — Those whose names may be useful to 
 remember as connected with our subject are the first Governor — 
 
 Capt. Arthur Phillip, r.n., from 26th January, 1788, to 10th December, 1792. 
 
 Sir George Gipps, from 24th February, 1838, to 11th July, 1846. 
 
 Sir Charles A. Fitz-Roy, from 3rd August, 1846, to 17th January, 1855. 
 
 Engraving on Wood of the First Trials. — This history, as related by Mr. 
 Calvert, is, I think, new to most people. It certainly is to me. The catastrophe to 
 the Sydney Post-office probably involved all remains of these trials in the ruin it 
 created. If more light can be cast on the matter, it will probably be through some 
 of the old Post-office employes, or other interested person in the colony, who may see 
 this paper and communicate to the Society. On this, and indeed any point con- 
 nected with our subject, the Society will gladly receive any communications. That 
 printer's metal — a compound of lead and tin, hardened by the admixture of a little 
 antimony — was ever engraved on for one of these plates I do not believe. A plate of 
 printer's metal could not receive work of such fineness as the coarsest Sydney view. 
 
 The size and shape of the One Penny and Three Pence plates show they could 
 be printed twice on one side of a page of ordinary foolscap paper laid upright under 
 the press. The plate of the Two Pence is too long to be so printed, so the sheet of 
 paper was necessarily turned and printed on longways ; i.e. with the lines of the 
 vergeures vertical. This affords some confirmation that the plates of the Two Pence 
 differed in size and shape from those of the other values, the latter always showing 
 the lines horizontal, while in the Two Pence they are vertical. I have never met 
 with the One Penny lines vertical, nor can I give a reference to the Two Pence, 
 supposed to be on the horizontally laid paper (ante p. 30), and, for the reason given, 
 its existence seems to me more than dubious. 
 
 The comparative service of the plates themselves is instructive. One, and but 
 one, the Three Pence, lasted till December, 1852, two years and eleven months, 
 without retouch. Another, the One Penny, lasted just two years, having been once 
 retouched in the interval. While of the third value, I make five plates, one of 
 which was retouched, and the Vice-President four, with two retouched, extending 
 over a period of nineteen or twenty months, thus averaging a little over three 
 months' use for each of the six. Clearly the wear and tear of these was much 
 greater than of the other plates ; but when one remembers that Two Pence was the 
 single home rate of postage, and that the whole continent, except South and West 
 Australia, made use of these stamps, the large call for this value is not surprising. 
 
 Were any plates of this value in use concurrently 1 One guide in this is the 
 paper; but I do not feel on very sure ground with this alone to judge by, because a 
 glance at the Reference List and comparison of dates tells us that no plate, or 
 ** state," is distinguished by a special paper. Our conclusions therefore can but be 
 approximate. They become stronger, however, when, joined to identity in paper, 
 similarity in colour is found. It seems not unlikely, applying these tests, that 
 Plates III. and IV. were printed from, in dull blue, on the hard grey paper, about 
 the same time. 
 
 The tints are strikingly alike, and every collector knows how in any long series 
 the dominant colour varies in such a manner as to enable a practised eye to give the 
 date of any shade with great accuracy. For my purpose, all that need be said is, 
 this concurrent use of- plates vas possible and seems probable. 
 
 The reconstruction of the entire plates, nine in all, has been a necessary 
 preliminary to our work for the Society. Few can speak with better reason of the 
 difficulties this entailed than I ; for while I assisted to a small extent, the bulk of 
 the labour fell to the ViceJ?resident. He has, in no overstrained terms, described 
 our prolonged investigations, which often seemed near a fruitful result, almost as 
 often to show that we must begin de novo before we could solve even the limited 
 problem of the building up of one entire plate. 
 
60 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Whatever we may have failed to settle, I think this much has been accom- 
 plished, that the plates are now correctly and fully made up, with the varieties truly 
 allocated to their proper positions ; and that succeeding investigators will commence 
 with firm ground to tread upon thus far. 
 
 How greatly their labours will be thus facilitated none but those who have 
 attempted the solution of these questions from such materials as were available 
 when we commenced can form any adequate conception, and the London Philatelic 
 Society may, I think, be content that, under its auspices, all the chief difficulties 
 which have attended these stamps are now nearly, if not entirely, resolved. 
 
 Issue I. — Views of Sydney. 
 
 REFERENCE LIST. 
 
 One Penny. Plate I. Finely engraved. Illustration Plate A. January 1st, 1850 — 
 
 (a) On soft yellowish paper. Red, brownish-red, lake-red, pale vermilion-red; 
 
 shades of each. 
 
 (b) On bluish paper. Pale red ; shades. 
 
 (c) On closely-ribbed paper, white or bluish. Red. 
 
 Plate I., retouched. Coarsely engraved. Illustration Plate A. August, 1850 1 — 
 
 (a) On hard white or slightly yellowish paper. Red, brownish-red ; shades. 
 
 (b) On hard bluish paper, varying in substance. Red, brownish-red, lake, brownish- 
 
 lake ; shades. 
 
 (c) On white or yellowish widely-ribbed paper. Same shades. 
 
 (d) On same paper, but slightly blued. Same shades. 
 
 (e) On blue laid paper. Carmine. 
 Prominent variety. No. 15. Without clouds. 
 
 Two Pence. Plate I. Vertical-lined spandrels. Illustration Plate B. January 1st, 1850 — 
 (a) On soft yellowish paper. Sometimes tinged with blue. Pearl-grey, dull blue, 
 indigo-blue ; pale blue ; shades. 
 Prominent variety. No. 19. Lines of spandrels, wavy on oblique. 
 
 Plate I., retouched. Illustration Plate B. February, 1850 — 
 
 On similar paper. Dull blue, indigo-blue, pale blue ; shades. 
 
 Plate II. Bale dated. Illustration Plate 0. April, 1850 — 
 
 (a) On soft yellowish paper. Ultramarine, blue (pale to dark), dark and indigo- 
 
 blue ; shades. 
 
 (b) On hard bluish paper. Blue, dull blue ; shades. 
 
 (c) On hard grey or dirty white paper. Dull blue. (All impressions on this paper 
 
 are extremely worn.) 
 Prominent varieties. No. 13. " crevit " wanting. No. 20. Fan with six segments. 
 
 Plate III. Bale undated. Illustration Plate 0. September, 1850 — 
 
 (a) On hard grey paper. Grey, greyish-blue, dark blue (with a tendency to 
 oxidisation). 
 Prominent varieties. No. 3. Hill unshaded. No. 20. Fan with six segments. 
 
 Plate III., first retouch. Illustration Plate D. (Mr. Philbrick's Plate IV.) January or 
 February, 1851 — 
 
 (a) On hard bluish paper. Full blue, dark blue shades, violet-blue (scarce shade). 
 
 (b) On hard grey paper. Dull blue. 
 
 (c) On paper ribbed or laid vertically. Same shades. 
 
 Prominent varieties. No. 4. Hill unshaded. No. 20. Fan with six segments. No. 22. 
 Without clouds. 
 
 Plate III., second retouch. Fan with pearl. Illustration Plate D. (Mr. PhilbricJc's Plate 
 V.) May (?), 1850— . 
 
 (a) On hard grey paper. Dull grey-blue ; slight shades. 
 
 (b) On vertically-laid paper. Same shades. 
 Prominent variety. No. 20. Fan with six segments. 
 
 Three Pence. Illustration Plate E. January 1st, 1850 — 
 
 (a) On soft yellowish paper. Yellow-green shades. 
 
 (b) On hard bluish paper. Yellow-green, green, emerald-green ; shades. 
 
 (c) On paper laid horizontally. Yellow-green, emerald-green ; shades. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 61 
 
 Issue II. 
 
 THE LAUREATED HEAD OF QUEEN VICTORIA. 
 
 This well-known series was engraved, by hand, on copper or steel plates, in line 
 engraving, as its predecessor. There is but little for me to add to what has been 
 already stated in the paper of the Vice-President. I will, however, try to elucidate 
 a few points he has left. 
 
 The One Penny. 
 
 I. Date of Issue. — A post-office notice gives this as 1st January, 1852. 
 
 II. Design and Engraving. — This plate was engraved on steel by Carruthers, 
 on the model of the first plate of the Two Pence, which Carmichael had engraved 
 in July, 1851. Only one plate for this value was engraved; nor was it retouched. 
 On this my statement, founded on a misreading of a letter from my predecessor, is 
 erroneous. The Vice-President's information, that Carmichael engraved this plate, is 
 equally incorrect. I may state that both Sir Daniel Cooper and Mr. Pemberton give 
 Carruthers as the engraver. How the mistake of supposing it due to Carmichael 
 arose is perhaps unnecessary to enquire. The official approval of the Governor of 
 the colony, giving course to the plate, is stated to have been in the Colonial 
 Secretary's office 24th January, 1852, signed no doubt some few days before. The 
 engraver put neither his name nor any inscription on the margin of the plate. 
 
 There are five horizontal rows of ten stamps in each on the plate. The 
 arrangement of the whole fifty is correctly given ante page 34 and in the photograph. 
 
 On the prominent deviations from the standard type, it is to be remarked there 
 are distinct traces of the top and bottom of the " s " in the variety " wale " (No. 9) 
 the engraver forgot to complete the letter, and so left the plate unfinished. 
 
 III. Paper. — The blue laid paper on which this stamp was printed is very 
 peculiar, having extremely broad lines. I agree in thinking its use temporary, and 
 that it marked nothing except that this kind of paper was available at the moment 
 of printing. 
 
 I have once or twice seen copies in carmine-red on yellow toned paper; 
 un watermarked. 
 
 The watermark is a double-lined figure of value, J. 
 
 IV. Printing, Colour, fyc, — The early copies are of carmine or lake (shades 
 of red), varying much in clearness and purity. No decided change took place till 
 the introduction of the watermarked paper, in February, 1854, when an orange-red 
 (the minium of the Continental catalogues) was adopted. Still, there are to be seen, 
 though rarely, copies in orange- vermilion on the white wove paper ; but this shade I 
 never saw on laid paper. 
 
 V. No trials, proofs, or essays are known or recorded. 
 
 The Two Pence. 
 I. Date of Issue. — 1st August, 1851. 
 
 II. Design and Engraving. — The plate contained fifty stamps, arranged in five 
 rows of ten each. It was engraved on steel by John Carmichael, of Sydney, who 
 was both deaf and dumb. He was a skilful engraver, and his work usually very 
 correct, and on this plate there is no departure from the standard which can be called 
 a prominent variety. The differences are only those resulting from the separate 
 hand engraving of each stamp. On the lower right margin the signature w J. Car- 
 michael, Kent Stri North, Sydney," is placed in italics. It is very singular Major 
 Evans omits all mention of this signature on the sheet approved by Sir Charles 
 Fitz-Roy on 17th July, 1851. 
 
 III. Printing, Colour, fyc. — Specimens from this plate are often found with a 
 mottled or spotty appearance. This is hardly from wear, as if so the same spottiness 
 would always recur in the same stamps. Comparison shows that neither happens. 
 Sometimes the same stamp is clearly printed, sometimes it is mottled; and the 
 
62 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 mottling varies much in size and pattern of the spots. The more natural conclusion 
 is, this defect arises from bad " cleaning off " the surface of the plate in printing. 
 The printer received an allowance of 2s. 6d. per 1000 for printing, finding his own 
 colours, cloths, gum, &c, Government finding paper. 
 
 IV. Remarks on the paper are reserved till Plate III. is considered. 
 
 V. Proofs and Essays. — None are known. 
 
 Plate IT. — A second plate was engraved, also on steel, and I am disposed to 
 agree with the Vice-President and MM. Caillebotte in thinking it was obtained by a 
 direct transfer from Plate I. No precise date for this plate can be assigned. It is 
 not a retouch, as will presently appear by irrefragable evidence. There are no 
 prominent varieties on this transferred, any more than there are on the original plate. 
 
 This plate was the one afterwards used to print on the watermarked paper, 
 besides which the various papers on which Plate I. was printed are found for Plate II. 
 
 Plate III. I. Date. — As stated above, a new plate was engraved by Jervis. 
 This is Plate III. The two steel plates, already mentioned, had been engraved and 
 were in use, and had got into a condition requiring repair in August, 1853. On the 
 8th of August, as appears by the Colonial Secretary's letter-book, he wrote to the 
 Inspector of Stamps, stating the Governor-General approved of " employing Mr. H. 
 C. Jervis to engrave a new copper Two Penny plate, as nearly as possible similar 
 to the steel plates now in use, at an expense of £40;" and also to "repair those 
 steel plates" for £40. This is conclusive, both as. to the date of Jervis' plate and 
 the fact that two steel plates were then in existence. 
 
 The Vice-President is wrong in supposing his Plate III. was engraved on copper. 
 Nor are his conclusions ante page 37 correct. He was probably led into error by an 
 inaccurate extract from the document of 8th August, 1853, which he misquotes as 
 mentioning an order to repair " the steel plate," instead of plates, and by my error, 
 quoted on page 37, that Jervis' plate was used to print on the watermarked paper. 
 He is quite right in saying Jervis engraved the plate he produced on copper. He is 
 in error in supposing the order appeared in The Sydney Government Gazette. As 
 already explained, such orders are not gazetted. The specimen, dated December, 
 1852, referred to in The Stamp Collector's Magazine (1867), p. 33, could not be 
 from Jervis' plate ordered in the following August. 
 
 This plate of Jervis' shows his style very distinctly. The stamps are divided 
 off into separated, lined spaces, as in the first issue. The touch is far coarser and 
 rougher than in Carmichael's work. In structure the plate was the same as its 
 predecessors, containing fifty stamps, similarly disposed. It was signed in the 
 margin " H. C. Jervis, Pitt Street North, Sydney." In passing, I may remark that 
 the repairs to Plates I. and II. did not involve retouching, as a comparison of the 
 impressions will prove. In this Plate III. the leading distinction is, that there are 
 six-rayed stars in the angles. In one variety the spiral lines of the border impinge 
 on the word "wales ;" in No. 23 this word is rendered "waees." 
 
 The papers used for this value were blue, first deep, afterwards slightly toned ; 
 white (not common), and (rarely) slightly ribbed for Plates I. and II. ; blue only for 
 Plate III. ; and the white paper, watermarked large double-lined figure g, for 
 Plate II., after that paper was adopted in February, 1854. No" stamp of the 
 laureated heads is found on laid paper except the One Penny. 
 
 A post-marked copy of this value (Plate I.), rouletted 11£, probably non-official, 
 exists in the collection of the Vice-President. No Proofs or essays of the Two 
 Pence are known. 
 
 The Three Pence. 
 
 Date. — This stamp was engraved on steel, by Carmichael, towards the end of 
 1852. As appears from the book, the plate was returned by the Colonial Secretary 
 to the Inspector of Stamps on 1st December, 1852, with the Governor-General's 
 approval, but stating "it was executed in a manner inferior to that of previous 
 plates by the same artist;" and giving directions for the old plate of the Three 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 63 
 
 Pence, view of Sydney, to be destroyed. The formal Gazette notice to the public 
 appeared on 7th December, 1852. Carmichael's name is on the plate in the margin, 
 as in Plate I. of the Two Pence. The plate contained fifty stamps, disposed as in 
 other cases. In No. 37 there is an error, "wales" being rendered "wales." The 
 paper ran from a full shade of blue to a faintly blue toned, then to almost white, 
 and finally through white to yellowish, watermarked double-lined figure of value, in 
 February, 1854. 
 
 No proofs or essays are known. 
 
 The Six Pence. 
 
 Plate I. Date. — This new value was approved of by the Governor-General on 
 13th March, 1853, and on the 16th March Carmichael was authorized to engrave a 
 copper plate for £20. This price indicates a plate half the size of those costing 
 £40 ; and, as a fact, we find it was so engraved, with twenty-five stamps only, in 
 five rows of five stamps to each row. The Gazette notice of issue to the public 
 appeared 30th April, 1852, and the return of the approved plate to the Inspector 
 was on May 8th. 
 
 The name of Carmichael as engraver appears in the lower margin, as in the first 
 plate of the Two Pence. In No. 8 the engraver put " walls " for " wales ;" and in 
 another left a star unfinished in the upper angle. This plate is only known on a full 
 blue paper, without watermark, and is printed in brown, varying from a yellowish 
 shade, through chocolate, to nearly black. 
 
 Plate II. — A second plate of the Six Pence was engraved by Jervis, at a date 
 not known. It was on copper, and probably obtained by transfer from the former, 
 though the background is much coarser than in Plate I., and the portrait of the 
 Queen has a different cast of expression. There are no errors or prominent varieties. 
 This also contained twenty-five stamps, arranged as on Plate I. It is printed on blue 
 paper, and also on very thick white paper, without watermark. I have a note of a 
 copy on paper with a portion of a double-lined figure in the watermark. This was, 
 no doubt, a mark of the paper {marque de la fabrique), and not of the stamp. 
 
 Of this value proofs exist from Plate I., printed in clear Vandyke brown, and 
 also in black, on a rather yellowish surfaced card. No other proofs or essays are 
 known. 
 
 The Eight Pence. 
 
 This stamp was also engraved by Jervis, on copper, fifty to the plate, arranged 
 in five rows of ten stamps each. The name of H. C. Jervis is signed in the lower 
 margin, as in Plate III. of the Two Pence. The only error I know of is that in one 
 variety the three floreated ornaments or leaves are omitted in the right upper part of 
 the frame, opposite "south" — which number on the plate is unknown, as at present 
 sufficient materials to reconstitute the plate are wanting ; and from the absence of 
 the dividing-lines, great difficulty exists in placing any stamp in its place on the 
 sheet. 
 
 The colour of the stamp varied from chrome-yellow to deep orange, and it is 
 only found on the blue unwatermarked paper. M. Mahe chronicled in his catalogue 
 rouge-carmin au lieu dejaune, which I doubt, and should be inclined to suppose it a 
 changeling of some sort, chemical or otherwise, if it really exists. The Gazette of 
 16th May, 1853, gives public notice this value would be immediately issued. The 
 plate had been returned, formally approved, to the Inspector of stamps on that day. 
 
 The only proofs I know were struck in blue, of a rather deep indigo shade, on 
 a very porous, thick, semi-white paper, and were printed by Jervis before he sent in 
 the plate for approval. 
 
 No essays are known. 
 
 In submitting the result of my researches to the Society, I must express the 
 obligations we all are under, especially myself, to the Vice-President and Secretary, 
 without whose cordial aid and hearty co-operation the present paper could not have 
 
64 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 been prepared. In the few instances where different conclusions have been drawn 
 from those they had announced, it has only been with much hesitation I have 
 ventured to state my convictions, being convinced that by the free expression of 
 opinions honestly entertained the objects of the Society are best attained, while 
 mutual respect and good will are not diminished between its members. 
 
 Issue II. — Laureated Heads. 
 
 REFERENCE LIST. 
 
 One Penny. Illustration Plate F. (a) On wove unwatermarked paper. 
 
 1st Jan., 1852. (1) On bluish paper. Orange-red, red, violet-red, lake, crimson-lake, 
 brownish-lake ; shades. 
 
 1852 (?). (2) On white paper. Vermilion, lake-red ; shades. 
 
 1853 C?). (3) (b) On bluish paper, laid vertically. Vermilion -red, lake-red, 
 
 brownish-lake ; shades. 
 
 February 1st, 1854. (c) On white paper, watermarked with numeral of value. Orange- 
 vermilion ; shades. 
 
 Prominent varieties of type : 
 
 (a) No floreate ornaments on the right of " south." Nos. 7, 21. 
 
 (b) Error " Wale." No. 9. 
 
 (c) One floreate ornament missing. No. 15. 
 
 Two Pence. Plate I. Illustration Plate G. July 24th, 1851— 
 
 (a) On wove unwatermarked paper. (1) Bluish paper, varying to grey or greyish- 
 white. Greyish-blue, blue, dark blue, greenish-blue, ultramarine ; shades. 
 Variety. Rouletted 11 J. 
 1852 (?). (2) On white or toned paper. Greyish-blue. 
 
 (There are no varieties of type of any importance on this plate.) 
 
 Plate II. December 23rd, 1851 (?). Mr. Tapling's Plate III. Illustration Plate I.— 
 (a) On blue wove unwatermarked paper. Blue, pale to deep ; shades. 
 Feb. 1st, 1854. (b) Wliite wove paper, watermark numeral of value. Blue, pale to 
 deep ; shades. 
 (There are no prominent varieties of type on this plate.) 
 
 Plate III. August or September, 1853. Mr. Tapling's Plate II. Illustration Plate H. 
 (a) On blue unwatermarked paper. Blue, dark dull blue, greenish-blue, ultramarine ; 
 shades. 
 Prominent variety. Error " waees " for " wales." No. 23. 
 
 Three Pence. Illustration Plate J. December 7th, 1852 — 
 
 (a) On blue wove unwatermarked paper. Green, emerald-green, dark yellow-green ; 
 
 shades. 
 Feb. 1st, 1854. (b) White paper, watermarked with numeral of value. Yellow- 
 green, pale to deep ; shades. 
 Prominent variety of type. Error " waces " for " wales." No. 37. 
 
 Six Pence. Plate I. Illustration Plate K. April 30th, 1852— 
 
 (a) On blue wove unwatermarked paper. Brown, dark and yellowish-brown ; shades. 
 
 Plate II. Illustration Plate K. January, 1853 (?). 
 
 (a) On blue wove unwatermarked paper. Same colours and shades. 
 
 (b) On white paper, unwatermarked. Brown. 
 
 The only prominent variety is the error " walls " for " wales." This is only found 
 upon Plate I., and is Variety 8 on the sheet. 
 
 Eight Pence. Illustration Plate L. May 16th, 1853. 
 
 (a) On blue paper, unwatermarked. Yellow, orange-yellow ; shades. 
 Prominent variety. No floreate ornaments on the right of " south." No. 17 of 
 Photograph. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 65 
 
 A PKOOF-SHEET OF THE TWOPENCE LAUEEATED, 
 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 A Paper Read before the Philatelic Society, London. 
 
 By MAJOR E. B. EVANS, R.A. 
 
 A great deal of attention has been devoted of late years to the reconstruction of 
 plates or sheets of the early stamps of New South Wales and Tasmania ; and thanks 
 to the increased supplies of these stamps which energetic collectors with long purses 
 have succeeded in unearthing, and thanks also to the fact that local collectors (and 
 European dealers too) are becoming aware that pairs and groups of certain stamps 
 are more valuable before than after the intervention of the scissors, I believe that 
 most of the problems as to plates, re-engraving, &c, have been satisfactorily solved, 
 and the relative positions of the varieties of type accurately determined. 
 
 Some day we may hope that collectors in distant lands will not only abstain 
 from snipping out the best specimens of groups, and separating the others to exchange 
 singly, but will also send home, by Book or Parcel Post, envelopes or covers entire 
 with the stamps on them, and then some questions as to the relative order in which 
 certain varieties were issued will also be determinable. In the meantime I have the 
 good fortune to be able to offer a piece of evidence upon one of these (I think, still) 
 moot points which I hope may be of service. 
 
 That well-known philatelist, " the veriest tyro," is aware by this time that there 
 are, if not three plates, at all events three distinct types of the Twopence, New South 
 Wales, with laureated head ; viz., the rough type with stars in the corners ; the 
 finely-engraved type with asterisks in the corners ; and the inferior type with similar 
 corners to the second, but so-called solid background. 
 
 There can be little doubt which of these was the third in order. The last-named 
 is found not only on the unwatermarked paper on which alone the other two are to 
 be met with, but it is also, and more commonly, printed on the watermarked paper 
 which we are taught did not come into use till 1854, and which continued in constant 
 use for some years later. It is, I believe, still a question whether, of the other two, 
 the fine or the rough plate was the earlier. 
 
 The dates of issue of the various values of this laureated series have long been 
 known to collectors, obtained from undoubted official sources ; and we thus know 
 that the first of the set was the Two Pence, issued in July, 1851. It seems always to 
 have been taken for granted that this was the roughly-engraved type, with stars in the 
 corners; partly, no doubt, from its being the rarest, and partly also from the 
 roughness of its execution, and from its differing in the design of the corners from 
 all its companions. Of course, this was merely conjecture; but in the absence of 
 any evidence one way or the other, the matter has hardly been discussed, in print at 
 all events. 
 
 A short time back a correspondent in a distant colony was kind enough to send 
 me, amongst other things, a portion of a sheet of the finely-engraved type, containing 
 thirty-nine out of the fifty varieties of which the whole sheet is composed. All the 
 specimens were unused, but it was evident that they all belonged to the same 
 identical sheet, and, although that painful propensity I have alluded to above had 
 caused a previous owner to separate all but a single pair one from the other, it was 
 also evident that they were arranged in their proper order. For although unused, as 
 I have said, the stamps were not unobliterated, but, as it seemed at first sight, the 
 sheet had been scribbled over, as if to cancel the stamps. A closer examination 
 showed that this was not so, but that a memorandum had been written upon it, 
 which could be deciphered as follows : "51/6960. Approved. See Governor-General's 
 Minute on the Back." 
 
 This looked interesting. There was no apparent date, but it was to be hoped 
 that, in spite of the gaps in the sheet, there might be sufficient of the " Governor- 
 
66 NEW SOUTH WALES, 
 
 General's Minute " still visible " on the back " to show when this impression from 
 the plate was "approved." I accordingly detached the stamps carefully from a sheet 
 of very thick cartridge paper on which they were mounted, and on rearranging them 
 had the satisfaction of reading, " Approved by my minute on 51/6960 of this date. 
 O. W. K. [\]17th July, 1851." The only letters missing are the "y" of "by," 
 part of the "n" of " on," and the "e" and part of the "t" of "date;" the initials 
 also are not very clear, but it would probably not be difficult to find out who was 
 Governor-General of New South Wales at the time. The date at all events is quite 
 clear, and in the presence of a signed and dated proof impression of the plate, I 
 think we may safely conclude that the first of the laureated heads was the finely- 
 engraved Twopence. 
 
 I have only to add that the impression is in a grey or slaty-blue tint, in which 
 I think the majority of the clearest impressions of this type are found, and is on 
 almost white paper. 
 
 Issue in. 1854-82. 
 
 Four values. Engraved in taille-douce by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co., of 
 London. Coloured impression on white wove watermarked paper ; white and brownish 
 gum. The design, with the exception of the portrait, a diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left on engine-turned ground, within a circular garter-frame with buckle, 
 varies with each value. In the Five Pence there are scrolled labels immediately above 
 and below the garter, and following its contour. The inscription in the upper curve of 
 the garter is "new south wales;" in the upper scroll, "postage;" and in the lower 
 one the value in words; all in coloured block letters. A small ornament projects 
 beyond the centre of each scroll. A double-lined white hexagon, with a coloured 
 line running throughout, encloses the central portion of the stamp, the design of 
 which is completed by a broad reticulated border, which impinges upon the vertical 
 sides of the hexagon. The Six Pence resembles the previous value, as far as regards 
 the scrolls, their ornaments, and the inscriptions; but the garter-frame, where not 
 touched by the scrolls, is decorated with fleurs-de-lis, of which there are four, and a 
 section on either side. A narrow white hexagon enframes the central portion of the 
 stamp ; and the reticulated border is the same as in the Five Pence. On the Eight 
 Pence the scrolls and garter-frame are inscribed in shaded Roman capitals. A white 
 line, forming the segment of a circle, stands out beyond the two scrolls, above the 
 upper of which there is a dot over the "t" of postage. A narrow double-lined 
 white octagon encloses the central portion of the stamp. The border is the same as 
 in the other values, but the reticulations are carried past the octagon. In the One 
 Shilling value, the scrolls and their ornaments- and the inscriptions are the same as 
 in the last value. The garter-frame, where not touched by the scrolls, is ornamented 
 by fleurs-de-lis, one on each side of the upper scroll, and three others on each side of 
 the garter, arched over by a white line with curled extremities. A narrow white 
 octagon enframes the central portion of the stamp, the border and reticulations in 
 which are similar to the Five Pence. Shape, large square rectangular. (Illustrations 
 19, 20, 21, 22.) 
 
 1854-56. (a.) Imperf. 
 5d., bluish-green, dark yellow-green (shades) wmk., large numeral 5. (Jan., 1855.) 
 
 6d., sage-green, pale brown, umber, grey lilac (shades) „ „ 6. 
 
 8d., orange-yellow (shades) „ „ 8. (Jan., 1855.) 
 
 Is., red, vermilion, brick (shades) „ „ 12. 
 
 (B.) Per/. 12, 12£, 13. 
 5d., deep and bluish-green, yellow-green (shades) wmk., large numeral 5. 
 6d., mauve, lilac, blue-grey, lilac-grey, umber (shades) „ „ 6. 
 
 8d., reddish-orange, orange, deep to pale yellow (shades) „ „ 8. 
 
 Is., carmine, brick-red, rose (shades) „ „ 12. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 67 
 
 Although the variations in the perforations are small, the sets are perfectly 
 
 distinct. , 
 
 1878-82. 
 
 5d., dark yellow-green ; wmk., "n.s.w." and Crown; perf. 10. 
 
 8d., yellow shades „ „ „ (about 1879) ; imperf. 
 
 8d. „ „ „ „ „ perf. 13. 
 
 8d. „ „ „ „ „ perf. 10. 
 
 8d. „ „ „ „ „ perf. 10 x 12J. 
 
 Errors of Watermark. 
 1854-56. 
 6d., greyish-brown, umber ; wmk., large numeral 8 ; imperf. 
 Is., brick-red „ „ 8 ; imperf. and perf. 12. 
 
 1866. 
 6d., mauve-violet wmk., large numeral 5 ; perf. 13. 
 
 6d., lilac „ „ 12 „ 
 
 Errors of Impression, or Colour Trials. 
 1854-56. 
 5d., dark blue wmk., large numeral 5 ; imperf. 
 
 8d., red (in the colour of the Is.) „ „ 8 „ 
 
 Remarks. — There are probably more shades of the Six Penny value than of any 
 other stamp ever issued. All the values are found with inverted and reversed 
 watermarks, which means nothing except that the sheets of paper have been 
 printed on upside down. There is a curious border in the margin of the sheet, 
 varying with each value, of a reticulated wavy-line design, somewhat after the style 
 of the patterns used to separate bankers' cheques from the counterfoil, with an 
 ornament at each of the four angles. There are fifty stamps to the sheet, in five 
 horizontal rows of ten. The engravers first produced a matrix, or mother die, which, 
 after being hardened, was used to manufacture the plate used in printing, according 
 to the Perkins' process, as employed for the plates of the first One Penny of Great 
 Britain. Plates of the Six Pence and One Shilling were made and printed from at 
 first in England ; but those of the Five Pence and Eight Pence were engraved in 
 January, 1855, and when constructed were at once sent out to the colony, with a 
 supply of the watermarked paper, and also colour — green for the Five Pence, and 
 chrome-yellow for the Eight Pence. Neither of these values were printed for issue 
 by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, & Co. The stamps above described under " Errors of 
 Impression," &c, are doubtless due in the former case to experiments in colour; 
 but the red Eight Pence seems a genuine error in printing by mistake in the ink 
 adopted for the One Shilling value. 
 
 Proofs of all the values in black, on plate-paper, are known ; these were taken, 
 in England, from the mother dies. Eecently proof-sheets of the Five Pence and 
 Eight Pence, in dark blue, on thickish paper, not watermarked, have been dis- 
 covered in Australia. The colour is a hard dull shade of blue. A proof of the 
 One Shilling, in bright blue, was taken in England probably from the matrix. 
 The specimen known is obliterated "cancelled." In 1861-2 Messrs. Perkins, 
 Bacon, & Co. printed, on thick porous card-paper, from the plate of the Six Pence, 
 a series of trials in all the colours they then had in use, as specimens to submit to 
 the authorities at Somerset House. These last proofs may be distinguished by the 
 corner of the impression being effaced : wax having been applied for that purpose. 
 A list of these proofs may be found in Mount Brown's catalogue, third edition. 
 
68 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Issue IV. 1856-82. 
 
 Three values. Engraved (? by Wm. Humphreys) and printed by Messrs. Perkins, 
 Bacon, and Co., of London. Coloured impression, on white wove watermarked 
 paper ; white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left on engine- 
 turned background, with reticulations on each side, between the side borders and the 
 back and front of the head. Above the head is the word " postage," in a curve, in 
 white Roman capitals. The bottom labels in the Penny and Two Pence values are 
 of solid colour, and inscribed with the value in words in white Roman capitals. In 
 the Three Pence the bottom label is white, and inscribed with the value in words in 
 coloured block letters. In all three values the top and side borders are reticulated and 
 inscribed in white Roman capitals. There are ornamental blocks in each corner, the 
 upper ones differing from those below. Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 24.) 
 
 T. J*° UTH „ B. " ONE PENNY," " TWO PENCE," " THREE PENCE." L. " NEW." R. " WALES." 
 
 (a.) Imperf. 1856. 
 
 Id., vermilion-orange, brick (shades) ; wmk., large double-lined numeral 31 . 
 2d., blue „ „ „ „ S. 
 
 3d., dark-, yellow-, and blue-green „ „ „ $• 
 
 2d., blue „ single-lined numeral 2 (Evans.) 
 
 Proofs of the One Penny, on very blue wove paper, without watermark, were 
 
 struck in vermilion. 
 
 (b.) Perf. 12, 12£, 13. 1860. 
 
 Id., vermilion, orange-red (shades) wmk., large double-lined numeral ft. 
 
 2d., blue „ „ „ „ S. 
 
 3d., dark-, yellow-, and emerald-green (shades) „ „ „ „ $. 
 
 No specimen of the Two Pence has been met with perf. 12£, but it doubtless 
 exists. 
 
 1863. Id., dark and pale red, probably printed in the colony ; wmk., single-lined 
 
 numeral 1 ; perf. 12£. 
 1872-82. 3d., yellow-green (shades); wmk., "n.s.W." and Crown ; perf. 13. 
 1883. 3d. „ „ „ „ n » 10. 
 
 Errors op Watermark. 
 
 1856. 2d., blue wmk., large double-lined numeral § ; imperf. 
 
 1872. 3d., green (shades) „ „ „ „ d5 ; perf. 12 J, 13. 
 
 Remarks. — Some of the later editions of this type have, no doubt, judging 
 from the blotched impressions, been printed in the colony. A number of proofs in 
 various colours were printed on thick yellowish card paper by the engravers, for the 
 same purpose as those of the previous issue. Proofs of all, in black on plate paper, 
 are known. The Two Pence were printed sixty to the sheet in ten horizontal rows 
 of six stamps. There are marginal inscriptions on the sheet as follows : Top, 
 " new south wales." Bottom, " postage two pence." Bight side, reading upwards, 
 and with the base of the lettering towards the pane, "price, 2d. per label; Is. 
 per row of six; 10s. per sheet of sixty." Left side, "In affixing the stamp be 
 careful not to remove the cement." White plate number in oval on plain ground, 
 and coloured control number in single-lined oblong frame with rounded corners, in 
 the upper right and lower left corner respectively. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 69 
 
 Issue V. 1860-1882. 
 
 One value. Engraved in taitte-douce, and printed by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, 
 and Co., of London. Coloured impression, on white wove watermarked paper; white 
 gum. Design : Profile bust of Queen Victoria to left, with gothic crown and coro- 
 nation jewels within a double-lined circle of horizontal lines. The sceptre lies 
 rather awkwardly over her right shoulder, the handle showing in front of the bust, 
 and the upper part behind the neck. Above the handle of the sceptre is a conven- 
 tional rose with foliage. Curved inscriptions above and below portrait, following the 
 outline of the circle. The upper is in smaller and the lower in larger gothic 
 characters; and the two inscriptions are divided by cinq-foil ornaments. Beneath 
 the "e" of New and the "e" of Wales are pierced mullets. The engraving of the 
 stamp is so contrived as to give it an appearance of relief like a coin. Shape, 
 circular; diameter, 25 mm. {Illustration 23.) 
 
 t. "new south wales." b. "five shillings." 
 
 1860. 5s., greyish-lilac wmk., $s. ; imperf. 
 
 1860-82. 5s., lilac, reddish-lilac, mauve „ mach.-perf. 12, 12£, and 13. 
 
 1882. 5s., reddish-lilac „ perf. 10. 
 
 Issue VI. 1862-82. 
 
 One value. Engraved and surface -printed by De la Hue and Co. Coloured 
 impression on white paper; white gum. Design: Diademed profile of Queen Victoria 
 to left on ground of horizontal lines. Above, curved, and at bottom and sides, straight 
 white labels inscribed in coloured Roman capitals. There are triangular ornaments 
 above the ends of the upper label, and a wavy white line on coloured ground 
 between the outside of the other three labels and the border of the stamp, which 
 is formed of two plain coloured lines. Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 25.) 
 
 t. "new south wales." b. "two pence." l. "postage." r. "two pence." 
 
 March, 1862. 
 2d., blue (shades) on surfaced paper ; no wmk. ; perf. 14. 
 
 The following were printed in the Colony : 
 
 March, 1863. 
 2d., blue (shades) on unsurfaced paper ; no wmk. ; perf. 12£. 
 2i » » to to to 13. 
 
 1862-63. 
 2d., blue (shades) on unsurfaced paper, wmk., large double-lined numeral £ ; perf. 12. 
 JJ* » » »» „ „ „ 12* 
 
 M '> » » » » n » 13. 
 
 1863. 
 2d., blue (shades) on unsurfaced paper, wmk., single-lined numeral 2 ; perf. 12£. 
 
 1871-82. 
 2d., blue (shades) on unsurfaced paper, wmk., "n.s.w." and Crown ; perf. 12£. 
 2<J -> » » m » ,, imperf. 
 
 2< *'» » » » » „ perf. 10. 
 
 Errors op Watermark. 
 
 1867. 2d., blue (shades) on white wove paper ; wmk., large numeral $ ; perf. 12£. 
 
 2d, » » » » » » & „ 
 
 1868. 2d., „ „ „ thin numeral 1 „ 
 
70 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Remarks. — There are considerable differences in the shading of the face on some 
 copies of these stamps, probably arising from differences arising in the multiplica- 
 tion of the plate which was sent to the colonies. The colonial impressions were 
 printed by Thomas Richards, Sydney. 
 
 Issue VII. 1864-82. 
 
 One value. Engraved and surface-printed by De la Eue and Co. Coloured 
 impression on white paper ; white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria 
 to left on ground of horizontal lines, within a double-lined oval of solid colour 
 inscribed in small white block letters, the two inscriptions being separated by a 
 rosace on either side. The spandrels are filled in with foliate ornament, and the 
 design is completed by an outer frame of two plain coloured lines. Shape, upright 
 rectangular. (Illustration 26.) 
 
 t. "new south wales." b. "one penny." 
 1864. Id., red (shades) on white surfaced paper ; no wmk. ; perf. 14 
 
 Id., „ „ „ „ wmk., thin numeral 1 ; „ 14. 
 
 Id., „ „ unsurfaced „ „ „ „ 12$. 
 
 Id., „ „ „ „ no wmk., „ 12$. 
 
 1871. Id., „ " „ „ „ wmk., "n.s.w." and Crown; „ 12$. 
 
 1883. Id., „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ 10. 
 
 » Id., „ „ „ „ „ „ „ ,, 10 x 12$. 
 
 Dec. 1886. Id., „ on bluish- white „ „ „ „ „ ,,11x12. 
 
 Errors of Watermark. 
 1867. Id., red to pale red on white unsurfaced paper ; wmk., thin numeral 2 ; perf. 12$. 
 
 Remarks. — The two varieties of the Penny, perf. 14, were printed by Messrs. De 
 la Rue. The later printings, and probably all those with the perforation 12$, were 
 done in the colony. The paper with watermark "n.s.w." without Crown is employed 
 for the fiscal stamps of this colony, but during a temporary exhaustion of the supply 
 of the ordinary paper used for this value some sheets of the fiscal paper were 
 substituted. Three thousand sheets are said to have been used, and these were 
 issued to the Post-office at Sydney between the 13th and 17th December, 1886. 
 The letters " n.s.w." measure 27 x 7 mm., and the watermark extends over two stamps. 
 The four corner stamps of the sheet are without watermark, and the other eight 
 stamps at either side are watermarked with portions of the words "new south 
 wales." 
 
 Engravers' proofs of the One Penny, also of the Two Pence, of the previous 
 issue, in black, on enamelled card, both before and after hardening, are known. 
 
 Issue VHI. 1867. 
 
 One value. Engraved by De la Rue and Co., and printed by Thomas Richards. 
 Coloured impression on white wove watermarked paper; white gum. Design: 
 Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left on ground of horizontal lines, enframed 
 in a double-lined circle, enclosing pearls. Curved labels of solid colour above and 
 below circle, inscribed in white block letters. The corners and spandrels are filled 
 in with conventional ornament. Shape, upright rectangular. (Illustration 28.) 
 t. "new south wales." b. "postage ten pence." 
 
 lOd., lilac (shades) ; wmk., small single-lined italic numerals 10 ; mach.-perf. 12$. 
 
 In 1871 this stamp was printed in burnt-sienna, and "ninepence" in black 
 Roman capitals was surcharged over the original value. (Illustration 30.) 
 1871. 9d., red-brown ; wmk., " n.s.w." and Crown ; perf. 12$. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 71 
 
 Issue IX. 1867-82. 
 
 One value. Engraved by De la Rue and Co. ; surface-printed by T. Richards, of 
 Sydney. Coloured impression on white wove watermarked paper; white gum. 
 Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left in lozenge of horizontal lines. 
 White labels following the outline of the lozenge, inscribed in coloured Roman 
 capitals. The four angles are filled in with white arabesques on coloured ground, and 
 a plain coloured line forms the outer border of the stamp. Shape, upright 
 rectangular. {Illustration 27.) 
 
 t. "new south wales." b. "postage four pence." 
 
 1867. 
 4d., red-brown, deep to pale ; wmk., small single-lined numeral 4 ; mach.-perf. 13. 
 
 1878-82. 
 4d., red-brown, deep to pale ; wmk., "n.s.w." and Crown ; mach.-perf. 13. 
 
 1882. 
 4d., red-brown, deep to pale ; wmk., " N.s.w." and Crown ; mach.-perf. 10. 
 
 Issue X. 1872-82. 
 
 One value. Engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., and surface-printed by T. 
 Richards, of Sydney. Coloured impression on white wove watermarked paper ; white 
 gum. Design: Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left on ground of horizontal lines, 
 within a white bordered oval of solid colour, inscribed in thin white block letters, 
 the two inscriptions being separated by a small ornament on either side. The oval is 
 enframed by a hexagonal line of colour, pointed at the top and bottom, and touching 
 the four outer lines of the stamp. The interstices between the oval and hexagon 
 are filled in with arabesques, and the spandrels with reticulations. A plain coloured 
 outer line completes the design. Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 29.) 
 
 1872-82. 
 6d., reddish to pale lilac ; wmk., " n.s.w." and Crown ; mach.-perf. 13. 
 6d. „ „ „ „ imperf. 
 
 1883. 
 6d., reddish to pale lilac ; wmk., " N.s.w." and Crown ; perf. 10. 
 6d. „ „ „ „ perf. 10 x 12£. 
 
 Remarks. — Proofs in black as before. 
 
 Issue XL 1876-82. 
 
 One value. Engraved by De la Rue and Co., and surface-printed by T. Richards, 
 of Sydney. Coloured impression, on white wove watermarked paper; white gum. 
 Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left on ground of horizontal lines, 
 within a frame which is arched at the top and bottom, and straight at the sides. 
 The inner portion of the frame is of solid colour, and is inscribed in small white 
 block letters, with a full stop after each part of the inscription. The spandrels are 
 filled in with arabesques, and the design is completed by a plain outer line of colour. 
 Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 31.) 
 
 t. "new south wales." b. "one shilling." l. "postage," reading upwards. 
 R. "postage," reading downwards. 
 
 1876. Is., black; wmk., "n.s.w." and Crown ; perf. 12£. 
 
 „ Is. „ on brown paper „ „ „ „ 
 
 1882. Is. „ on white paper „ „ „ perf. 10. 
 
 Remarks. — The variety on brown paper is probably due to the gum, which is 
 sometimes of a dark brown colour. 
 
 Proofs on enamelled card as before, in mauve, are known. 
 
72 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Issue XII. 4th February, 1886. 
 
 Three values, consisting of the Stamp Duty stamps, of Five Shillings, Ten 
 Shillings, and One Pound, issue 1868, surcharged in black, with the word "postage" 
 in Roman capitals beneath the Queen's head, and a thin straight line erasing the 
 words "stamp duty." All three values are watermarked "n.s.w." vertically, and 
 are perforated 12 x 10. (Illustration 36.) 
 
 5s., green, violet centre and frame. 
 10s., carmine „ „ 
 
 ** }> » » 
 
 STAMPS EMPLOYED FOR REGISTRATION. 
 Issue 1853-62. 
 One value. Engraved on metal, and printed in the colony. The sheet 
 consists of fifty stamps, each separately engraved. There are consequently 
 fifty varieties of type. Design : Laureated profile of Queen Victoria to left on 
 ground of vertical and wavy lines within an upright oval band, inscribed in block 
 letters "new south wales" at top, and "registered" at bottom, the two inscriptions 
 being separated by engine-turned ornamentation at each side. Bicoloured impression 
 (red or orange for the centre, and blue for the oval band) upon stoutish white 
 wove paper. The value, which is not expressed, is Six Pence. Those first issued 
 were imperforate; but in 1860, and afterwards, the stamp appeared perforated 12 
 and 13; and in 1862 the paper was watermarked with a large numeral 6. The 
 colours first employed were red and blue, the red being afterwards changed to orange, 
 which was again, later on, changed back to red. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining 
 unsevered pairs and blocks of these stamps, it has hitherto been found impossible 
 to replace the varieties of type in the original order. The illustration of the plate 
 represents the fifty varieties, but with the exception of some six or eight specimens, 
 the positions of which have been ascertained, the arrangement is quite arbitrary. 
 (Illustrations, 33 and Plate M.) 
 
 1853. (6d.) red and blue (shades of each) ; imperforate. 
 
 (6d.) orange „ „ „ „ 
 
 1860. (6d.) red „ „ „ perf. 12 and 13. 
 
 (6d.) orange „ „ „ „ (13?) 
 
 1862. (6d.) red „ „ „ wmk., large 6 ; pert 13. 
 
 STAMPS FOR OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 In January, 1880, the current adhesives were surcharged for official use with 
 "o.s." in large block letters, signifying "On Service," or "Official Service." The 
 surcharge is found in red and black. At least three distinct sets may be found of this 
 surcharge, the differences lying in the spacing of the letters "o. s." (Illustration 32.) 
 
 The following is a list of the varieties : 
 
 I. Surcharged in black. 
 
 (a) Watermark, large numerals ; perf. 12^. 
 
 5s., violet. (Type of 1860.) 
 
 (b) Watermark, Crown, and " N.8.W." 
 (1) Perf. 12£. Id., pale red. 
 
 2d., blue. 
 
 3d., yellow-green. 
 
 4d., reddish-brown. 
 
 6d., lilac. 
 
 8d., orange-yellow. 
 
 (Type of 1871.) 
 
 ( ' 
 
 » 
 
 » ) 
 
 ( 
 
 » 
 
 1875.) 
 
 ( 
 
 » 
 
 1867.) 
 
 ( 
 
 » 
 
 1882.) 
 
 ( 
 
 » 
 
 1877.) 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 73 
 
 (2) Per/. 10. Id., pale red. (Type of 1871.) 
 
 2d., blue. ( „ „ ) 
 
 4d., reddish-brown. ( „ 1867.) 
 
 6d., lilac. ( „ 1882.) 
 
 II. Surcharged in red. 
 
 (a) Watermark, large numerals ; perf. 12J. 
 
 5d., green. (Type of 1860.) 
 
 (b) Watermark, small numerals, perf. 12 J. 
 
 10d., lilac. (Type of 1867.) 
 
 (c) Watermark, Crown, and " N.S.W." 
 
 (1) Perf. 12£. 3d., yellow-green. (Type of 1875.) 
 
 8d., orange-yellow. ( „ 1877.) 
 
 9d., on 10d., pale red. ( „ 1871.) 
 
 Is., black. ( „ 1876.) 
 
 (2) Perf. 10. Is., black. ( „ „ ) 
 
 ENVELOPES. 
 
 Issue I. January 1st, 1871. 
 
 One value. Engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., and type-printed in the 
 colony in colour, on medium white laid paper. Design : Same as the adhesive of 
 April 1st, 1864. The stamp is impressed in the right upper corner. Long gum. 
 Size 5j^j- x 3^ inches, or 142 x 78 mm. There are numerous varieties of the tresse 
 impressed on the upper flap. In all probability these are not official, but were done 
 to private order. (Illustration 26.) 
 
 (a) Upper flap rounded. 
 Id., dull red (shades). 
 
 Variety. Without tresse. Id., dull red. 
 
 (b) Upper flap pointed. 
 
 Id., dull red. 
 Variety. Without tresse. Id., dull red (shades). 
 
 Note. — In the collection of the Vice-President there is an envelope which is 
 
 unchronicled, and in reference to which no information is available. It is made of 
 
 white paper, laid obliquely, and bears in the right upper corner a stamp of the same 
 
 type as that used for the first wrappers. Size 5,^x3 inches, or 134x75 mm. 
 
 (Illustration 34.) 
 
 Id., vermilion. 
 
 It is uncertain whether this envelope was actually issued. 
 
 Issue II End of 1881. 
 
 One value. Engraved by Messrs. De la Eue and Co., and type-printed in the 
 
 colony, in colour, on medium white laid paper. Design : Same as the adhesive of 
 
 March, 1862. The stamp is impressed in the right upper corner. Long gum. Upper 
 
 flap rounded and impressed with tresse. Size 5 T %-x 3 T \j- inches, or 142 x 78 mm. 
 
 (Illustration 25.) 
 
 2d., blue. 
 
 Variety. Without tresse. 2d., blue. 
 
 Note. — In 1865 or 6 a set of three envelope essays was produced. They bore 
 the head of Queen Victoria to the left, without any legend or value expressed, and 
 were printed on plain white wove paper, the die being impressed in the right 
 upper corner in red, green, and mauve. 
 
74 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 REGISTRATION ENVELOPES. 
 Issue I. January, 1880. 
 
 One value. These envelopes are made of stout white wove linen-lined paper. 
 The face and back of the envelopes are each divided into four equal compartments 
 by two lines, which cross at right angles, and are continued from the face to the 
 back of the envelopes. On the face, in the upper part, is an inscription in two 
 lines, " This letter must be given to an Officer of the Post Office to be Eegistered, 
 and a Eeceipt obtained for it," in thin block capitals. The vertical crossing line 
 falls between the words "Officer of" and "Eeceipt obtained," in the two lines of 
 inscription. In the left upper compartment, below the lines of direction, is the 
 word "registered," in thick block capitals, enclosed in an oblong single-lined frame. 
 In the right upper compartment occur the words, " The Stamp to Pay the Postage 
 must be Placed Here," in thin block capitals, within a single-lined rectangular frame. 
 The whole is printed in vermilion. Eounded flap; yellowish gum. On the flap 
 there is a stamp, engraved and type-printed in rose-red by Messrs. De la Eue 
 and Co. ; coloured impression. Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to 
 left on a background of horizontal lines, within a white oval band, containing 
 two inscriptions in coloured block capitals. The two inscriptions are separated 
 by dots. Shape, upright oval. t. "registered new south wales." b. "four 
 pence." Beneath the flap, on the back of the envelope, are the words, 
 "McCorquodale & Co., Patentees," in coloured block capitals; serrated seams. 
 
 (Illustration 35.) 
 
 (A) Size F, 5f x 3f inches, or 130 x 81 mm. 
 (b) Size G, 6 x 3f inches, or 153 x 98 mm. 
 
 4d., rose and vermilion, and rose-red. 
 Variety. — Size G, no stamp on flap. 
 
 OFFICIAL ENVELOPES. 
 Issue I. 1883. 
 
 Two values. These are the same envelopes as those of the ordinary issues of 
 1871 and 1881, but are surcharged "o.s." in black, in the same way as the adhesives. 
 (Illustration 32.) 
 
 Id., dull red. 
 
 2d., blue. 
 
 Issue II. December, 1885. 
 
 One value. Engraved and type-printed in colour, on medium white paper, laid 
 obliquely; pointed flap, without design. Size 5f x 3^ inches, or 138x78 mm. 
 The stamp is in the right upper comer. The design is the same as that of the Id. 
 adhesive, issue April, 1864, except that the foliate ornaments in the spandrels are 
 replaced by the letters "o.s.," in block letters. One letter is placed in each spandrel, 
 so that the letters " o.s." are repeated. 
 
 Id., vermilion. 
 Id., brick-red. 
 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 75 
 
 WRAPPERS. 
 
 Issue I. April 1st, 1864. 
 
 One value. On white wove or white laid paper, measuring 300 x 120 mm., 
 or 11£ x 4§ inches. The watermark consists of the letters "n.s.w." in fancy capitals 
 with ornaments at each end, and a narrow border, formed of a small chain running 
 between two straight lines, above and below. The sheet contains eight wrappers, 
 and the watermark extends across four of these, so that it is therefore repeated 
 in each sheet. The stamp is embossed about three inches from the upper end of each 
 wrapper, and was produced by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. from a steel die. Design : 
 Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left in white relief, surrounded with four 
 stars on ground of solid colour, within an upright oval band, with ornamented outer 
 rim, inscribed at top "postage one penny," and at bottom "new south wales;" two 
 star-like ornaments separate the two inscriptions. (Illustration 34.) 
 
 (a) On stout white wove paper. 
 
 Id., red (shades). 
 
 (b) On thin yellowish-white wove paper. 
 
 Id., red (shades). 
 
 (c) On white laid paper. 
 
 Id., red (shades). 
 
 Issue II. 1865. 
 
 One value. On precisely similar laid paper as the previous issue, the water- 
 mark and dimensions of the band being also the same. The stamp, type of One 
 Penny adhesive issue, April, 1864, occupies a like position. (Illustration 26.) 
 
 Id., pale red. 
 
 Issue III 1869. 
 One value. The same as the last, but with watermark " one penny " in Roman 
 capitals on each band in addition to the watermark on the sheet. White laid paper. 
 
 (Illustration 26.) 
 
 Id., pale red. 
 
 Issue IV. 1872. 
 
 One value. Similar to the last, but the watermark "one penny" is changed to 
 a Kangaroo, Emu, and the letters "a.p." (Australian Postage 1) (Illustration 26.) 
 
 Id., red. 
 
 Issue V. 1872 (?) 
 One value. The same. "Watermark, a Kangaroo and an Emu. (Illustration 26.) 
 
 Id., red. 
 Remarks. — These two last bands are only known surcharged "specimen." 
 
 Issue VI. 1872 (?) 
 
 One value. The same as issue 1869, but the watermark "n.s.w." &c. on the 
 sheet is suppressed. (Illustration 26.) 
 
 Id., red (shades). 
 
76 NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 POST CARDS. 
 
 Issue I. December, 1875. 
 
 One value. Designed and printed by Messrs. De la Eue and Co. upon stoutish 
 white wove paper. Size 4^ x 3^ inches. At the top, in the centre of the card, 
 in a straight line, in large block letters, is the word " post card ; " and underneath 
 this the arms of Great Britain. Below these, in a straight line, in italics, are the 
 words, "The Address only to be icritten on this Side;" and lower down, to the left, the 
 word "To," also in italics. The stamp is in the right upper corner, and is of the same 
 type as the Id. adhesive issue, April, 1864. The whole is enclosed within a fancy 
 Oxford frame, broken at intervals by crescent-shaped ornaments. Size of frame 
 4$ x 3^ inches. (Illustration 41.) 
 
 Id., pale rose (shades). 
 
 Variety. — A specimen is known with the word "To" in script type; and the 
 horizontal portions of the frame at the top and bottom are terminated by the 
 crescent-shaped ornaments described above. A proof in black has also been seen. 
 
 Issue II. February, 1876. 
 
 One value. Similar to the preceding, but printed upon medium white card of 
 smaller dimensions. Size 4 T 7 T7 x 2£ inches. " The Address only" &c. is in smaller 
 type, and the frame measures 4| x 2f inches. 
 
 Id., rose (shades). 
 
 Issue III. 1877. 
 One value. Similar to the last, but printed upon thicker card. The centre 
 portions of the frame at the top and bottom (divided off by the crescent-shaped 
 ornaments) are slightly larger, making the frame measure 4/^ x 2^f inches. 
 
 Id., rose (shades). 
 
 REPLY PAID CARD. 
 Issue I. January 5th, 1883. 
 One value. Printed upon stout yellowish-white card. Size 4^ x 3f inches. 
 The stamp is the same, and the inscription and arms are similarly disposed, as on 
 the single cards ; but the type employed is slightly different. Three dotted lines for 
 the address, two long and one short. At the bottom of the first half, in a straight 
 line, are the words, in brackets, "The Receiver should cut or tear off this half and 
 send the reply on the other half;" and the second half bears the word "reply" in 
 Roman capitals, directly beneath the Royal Arms. The cards are folded along the 
 top, and the inscriptions, &c, are printed upon the first and third pages ; the cards 
 have no frame. id. + id., rose (shades.) 
 
 OFFICIAL CARD. 
 
 One value, consisting of the One Penny card, issue III., with the stamp sur- 
 charged across the top "o.s." (On Service), in black block letters. 
 
 Id., rose. 
 
 FISCAL STAMPS USED POSTALLY. 
 
 In 1883 some of the fiscal stamps of the colony were presumably used for 
 postage. There is little reason to doubt that here, as in other cases, a number of 
 them, if not all, were merely postmarked for sale to collectors. 
 
NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 Issue I. 1852 (?). 
 
 Three values. Engraved on steel by Humphreys, and printed by Messrs. Perkins, 
 Bacon, and Co., of London. Coloured impression on stout wove blue paper ; white 
 gum ; no watermark. Design : three-quarter face bust portrait of Queen Victoria, 
 crowned, with garter, ribbon, and royal robes, in low-necked dress, on engine-turned 
 background within a double-lined circle, which nearly touches the sides of the stamp. 
 Above and following the upper curve of the circle are the words " new Zealand " 
 in the hue of the paper upon colour. Beneath the circle upon a small straight label, in 
 small letters, is the word "postage" in colour. This label rests upon another 
 straight one, forming the bottom of the stamp, which is changeable with the value, 
 and inscribed with the value in full in the hue of the paper upon colour, and has a 
 small double-lined square at each end containing a conventional ornament. The 
 spandrels are filled in with ornamentation resembling an oeil de perdrix groundwork, 
 and are so strongly shaded in the upper corners as to give them the appearance of 
 being rounded off. The inscriptions on the One Penny and Two Pence are in 
 Roman capitals, and on the Shilling in block letters. Shape, longish upright 
 rectangular ; imperforate. (Illustration 37.) 
 
 T. "NEW ZEALAND." B. A ~f°?E^L» " TWO PENCE," " ONE SHILLING." 
 ONE PENNY, ' 
 
 Id., vermilion. 
 
 2d., blue and slaty-blue (very distinct shades). 
 
 Is., green (a yellowish shade). 
 
 Remarks. — One mother die did duty for all the values, the designation of 
 which in the bottom label was altered in each case. Unused copies of this issue are 
 rare, and the Shilling is practically unattainable in this condition. 
 
 Issue II. 1855-59. 
 
 Four values. Precisely similar in design to the preceding, and from the same 
 dies. The Six Pence, like the Shilling, has the value in block letters. Coloured 
 impression upon white paper; white gum; no watermark. The paper is soft, 
 unsurfaced, and varies greatly in substance. Sets may be made from very thick 
 to very thin. (Illustration 37.) 
 
 Id., orange-vermilion, pale to dark 
 
 2d., blue, bright and dull 
 
 6d., reddish-brown, light and dark 
 
 Is., pale green, blue-green. 
 
 Series on hard white paper, slightly surfaced ; no watermark ; imperforate. 
 
 Id., orange-red (shades). 
 
 2d., deep, bright and pale blue. 
 
 6d., orange-bistre, pale and dark fawn. 
 
 Is., pale green, blue-green. 
 
 imperforate. 
 
78 
 
 NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 Varieties. — Some of the values of this issue are to be found with unofficial 
 perforations. The following are known to the Society : 
 
 A are on the soft, unsurfaced paper. 
 
 B are on the hard, slightly-surfaced paper. 
 
 
 Rouletted, 
 about 7. 
 
 Rough pin-hole perforations, 
 about 10. 
 
 Serrated fine perforations, 
 about 16. 
 
 Id. 
 
 
 A B 
 
 B 
 
 2d. 
 
 B 
 
 A 
 
 B 
 
 6d. 
 
 A B 
 
 A 
 
 B 
 
 Is. 
 
 B 
 
 A 
 
 A B 
 
 Remarks. — By the Gazette notice the Six Pence was issued 8th August, 1859. 
 The Two Pence has been seen on a letter postmarked August, 1855, showing the 
 issue of the series extended over at least four years. 
 
 Issue III 1862-3. 
 
 Four values. Identical in design with the preceding issues. Coloured 
 impression upon very thin greyish paper (the pelure of catalogues) ; white gum ; 
 no watermark. (Illustration 37.) 
 
 Id. ? orange to carmine shades of vermilion \ 
 
 2d., pale lavender, ultramarine I • e . 
 
 6d., grey to blackish-brown, red-brown | 
 
 Is., dark green, green. ) 
 
 Varieties. — The Penny, orange-vermilion, Six Pence, dark browTi, and Shilling, 
 of this issue exist unofficially rouletted about 7, and all the four values machine- 
 perforated 13. 
 
 To this period, late in 1863, must be referred the Two Pence and Six Pence on 
 thick white paper; no watermark; machine-perforated 13. 
 2d., blue, deep blue ) 
 6d., red-brown ] P ert 13 ' 
 
 Issue IV. 1862-3. 
 
 Five values. Unchanged in design. The new one, Three Pence, has the value 
 in block letters. Coloured impression upon white paper varying in substance; 
 yellowish gum; watermark, a large six-rayed star. In the margin of the sheet 
 are five parallel lines, forming a border to the whole. The paper varies much in 
 thickness, and is sometimes as thin as the so-called pelure paper of Issue III. 
 (Illustration 37.) 
 
 Id., orange-red, vermilion, deep crimson ' 
 
 2d., blue, deep, light, and chalky, and ultramarine 
 
 3d., bright violet, violet, violet-brown, lilac L imperforate. 
 
 6d., red-, black-, and dull brown 
 
 Is., dark yellow- and blue-green (shades) j 
 
 Varieties. — The Two Pence and Shilling are found on paper showing a 
 distinctly blue appearance, probably due to chemical action All five values and 
 shades of each exist unofficially rouletted 5£ to 8. Other values are found with 
 a fine pin perforation measuring about 16; viz., the Penny, Two Pence, Three 
 Pence, and Six Pence ; and the Six Pence and Shilling with an oblique perforation. 
 
NEW ZEALAND. 79 
 
 Issue V. 1864. 
 
 Four values, of the same design as the preceding, seemed to have been issued 
 in 1864. They are printed in colour upon white paper varying in substance, and 
 are watermarked with the block letters " n.z." instead of with a star. (Illustration 37.) 
 
 Id., vermilion (a carmine shade) 
 2d., pale blue 
 6d., red-brown 
 Is., green (shades) 
 
 imperf., rouletted 5£ to 8, and machine-perf. 13. 
 
 Remarks. — The Shilling is also known with oblique serrated perforations. The 
 paper with the watermark " n.z." was manufactured specially for the fiscal stamps 
 of the colony, and during a temporary lack of that appropriated to postage stamps, 
 was made use of for this issue. 
 
 The Six Pence, rouletted, is a very scarce stamp. An undoubted specimen is 
 in the possession of a member of the Society. 
 
 Issue VI. 1863-66. 
 
 Six values. Identical in design with the preceding. The new one, Four 
 Pence, issued in 1865, has the value printed in block letters. Coloured impression 
 upon white paper varying in substance ; white gum ; watermark, six-rayed star. 
 (Illustration 37.) 
 
 Id., vermilion, orange 
 
 2d., deep, pale, and chalky-blue 
 
 3d., bright, pale, and brown-violet, purple 
 
 4d., dull rose-red 
 
 4d., canary-yellow, orange (1866), ochre-yellow 
 
 6d., red-, black-, and dull brown 
 
 Is., dark and yellow-green (shades) 
 
 i officially machine-perf. 13. 
 
 Varieties. — A set of this issue may also be made up on very thin, almost 
 pelure, paper. The Four Pence, orange, is found upon a hard paper, unwatermarked. 
 
 Issue VII. 1872. 
 
 Three values, of preceding types, but changed as regards colour. Coloured 
 impression on white paper, varying in substance ; white gum ; watermark, six-rayed 
 star. (Illustration 37.) 
 
 1. Imperf. 2d., orange. 
 
 2. Perf. 10. Id., deep and pale bistre. 
 
 3. Perf. 10 x 13. Id. „ „ 
 
 2d., vermilion, orange. 
 6d., pale and full blue. 
 
 4. Perf. 13. Id. \ 
 
 2d. > Same colours and shades. 
 6d. ) 
 
 Varieties. — The Penny exists without watermark, perf. 13, and is said by 
 M. Moens to have been issued in January, 1872. The Two Pence of this issue is 
 also to be found: first, without watermark; second, watermarked "n.z.;" and third, 
 with a lozenge-patterned watermark, the alternate lozenges of which are shaded with 
 vertical lines; all perf. 13. The Six Pence exists imperforate horizontally. 
 
80 NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 Issue VIII. 1873. 
 
 One value. For newspapers ; lithographed in the colony. Coloured impression 
 upon white wove paper, varying in substance ; white gum. Design : Diademed 
 profile of Queen Victoria to left within double-lined white oval. Straight white 
 label at top, inscribed with coloured block letters. Curved white scroll below, 
 similarly inscribed, with pearls beneath the scroll. Sides and spandrels filled in 
 with arabesque ornaments, and the value, in coloured numerals, on each side of the 
 oval. Shape, small upright rectangular. (Illustration 38.) 
 
 T. "NEW ZEALAND." B. "NEWSPAPER POSTAGE." R. AND L. "|d." 
 
 ( Wm ' ctf ( P er ^ 10 ' 12 ' an( * a * so com P oun( i 10 x 12. 
 no wink. J » jJ xl|L 
 
 Variety. — Imperf., horizontally; perf. 12, vertically. 
 
 Issue IX. 1873. 
 
 Six values. Engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., and type -printed in 
 colour upon medium white wove paper, slightly surfaced ; white gum ; watermark, 
 " n. z." in small block capitals, above a small five-rayed truncated star. The design 
 is different for each value, except for the diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, 
 which is the same in all. (Illustrations 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45.) 
 
 One Penny. Portrait, on ground of horizontal lines, within an oval band of 
 solid colour ; inscribed " new Zealand " in the upper, and " postage " in the lower 
 curve, in white Roman capitals, the two inscriptions being separated by foliate 
 ornaments. Straight white double-lined label at bottom, inscribed " one penny," in 
 coloured Roman capitals. The spandrels are filled in with conventional ornaments, 
 and the whole stamp is enclosed in a double-lined frame. 
 
 Two Pence. Portrait, on ground of horizontal lines, enclosed in circular band 
 of colour with white pearls. Straight white labels at top and bottom, the first 
 inscribed " new Zealand postage," and the second " two pence," in coloured block 
 letters. Spandrels filled in with conventional ornaments, differing slightly from 
 those in the previous value. 
 
 Three Pence. Portrait, on ground of horizontal lines, within double-lined 
 circle. Curved coloured labels above and below circle, lettered, in white block 
 letters, " new Zealand postage " and " three pence." Spandrels and sides filled 
 in with conventional ornaments ; border of plain double lines. 
 
 Four Pence. Portrait, on ground of horizontal lines, within rectangular 
 double-lined frame. Straight double-lined white label above, inscribed "new 
 Zealand postage" in coloured block letters; the same below, inscribed "four 
 pence," with a block at either end containing a conventional ornament. The side 
 labels are filled in with scrollwork. Same border as in preceding values. 
 
 Six Pence. Portrait, on ground of horizontal lines, within an oval of solid 
 colour, which overlaps a hexagon frame of quadruple lines. The oval is inscribed, 
 in white block letters, " new Zealand postage " and " six pence," the two inscrip- 
 tions being separated by small ornaments. The spandrels are filled in with network, 
 and the outer frame is the same as in the other values. 
 
NEW ZEALAND. 81 
 
 One Shilling. Portrait, on ground of horizontal lines, enframed in double 
 oval of solid colour, inscribed " new Zealand postage " in the upper, and " one 
 shilling " in the lower curve, in white Roman capitals, the two inscriptions being 
 separated by small ornaments. Corners filled in with arabesque ornaments ; outer 
 frame the same as in preceding values. Shape, upright rectangular ; machine- 
 perforated 13 and 12, and compound 13 x 10 and 11|. 
 
 (a) Fine clean impression on glac4 paper. 
 
 (b) Coarser impression on rougher paper. 
 
 Id., lilac (shades. 
 
 2d., rose to pale lake 
 
 3d., brown 
 
 4d., burnt-sienna 
 
 6d., Prussian-blue 
 
 Is., green . 
 
 Varieties. — Most of these values are to be found on paper which has been 
 blued by the action of the gum, or some other cause. In 1877 two of the values — 
 the Penny and Two Pence — were issued on paper watermarked with the old large 
 six-raj'-ed star, but the " nz " and small star watermark was soon reverted to. 
 
 Remarks. — There appear to be two series, readily distinguishable by the 
 superior care and greater neatness of the impression, which is on glace or surfaced 
 paper, in the one case, and the duller, more confused printing, on rougher paper, of 
 the other. It is believed the former were printed in London by Messrs. De la Rue 
 and Co., and the latter were printed in the colony. It is only the latter series that 
 is found on the blued paper. 
 
 Issue X. 1878. 
 
 Two values. Engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., and type-printed in 
 colour on slightly surfaced white paper ; white gum ; watermarked " nz " and star. 
 Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines, 
 engraved in pearl circle. Straight white labels at top and bottom, inscribed in coloured 
 block letters — "new Zealand postage" above, and "two" or "five shillings" below. 
 The spandrels are white, and in the Two Shilling value have the numeral 2 in the 
 two upper, and a fern leaf in the two lower ones. In the Five Shilling value the 
 numeral 5 is repeated in each of the four spandrels. Outer border of plain double 
 lines. Shape, upright rectangular; perforation II \. {Illustrations 46, 47.) 
 
 2s., dull carmine. 
 5s., grey -black. 
 
 Issue XL April, 1882. 
 
 Seven values. Engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., and type-printed in 
 colour upon medium white wove paper, slightly surfaced ; white gum ; watermark 
 " nz " in small block capitals, above a small five-rayed truncated star. The design is 
 different for each value, except for the diademed head of Queen Victoria to left, 
 which is the same in all. (Illustrations 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54.) 
 
 One Penny. Portrait on ground of horizontal lines, within a double-lined 
 oval band of solid colour, inscribed " new Zealand postage and revenue " in the 
 upper, and "one penny" in the lower curve, in white block capitals; the two 
 inscriptions being separated by white dots. The spandrels are of solid colour, filled 
 in with white arabesque ornamentation, and two coloured outer lines complete 
 the design. 
 
82 NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 Two Pence. Portrait on ground of horizontal lines within a double-lined 
 oval band of solid colour, inscribed " new Zealand postage and revenue " in the 
 upper, and "two pence" in the lower curve. The upper inscription is printed 
 in white block, and the lower in white Roman, capitals, and they are separated from 
 each other by white dots. This portion of the design is enclosed by a white double- 
 lined hexagonal band, which is cut at the sides by the oval. The spandrels are filled 
 in with reticulations, and the design is completed by two outer lines of colour. 
 
 Three Pence. Portrait on ground of horizontal lines, within a double-lined 
 oval band of solid colour inscribed " new Zealand " in the upper, and " postage 
 and revenue " in the lower curve, in white Roman capitals ; the two inscriptions 
 being separated from each other by white arabesque ornaments. Beneath the oval 
 is a straight white single-lined label, containing the words "three pence" in 
 coloured block capitals. The spandrels are filled in with white arabesque ornamen- 
 tation on colour, and a single outer coloured line completes the design. 
 
 Four Pence. Portrait to left on ground of horizontal lines, within a narrow- 
 pearled circle of colour. Above and beneath the circle are two straight white bands, 
 containing the words t. " new Zealand," b. " postage and revenue " in white block 
 capitals. The spandrels are filled in with arabesque ornamentation, and with 
 four circular coloured blocks, each containing the value, 4d., in white. An outer line 
 of colour completes the design. 
 
 Six Pence. Portrait to left on ground of horizontal lines, within a single- 
 lined upright rectangular frame. Above the frame is a white label containing the 
 words " new Zealand " in coloured block capitals. The two top corners are filled 
 in with white single-lined blocks in the same line with the white label, and contain- 
 ing star-shaped ornaments. Beneath the rectangular frame, and running across the 
 whole width of the stamp, is a white label containing the words "postage and 
 revenue " in coloured block capitals. Straight perpendicular bands at the sides, 
 filled in with arabesque ornamentation, and with two straight coloured labels 
 rounded at the ends, and containing the words L. " sixpence " reading upwards, and 
 r. " sixpence " reading downwards in white block capitals. 
 
 Eight Pence. Similar in every respect to the two pence except that the 
 spandrels are filled in with arabesque ornamentation instead of reticulated lines. 
 
 One Shilling. Portrait to left on ground of horizontal lines within a double- 
 lined circle. Above and beneath the circle, and following it in shape, are two curved 
 bands of solid colour, straight at the ends, and containing the words t. "new 
 Zealand postage and revenue," and b. " one shilling " in white block capitals. 
 The spandrels are filled in with white arabesque ornamentation on colour, and a 
 single outer line of colour completes the design. 
 
 Shape, upright rectangular. Machine-perf. 11£. 
 
 Id., rose 
 
 2d., lilac-mauve 
 
 3d., canary-yellow 
 
 4d., green 
 
 6d., brown 
 
 8d., dark blue 
 
 Is., brownish-lake 
 
 slight shades. 
 
NEW ZEALAND. 83 
 
 PROOFS. 
 The following are known, printed in black ink, on China or plate paper : 
 1st type. — Of the matrix with the bottom label for value left blank. 
 Is. (other values no doubt exist). 
 
 1873 Issue. — On glace paper (the paper of the issue) ; gummed, perforated, and 
 surcharged "specimen" in black (De la Rue and Co.). 
 
 Id., red-brown. 
 
 2d., ultramarine-blue. 
 
 3d., mauve. 
 
 4d., carmine-rose. 
 6d., fawn-brown. 
 Is., full green. 
 
 NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS. 
 Issue I. April 1st, 1878. 
 One value. On stoutish white un watermarked paper. Size 12£ x 4 inches, or 
 315 x 97 mm. ; brown gum. Stamp of the same design as the Halfpenny News- 
 paper Stamp. Above, in an oblong label, the four angles of which are broken by- 
 ornaments, is printed in four lines — "This wrapper may only be used for News- 
 papers, and must not enclose any letter or communication of the nature of a letter 
 (whether separate or otherwise). If this rule be infringed, letter rates will be 
 
 charged." (Illustration 38.) 
 
 £d., carmine. 
 
 Note. — The gummed flap is found with the corners cut square, and with the 
 corners cut off. 
 
 Issue II. 1881. 
 
 Same as the preceding, but printed on thinner toned paper, watermarked with a 
 crown between two large five-pointed stars, and with the inscription, " One Half- 
 penny, New Zealand," in two lines, in large block capitals, the initial letters being 
 larger than the others. Size 11x4 inches, or 275 x 95 mm. (Illustration 38.) 
 
 £d., carmine. 
 
 Remarks. — Specimens are known with the watermark reversed. The size of 
 this wrapper and that of the preceding issues varies from 5 to 10 mm. The 
 varieties are probably accidental, and not worth separate classification. 
 
 OFFICIAL WRAPPERS. 
 
 M. Moens catalogues two wrappers for official use, presumably issued in 1885, 
 bearing the arms of Great Britain and an inscription, "on public service" — 
 "new Zealand gazette" — "exempt from postage." No value is expressed. 
 Two varieties are mentioned, on white and blue paper. 
 
 POST CARDS. 
 Issue I. November, 1876. 
 One value. Printed upon medium light buff card. Size 5 x 3f\ inches. At the 
 top of the card there are three lines of inscription — first, " post card " in Roman 
 capitals, the two words being separated by the Royal Arms ; second, "new Zealand " 
 in small block letters, directly beneath the Arms ; third, " the address only to be 
 written on this side," in larger block letters. The stamp — type of adhesive, 
 issue IX., 1873 — is in the upper right corner. The design of the card is completed 
 by a border composed of trefoil ornaments, within thin inner and thick outer lines ; 
 size 4^- x 2i£ inches. (Illustration 55.) 
 
 Id., pale to deep brown. 
 
84 ' NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 Issue H. 1881. 
 One value. Precisely similar to the last issue, except that the two lines of the 
 border of the card are considerably thicker. 
 
 Id., pale to deep brown. 
 
 Issue III. 1886. 
 One value. The same as the last issue, but with a different ornamental border 
 of slightly larger dimensions. Size 4-^ x 2f inches. {Illustration 58.) 
 
 Id., brown (shades). 
 
 REPLY PAID CARD. 
 
 Issue I. 1886. 
 
 One value. Printed upon medium light buff card. Size when open, 4|$ x 6i 
 inches. The arms, stamps, and inscriptions are the same as those on the single 
 cards, with the exception that the words "new," " Zealand," "the," "address," 
 " only," " written," and " side," have the initial letter in larger type than the rest 
 of the word, and these two lines of the inscription are differently spaced. Under 
 "new Zealand," on the first half, are the words "with reply card," in block letters, 
 within brackets ; and under " the address only," &c, on the second half, " reply 
 card," in Koman capitals. The borders of the cards are composed of intertwined 
 cords, with square block at the four corners containing cross-like ornaments. Size, 
 4f% x 2f inches. The cards are folded between the two halves, rouletted 7£, and 
 the inscriptions, &c, are printed upon the first and fourth pages. {Illustration 59.) 
 
 Id. + Id., brown (shades). 
 
 FISCAL STAMPS USED FOR POSTAGE. 
 
 From 1881 the fiscal stamps of this colony have been available for postage. 
 In some cases there is no doubt of the bond fide use ; but in the majority there is 
 equally little doubt that unused specimens of the various issues were hunted up 
 and used for the benefit of collectors. To give a detailed list of the varieties thus 
 used would be attaching undue importance to stamps which do not possess any 
 special significance. 
 
QUEENSLAND 
 
 Issue I. Early in 1861. 
 
 Four values. Engraved on steel (by Humphreys), and printed in taille-douce 
 by Perkins, Bacon, and Co., of London, on stoutish white wove paper ; white gum ; 
 watermark, large six-rayed star. Design : Full-faced diademed portrait of Queen 
 Victoria, in low-necked dress, with conspicuous necklace and ear-rings, on ground of 
 vertical and horizontal lines, enframed in a white oval border, inscribed with name 
 of colony above, and value below in coloured block letters. Arabesques on either 
 side separate the two inscriptions. The spandrels are filled in with reticulations, 
 and two plain outer lines complete the design. {Illustration 56.) 
 
 T. "QUEENSLAND." B. " ONE PENNY," "TWO PENCE," " SIX PENCE," " ONE SHILLING." 
 
 Id., carmine ; imperforate. 
 2d., deep blue „ 
 
 6d., dark green „ 
 Is., grey-lilac „ 
 
 Judging from the scarcity of most of these stamps, especially the Two Pence and 
 Shilling, it was probably not long before they were superseded by a perforated series 
 of the same values, with a Three Pence added of similar design. 
 
 Id., carmine \ 
 
 2d., blue, deep blue . . ,, , . " _ 
 
 3d dark brown L (a) Roughly punctured 15. 
 
 _ ,'' , [(b) Clean cut machine-perf. 14, 15. 
 
 6d., green, deep green v ' r > 
 
 Is., greyish-lilac, brownish-lilac J 
 
 Remarks. — A specimen of the Penny, imperforated, with postmark of Bath, 
 England, 23rd August, 1861, was shown. A copy of the Six Pence is known upon 
 thin pelure paper ; watermarked. 
 
 There are two sizes of the star watermarks on the perforated stamps, and 
 complete sets are found of each variety. It seems probable that both varieties of 
 watermark exist on the same sheet. 
 
 Issue II. 1864. 
 
 Five values. In every way similar to the preceding, but printed on stout, soft, 
 yellowish, un watermarked wove paper. {Illustration 56.) 
 
 Id., brown-orange, orange-vermilion \ 
 
 2d., pale to deep blue (shades) 
 
 3d., brown ( „ ) l roughly perf. 13. 
 
 6d., green, and yellow-green ( „ ) 
 
 Is., brownish-grey ( „ ) ) 
 
 Varieties. — The Two Pence, blue, and the Six Pence, yellow-green, imperforate. 
 The Two Pence, blue, exists on blued paper. 
 
86 QUEENSLAND. 
 
 Issue III 1866. 
 Two values. Identical in design with the preceding, but lithographed on 
 stout, soft, yellowish un watermarked paper. {Illustration 56.) 
 4d., dull violet (shades) j 
 4d., slate-grey ( „ ) \ roughly perf. 13. 
 5s., rose ( „ ) J 
 
 Varieties. — There are at least three varieties of the Four Pence, arising from 
 the size and shape of the letters comprising the word " four," and its distance from 
 " pence ; " similar varieties occur in the Five Shillings. 
 
 Issue IV. 1866. 
 
 Three values. Of preceding design, printed in taille-douce on medium white 
 paper ; watermarked with the star of the first issue, and perforated with a square 
 punch-like perforation gauging 13. {Illustration 56.) 
 
 Id., orange-vermilion. 
 
 2d., blue (shades). 
 
 6d., yellow-green (shades). 
 
 Issue V. 1867. 
 Two values. Of preceding design, printed in taille-douce on medium white 
 wove paper; watermarked in the sheet with "Queensland Postage Stamps" in large 
 script capital letters. White and brown gum. {Illustration 56.) 
 Id., orange-vermilion ; roughly perf. 13. 
 2d., blue (shades) „ 
 
 Issue VI. 1868. 
 Two values. Of preceding design, printed in taille-douce on medium white 
 wove paper ; watermarked in the sheet with " Queensland " in large single-lined 
 Eoman capitals, and with a small six-rayed truncated star to each stamp. White 
 and brown gum. {Illustration 56.) 
 
 Id., orange-vermilion ; roughly perf. 13. 
 2d., blue (shades) „ 
 
 Remarks. — Many of the stamps show the star watermark only, and no stamp 
 can show more than a portion of one of the letters forming the word "Queensland." 
 
 Issue VII. 1869. 
 
 Three values. Of preceding design, printed in taille-douce, on white wove 
 paper, varying in substance, and watermarked with a crown over the letter "q.'' 
 {Illustration 56.) 
 
 Id., orange-vermilion (shades) ; perf. 13, clean and rough perf. 
 
 2d., blue ( „ ) „ and 12 „ 
 
 6d., yellow-green and green ( „ ) „ „ „ 
 
 Varieties. — The One Penny and Two Pence exist imperforate. 
 
 Issue VHI. 1872-75. 
 Three values. Of preceding design, printed in taille-douce, on white wove paper, 
 varying in substance, and watermarked with " Queensland " and truncated star, as 
 in the issue of 1868. {Illustration 56.) 
 
 3d., brown (shades) 
 
 3d., greenish^brown (shades) 
 
 6d., deep green I f 13 
 
 6d., yellow-green 
 
 Is., reddish-brown (shades) 
 
 Is., bright mauve 
 
QUEENSLAND. 87 
 
 Issue IX. June, 1875. 
 
 Four values. Of preceding designs, printed in taille-douce, on white wove paper, 
 varying in substance, and watermarked with Crown over "q," as in the issue of 
 1869. {Illustration 56.) 
 
 Id., rose-red (shades) \ 
 
 1876. 3d., brown ( „ ) I 
 
 6d., green, yellow-green, emerald-green ( „ ) | 
 
 Is., mauve, bright mauve ( „ ) J 
 
 Varieties. — The Six Pence, printed in emerald-green, and the One Shilling, in 
 bright mauve, may be found un watermarked. 
 
 Issue X. 1875-81-83. 
 
 Six values. Of preceding designs, lithographed on thinnish white paper ; water- 
 mark, Crown over "q." (Illustrations 56, 60.) 
 
 4d., yellow, canary-yellow \ 
 
 2s., deep to pale blue (shades) 
 
 2s. 6d., vermilion ( „ ) _ 
 
 5s., orange-brown, pale to deep ( „ ) f 
 10s., brown ( „ ) 
 
 20s., rose-pink ( „ ) 
 
 Remarks. — The higher values of this issue were no doubt primarily intended to 
 serve as fiscals, but all have done postal service. 
 
 Issue XL 1879-80. 
 
 Five values. Lithographed in the colony, on medium white paper ; watermarked 
 Crown over "q;" white gum. Design: Apart from the portrait of Her Majesty, 
 which is a diademed profile to left on ground of horizontal lines, the design of this 
 series is a copy of the original one. The name of colony and value in full are 
 found in the same positions, but in white block capitals on a coloured oval, and the 
 inscriptions are separated by arabesques. The spandrels are filled in with network, 
 and two plain outer lines complete the design. (Illustration 61.) 
 
 T. "QUEENSLAND." B. " ONE PENNY," "TWO PENCE," " POUR PENCE," " SIX PENCE," 
 
 "ONE SHILLING." 
 
 July, 1879. Id., brown-orange, deep vermilion, rose-red (shades) \ 
 
 2d., pale, chalky-, and ultramarine-blue ( „ ) 
 Dec, 1879. 4d., orange-yellow ( „ ) I roughly pert 12. 
 
 March, 1880. 6d., green, yellow-green ( „ ) 
 
 Nov., 1880. Is., violet-mauve ( „ ) , 
 
 Error. — A One Penny, yellow, found its way into one or more of the sheets of 
 Four Pence. The mistake seems to have been soon corrected. 
 
 Varieties. — The One Penny exists imperforate. The " u " of Queensland, owing 
 to defective printing, is more like an " o " on certain of the One Penny stamps. In 
 some of the One Shilling stamps the " i " is so long as to break into the upper part 
 of the oval. Many minor varieties can be found in the lettering of all the 
 values. 
 
 Issue XIL April, 1880. 
 
 One provisional value, formed by surcharging the last issued One Penny, 
 " halfpenny," vertically down the centre of the stamp, reading upwards. (Illustration 
 
 "^•/ |d., brownish-orange (shades) ; black surcharge ; perf. 12. 
 
88 QUEENSLAND. 
 
 Variety. — Of course, the defective "u" and the other varieties are to be 
 found on this as on the unsurcharged value. 
 
 Remarks. — This stamp was prepared for the purpose of making up a rate of 
 1|4., which was at that time charged on newspapers between Queensland and the 
 United Kingdom, and before a special stamp of that value could be procured the 
 rate was changed. 
 
 1880. 
 
 Of the preceding type the One Penny and Two Pence, unwater marked, with a 
 purple band of burele pattern on the back, were used. This paper appears to have 
 been formerly employed for fiscal stamps. 
 
 Issue XIII. May, 1882. 
 
 Five values. Engraved and printed in taille-douce on white wove paper; 
 watermarked Crown over "q;" white gum. Design: Portrait of Queen Victoria, 
 as in the first issues, on ground of horizontal lines within pearled oval border. 
 White curved band with straight ends, above portrait, lettered with name of colony 
 in coloured block type. A similar coloured band beneath portrait with value in 
 full in white block letters. Coloured circles in each corner with numeral of value. 
 The remainder of the stamp is filled in with background of horizontal lines and 
 arabesques, and an ornamental border completes the design. Shape, large upright 
 rectangular. {Illustrations 64, 65.) 
 
 T. " QUEENSLAND." B. " TWO SHILLINGS," " TWO SHILLINGS AND SIX PENCE," 
 "FIVE SHILLINGS," "TEN SHILLINGS," " ONE POUND." 
 
 2s., ultramarine > 
 
 2s. 6d., scarlet- vermilion 
 5s., carmine l perf. 12. 
 
 10s., dark brown 
 1883. £1, deep green J 
 
 Remarks. — Prom the omission of the words "Stamp Duty" it is evident that 
 these stamps were intended to fulfil a double service, and they seem to be used 
 both postally and fiscally. 
 
 Issue XIV. 1883. 
 
 Five values. Lithographed and printed in the colony on medium white wove 
 paper; watermarked Crown over "q;" white gum. Design : These stamps are very 
 similar in design to the issue of 1879-80. The execution is somewhat bolder and 
 better ; the spandrels are filled in with horizontal lines, and ornamented with 
 arabesques, and there is a pearled outer border. Shape, upright rectangular. 
 {Illustration 63.) 
 
 T. "QUEENSLAND." B. " ONE PENNY," "TWO PENCE," "FOUR PENCE," " SIX PENCE," 
 
 "ONE SHILLING." 
 
 Id., vermilion, red, pale, and dark ; perf. 12. 
 2d., ultramarine-, chalky-blue ; perf. 12. 
 4d., yellow „ 
 
 6d., green „ 
 
 Is., mauve „ 
 
 Error. Id., yellow, printed in the colour of the 4d. 
 
 Varieties. — In some of the One Penny stamps the first " e " of Queensland is 
 an " f," in others it resembles an " s." In some of the Six Penny stamps the " c " 
 of Pence is a distinct " o," and other varieties in the lettering are to be found. 
 
QUEENSLAND. 89 
 
 STAMPS FOR REGISTERED LETTERS. 
 
 One value. Engraved and printed in taille-douce by Perkins, Bacon, and Co. 
 Identical in design with the other stamps of the first issue, but having the word 
 "Registered" in block type beneath the portrait instead of value; watermarked large 
 six-rayed star. {Illustration 57.) 
 
 Nov., 1861. (6d.), dull ochre, olive-yellow (shades) ; perf. 14, 15. 
 
 1865. (6d.), yellow, bright yellow ( „ ) ; square perf. 13. 
 
 Variety. — The (6d.), bright yellow, is known imperforate. 
 
 REGISTRATION ENVELOPES. 
 
 Issue I. 1880. 
 
 One value (probably Four Pence). In paper, size, inscriptions, gum, &c, the 
 
 envelope is very similar to that already described for New South Wales, and to the 
 
 English Registered envelope of 1878, size G. The inscriptions, however, on the face 
 
 are in rather thicker block letters, printed closer together ; and the rectangle for the 
 
 stamp is larger, measuring 25 x 23mm. There is no stamp on the flap, beneath 
 
 which are the words " Mc. Corquodale and Co., Contractors." Size 6 x 3* inches, 
 
 or 152 x 97mm. 
 
 Without value (4d. ]) vermilion. 
 
 Remarks. — M. Moens catalogues an envelope similar to the above, but measuring 
 97 x 52mm. This is probably a misprint for 152mm. No such size is known to 
 the Society among the Registered envelopes of either Great Britain or the colonies, 
 and the specimen described above is doubtless what M. Moens refers to. 
 
 POST CARDS. 
 Issue I. End, 1880. 
 
 One value. Lithographed upon thick white, and light buff card, varying in 
 substance. Size 5f x 3f inches. At the top of the card in the centre there is a 
 fancy oblong label with moire groundwork, bearing two lines of inscription, first 
 "post card" in plain Roman capitals; second, "Queensland Australia," in coloured 
 block letters. Below the label, and between two straight lines is "the address only 
 to be written on this side." On the right side of the label is the stamp, which 
 consists of the oval portion of the first issued adhesives, with an extra outer line 
 of colour; and on the left are the Royal Arms, Crown, Supporters, and Motto. 
 Lower down to left is the word " To " in script type, followed by four dotted lines 
 for the address. The design of the card is completed by a fancy ornamental border 
 composed of intertwined cords, size 5-fo x 3^ inches. (Illustration 66.) 
 
 Id., carmine, rose (shades), on thick white card. 
 Id. „ „ on thick light buff card. 
 
 Id. „ „ on thinner „ surfaced card. 
 
 1884. Id., lake „ „ „ 
 
 FISCAL STAMPS USED POSTALLY. 
 
 During the years 1880-1883 several values of the fiscal stamps were used to 
 defray postage. They are all inscribed " Stamp Duty," and range in value from One 
 Penny to One Pound. 
 
 A list of the varieties will not be necessary, but it should be added that these 
 stamps appear to have been more legitimately used for postage than in certain other 
 cases mentioned in this work. 
 
 N 
 
SAMOA ISLANDS. 
 
 Issue 1877-81. 
 Seven values. Lithographed in colour upon white paper of medium substance 
 by Messrs. S. T. Lee & Co., of Pitt Street, Sydney, and by them supplied to Messrs. 
 Griffiths & Co., Sydney, agents for Samoa ; the stone being altered for each value. 
 White gum; no watermark, machine-perforated 13. Design: in the centre a circle 
 of solid colour, with white frame containing irregular coloured dots. In the upper 
 and lower parts of the circle white arabesque ornaments. A straight label crosses 
 the middle of the stamp, debruising the circle and its ornaments, bearing the in- 
 scription in white block letters upon ground of horizontal line, " express." Curved 
 white labels, ornamented with arabesques above and below the circle, inscribed 
 with coloured letters. The design is completed by a double outer line of colour. 
 (Illustration 67.) 
 
 t. " samoa." Centre, " express." b. " postage," and value in words. 
 December, 1877. Id., ultramarine (shades). 
 
 „ 3d., vermilion ( „ 
 
 „ 6d., mauve ( „ 
 
 May, 1881. 9d., red-brown ( „ 
 
 July (?), 1878. Is., ochre-yellow ( „ 
 „ 2s., chocolate-brown ( „ 
 
 „ 5s., emerald-green ( „ 
 
 Variety. Rouletted. July, 1877. 6d., mauve. 
 
 Remarks. — The above stamps do not constitute a Government issue. They 
 were employed for a Private Post first established in 1877 by Mr. W. E. Agar, for 
 the conveyance of letters from and to Apia and neighbouring islands and New 
 Zealand. In 1879, the undertaking was transferred to Mr. A. Speirs; and on his 
 death, in 1880, Mr. Griffiths, then residing at Apia, took over the concern, which 
 was abandoned in 1882, in consequence of its not paying, when, of course, the stamps 
 became obsolete. 
 
 The stamps are seldom found perforated on all four sides, so that probably some 
 of the sheets are imperforate vertically or horizontally. 
 
 The Six Pence, rouletted, is given on the authority of M. Moens. It is not 
 known to the Society. 
 
 REPRINTS. 
 
 After the discontinuance of the post in 1882 all the stamps were reprinted, and 
 a new value of Two Pence was added to them. The colours are for the most part 
 brighter, and the stamps are perforated 12 generally on all four sides. 
 
 Id., deep blue. 
 2d., violet-rose. 
 3d., rose-red. 
 6d., bright violet. 
 9d., pale red-brown. 
 Is., „ ochre-yellow. 
 2s., deep chocolate-brown. 
 5s., bright emerald-green. 
 
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Issue I. 1855-57. 
 Four values. Engraved on steel by W, Humphreys, and printed by Messrs. 
 Perkins, Bacon, & Co. Coloured impression upon stoutish white wove paper; brownish 
 gum ; watermark, a six-rayed star. Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to 
 left, upon engine-turned background, within a circle which nearly touches the sides 
 of the stamp ; white curved label above the circle, inscribed " south Australia " in 
 coloured Roman capitals. This label is shaded at the corners in the One Penny and 
 Six Penny values, and unshaded in the Two Pence and One Shilling. Straight coloured 
 labels at top and bottom of stamp, the upper one inscribed "postage," and the 
 lower one with the value in words, all in white Roman capitals, except in the One 
 Shilling, which has the value only in block letters. In the four corners are square 
 white blocks, containing eight-rayed stars, with hollow centre, the diagonal rays 
 of which are much thicker than the others, upon a background formed of two 
 square outlines, one within the other. The spandrels are filled in with diapered 
 groundwork. Shape, upright rectangular; imperforate. {Illustration 68.) 
 t. "postage." b. "one penny," "two pence," "six pence," and "one shilling." 
 
 October, 1855. Id., dark and yellow-green. 
 
 January, 1855. 2d., brick- and venetian-red (shades). 
 
 October, 1855. 6d., dark, purplish-, and chalky -blue. 
 
 July, 1857. Is., orange, light and dark. 
 
 Varieties. — The Two Pence is known watermarked, with a faulty star with 
 truncated points. 
 
 Issue II. 1859-62. 
 
 Five values, four of which are the same as those of the preceding issue in 
 design, paper, watermark, and gum, but differ somewhat in shade. The new value, 
 Nine Pence, is engraved on steel by C. H. Jeens for Perkins, Bacon, and Co., on 
 similar paper, has the same watermark and white gum. Design : A larger diademed 
 profile of Queen Victoria to left, upon reticulated background, Avithin a double 
 oval, which touches the top, bottom, and sides of the stamp. In the upper part of 
 the oval is " south Australia," and in the lower " nine pence," in coloured block 
 letters upon white. The sides of the oval are ornamented with open bars of coloured 
 lines, and the spandrels with reticulations. All the values in this issue are 
 rouletted 9. (Illustrations 68, 69.) 
 
 T. " SOUTH AUSTRALIA." B. " NINE PENCE." 
 
 1859. Id., dark green shades. 
 
 1862. 2d., vermilion, light (1860) and dark and venetian-red (shades). 
 
 October, 1862. 6d., violet- and chalky-blue (shades of each). 
 
 December, 1860. 9d., lilac, pale and dark. 
 
 1859. Is., orange- and canary -yellow. 
 
 Remarks. — A copy of the Nine Pence (of the dark and early shade) imperforate 
 was in the President's collection, but it ought probably to be classed as a proof. 
 
 The One Shilling, orange, is found printed on both sides. 
 
 In the later printings of this issue the paper varies very considerably in 
 texture ; and whilst the One Shilling value was entirely changed in colour, the others 
 
92 SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 exhibit varieties of shade, which are tabulated below in the order in which, judging 
 from postmarked specimens, they are supposed to have appeared. 
 
 1864. Id., full to light green, yellow-green. 
 
 1862. 2d., vermilion, dark to light, with variations caused by oxydisation. 
 November, 1863. 6d., Prussian-, deep, slaty-, and chalky-blue, ultramarine. 
 
 9d., greyish-lilac. 
 July, 1862. Is., deep reddish to pale brown. 
 
 Issue III July, 1866-67. 
 
 One value. This stamp is printed from the die of the Nine Pence, the original 
 value being obliterated by a curved surcharge of " ten pence," in Roman capitals, 
 printed in blue ink. Stoutish white paper ; yellow gum ; watermark unchanged ; 
 rouletted 9. {Illustration 70.) 
 
 10d., orange-red (July, 1866), canary-yellow (1867), blue surcharge. 
 
 Remarks. — There are in this and subsequent issues of the same value about six 
 varieties of surcharge arising from the greater or less curve of the inscription, and 
 some irregularities in the placing of the letters composing it in the form. 
 
 Issue IV. January, 1867. 
 Two values. Engraved on steel by C. H. Jeens for Perkins, Bacon, and Co. 
 Coloured impression on stout and thin white wove paper ; white and brown gum : 
 same watermark. Design : Diademed profile of Queen to left, on engine-turned 
 ground, within a circle consisting of a simple white line, " south Australia " above, 
 and value in words beneath the circle in white Roman capitals ; conventional scroll 
 ornaments at the top and sides of stamp, which, owing to the want of an outer-line 
 border, has a somewhat unfinished appearance. Shape, upright rectangular; rouletted 9. 
 (Illustration 71.) 
 
 T. "SOUTH AUSTRALIA." B. "FOUR PENCE," "TWO SHILLINGS." 
 
 4d., dull purple, light and dark. 
 2s., carmine. 
 
 Issue V. September, 1868. 
 One value. This stamp, type-printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., is a copy, 
 upon a somewhat reduced scale, of the immediately preceding design. The back- 
 ground to the portrait is formed of horizontal lines instead of engine-turning. Coloured 
 impression upon white wove paper, varying in substance ; white gum ; watermark a 
 Crown, with the letters "s a" beneath it. Shape, upright rectangular. (Illustration 72. ) 
 
 T. "SOUTH AUSTRALIA." B. "TWO PENCE." 
 
 2d., orange, deep to light ; rouletted 9. 
 2d. „ „ perf. 11|. 
 
 Remarks. — The distance between the letters "sa" of the watermark varies 
 considerably on different stamps. This remark applies to all stamps with this 
 watermark. 
 
 Issue VI. 1868-9. 
 
 Seven values. Of the preceding types, watermarked with star, machine-perforated 
 11|-, otherwise unchanged. (Illustrations 68, 70, 71.) 
 Id., green, dark and light. 
 2d. (1st type), vermilion. 
 4d., dark purple. 
 
 6d., Prussian-, deep, and chalky-blue. 
 1869. 10d., orange and yellow, blue surcharge. 
 Is., red-brown (shades). 
 2s., carmine ( „ ) 
 
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 93 
 
 Varieties. — The One Penny, Four Pence, Six Pence, Ten Pence, and One 
 Shilling are found machine-perforated 11 £ horizontally, and rouletted 9 vertically. 
 The Two Shilling is met with without vertical perforation between certain rows of 
 stamps. 
 
 The Ten Pence presents several varieties, which, from the difficulty experienced 
 in classifying them otherwise, are chronicled under this issue. 
 
 1st. Blue surcharge, watermarked Crown and " sa" instead of star ; perf. 11^. 
 2nd. 9d., without surcharge, star watermark ; printed in orange. 
 
 (a) Eouletted 9. 
 
 (b) Perforated 11 J, and rouletted 9. 
 
 This last and rare variety is due, in all likelihood, to the accidental omission of the 
 surcharge. Copies are to be met with which have passed through the post, the 
 absence of all surcharge not preventing the authorities from regarding them as of 
 the postal value of Ten Pence, rather than of the apparent facial value of Nine Pence. 
 
 Issue VII. 1869. 
 
 Two values. Of preceding types ; watermarked star ; rouletted 9. {Illustrations 
 
 72, 70.) 
 
 2d. (type 2), orange-red. 
 10d., yellow, bright and pale ; black surcharge. 
 
 Varieties. — The Ten Pence is found with the surcharge inverted, and printed 
 above instead of below the head. 
 
 Issue VIH. 1870. 
 
 Three values. Two varieties of the Two Pence (type 2) were issued in this 
 year : the first is perforated 10 horizontally, and rouletted vertically ; and the 
 second is machine-perforated 10 throughout. Both varieties are watermarked with 
 Crown and "s a." A new value was formed by printing a stamp from the Four Penny 
 die, in ultramarine, and obliterating the original value by printing over it, in a 
 straight line, "3 pence," in carmine. This stamp is machine-perforated 10; water- 
 mark star. The Ten Pence was surcharged in black instead of blue. {Illustrations 
 72, 75, 70.) 
 
 2d. (type 2), orange-red (shades) ; perf. 10, and rouletted 9. 
 2d. ( „ ) „ to yellow „ 10. 
 
 August, 1870. 3d., ultramarine, carmine surcharge „ 10. 
 
 1869 (?). 10d., orange-yellow, black „ „ ll£. 
 
 In August, 1870, the surcharge on the Three Pence value, just described, was 
 altered, being printed in black instead of carmine, and the machine-perforation was 
 changed to 11^; watermark star, as before. 
 
 3d., ultramarine ; black surcharge. 
 
 Variety. — Identical in shade and perforation with the above, the Four Penny 
 stamp exists unsurcharged. Whether this stamp represents a Four Penny label 
 printed in the wrong colour, or a Three Pence with the surcharge accidentally omitted, 
 it is not easy to determine. 
 
 Issue IX. 1871. 
 
 Six values. Of preceding types ; watermark star. This emission was originally, 
 we believe, issued with a regular machine-perforation of 10. In course of time, 
 however, it became extremely irregular, and compound perforations of 11^x10, 
 
94 SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 12 x 10, 13 x 10, ll^x 12£, and probably others, are commonly met with. (Illus- 
 trations 68, 75, 71.) 
 
 Id., bright and yellow-green. 
 
 3d., ultramarine, Prussian-blue, black surcharge. 
 
 4d., lilac (shades), dark grey. 
 
 6d., deep blue, ultramarine (1886). 
 
 Is., red-brown. 
 
 2s., deep carmine. 
 
 Issue X. 1871. 
 
 Two values. Consisting of the Two Pence (type 2) and the Four Pence perforated 
 10, and watermarked with a Crown and "v." These two stamps probably deserve 
 to be classed as errors, having evidently been printed by mistake upon paper 
 intended for stamps of Victoria. (Illustrations 72, 71.) 
 
 2d. (type 2), orange- red (shades). 
 4d., dull purple and slate. 
 
 Issue XL 1872. 
 
 One value. This is the original Nine Penny value revived ; printed on rather 
 thinner and inferior paper to that employed for the old Nine Pence ; watermark 
 unchanged ; machine-perforated 11|-. (Illustration 69.) 
 
 9d., lilac-grey. 
 
 9d., reddish-lilac, varying to mauve. 
 
 Varieties. — This stamp and the Two Pence (type 2) exist with a double per- 
 foration. Specimens have been seen rouletted, and in addition perf. 11 £ all round. 
 Other specimens of the Nine Pence are known, printed in rose ; but the colour has 
 probably been chemically changed. 
 
 Issue XII. 1874. 
 
 One value. The makeshift Ten Pence surcharged in black, and perf. 10. 
 
 (Illustration 70.) . 
 
 10d., bright yellow, black surcharge. 
 
 Issue XIII. January, 1875. 
 
 One value. Type-printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. Coloured impression on 
 white surfaced paper of medium substance; white gum; watermark Crown and "sa." 
 Design : Diademed profile of Queen to left, on ground of horizontal lines, within 
 double-lined oval ; curved label above the oval, and straight label below, occupying 
 the whole width of the stamp — the first inscribed "south Australia," and the 
 second with value in words, all in white block letters upon coloured ground. The 
 sides and spandrels of the stamp are filled in with foliate and arabesque ornaments. 
 Shape, upright rectangular ; various perforations. (Illustration 76.) 
 
 Id. (type 2), green (shades) ; perf. 10, 11, 12£, and compound. 
 
 Issue XIV. September, 1876. 
 
 One value. That most useful die of the early Nine Pence is again brought into 
 requisition. A stamp is struck from it of a burnt-sienna colour, and the original 
 value is obliterated by a black surcharge of "a pence." Medium white wove paper; 
 white gum; watermark, star; machine-perf. 13. (Illustration 77.) 
 8d., burnt-sienna ; black surcharge. 
 
 Remarks. — Other perforations than 13 are also to be found, 11| x 12| ; indeed, 
 most of the perforations are compound. 
 
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 95 
 
 Issue XV. 1880. 
 
 During this year the Four Pence, whilst remaining unaltered in other respects, 
 underwent a considerable change in colour. {Illustration 71.) 
 
 4d., reddish -purple. 
 
 Issue XVI. January 1st, 1882. Provisional. 
 
 One value. This is the Penny green, of 1875, converted provisionally into a 
 Halfpenny stamp by means of a black surcharge, " half penny " in block letters, 
 and in two lines; a black bar obliterating the original value "one penny." In 
 other respects the stamps are the same. [Illustration 78.) 
 
 £d., black and green ; perf. 10. 
 
 Issue XVII. March, 1883. 
 
 One value. Engraved and type-printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., in 
 colour, upon medium white wove paper; watermark, Crown and "sa;" white gum. 
 Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines, 
 enclosed in an octagonal frame. Above and below are two labels of solid colour, 
 inscribed in small white block letters. The spandrels are filled in with small 
 triangular colour blocks, each containing a white dot, and the design is completed by 
 a single outer-line of colour ; perf. 10. Shape, small upright rectangular. {Illus- 
 tration 79.) 
 
 t. "south Australia" (in two lines), b. "halfpenny." 
 
 |d., reddish-brown. 
 
 Issue XVIII. 1884 (?). Provisional (?). 
 
 One value. Engraved and type-printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. 
 
 Coloured impression on white wove unwatermarked paper ; white gum. Design : 
 
 Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on solid ground, enclosed by a single 
 
 white oval line. Below the oval is a straight label of colour, inscribed "halfpenny" 
 
 in white Roman capitals. The spandrels are filled in with arabesques, and the 
 
 design is completed by a double outer-line of colour. Shape, upright rectangular ; 
 
 machine-perf. 12. {Illustration 74.) 
 
 £d., mauve. 
 
 Remarks. — This stamp is identical with that found upon the wrappers (type II.), 
 described below. It is printed upon the same paper, and it seems probable that, 
 during a temporary exhaustion of the stock of the current Halfpenny, the dies used 
 for the wrappers were set up, and a few sheets of stamps printed from them. The 
 only specimen known to the Society is used upon an ordinary wrapper, the stamp 
 of which is of the same type, the two together making up the postal rate of Id. 
 
 Issue XIX. August, 1885. 
 
 One value. Same in every respect to the Halfpenny of 1883, but changed in 
 
 colour. {Illustration 79.) 
 
 Jd., green. 
 
 Note. — This stamp is catalogued by M. Moens, but it does not appear to have 
 been issued. An imperforate pair exists in the collection of the Vice-President. 
 
96 
 
 SO UTH . A USTRALIA. 
 
 REPRINTS. 
 
 In 1885 a reprint of the various South Austra 
 understood, to oblige a collector. All the specimens 
 face, in black Roman capitals, with the exception o 
 green, which is surcharged " reprint " in red. They 
 
 (A) Imperf. Id., green, light yellow-green 
 
 2d., rose-red 
 6d., indigo-blue 
 
 (B) Rouletted. Id., olive-green 
 
 2d., pale and bright vermilion 
 
 2d., reddish-brown 
 
 6d., pale blue, dark lilac 
 
 9d., dull lilac 
 10d., orange, blue surcharge 
 10d., canary-yellow, blue surcharge 
 
 Is., canary-yellow 
 
 Is., brown 
 
 (C) Perf. 12. 3d., blue, red surcharge 
 
 3d., blue, black surcharge 
 4d., purple-black, mauve 
 4d., dark lilac 
 6d., blue 
 
 8d., reddish-brown, black surcharge 
 8d., brown, black surcharge 
 9d., mauve 
 
 10d., orange-yellow, black surcharge 
 Is., brown 
 2s., carmine 
 (D) Perf. 10. £d., orange, black surcharge (Moens) 
 ^d., green, black surcharge 
 Jd., brown 
 Id., green 
 2d., orange 
 8d., brown, black surcharge 
 
 ian stamps was taken, it is 
 have " reprint " struck On the 
 the provisional Halfpenny, 
 may be classified as follows : 
 
 Type 1855). 
 
 „ )• 
 
 * )• 
 
 „ )• 
 
 n )• 
 1868). 
 
 1855). 
 I860). 
 1866). 
 1867). 
 1857). 
 1862). 
 1870). 
 1870). 
 1867). 
 1867). 
 1855). 
 1876). 
 1876). 
 1872). 
 1869). 
 1862). 
 1867). 
 1882). 
 1882). 
 1883). 
 1875). 
 1882). 
 1876). 
 
 OFFICIAL OR DEPARTMENTAL STAMPS. 
 
 To describe in detail the immense number of varieties which exist of these 
 stamps would prove a most tedious task, and the result would be of doubtful 
 interest. When we have given a list of the various surcharges and their significa- 
 tion, and have pointed out which of the values so surcharged are least frequently 
 met with, we do not consider ourselves further called upon to trace the surcharges 
 upon all the varieties of stamps which we have enumerated in the reference list of 
 postage stamps proper. Suffice it to say, that the lettering is found printed in 
 various colours upon almost every variety of type, colour, shade, watermark, and 
 perforation. 
 
 The use of stamps surcharged with certain capital letters, forming the initials 
 of the Department of Government in which they were used, probably commenced 
 in 1863, as we find the surcharges on the rouletted stamps of that issue, but not on 
 those of the two previous ones. They continued in use until about eight years ago, 
 since when all stamps, we believe, employed to frank official correspondence have 
 been indifferently surcharged " o. s.," which signifies, " On Service," or " Official 
 Service." The surcharge is in block letters, with a stop, as a rule, after each. 
 
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 97 
 
 LIST OF SURCHARGES. 
 
 A. 
 
 in black and red 
 
 . Architect. 
 
 A.G. 
 
 „ black, red, and blue . 
 
 . Attorney-General. 
 
 A.O. 
 
 11 11 >> • • 
 
 . Audit Office. 
 
 B.D. 
 
 „ red . . 
 
 . Barrack Department. 
 
 B.G. 
 
 „ black 
 
 . Botanical Gardens. 
 
 B.M. 
 
 „ red . 
 
 . Board of Magistrates. 
 
 C. 
 
 „ black, blue, and red . 
 
 . Customs. 
 
 CD. 
 
 „ „ and red 
 
 . Convict Department. 
 
 C.L. 
 
 „ „ blue, and red . 
 
 . Crown Lands. 
 
 CO. 
 
 „ „ and red 
 
 . Commissariat Office. 
 
 C.S. 
 
 „ „ red, and blue . 
 
 . Colonial Secretary. 
 
 CS« n - 
 
 „ „ and red (2 types) 
 
 . Colonial Surgeon. 
 
 C.P. 
 
 „ red 
 
 . Commissioner of Police (?). 
 
 D.B. 
 
 „ black, blue, and red . 
 
 . Destitute Board. 
 
 D.R.. 
 
 m n 
 
 . Deed Registry. 
 
 E. 
 
 „ „ red, and blue . 
 
 . Engineer. 
 
 E.B. 
 
 „ black and blue 
 
 . Education Board. 
 
 G.P. 
 
 „ „ red, and blue . 
 
 . Government Printer. 
 
 G.S. 
 
 „ red 
 
 . Government Survey. 
 
 G.T. 
 
 „ black and red 
 
 . Goolwa Tramway. 
 
 H. 
 
 »> » • 
 
 . (?). 
 
 H.A. 
 
 „ „ and red 
 
 . House of Assembly. 
 
 H.G. 
 
 n n • 
 
 . . <?)• . . 
 
 I.A. 
 
 „ red 
 
 . Immigration Agent. 
 
 I.E. 
 
 „ black 
 
 . . <u 
 
 I.S. 
 
 „ red and black 
 
 . Inspector of Sheep. 
 
 L.A. 
 
 „ black and red 
 
 . Lunatic Asylum. 
 
 L.C. 
 
 „ red and black 
 
 . Legislative Council. 
 
 L.L. 
 
 it ii • • 
 
 . Legislative Library. 
 
 L.T. 
 
 „ black, blue, and red . 
 
 . Land Tenures. 
 
 M. 
 
 „ ,, and red 
 
 . Militia (?). 
 
 M.B. 
 
 ii it it • 
 
 . Marine Board. 
 
 M.R. 
 
 a ii ii • 
 
 . Marine Registry (?). 
 
 M.R.G. „ ,, and blue 
 
 . Manager Railway, Gambier Town 
 
 N.T. 
 
 ii ii • • 
 
 . • (?)• 
 
 0. 
 
 ji ii - • 
 
 . Ordnance (?). 
 
 O.A. 
 
 „ „ red, and blue . 
 
 . Official Assignee. 
 
 O.S. 
 
 ii ii 
 
 . On Service. 
 
 O.S. 
 
 surcharge inverted on Id. (1875) 
 
 
 P. 
 
 in black 
 
 . Police. 
 
 P.A. 
 
 „ „ and red 
 
 . Protector of Aborigines. 
 
 P.O. 
 
 „ „ red, and blue . 
 
 . Post Office. 
 
 P.O. 
 
 2nd type in long thinner capitals 
 
 
 P.S. 
 
 in black and red 
 
 . Principal Secretary. 
 
 P.W. 
 
 ii ii ii • 
 
 . Public Works. 
 
 R.B. 
 
 „ red, blue, and black . 
 
 . Road Board. 
 
 B.G. 
 
 „ black, red, and blue . 
 
 . Registrar-General. 
 
 S. 
 
 „ red, blue, and black . 
 
 . Sheriff. 
 
 S.C 
 
 „ black, red, and blue . 
 
 . Supreme Court. 
 
 S.G. 
 
 ii ii ii 
 
 . Solicitor-General. 
 
 S.M. 
 
 ii ii ii • 
 
 . Stipendiary Magistrate. 
 
 S.P. 
 
 ii ii • • 
 
 . Superintendent of Prisons (?). 
 
 S.T. 
 
 „ „ red, and blue . 
 
 . Superintendent of Telegraphs. 
 
 T. 
 
 ii a ii 
 
 . Treasury. 
 
 T.B,. 
 
 ii ii • • 
 
 . • (?)• 
 
 V. 
 
 „ red 
 
 . Volunteers. 
 
 V.A. 
 
 „ black 
 
 . Volunteer Artillery. 
 
 W. 
 
 ii ii 
 
 . Waterworks. 
 
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 The above surcharges are common on the Id. (type 1 ), rouletted and perf. 
 
 Scarce except o.s. 
 
 » 
 
 Id. (type 2). 
 
 Common . 
 
 » 
 
 2d. (types 1 and 2), rouletted and perf. 
 
 Scarce 
 
 j> 
 
 3d., black surcharge. 
 
 Unknown (?) 
 
 » 
 
 3d., red. „ 
 
 Common . 
 
 » 
 
 4d. 
 
 j* 
 
 j» 
 
 6d., all shades, rouletted and perf. 
 
 o.s. Only 
 
 » 
 
 8d. 
 
 Scarce 
 
 >> 
 
 9d., grey-lilac. 
 
 o.s. Only 
 
 ») 
 
 9d., mauve (1872). 
 
 Scarce 
 
 »> 
 
 lOd. 
 
 Unknown (?) 
 
 » 
 
 Is., orange or yellow. 
 
 Common . 
 
 » 
 
 Is., brown, rouletted and perf. 
 
 Not many 
 
 »5 
 
 2s. 
 
 "TOO LATE" STAMPS. 
 
 It is doubtful whether stamps bearing this surcharge are worthy of any 
 attention. It is most probable that, as is the case with similar stamps in Trinidad, 
 the words, " Too late " are, at best, a postmark struck with a hand-stamp after the 
 letters have been posted. No " Too late " stamps are sold to the public in Trinidad, 
 and the unused specimens seen in collections have simply been stamped to order. 
 The following South Australian stamps are met with having this surcharge in black : 
 
 Id. (types 1 and 2). 
 
 2d. (type 2). 
 
 3d. (black surcharge). 
 
 43. 
 
 6d. 
 
 8d. 
 
 9d.j grey-lilac. 
 
 WRAPPERS. 
 
 Issue I. January 11th, 1882. Type I. 
 
 One value. Engraved and type-printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. 
 Coloured impression on medium white wove paper ; unwatermarked. The stamp is 
 in the right upper portion of the wrapper. Design : Diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left, on solid ground, enclosed by a single white oval line. Below the 
 oval is a straight label of solid colour, inscribed " halfpenny " in white Roman 
 capitals. The spandrels are filled in with arabesques, and the design is completed 
 by a double outer-line of colour. Shape, upright rectangular. 
 
 To the left of the stamp is the inscription " south Australia " and " newspaper 
 only," in two lines, the two former words being printed in Roman capitals, and the 
 latter in block letters. Between the words " south " and " Australia " are the arms 
 of Great Britain. Two sizes are found. {Illustration 73.) 
 
 Size A, 11£ x 4$j inches, or 290 x 110 mm. 
 Size B, 17f x 5f inches, or 443 x 145 mm. 
 
 Jd., bright mauve, dull mauve (shades). 
 
 Remark. — Specimens are met with so badly printed that the details of the 
 arabesques are almost obliterated. 
 
 Issue II. 1884. Type II 
 
 One value. Similar to the preceding, but differing in detail of the design. 
 The spandrels of the stamp are more ornamented ; the letters of " halfpenny " are 
 more spaced and slightly larger ; and the lines of shading on the neck of the bust 
 
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 99 
 
 are nearly horizontal, instead of being oblique. The lettering of " south Australia " 
 is considerably larger, and the Royal Arms are smaller. Two sizes, as before. 
 
 {Illustration 74.) 
 
 Size A, 11} x 4j^j inches, or 290 x 110 mm. 
 Size B, 17f x 53 inches, or 443 x 145 mm. 
 
 id., mauve (shades). 
 
 Remark. — The stamp of this wrapper is identical in type with the Halfpenny 
 adhesive of 1884. 
 
 Issue III. 1885. Type H. 
 
 One value. The same as the last issue, but printed upon manilla paper. Two 
 sizes A and B, as before. {Illustration 74.) 
 
 £d., mauve (shades). 
 
 OFFICIAL WRAPPERS. 
 Issue I. 1882. 
 
 One, value. Similar to the ordinary wrapper of the issue of January, 1882, but 
 
 the stamp is surcharged in black " o.s.," in large block letters. There are two types 
 
 of the surcharge, in one of which the letters "o.s." are larger and rounded than on 
 
 the other. 
 
 £d., mauve. Sizes A and B (?). 
 
 Issue II. 1884. 
 
 One value. In every way the same as the ordinary wrapper of this date ; but 
 the stamp is surcharged "o.s.," the same as in the preceding issue. 
 
 |d., mauve. Sizes A and B (?). 
 
 Issue III. 1885. 
 One value. The same as the last issue, but printed upon manilla paper. 
 £d., mauve. Sizes A and B (?). 
 
 POST CARDS. 
 Issue I. December, 1876. 
 
 One value. Printed upon medium light buff card. Size 4£ x 2 T 9 ^ inches. At 
 the top of the card there are two lines of inscription — first, " south Australia," in 
 thin Roman capitals, the two words being separated by the Royal Arms; second, 
 "post card," in larger Roman capitals. Lower down to left the word "To." The 
 stamp is in the right upper corner. Design : Diademed head of Queen Victoria to 
 left, in solid oval; solid label below inscribed "one penny," in Roman capitals; 
 spandrels and sides filled in with arabesques, all within treble-lined frame. The 
 design of the card is completed by a double-lined narrow ornamental border; size 
 4 tV x 2 I inches. {Illustration 80.) 
 
 Id., lilac (shades). 
 
 Variety. — The same, printed upon stout white cardboard, probably as proofs, 
 have passed through the post. 
 
100 SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 REPLY PAID CARDS. 
 
 Issue I. March, 1883. 
 
 One value. Similar in every way to the single card, except that the first half 
 has the words "with reply card," and the second half the word "reply," both in 
 fancy capitals above the Koyal Arms. The cards are folded along the top, perforated 
 6, and the design is impressed upon the first and third pages. 
 
 Id. + Id., rose. 
 
 OFFICIAL CARD. 
 
 Issue 1883(7). 
 
 One value. Consisting of the single card, with the stamp surcharged "as.," in 
 thick black block letters across the centre. There are two types of the surcharge, 
 one having the letters "o.s." larger and more rounded than the other. 
 
 Id., lilac (shades). 
 
 REPLY PAID OFFICIAL CARD. 
 
 Issue 1886. 
 
 One value. The ordinary reply paid card of March, 1883, with the stamp on 
 each half surcharged "o.s.," in thick black block letters across the centre. Only 
 one type of the surcharge, that with the larger letters, is known to the Society. 
 
 Id. + Id., rose. 
 
TASMANIA. 
 
 Issue I. 1st November, 1853. 
 
 Two values. Engraved in taille-douce by C. W. Coard, and printed in the colony 
 by A. and C. Best, on white wove paper, varying considerably in substance from stout 
 to nearly pelure ; brownish gum. Design : Diademed bust profile of Queen Victoria to 
 right, on ground of cross-hatched lines enframed by an oval border in the One 
 Penny, and an almost circular one in the Four Penny value. In each stamp the 
 border is white, and inscribed with name of colony above, and value in full below, 
 in coloured block letters. In the One Penny the oval is placed on an erect oblong 
 frame, cross-hatched and voided, and shaded at the corners. A single outer line 
 completes the design. In the Four Pence the circle is placed upon an octagonal 
 frame of reticulated groundwork, and a plain outer line completes the design. In 
 both values the letters " C. "W. C," the initials of the engraver, are cut on the 
 shoulder part of the bust. (Illustrations. Plates N, 0, P.) 
 
 t. "van diemen's land." b. "one penny," "four pence." 
 
 Id., blue, light blue. 
 
 4d., bright and dull orange-yellow, orange-red. 
 
 Variety. — The Four Pence is found in orange-red, on horizontally narrow laid 
 and on vertically wide laid paper. 
 
 Remarks. — Of both the Penny and Four Pence there were twenty-four stamps 
 to the sheet, in four horizontal rows of six ; and as these were separately engraved 
 by hand, there are twenty-four varieties of each value. The differences are minute, 
 and no errors exist. Specimens of both values are known, with a small triangular 
 hole punched out of them. The object of this is unknown ; but it is not improbable 
 that, like the Western Australians, it was to distinguish official correspondence. 
 
 An investigation by the Vice-President into the arrangement of the varieties 
 on the sheets, led to the discovery that two separate plates of the Four Pence were 
 prepared. The papers written on the subject for the Society, together with one by 
 Mr* Basset Hull, and a letter from Mr. W. F. Petterd, are here reprinted from 
 The Philatelic Record. 
 
 THE FOUE PENCE OF THE FIEST ISSUE OF TASMANIA. 
 
 A Paper Read before the Philatelic Society, London. 
 
 By T. K. TAPLING, M.P., Vice-President, 
 
 "Within the last three or four years a good deal of attention has been directed 
 to the issues of certain countries, the stamps of which were each separately en- 
 graved on the plates, and are consequently found in as many varieties of types as 
 there are stamps on the sheet. The examination of these varieties, and the attempts 
 to reconstitute the plates, have proved a most interesting branch of study, and have 
 led in some cases to discoveries of considerable importance. It occurred to me that 
 an occasional note on one or two matters not generally known could hardly fail to 
 be of interest to the members of the Society, and I will therefore ask you to give 
 
1()2 TASMANIA. 
 
 your attention for a few moments to the subject of these remarks — " The Four 
 Pence of the First Issue of Tasmania." The stamp in question is a most trouble- 
 some one, the differences of type being very minute, and the difficulty of identifying 
 the varieties being largely increased by the colour of the impression. Of this there 
 are two very distinct shades — orange-red and yellow. I am unable to say which 
 came first, but am inclined to think the former. Tradition says there were twenty- 
 four stamps on the sheet, each differing from the others, and printed in six rows of 
 four. I lately began to attempt the reconstitution of the plate — in other words, to 
 try to place the varieties of type in the right order — and with this object I applied 
 to three friends, who were the fortunate possessors of several fine blocks and pairs 
 of these stamps, and who very kindly placed their specimens at my disposal. 
 
 On examining the different collections with my own specimens, I was much 
 puzzled to find that there were apparently considerably more than twenty-four varieties 
 of type. After a most careful investigation, and making every allowance for defective 
 printing, I was unable to resist the conclusion, that not only were there more than 
 twenty-four varieties of type, but that in the united collections there were to be 
 found exactly forty-eight. The experience of the first and second issues of New 
 South Wales at once suggested the idea of a retouch of the plate, or possibly of a 
 transfer, but further examination showed that this was not the case. Of course, to 
 prove a retouch, it is necessary to compare the same stamps or varieties ; i.e. those 
 occupying the same position on the sheets. To do this, it is further necessary to be 
 in a position to prove the arrangement, or a portion of the arrangement, of the 
 varieties on the plate, before we can compare the same stamps. When I began 
 some years ago to get together the varieties of type, the idea occurred to me of 
 making up a sheet in each of the two shades — dull red and yellow. In this I had 
 partially succeeded ; and recently, on looking more carefully at the two sheets, I 
 was struck with certain peculiarities which seemed to run through all, or most of the 
 yellow stamps, but which could not be traced on those specimens printed in dull red. 
 I accordingly began to suspect the existence of two distinct plates. Now at the 
 bottom of the sheet there are to be found the words, "Printed by H. & C. Best," 
 and "C. W. Coard, Sc." There is some reason for thinking these words were 
 printed respectively at the left and right lower corners of the sheet, but this is 
 immaterial for our present purpose. Their importance lies in the fact that they 
 enable us with certainty to ascertain the actual position on the plate of certain 
 varieties of type. I looked accordingly among my specimens, and at length found 
 two — one printed in dull red, the other in yellow — and both with sufficient 
 margin to show portions of the words, " Printed by H. & C. Best," immediately 
 below. It was therefore morally certain that these two specimens occupied the 
 same position on the plate, except on one hypothesis, which I will refer to directly. 
 Two minutes' examination was sufficient to prove conclusively that the stamps were 
 not the same type or variety ; and further, that neither was a retouch or transfer of 
 the other. Again, the letters and words, "Printed by H. & C. Best," were differ- 
 ently spaced ; and, in the case of the yellow stamp, occupied much less space than 
 on the other specimen. These facts seem to point very strongly to two separate 
 plates of the four pence having been prepared. It is just possible, of course, that 
 the sheet was much larger than had been commonly supposed, and consisted, say, of 
 forty-eight varieties. But in this case the words, " Printed by H. & C. Best," must 
 have been repeated on the sheet — a most unlikely thing to have occurred ; and it 
 must not be forgotten that, according to the information at the disposal of the 
 Society, and apparently of M. Moens also, twenty-four has always been assigned as 
 the number of specimens on the sheet. Our united collections give just forty-eight 
 varieties ; and I think we are justified in concluding that, for some reason or other 
 — probably wear, or injury — two separate plates of the Pour Pence were prepared. 
 One other point should be noticed. I mentioned that the stamps were supposed to 
 have been printed in six rows of four. I am able to show that in the case of the 
 second plate they were printed in four rows of six. Whether this was the arrange- 
 ment of both plates or not, I am unable to say. I have only now to indicate, as far 
 as possible, the differences between the two plates. These, like those between the 
 stamps themselves, are by no means clearly defined. In the absence of dated 
 specimens, or documentary evidence, it is impossible to say which should come first; 
 
TASMANIA. 103 
 
 and until both plates are completely reconstituted, and the varieties arranged in the 
 right order, I am afraid the tests of distinction will not be found altogether satisfactory. 
 
 1. The Colour of the Impression. — Roughly speaking, specimens from Plate I. are 
 printed in dull orange-red, those from Plate II. in yellow. Specimens from both 
 exist in bright orange-red ; but I have never seen a stamp from Plate I. printed in 
 yellow, or one from Plate II. in the particular shade of dull red peculiar to Plate I. 
 
 2. The Impression. — Although both plates were engraved by Mr. C. W. Coard, 
 Plate I., in my opinion, shows better workmanship than Plate II. The impressions 
 from the former are generally clearer, and the lines somewhat thinner, than in the 
 case of stamps printed from Plate II., especially of those printed in yellow. 
 
 3. Design. — On Plate I. the Queen's back hair seems to be gathered up in loops, 
 or rather twisted coils, which I am told is the correct expression. On Plate II. it 
 has the appearance of twisted plaits. The stamp is enclosed by a double octagonal 
 line, and just within this, and following the shape of the octagon, you will notice a 
 number of small tooth-shaped ornaments, pointing inwards. On Plate I. these are 
 considerably larger than on Plate II., and vary in number, as far as I have counted 
 them, from seventy-eight to eighty. Those of Plate II. are smaller, and vary in 
 number from eighty to eighty-two. 
 
 4. The Lettering of "Van Diemen's Land" and "Four Pence." — On Plate I. the 
 letters of these words, as a rule, are more elongated than those on Plate II., the differ- 
 ence being especially noticeable in the two a's of "van" and "land." On Plate II. 
 these are, so to speak, squat-shaped and flatter. The same remark applies, to a lesser 
 extent, to the four n's. The sheets which I have the pleasure of presenting for your 
 inspection will assist you in verifying these details as far as they go. I am afraid 
 the distinctions are very vague, yet it seems almost impossible to give others. It is 
 principally by patient study and examination of the specimens that it will be found 
 possible to readily recognize the characteristics of the two plates ; and I will only 
 add in conclusion Mr. Pemberton's words of advice, "Study the stamps, and an 
 imperceptible sense will come to you." 
 
 SECOND PAPER ON 
 
 THE FOUR PENCE OF THE FIRST ISSUE OF TASMANIA. 
 
 By T. K. TAPLING, M.P., Vice-President, Philatelic Society, London. 
 
 The readers of the Philatelic Record will recollect a short paper published in 
 the March number for this year, which I wrote for the Philatelic Society, on the 
 subject of the two plates of the "Four Pence of the First Issue of Tasmania." At 
 that time I was working comparatively in the dark, with single specimens, and a few 
 pairs and blocks, and was compelled to leave one or two questions unanswered. 
 Through the courtesy of Major Evans, and of a correspondent in Tasmania, I am 
 again in a position to take up the thread of the story, and to bring a very difficult 
 investigation to a satisfactory conclusion. It is of course well known that both 
 values of the first issue have been reprinted, and some years ago a sheet or two of 
 each passed into the hands of a well-known dealer. 
 
 Unfortunately the stamps were separated and dispersed before collectors began 
 to give the same attention to these questions of plates and varieties of type that is 
 devoted to them at the present day. Even single reprinted specimens have now 
 become comparatively scarce. Major Evans has been fortunate enough to obtain an 
 uncut reprinted sheet of each value, and has very kindly forwarded for my inspec- 
 tion the sheet of the Four Pence, which lies before me as I am writing. I am glad to 
 find that, with one exception, every theory I advanced has been completely confirmed, 
 and I will now deal one by one with the points which at that time I was compelled 
 to leave unsettled. They were as follows : 
 
 I. The question of priority of the two plates. 
 II. The constitution of both plates, and the minor question of the position on the 
 
 sheet of the words "Printed by H. & C. Best" and "C. W. Coard, Sc." 
 III. The distinctions between the two plates. 
 
104 
 
 TASMANIA. 
 
 I. Major Evans' reprinted sheet is struck from what I then called Plate I. 
 There is obviously every probability that a reprinted sheet would be taken from the 
 plate last in use ; but this matter is now definitely settled on the authority of a 
 correspondent in Tasmania, who informs me that the first plate was lost long ago, 
 but that he possesses a photograph of the reprint from Plate II, which he kindly 
 offers to send to me. What I designated Plate I. accordingly becomes Plate II., 
 and Plate II. becomes Plate I. A point which tends to confirm this, but which I 
 scarcely realized the importance of before, is that specimens from Plate I. show far 
 more traces of wear and use of the die than any I have come across from Plate II. 
 This seems to indicate that the new plate was made in consequence of the old one 
 wearing out. I may mention here that the reprinted sheet, which by-the-way is 
 printed in the yellow colour peculiar to Plate I., shows but little sign of wear except 
 in the top row, and a portion of the second. 
 
 II. The accompanying photograph of the reprint from Plate II., and the 
 diagram marked "A," showing the modiis operandi of the reconstruction of Plate I., 
 prove conclusively that the stamps on both sheets were arranged in four rows of six. 
 It will be noticed that the words " Printed by H. & C. Best" and " C. W. Coard, Sc," 
 are placed at the left and right lower corners respectively on Plate II., and the 
 existence of specimens with large margins in more than one collection proves that 
 they were similarly situated on Plate I. 
 
 The photograph of Plate I. is taken from the specimens in my own collection, 
 and speaks for itself; but the diagram needs a little explanation. The sheet is 
 divided into twenty-four compartments, corresponding to the numbers of the stamps, 
 and within them will be observed certain dotted lines. These represent various 
 pairs and blocks of stamps, whose position on the sheet has been ascertained. The 
 large block has been constructed from overlapping pairs and triplets existing in the 
 collections of several friends who were good enough to lend them to me for examina- 
 tion. The positions of the three-corner stamps — Nos. 1,19, and 24 — were ascertained 
 by specimens with large margins, or showing traces of the words "Printed by," &c. 
 &c, referred to previously. Having settled the places of these three varieties, a 
 little examination of the diagram will show that no other arrangement of the sheet 
 is possible. For the sake of completeness, I give here a detailed proof of the 
 arrangement indicated by the diagram. The different pairs and blocks are located 
 in the following collections : 
 
 No. 1 is the top left corner stamp. 
 „ 19 „ bottom left „ „ 
 „ 24 „ „ right „ „ 
 
 Mr. Rodd's collection. 
 Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 PAIRS AND BLOCKS. 
 
 Nos. 
 
 1, 7 
 
 
 
 2, 8 
 
 
 
 7, 8, 9 
 
 
 
 3, 9 
 
 
 
 3, 4 
 
 
 
 4, 5, 6 
 
 
 
 9, 15 
 
 
 
 14, 15 
 
 
 
 13, 14 
 
 
 
 15, 16 
 
 
 
 15, 21 
 
 
 
 21, 22 
 
 
 
 10, 16 
 
 
 
 16, 17 
 
 
 
 11, 17, 23 
 
 
 
 11, 12 
 
 
 
 19, 20 
 
 
 
 are in Mr. Wilson's collection. 
 
 „ Mr. Garth's „ 
 
 „ Mr. Thornhill's „ 
 
 „ MM. Caillebotte's „ 
 
 „ Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 „ Mr. Rodd's „ 
 
 „ MM. Caillebotte's „ 
 
 „ Mr. Tapling's „ 
 
 Mr. Thornhill's 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 Mr. Rodd's 
 Mr. Tapling's 
 
 I have not yet come across variety No. 18 in a pair or block; but, as there is 
 only one vacant space left, the position I have assigned to it is the correct one. 
 
 The photograph of Plate II. is taken from Major Evans' uncut sheet, and the 
 varieties of type are of course all in the right order. 
 
TASMANIA. 
 
 105 
 
 Plate I. Diagram A. 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 *S 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23 
 
 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 III. I am afraid I can add but little to my remarks on the distinctions between 
 the two plates. The photographs will be found of more assistance than pages of 
 description, if they are studied side by side with the observations I made in my 
 first paper, to which I refer my readers. I will only remark that, having now seen 
 the entire sheet from Plate II., I think the test of the lettering, which is fully 
 described in my former paper, will be found the easiest. 
 
 I may take this opportunity of saying a word or two about the Penny of the same 
 issue. Fortunately there is only one plate of this value, consisting of twenty-four 
 varieties of type, arranged in precisely the same way as those of the Four Pence, and 
 with the same lettering at the two lower corners of the sheet. The varieties of type 
 are somewhat easier to identify ; but the stamps have become so scarce that it is very 
 difficult to get anything like a quantity together for the purpose of making up a 
 plate. In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to MM. Caillebotte, Major Evans, 
 and my other friends for the loan of their specimens, which have been of the 
 greatest assistance to me in this investigation. Collectors will now be in a position 
 to judge of the value of some of these researches into questions of plates and varieties 
 of type. To me they seem to add very largely to the scientific character of philately, 
 and I think it is a matter of congratulation that by their means an obscure but most 
 interesting bit of philatelic history has at length been satisfactorily elucidated. 
 
 Note. — This paper was finished a few days only before I saw Mr. Basset Hull's able 
 contribution on the same subject. I am glad to find ray theories on every point of 
 importance fully confirmed, and Mr. Hull will notice that I had by somewhat different means 
 already discovered my error, and arrived at the same conclusion as himself as to the question of 
 priority of the two plates. I congratulate him on the valuable information he has obtained. Some 
 of the same points are dealt with by Mr. Hull and myself ; but as this article seems to supplement 
 his so completely, I decided not to alter it in any way, and make no apology for publishing it 
 exactly as it was written. 
 
106 TASMANIA. 
 
 THE 1853 ISSUE OF THE STAMPS OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. 
 
 By A. F. BASSET HULL, Hobart. 
 
 We have received the following from Mr. Basset Hull : 
 
 " I have read with the deepest interest Mr. Tapling's article on the ' Four 
 Pence of the First Issue of Tasmania,' and now beg to add a few notes and 
 data on these 1853 stamps, which may be of some interest to collectors. 
 
 " I have experienced great difficulty in obtaining any official information 
 on the subject. However, I submit several items, the chief of which confirm 
 Mr. "Tapling's conclusion as to the existence of two plates of the Four Pence. 
 
 " I am, &c, A. F. Basset Hull." 
 
 The first public notice that adhesive stamps were obtainable appears in the Hobart 
 Town Gazette (the official organ) of Tuesday, 27th September, 1853, as follows : 
 
 " General Post Office, 6th September, 1853. 
 
 " Notice is hereby given, that the new Post Office Act of 1853 will come 
 into operation on the First day of November next. That on and from that 
 date all Letters and Packets (Newspapers alone excepted) posted at any of 
 the Post Offices of this Colony must be prepaid by means of adhesive stamps. 
 
 "That the stamps will be sold at Hobart Town, in large or small 
 quantities as may be required, at the General Post Office, Messrs. Walch and 
 Sons, Elizabeth Street, and Messrs. Huxtable and Co., Murray Street ; at 
 Launceston Post Office, and the most respectable booksellers in Launceston ; 
 and at the various Post Offices throughout the Island." 
 
 On Tuesday, 25th October, 1853, regulations for the guidance of the Post 
 Office Department, under Act of Council 17 Vict. No. 6, were published in the 
 Gazette. The only item having reference to stamps was the following : 
 
 " Price of Stamps. — The stamps will be of the following rates ; viz. : 
 
 " Penny Stamps. — Id. each Fourpenny Stamps. — 4d. each." 
 
 In the Post Office Letter-book appears a letter which states that a clerk Avas 
 engaged exclusively in superintending and checking the striking-off of stamps at 
 the printers. An eye-witness describes the process as being a somewhat arduous 
 one ; for the printer kept a lemonade-bottle full of rum at his side, to which he had 
 recourse at frequent intervals. Possibly, however, this was to drown his remorse at 
 having perpetuated so many villanous caricatures of our gracious Queen. 
 
 The engraving and printing account of Messrs. H. and C. Best, dated 30th 
 September, 1853, contains the following items : 
 
 " To Engraving Plate of Id. Stamps, 24 Heads at 30s. . £36 
 Do. do. 4d. do. do. . £36 0" 
 
 And after a number of other items, relative to the engraving of date-stamps, &c, 
 appears the following entry : 
 
 " To re-engraving Plate of 4d. Stamps, 24 Heads at 25s. . £30 0" 
 
 No less than 11,100 sheets (266,400 stamps) were printed from the Four Penny 
 plate before re-engraving became necessary. No doubt the wearing of the plate was 
 the immediate cause of the necessity for providing a new one. It will be noticed 
 that the word re-engraved is used in the account, thus putting aside the idea that 
 Plate II. was a re-touch of Plate I. 
 
 Mr. Tapling gave the more roughly -engraved plate of the Four Pence the second 
 place. I am, however, convinced that it was the first, and adduce the following 
 evidence in support of my conclusion : 
 
 1st. The defaced plate — the only one now in the possession of the Postal 
 Department, and from which the reprints were struck off — is the finely -engraved one. 
 
TASMANIA. 107 
 
 2nd. The only dated specimen I have is from the finer plate, and is dated 
 August, 1855, two years after the date of the printing account. 
 
 3rd. Impressions from Plate I. show signs of wearing which do not appear 
 on impressions from II. Also the letters "c.w.c." appear distinctly on the base 
 of the Queen's neck on all stamps of the Id. plate (of which only one was 
 engraved), and on all stamps of the rougher 4d. plate, but only in a few instances 
 on the finer one. 
 
 The Penny stamp was printed in sheets of twenty-four stamps, in four rows 
 of six. Size of the entire sheet 5 x 3£ inches, including inscription at foot ; the 
 space between each stamp slightly exceeds -^ of an inch. The words " Printed by 
 H. & C. Best " appear in lower left corner, projecting beyond the first, and extending 
 to the lower left angle of the second stamp in the fourth row. " C. W. Coard, Sc," 
 appears in the lower right corner. The paper was soft yellowish-white and white 
 wove, varying in thickness. The colour varies from pale blue to blue, and the 
 later impressions seem very much worn. 
 
 The Four Penny stamp was printed from two plates, both in sheets of twenty- 
 four stamps, in four rows of six. Size of the entire sheet slightly exceeds 5f x 3f- 
 inches ; space between each stamp rather more than T X F of an inch. The chief 
 points of difference between the two plates of the Four Pence are as follows : 
 
 Plate I. — Colour — yellow, dull yellow, orange, and bright orange. Letters 
 "c.w.c." distinctly visible on base of Queen's neck. Band bearing legend comparatively 
 narrow ; letters short, and closely set together. Loop ornaments within outer double 
 octagonal line small, from eighty to eighty-four in number. At foot the words 
 "Printed by H. & C. Best" shorter than in Plate II., smaller, and clear of 
 stamp immediately above ; " B " of " Best " to the left of angle at right of base of 
 stamp above. "C. W. Coard, So," smaller, shorter, and more to the right than II. 
 General appearance meaner than II. Many impressions show wearing of plate. 
 
 Plate II. — Colour — orange, bright orange, orange-red, and dull orange-red. 
 Base of Queen's neck in most instances merely shaded, letters "c.w.c." appearing 
 thereon in only a few instances. Band bearing legend more open ; letters generally 
 well shaped, larger, and more spaced than I. Loop ornaments larger, numbering 
 not more than eighty. " Printed by H. and C. Best " large, and almost touching 
 stamp immediately above; "B" of "Best" directly under right angle of base of 
 stamp above. " C. W. Coard, Sc," larger and clearer. General appearance cleaner- 
 cut and more finely-engraved than I. 
 
 The Four Pence is printed on soft yellowish-white and white wove paper, 
 varying in thickness, from both plates. Plate I. also appears on vergd paper, in an 
 orange shade. 
 
 I have seen several specimens, both of the Penny and Four Pence, with a small 
 triangular piece punched out of the stamp, evidently done before the stamps were used, 
 but no explanation can be given as to whether this has any special significance or not. 
 
 THE FOUR PENCE OF THE FIRST ISSUE OF TASMANIA. 
 
 To the Editor of " The Philatelic Record." 
 
 Sir, — I have taken very great interest in the valuable and instructive papers 
 that have lately appeared in your journal on the above stamps, and they have led 
 me to hunt up all the information I could obtain on the subject, more especially 
 with the idea of obtaining positive data as to the priority of the plates and the date 
 of the change. In this I have lately been greatly facilitated by the acquisition of a 
 large and fine series of the Four Pence value on the original covers and envelopes. 
 To my great surprise I incontestably find that Mr. Tapling's first arrangement of the 
 plate numbers is correct, and that my philatelically-learned friend, Mr. Basset-Hull, 
 is altogether wrong. That which Mr. Tapling in his first paper designated Plate I. 
 is in fact really so; and my large series of specimens show that the alterations 
 
108 TASMANIA. 
 
 subsequently made are not according to the evidence. My earliest cover, with five 
 stamps attached, is dated — 
 
 Camp Town 
 23 . Nov, 53 
 
 only a few weeks after the stamps were issued to the public. The strip evidently was 
 taken from the right-hand upper corner of the sheet, and the stamps are of the 
 characteristic shade, and agree in every respect with the details of the photo of the 
 reprinted sheet termed Plate II. by Mr. Hull. My latest dated cover with a stamp 
 of this plate is the 13th April, 1854; my earliest of the other plate is the 20th 
 April, 1854; and the latest, the 27th September, 1855. Not a single example 
 shows any admixture of the stamps; for after April, 1854, I have not a cover with 
 a stamp from what Mr. Hull calls the first plate. To thoroughly satisfy myself 
 upon this point, I forwarded two stamps to Mr. Hull, removed from covers dated 
 the 21st December, 1853, and the 18th July, 1854, respectively, and marked 
 Plate I. and II., according to that gentleman's arrangement. These he has kindly 
 examined, and informs me that the plate numbers assigned are quite correct, 
 according to his theory. Herewith I enclose two examples of the covers for your 
 examination, dated the 17th December, 1853, and the 18th August, 1855 ; and I 
 feel sure that they will prove that the plate numbers given by Mr. Tapling in his 
 first paper in the March number, 1886, are correct, and that the later arrangement 
 is not so. 
 
 It appears strange to me that the engraving and printing account of Messrs. H. 
 and C. Best, dated 30th September, 1853, should contain the two items : 
 
 "To Engraving Plate of 4d. Stamps, 24 Heads at 30s. . £36 0." 
 and 
 
 " To Re-engraving Plate of 4d. Stamps, 24 Heads at 25s. £30 0." 
 
 Is it (Vide Mr. Hull's paper, August, 1886) not reasonable to suppose that this 
 really refers to a second plate ? for a re-engraving of the plate would only occur at a 
 much later date. Anyway, my large series of specimens prove to my mind that the 
 defaced plate now in the postal department at Hobart is in reality the first one used, 
 and that the second and roughly-engraved plate must be either lost or destroyed. I 
 am sure this interesting subject needs no apology for trespassing upon your space, 
 more especially as this examination puts a fresh aspect upon what was supposed to 
 be satisfactorily elucidated. 
 
 I am, yours respectfully, 
 Launceston, Tasmania, February 11th, 1887. W. F. Petterd. 
 
 Issue II. October, 1855. 
 
 Three values. Engraved in taille-douce, and printed by Perkins, Bacon, and Co., 
 London, in colour, on stoutish white paper, watermarked with large six-rayed star ; 
 white gum. Design : Three-quarter diademed portrait of Queen, with necklace and 
 earrings, to left, on ground of vertical and horizontal lines, within an engine-turned 
 oval, lettered with name of colony in white block letters in the upper curve. 
 Across the lower portion of the oval is a straight, narrow, white label, with postage 
 in small Roman capitals, and immediately below this is a straight coloured label, 
 having a square ornamented block at either end, with the value in words in white 
 Roman capitals. The spandrels are filled in with engine-turned ornament, and a 
 plain single outer line completes the design. (Illustration 81.) 
 
 t. "van diemens land." b. "one penny," "two pence," "four pence." 
 
 Id., dull carmine, verging on brick-red. 
 2d., deep green. 
 4d., blue (shades). 
 
TASMANIA. 109 
 
 Issue in. 1856-57. 
 
 Three values. The same in every other respect as the preceding issue, hut 
 without watermark. {Illustration 81.) 
 
 Id., brown-red. 
 
 2d., emerald-green (shades) 
 
 4d., blue (shades). 
 
 Varieties. — The One Penny is found on thin greyish paper, almost pelure, and 
 on thicker rough paper. The Two Pence and Four Pence are only found on the 
 latter paper. 
 
 Issue IV. January, 1858. 
 
 Three values. The same in every other respect as Issues II. and III., but 
 watermarked with double-lined numeral of value. {Illustration 81.) 
 
 Id., red, orange, brick, carmine. 
 
 2d., dark and light green, olive- and yellow-green, bottle-green. 
 
 4d., blue (shades). 
 
 Many shades of all values of this issue are to be met with. 
 
 The following varieties of perforation exist; whether they are official or not is 
 
 unknown. 
 
 (a) Rouletted 8. 
 
 Id., red. 2d., dark green. 
 
 (b) Rouletted 11|. 
 Id., red. 
 
 (c) Serrated perforation 20. 
 Id., red 2d., yellow-green 4d., blue. 
 
 (d) Perforated with oblique parallel cuts. 
 Id., red 2d., green. 4d., blue. 
 
 The oblique perforation was performed with an instrument which made oblique 
 cuts, and left, when the stamps were severed, a ragged, irregular edge. 
 
 Issue V. 1860. 
 
 Two values. Engraved in taille-douce, by Humphrey, and printed by Perkins, 
 Bacon, and Co., London, on thick and thin white paper, watermarked with double- 
 lined numerals of value 6 and 12. Design: Portrait of Queen, as in last issue, 
 on background of vertical and horizontal lines, within fancy, reticulated, octagonal 
 frame, for the Six Pence ; inscribed with name of colony above, and value in words 
 below, in white block letters. The frame of the One Shilling is an elongated 
 octagonal, with engine-tracery, and bears similar inscriptions to the Six Pence in 
 coloured block letters. {Illustrations 82, 83, 81.) 
 
 T. "TASMANIA." B. "SIXPENCE," " ONE SHILLING." 
 
 6d., violet, mauve, lilac, grey, slate-blue, and many intermediate shades. 
 Is., verniilion-red, bright and dull. 
 
 Rouletted 8. 6d., grey. 
 
 Remarks. — The One Shilling, vermilion, rouletted, is also catalogued by 
 M. Moens, but no specimen is known to the Society. Proofs of both values in 
 black on plate paper, and also on yellowish card, are known. 
 

 110 TASMANIA. 
 
 Issue VI. 1864-70. 
 
 Five values, differing only from those of the last two issues, inasmuch as they 
 are machine-perforated. The smaller was undoubtedly the earlier perforation. 
 (Illustrations 81, 82, 83.) 
 
 Id., carmine (shades), brick, orange- vermilion \ 
 2d., yellow-green, bottle-green 
 
 4d., blue (light and dark) y perf. 13, 12, 11* 10. 
 
 6d., same shades as in Issue V. 
 I 8 - » » 
 
 Varieties. — The One Penny exists in dull carmine, with watermark 2, and in 
 brick-red, without watermark ; both perf. 12. 
 
 Issue VII. 1870. 
 
 Four values. Engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., and type-printed in the 
 Colony, in colour, on white wove watermarked paper ; white gum. Design : 
 Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines, within 
 a beaded oval. Scrolled framework, with curved inscriptions in white block letters, 
 above and below. Shape, upright rectangular ; machine-perf. ll£. (Illustration 84.) 
 
 T. "TASMANIA." B. " ONE PENNY," "TWO PENCE," "FOUR PENCE," " TEN PENCE." 
 
 Id., carmine (shades) ; watermark, small slanting 10. 
 
 2d., green „ „ large „ 2. 
 
 4d., blue „ „ small „ 4. 
 
 10d., black „ „ „ „ 10. 
 
 Variety. March, 1871. Id., red ; watermark, small numeral 4. 
 
 Issue VIII. 1871-2. 
 
 Six values. Same type, engraving, paper, perforation, &c, as last; water- 
 mark, "TAS." (Illustration 84.) 
 
 Id., carmine (shades), vermilion, rose. 
 2d., green, very dark to pale. 
 
 3d., dark purple-brown, maroon, brown, chocolate, brown-pink. 
 4d., blue (?), chronicled by M. Moens, but not known to the Society. 
 9d., blue and bright blue. 
 5s., mauve and bright mauve. 
 Varieties. Id., red ; imperforate. 
 
 2d., blue ; error for green. 
 9d., blue ; imperforate. 
 
 Issue IX. 1876. 
 One value. Same type, paper, watermark, and perforation as the Four Pence 
 of 1870, but changed in colour. (Illustration 84.) 
 
 4d., yellow-ochre (shades). 
 
 Issue X. 1880. 
 
 After 1879, some of the values appear to have been printed by Messrs. De la 
 Rue and Co. These may be distinguished by the superiority of the impression and 
 by the glazed paper. Same types, watermark, &c, as before. (Illustration 84.) 
 
 (a) Perf. 11* 
 
 3d., purple-brown ; on glazed paper. 
 
 (b) Perf. 14. 
 
 Id., bright rose ; on glazed paper. 3d., purple-brown ; on glazed paper. 
 
 2d., green „ „ I 8d., violet-brown „ „ 
 
TASMANIA. 
 
 Ill 
 
 REPRINTS (End of 1879). 
 On plain paper ; machine-perforation ll£ : white gum. 
 
 Id., blue 
 
 Type 1853). 24 varieties of type. 
 
 4d., orange-yellow ( 
 
 „ „ ). 24 varieties of type. 
 
 Id., dull red l 
 
 „ 1855). 
 
 2d., green 
 
 , » a /• 
 
 4d., blue i 
 
 tt tt )' 
 
 6d., violet I 
 
 „ 1858). 
 
 Is., vermilion 
 
 tt it )• 
 
 Id., rose 
 
 [current type). 
 
 2d., deep green 
 
 tt tt )' 
 
 3d., violet-brown 
 
 *. »> » /• 
 
 4d., deep blue 
 
 tt a )• 
 
 4d., ochre-yellow 
 
 i j> » /• 
 
 8d., violet 
 
 » » /■ 
 
 9d., blue 
 
 a }> )' 
 
 10d., black 
 
 i a >> /• 
 
 5s., deep violet 
 
 k it a )• 
 
 :al or departmental stamps. 
 
 Issue ] 
 
 :. 1883. 
 
 Hand- stamped, coloured impression, on white or blue envelopes. Design : 
 Arms of Great Britain in a single-lined circle. Below the arms is the word 
 " Tasmania," in block letters, in a straight line. Following the shape of the circle, 
 and printed in block capitals, are the inscriptions — T. The name of the Department, 
 and b. "frank stamp." It will be sufficient to indicate the names of the 
 departments, or of the officials, employing these stamps, which are found in various 
 colours — the Attorney-General, Chief Secretary, Education Department, Government 
 Statistics, Governor of Tasmania, Minister of Lands, Postmaster-General, R.E. 
 Duties Department, Tasmanian Railway, Treasury, Secretary of Mines, North District. 
 Some of these are given on the authority of M. Moens. 
 
 ENVELOPES. 
 Issue I. April 3rd, 1883. 
 
 One value. Engraved and printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. Coloured 
 impression, on white laid unwatermarked paper ; pointed flap ; long gum, slightly 
 yellowish. Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, embossed in white 
 on a solid ground, and enclosed by an upright reticulated oval band, inscribed in 
 coloured block letters, "Tasmania Postage" above and "Two Pence" below, the 
 inscriptions being separated from each other by coloured dots. Surrounding this is 
 a white embossed beaded oval line. The design is completed by an outer line 
 of colour, dented similarly to a serrated perforation. The stamp is impressed in 
 the right upper corner. Size, 5 J x 3 in., or 140 x 80 mm. (Illustration 85.) 
 
 2d., yellow-green. 
 
 REGISTRATION ENVELOPES. 
 
 Issue I. April 3rd, 1883. 
 
 One value. These envelopes are made of stout white wove linen-lined paper. 
 The face and back of the envelope are each divided into four equal compartments 
 by two lines, which cross at right angles, and are continued from the face to the 
 
112 TASMANIA. 
 
 back of the envelopes. On the face, in the upper part, is an inscription in two 
 lines — " This Letter must be given to an Officer of the Post Office to be Registered, 
 and a Receipt obtained for it " — in small block capitals. Above this inscription, in 
 large block capitals, are the words " registered letter," divided from each other 
 by the perpendicular crossing line which falls between them. In the left upper 
 corner is a large block capital " r," and in the right the inscription, in block letters, 
 "The Stamp to Pay the Postage must be Placed here," enclosed in a single-lined 
 rectangular frame. The flap is rounded, with white gum. On it is impressed a stamp 
 engraved by Messrs. De La Rue and Co. ; coloured impression. Design : Embossed 
 diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on solid ground, within a circular 
 reticulated embossed band, inscribed t. "Tasmania Registration." b. "Four Pence," 
 in coloured block letters. Within the circular band, and enframing the bust, is a 
 kind of twelve-sided figure, touching the band at each of the twelve angles. There 
 is a white dot in each interstice. The design is completed by two outer circular 
 lines, one embossed, the other coloured, the latter being notched by the former. 
 Shape, circular. Beneath the flap, on the back of the envelope, are the words, 
 "McCorquodale and Co., Contractors," in coloured block letters. The whole of the 
 design, inscriptions, &c, are printed in blue. (Illustration 86.) 
 
 Size A. 5 J x 3 J inches, or 132 x 82 mm. 
 B. 5f x 34 inches, or 150 x 100 mm. 
 
 4d., pale blue. 
 
 Issue II. 1885. 
 Similar as to design, inscriptions, sizes, &c, as the last; but the letter "r" on 
 the face is enframed by a single-lined oval. {Illustration 86.) 
 
 4d., pale blue. 
 
 POST CARDS. 
 Issue I. January 1st, 1882. 
 
 One value,. Lithographed in the colony, upon medium light buff card. Size, 
 4f x 3j^ inches. At the top there are three lines of inscription: 1st. "post 
 card," in Roman capitals, the two words being separated by the Royal arms. 2nd. 
 " Tasmania," in small block letters, directly beneath the arms. 3rd. " the address 
 only to be written on this side," in larger block letters. Lower down, the word 
 " To" in script type, followed by three dotted lines for the address. The stamp — 
 type of adhesive issue VII., 1870 — is in the right upper corner. The design of the 
 card is completed by an ornamental border, consisting of a fancy chain pattern, 
 with trefoil ornaments at the four corners, enclosed within thin inner and thick 
 outer lines. Size, 4/^ x 24, inches. (Illustration 87.) 
 
 Id., rose. 
 
 Remarks. — Before the introduction of post cards by the Government, a Mr. 
 "Walch, in October, 1880, had some privately printed, for the use of himself and 
 his friends, of which the following is a description : At the top of the card, in six 
 lines, is the inscription — 1st. "walch's " 2nd. "tasmanian post card," all in block 
 letters. 3rd, 4th, and 5th. "All persons who approve of the introduction of a 
 penny postal card — for delivery in any part of the Colony, are solicited to 
 encourage the move — ment by the use of this card." 6th. "the address only to 
 be written on this side," in Roman capitals. Between the second and third lines 
 there is a wavy line, composed of dots. To left the word " To" A space is ruled 
 
TASMANIA. 113 
 
 off in the right upper corner for an adhesive stamp, and is divided in the centre by 
 a thin line. The upper half bears "inland postage, 2d.," and the lower "town 
 postage, Id.," each in three lines, in slanting Koman capitals. The design of the 
 card is completed by an ornamental border. Size, 4f x 2 T 9 ^ inches. 
 
 Without value, rose on white. 
 
 „ „ brown, reverse side white. 
 
 Issue n. February, 1882. 
 
 One value. Designed and printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., upon thick 
 white card. Size, 4^ x 2^ inches. At the top of the card there are three lines 
 of inscription — 1st. " post card," in fancy capitals, with the Royal arms between the 
 words. 2nd. "Tasmania," in Roman capitals. 3rd. "the address only to be 
 written on this side." The stamp — type of adhesive issue VII., 1870 — is in the 
 right upper corner, and the card is without border. (Illustration 88.) 
 
 Id., rose-carmine. 
 
 Issue IIL July 18th, 1884. 
 
 One value. Printed in the colony. The design is precisely similar to the last 
 issue, except that the impression is coarser and not so well printed. (Illustration 88.) 
 
 Id., carmine. 
 
 Issue IV. July, 1885. 
 
 One value. In every way the same as Issue III., but for the change of colour. 
 
 (Illustration 88.) 
 
 Id., maroon. 
 
 OFFICIAL CARDS. 
 
 There are a number of varieties of cards in use for the different Government 
 Departments. They are all franked by one of the official stamps already described, 
 which is struck, generally in blue, in the right upper corner of the card. The 
 Society thinks it is useless to give any detailed list of the varieties, as they are of 
 so little interest, and any list that might be made could not fail to be very imperfect. 
 
 FISCAL STAMPS USED POSTALLY. 
 
 All the fiscal stamps of 1863 and 1880 appear to have been used postally in 
 1882. Following the rule adopted in other cases, no list is given by the Society of 
 these varieties, which do not possess any special significance. 
 
VICTOEIA. 
 
 The two colonies of New South Wales and Victoria were originally under one 
 Government, and this arrangement continued until July 15th, 1851, when, for reasons 
 which it is not necessary to consider here, they hecame practically independent of 
 each other. Until the date of separation, the stamps of the first issue of New 
 South Wales were also used in Victoria, and postmarked with the obliteration " v 
 and parallel lines," somewhat resembling a butterfly in shape. No specimen of the 
 Three Pence so postmarked is known to the Society ; but there is little reason to 
 doubt that all three values of the " Sydney s" were used in Victoria. No more 
 complicated series exists than the stamps of Victoria themselves, and considerable 
 difficulty was experienced in the compilation and arrangement of the following list. 
 After much discussion and consideration, it was arranged to take the stamps in 
 order of design or type, tracing out under these headings, in the order of issue as 
 far as possible, all the varieties of perforation, watermark, &c. This plan in some 
 cases has the disadvantage of separating from each other stamps issued at the same 
 time, though of different design. On the other hand, it has the merit of shortening 
 and simplifying the catalogue, and of rendering all references to it much easier. 
 
 It is not easy to say how far this principle of cataloguing by the designs, and 
 not by the issues, could be extended to the stamps of other countries ; but obviously 
 it is only in exceptional cases, like the present, that its adoption would be found 
 necessary. 
 
 Type L 
 
 Three values. Lithographed and printed by Campbell and Fergusson, of 
 Melbourne; fifty (?) stamps to the sheet. Coloured impression upon white wove 
 paper, varying in substance ; whitish gum. Design : Half-length portrait of Queen 
 Victoria, in low-necked dress, with diadem and coif. In her right hand is a sceptre, 
 and in the left a mound or orb. The head is a three-quarter portrait turned to the 
 right. The background is formed of wavy lines, which, in the One Penny value, 
 have a moire appearance. Solid coloured labels above and below the portrait are 
 inscribed with the name of the colony in the upper and the value in words in the 
 lower, the first in small white Konian and the second in small white block type. In 
 the corners of the upper labels are small ornaments of a star-like character, and in 
 those of the bottom ones the letters "e" and "w" in the One Penny, "t" and "h" 
 in the Two Pence, and " e " in the left corner of the Three Pence, the right corner 
 being occupied by an indistinct ornament, apparently resembling a Maltese cross. 
 The sides of the stamp are bordered by undulating lines. Shape, upright rectangular. 
 {Illustrations 89, 90, 91, 92.) The Two Pence exists in three states, indicating as 
 many transfers : 
 
 (a) With fine background and fine side borders. 
 
 (b) With coarse background and fine side borders. 
 
 (c) With coarse background and coarse side borders. 
 
VICTORIA. 
 
 115 
 
 ; VICTORIA." B. " ONE PENNY," " TWO PENCE," U THREE PENCE." 
 
 1st July, 1850. Id., reddish-brown, vermilion, rose, rose-red; shades of each. 
 Id., rose-red ; rouletted, wide dents 8 and small dents 1 8. 
 2d. (a), dull lilac, reddish-lilac, pale grey. 
 2d. (b), dull lilac, lilac-brown, grey-lilac ; cinnamon shades. 
 
 M. [C) „ „ ,, „ 
 
 3d., dull blue, indigo, deep to pale blue ; shades. 
 3d., dull blue ; shades. Kouletted, wide dents 8. 
 3d., pale and dull blue, dark blue ; machine-perf. 12. 
 
 1861 (?). 
 
 15th July, 1851. 
 
 1st July, 1850. 
 March, 1861. 
 July, 1861. 
 
 Variety. — The Two Pence (c) exists without the value in the bottom label. 
 
 Remarks. — Varieties of the Two Pence lettered "victopia," "t.b.," and "t.r." 
 are chronicled. These appear to be due merely to defective printing. At least 
 two transfers were taken of the One Penny and Three Pence, as is proved by the 
 great difference in space between the two horizontal rows. Considerable differences 
 exist in the impression of the three values. It is probable that the roulettes of the 
 One Penny and Three Pence were done privately ; but the machine-perforation 1 2 
 appears to have been official. Some doubt exists as to the exact date of the rouletted 
 specimens. The varieties of the Two Pence are not found on the same sheet, but 
 are printed from distinct plates. 
 
 Type II. 
 
 (a) One value. Engraved on copper and printed in the colony. Coloured impression 
 on yellowish spongy paper, varying considerably in substance ; whitish gum. Design : 
 Full-length portrait of Queen Victoria in regal robes and crown, with orb and sceptre, 
 seated in coronation chair, with footstool, which is placed on the uppermost of two 
 steps. The background is formed of engine-turned lines, and is enframed by a kind 
 of Gothic portal, consisting of pillars, supporting at the sides a flat-pointed arch, 
 with floreate ornaments in the spandrels. Under the lowest step of the throne is a 
 white label, inscribed with the value in words in small coloured Roman capitals, 
 and having a square block at either corner, with letters varying for each stamp on 
 the plate. Fifty stamps, each separately engraved, to the sheet, in five vertical rows 
 of ten. Shape, long, upright rectangular ; imperforate. {Illustration. Plate Q.) 
 
 b. "two pence." 
 1852. 2d., brown, reddish-brown. 
 
 Remarks. — This stamp presents one of the few instances in which the lettering 
 in the angles, adopted in the stamps of Great Britain as a safeguard against fraud, 
 has been imitated. This issue is distinguished by the clearness of the engraving 
 and the red-brown shade of the impression, which render it impossible to be 
 mistaken for any of the later printed stamps. 
 
 A 
 
 E 
 
 B 
 
 F 
 
 c 
 
 G 
 
 D 
 
 H 
 
 E 
 
 I 
 
 F 
 
 K 
 
 G 
 
 L 
 
 H 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
 N 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 L 
 
 P 
 
 M 
 
 Q 
 
 N 
 
 R 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 P 
 
 T 
 
 Q 
 
 TJ 
 
 R 
 
 V 
 
 S 
 
 N 
 
 T 
 
 X 
 
 V 
 
 Y 
 
 V 
 
 Z 
 
 W 
 
 G 
 
 A 
 
 M 
 
 X 
 
 H 
 
 B 
 
 N 
 
 Y 
 
 c 
 
 X 
 
 D 
 
 A 
 
 F 
 
 B 
 
 G 
 
 c 
 
 H 
 
 D 
 
 I 
 
 E 
 
 K 
 
 F 
 
 L 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 P 
 
 L 
 
 Q 
 
 M 
 
 R 
 
 N 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 T 
 
 P 
 
 TJ 
 
 Q 
 
 V 
 
 R 
 
 W 
 
 S 
 
 X 
 
 T 
 
 Y 
 
 rr 
 
 X 
 
 W 
 
 z 
 
 X 
 
 A 
 
 Y 
 
 B 
 
 Z 
 
 C 
 
 W 
 
 M 
 
116 VICTORIA. 
 
 The lettering beginning with the stamp at the left top corner of the sheet was 
 "a e," and continued through the alphabet, "b p," &c, omitting the letter "j" 
 altogether, repeating in the twenty-fifth stamp "x" for the "z," which should 
 naturally come there. The twenty-sixth stamp began with "a f," and so on again. 
 In the forty-sixth stamp "v" is replaced by "w," and the letters in Nos. 47, 48, 49, 
 and 50 run "x a," "y b," "z c," "w m," which last are supposed to be the initials 
 of the engraver. 
 
 The sequence of the right corner letters, beginning with "e" (and omitting "j"), 
 is complete, and the alphabet recommences on stamp No. 22 — "w a." On No. 26 
 the letter is " p," the " e " being omitted to avoid identity with the first series. The 
 forty-fifth stamp is lettered " u x," the forty-sixth " w z," and from forty-seven to 
 the last as noted above. An error in the lettering will be noticed in Issue B. 
 
 (b) One value. Lithographic transfers of the stamp just described, resembling 
 it as closely as lithography can follow engraving on copper. Coloured impression on 
 yellowish and white paper, varying much in substance ; imperforate. Fifty stamps 
 to the sheet, each varying in type, and arranged in the same way as those from the 
 copper plate. {Illustration. Plate R.) 
 
 Jan. 1st, 1854 (?). 2d., grey, grey-black, red-lilac, mauve (many shades). 
 
 Variety. — An error in one transfer gives tbe lettering "di" and "wa" in 
 stamps Nos. 29 and 30, instead of " d i" and "e k." 
 
 Remarks. — The date of the first transfer is uncertain, but a pair in a very early 
 state of impression has been seen on a letter dated "Melbourne, Jan. 25th, 1854." 
 There would appear to be four editions of these lithographs. At least, two separate 
 plates, or rather stones, were prepared, which may be distinguished from each 
 other by the difference of the impression, and to a certain extent by the colour 
 of the stamps. Specimens printed from the first stone have the lines of the back- 
 ground behind the throne very fairly clear, and the other details of the design are 
 distinct and readily recognizable, though, of course, the execution is far inferior to 
 that of the copperplate. The impression from the second stone is so bad that the 
 background often presents the appearance of a mass of solid colour, while the other 
 details of the design are blurred and indistinct. The specimens from the first stone 
 are usually, but not invariably, printed in a much colder shade of lilac or grey-lilac 
 than those from the second. Of each stone two stages of impression or wear may be 
 distinguished. To the second should be assigned those specimens with a white back, 
 ground behind the throne, the absence of the shading being due to wear of the stone. 
 
 There is some reason for thinking that more than these two transfers took 
 place, though there are no means of indicating any difference between the fresh 
 transfers and those already referred to. Two specimens, lettered respectively "y b" 
 and "zc" exist, showing the steps of the throne broken ; and on one specimen the 
 "w"of "two" has been transformed into a "v," making an error "tvo pence." 
 Apparently some kind of slip took place in the process of transfer. These 
 peculiarities are not found on stamps printed from the two stones mentioned above, 
 and the inference therefore may be drawn that there was a third transfer. The 
 two specimens are in the collection of a member of the Society. 
 
 Type IIL 
 
 Two values. Engraved on metal and type -printed; engraver and printer 
 unknown. Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of fine 
 horizontal lines in the Six Penny, and of solid colour in the Two Shilling value. 
 
VICTORIA. 117 
 
 Straight coloured label above, with name of colony in white Roman capitals, and 
 white label below, with value in words in coloured Roman capitals. Curved 
 coloured labels at sides, inscribed with white letters of similar type. The remainder 
 of the stamp is filled in with scroll-like ornaments, and the whole is enframed by two 
 plain outer lines. In the upper scroll-work the Six Pence is inscribed in minute 
 white block letters — " six " on the left and " pence " on the right side ; and the 
 Two Shillings has " one " on the left and " florin " on the right side in minute 
 white double-lined block letters. Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 93.) 
 
 t. "victoria." b. "sixpence." "two shillings." l. "postage" (reading upwards). 
 R. " stamp " (reading downwards). 
 
 1854. 
 6d., deep to pale orange, on stoutisli white wove paper ; no watermark ; imperforate. 
 
 1857. 
 6d., deep to pale orange, on stoutish white wove paper ; no wmk. ; rouletted, wide dents 7. 
 6d. „ „ „ „ „ serrated, punch 19. 
 
 6d. „ „ „ „ „ serpentine, punch \0\. 
 
 6d. „ „ „ „ „ compound large and small punch. 
 
 1861. 
 6d., deep to pale orange, on stoutish white wove paper; no wmk.; machine-perf. 12 (?). 
 
 1862. 
 6d., blk. to grey, on thinnish white wove ppr.; wmk. value in words ; machine-perf. 12. 
 
 1858. 
 28., sea-green (shades), on stoutish white wove paper ; no watermark ; imperforate. 
 2s., „ „ „ „ „ roul., wide dents 1\. 
 
 1861. 
 2s., sea-green (shades), on stoutish white wove paper ; no watermark ; machine-perf. 12. 
 
 1864-81. 
 2s., blue (shades), on yellow-green wove paper ; watermark 2 ; machine-perf. 12 and 12J. 
 
 Varieties. — The Two Shillings is known printed upon blue paper, corresponding 
 exactly with that employed for the One Shilling value, issued in October, 1876, 
 but watermarked with the thin numeral "2," instead of with "v." over Crown, 
 which is the watermark of the One Shilling. Some of the later printings of 
 the Two Shillings show the indentation of the die to such an extent as to present 
 almost an appearance of relief to portions of the impression; while some copies 
 of the later editions of this value seem to have been printed upon paper which has 
 accidentally escaped the watermark, no trace of it being, at any rate, discoverable on 
 individual stamps. These varieties, however, are at most accidental, and do not 
 merit being catalogued in any other category. 
 
 Remarks. — There are very considerable variations of type of each of these two 
 stamps. It appears probable that they arose from an imperfect process of 
 reduplication from the original matrix. The differences, though numerous, are 
 very small, and the stamps have not the appearance of being separately engraved. 
 The size of the sheet is not known, but most likely there were as many varieties of 
 type as there were stamps to the sheet, or at any rate to the row. Specimens 
 of the 6d., black, are found with dark brown gum, which completely discolours 
 the paper. The roulette and punch perforations were probably not official. 
 
118 VICTORIA. 
 
 Type IV. 
 
 One value. Lithographed (probably) in the colony by transfer from a copper- 
 plate line engraving. Coloured impression on stoutish white wove unwatermarked 
 paper, white gum. Design : Small profile of Queen Victoria with fillet to left, upon 
 ground of vertical and horizontal lines, crossed, within a white circular border, 
 inscribed in coloured block letters ; the whole upon a coloured octagon of vertical 
 lines, crossed by wavy horizontal lines disposed in threes. Border, a single coloured 
 outer line. Shape, octagonal. {Illustration 94.) 
 
 t. " victoria." B. " one shilling." (The two inscriptions are separated by a small cross.) 
 
 1854. Is., blue, deep to pale ; imperforate. 
 
 1857. Is., blue, deep to pale ; rouletted, wide dents 7£. 
 
 1861. Is., blue, deep to pale ; machine-perforated 12. 
 
 Is., „ „ „ „ rouletted horizontally. 
 
 The same remark as that made previously applies to these roulettes also. 
 
 Type V. 
 
 Two values. The same die, serving for both, was engraved on metal, and surface- 
 printed by Perkins, Bacon, and Co., of London. Coloured impression on medium 
 white wove unwatermarked paper, white gum. Design : The design of these two 
 stamps is essentially the same, and consists of a diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left, on ground of solid colour, Avith the name of the colony in 
 white Roman capitals in the uppermost part of the stamp. "Postage," reading 
 upwards, on the left, and "stamp," reading downwards, on the right side of 
 the stamp, in small white block letters. There is a white curved label, shaded with 
 coloured vertical lines, above the head, and a straight one, ruled with horizontal 
 coloured lines, below it. The side borders are formed of white reticulated lines, 
 resembling in pattern, but rather wider apart than in, the first One Penny of Great 
 Britain. In the lower spandrels are the words "one shilling," in minute hair- 
 line block letters. The stamps are without frame, and the upper corners are 
 voided. In the "too late" value the labels are overprinted with green block 
 letters. In the " registered " stamp the over-printing is in blue block letters 
 above, and in Roman capitals below ; and the whole stamp is enframed by a 
 heavy blue line, broken at the upper voided angles. Shape, upright rectangular. 
 {Illustrations 95, 96.) 
 
 (t VTPTORTA 
 
 "too late" stamp, t. mnn ..„,„» b. "sixpence." l. "postage." r. "stamp." 
 
 TOO LAIrj. 
 
 "registered" stamp. ».__-„-.—*» b. " one shilling." l. " postage." r. "stamp." 
 
 IvLb-lbl hKL,D. 
 
 July 1st, 1855. 
 6d. (for late letters), grey-lilac (shades), green and white inscriptions ; imperforate. 
 
 December 1st, 1854. 
 Is. (for registration), rose (shades), blue border, blue and white inscriptions ; imperforate. 
 
 1861 (?). 
 Is. (for registration), rose (shades), blue border, blue and white inscriptions ; rouletted. 
 
 Remarks. — The surcharge Six Pence on the stamp bearing One Shilling on its 
 face is somewhat noteworthy. Copies or proofs of the lilac stamp without the over- 
 printing are known. A specimen of the Registration stamp exists in the collection 
 of one of the members of the Society, with the word " registered " erased with 
 
VICTORIA. 119 
 
 pen and ink, and apparently used for ordinary postage. Minute varieties of type 
 exist of these two stamps, but the same remarks will apply to them, and to 
 the roulette perforations, that were made in reference to the two stamps just 
 described, under the heading of Type III. 
 
 Type VI 
 
 Two values. Engraved on steel in line engraving, and printed by Perkins, 
 Bacon, and Co., of London. Coloured impression on medium white paper, yellowish 
 gum ; Avatermark, a large six-rayed star. Design : Full length portrait of Queen 
 Victoria, as in Type II., with coronation robes, diadem, orb, and sceptre, on engine- 
 turned background; reticulated side borders. Curved white label above throne, 
 inscribed with coloured Eoman capitals. There is only one step to the throne, 
 which bears the word " postage " in small coloured Koman capitals. Plain coloured 
 label at bottom of stamp, with value in white Roman capitals. In the four 
 corners of the stamp are square blocks with white circular ornaments. Shape, long, 
 upright rectangular. (Illustration 97.) 
 
 ™ (( -rr™ m ~„x . » t, " POSTAGE " POSTAGE 
 
 T. "VICTORIA." B. 0NEpENNY „ |B1waL . 
 
 July, 1856. Id., yellow-green (shades) ; imperforate. 
 April, 1861. 6d., blue, very deep to light ; rouletted. 
 
 Varieties. — Specimens of the One Penny, rouletted, and of the Six Pence, 
 imperforate, as well as of both values with serpentine perforations, also the 
 Six Pence, perforated 12, are noted in some catalogues. Some of these were shown 
 to the Society, but no further information respecting them was available. Proofs, 
 in black, on India paper, exist. 
 
 Type VIL 
 
 Three values. The original die was engraved on steel by Perkins, Bacon, 
 and Co., of London, and sent out to the colony, where it was electro typed by 
 Mr. Calvert for surface-printing, and the impressions were produced by Mr. F. W. 
 Robinson. The paper with the star watermark was also imported from England. 
 Coloured impression on various white papers, white and dark brown gum. Design : 
 Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on oval of solid colour, enframed 
 by an outer white oval which almost touches the top, bottom, and sides of the 
 stamp, and is inscribed with name of colony in coloured shaded block letters 
 in the upper, and with value in coloured Roman capitals in the lower curve, 
 floral ornaments separating the two inscriptions. The spandrels are reticulated, 
 and in each of the four corners is a small vignette. In the left upper corner 
 are a cow and a sheep ; in the right, a three-masted ship in full sail. In the 
 left lower corner are a painter's palette, brushes, set-square, and compasses ; and 
 in the right, a cradle, used by miners for washing gold, and other mining 
 implements. The stamp is enframed by a single coloured outer line. Shape, 
 upright rectangular. (Illustration 98.) 
 
 t. "victoria." b. "one penny," "two pence," "four pence." 
 I. July, 1857. White wove paper, varying in substance ; wmk. large six-rayed star, 
 (a) Imperf. Id., yellow-green shades. 
 
 4d., vermilion, brick-red, rose-red (shades). 
 1861 (?). (b) Rouletted 8. Id., yellow-green. 
 
 4d., brick-red, rose-red (shades). 
 (c) M. Perf. 12. Id., yellow-green. 
 
 Variety. Id., green ; perf. 12 horizontally, rouletted vertically (Moens). 
 
120 VICTORIA. 
 
 II. 1860 (?). White wove paper, varying in substance ; un watermarked. 
 
 (a) Imperf. Id., green, emerald-green (shades). 
 
 2d., dull lilac. 
 
 4d., red, vermilion (shades). 
 
 (b) Rouletted 8. Id., yellow-green, emerald-green (shades). 
 
 2d., dull lilac (shades). 
 
 4d., vermilion, rose-red (shades). 
 
 (c) M.-Perf. 12. Id, yellow-green, emerald-green (shades). 
 
 2d., lilac. 
 
 4d., rose, rose-red (shades). 
 
 III. 1861 (?). White paper, laid (1) vertically, (2) horizontally ; un watermarked. 
 
 (a) Imperf. 2d. (?). 
 
 4d., rose-red, laid horizontally. 
 
 (b) Rouletted 8. 2d., dull brownish- and deep grey-lilac (shades), laid horizontally 
 
 and vertically. 
 4d., rose, rose-red (shades), laid vertically and horizontally. 
 
 (c) M.-Perf. 12. Id., yellow-green, emerald-green (shades), laid horizontally. 
 
 4d., rose, rose-red (shades), laid horizontally. 
 
 IV. 1862. White wove paper ; watermark, value in words. 
 
 (a) Perf. 12. Id., yellow-green, emerald-green (shades). 
 
 2d., lilac, reddish- and grey -lilac, dull lilac (shades). 
 Errors. 2d., lilac, watermarked " three pence." 
 
 2d., lilac, watermarked " these pence." 
 
 V. 1863. White wove paper ; watermark, thin numeral 2. 
 
 (a) Perf. 12. 2d., lilac, pale to deep reddish, and grey-lilac (shades). 
 
 Varieties. — In some of the later printings of the Two Pence, notably in 
 those issued in 1863, the shading of the letters composing the word "victoria" 
 has, either owing to defective transfer or to wear and tear, disappeared, and the 
 word seems to be printed in plain block letters. 
 
 Proofs in black upon India paper of these stamps are to be met with. 
 
 Type VIII. 
 
 Three values. Type-printed (probably) in the colony. Coloured impression 
 on various papers, white and dark brown gum. Design: Diademed profile of 
 Queen Victoria to left, on oval of solid colour, with beaded and plain outer 
 frames, the latter inscribed in the upper and lower curves with small white Eoman 
 capitals. On either side, extending from the outer edge of the stamp to that 
 of the central oval, is a small oval of solid colour, with double-lined white border, 
 containing the Arabic numeral of value. The corners of the stamp are rounded, 
 and filled in with arabesques. Shape, fancy irregular upright. {Illustration 99.) 
 
 t. "victoria postage." b. "three pence," "four pence," or "six pence." 
 
 R. AND L. "3," "4," OR "6." 
 
 I. 1861. Stout white paper, laid horizontally ; no watermark. 
 Perf. 12. 3d., deep ultramarine. 
 
 II. 1862. Medium white wove paper ; watermark, value in words in two rows of 
 block type enframed by a single bine 
 Perf. 12. 3d., blue to chalky-blue. 
 4d., rose, deep to pale. 
 6d., orange, orange-yellow (shades). 
 6d., black to grey. 
 
 Error. 4d., rose ; watermarked, " five shillings " diagonally within 
 
 a single-lined frame. 
 
VICTORIA. 121 
 
 III. 1863. Thinnish white wove paper ; watermark, single-lined numeral 4. 
 
 (a) Imperf. 4d., rose. 
 
 (b) Eouletted 8. 4d., rose. 
 
 (c) Perf. 12. 4d., rose, pale to deep. 
 
 (d) Perf. 12£. 4d., rose. 
 
 Variety. 4d., rose ; perf. 12£ on slightly blued paper. 
 
 IV. 1863. Thin white surfaced paper ; no watermark. 
 
 Perf. 12. 4d., rose. 
 
 V. 1866. Medium white wove paper ; watermark, value in words, as above. 
 Perf. 12. 3d., brown-lake (shades). 
 
 Error. 4d., perf. 12. Printed in brown-lake, the colour of the 3d. 
 
 Remarks. — It is not easy to account for the existence of the Four Pence 
 printed on paper watermarked Five Shillings. The Society does not know of 
 any Australian fiscal stamps with a similar watermark, on the paper of which 
 the Four Pence might have been printed in error. It seems hardly probable 
 that paper was prepared with this watermark for the purpose of printing the 
 Five Shilling postage stamps, which did not make their appearance until 1868, 
 and then only upon paper watermarked with "v" over Crown. 
 
 The error Four Pence, brown-lake, is excessively rare. The only copy known 
 is in the collection of the Vice-President. 
 
 Type IX. 
 
 One value. Type-printed in the colony. Coloured impression on white wove 
 paper varying in substance, white and brownish gum. Design : This stamp is 
 a modification of Type VIII. The beaded oval is suppressed and replaced by 
 a white one of larger dimensions, inscribed with larger and coloured letters. 
 The double-lined ovals at the sides are also larger, are white, and have coloured 
 numerals of value. It seems likely that the die for this stamp was in two parts, 
 the centre or head of Type VIII. being used together with the modified frame 
 of this issue. In some specimens the central oval is filled up with colour, whilst 
 in others, more especially in the later printings, there is a white border, varying 
 in width, between the background of the portrait and the inner edge of the oval. 
 These differences may arise from the two portions of the die not fitting properly, 
 or from the centre and frame of the stamp being printed separately, as in bi-coloured 
 stamps. {Illustration 101.) 
 
 March, 1862. 
 6d., black to grey on white wove paper ; wmk., value in words ; machine-perf. 12. 
 
 1863. 
 6d., black to grey on white wove paper ; wmk., single-lined numeral 6 ; mach.-perf. 12. 
 6d., „ „ n m n none ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 Remarks. — That the last described variety exists is clear, for numerous 
 specimens are known; but that it is an error, produced by inadvertence, seems 
 more than likely. 
 
 Type X. 
 
 One value. Type-printed in colony; coloured impression on white wove paper, 
 varying in substance; white and dark brown gum. The design is a modification 
 of that of Type VII. The portrait is larger ; the inscriptions in the outer oval are 
 in plain coloured block letters, are more spaced, and are divided by a quatrefoil 
 ornament on either side. The last letter in the word "victoria" is not an "a," but 
 a reversed "v." The small vignettes in the four corners are suppressed, and the 
 
 R 
 
122 VICTORIA. 
 
 spandrels are more distinctly reticulated. In the central oval, behind the curl, and 
 just opposite to the quatrefoil ornament, on the right side of the inscribed oval, is 
 a white circle, arising probably from a flaw in the die, but present in every stamp. 
 
 {Illustration 100.) 
 
 1862. 
 Id., yellow-green, shades ; white wove paper ; wmk. value in words ; machine-perf. 12 
 Id., green „ „ „ „ thick double-lined numeral & ; 
 
 machine-perf. 12. 
 Id., pale green, shades ; white wove paper ; wmk. none ; machine-perf. 12. 
 
 1863. 
 Id., green, shades ; white wove paper ; wmk. thin single-lined numeral 1 ; machine- 
 perf. 12 and 12£. 
 
 Type XL 
 
 (a) Four values. Typographed and produced in the colony by Mr. Richards, 
 of Sydney. Coloured impression on white and toned papers, varying greatly in 
 substance from stout to almost pelure ; various watermarks ; white and yellowish 
 gum. Design : Laureated profile of Queen Victoria, to left, on ground of horizontal 
 lines in double-lined circle, which in some specimens approaches more closely to the 
 sides of the stamp than in others. Straight white labels above and below portrait, 
 inscribed with coloured Roman capitals. Conventional foliate ornaments in the 
 spandrels, which are of solid colour in the case of the One Penny, Two Pence, and 
 Eight Pence ; those of the Four Pence containing white perpendicular lines ; small 
 blocks with floreate ornaments in the four corners. Shape, upright rectangular. 
 (Illustration 102.) 
 
 T. " VICTORIA." B. " ONE PENNY," " TWO PENCE," " FOUR PENCE," AND " EIGHT PENCE." 
 
 I. 1863. White and yellowish-white wove paper, varying in substance ; watermark, 
 double-lined numeral of value. 
 
 (a) Imperf. 4d., dull rose. 
 
 (b) M.-Perf. 12. (c) M.-Perf. 12£. (d) M.-Perf. 13. 
 
 Id., green (shades). (1867.) 
 4d., rose „ 
 
 Errors. Id., green ; watermarked <£. 
 
 2d., lilac „ £. 
 
 2d. „ „ & 
 
 II. 1864. White and yellowish-white wove paper, varying in substance ; watermark, 
 single-lined numeral of value. 
 
 (a) Imperf. Id., green. 
 
 2d., slate. 
 4d., dull rose. 
 
 (b) M.-Perf. 12. (c) M.-Perf. 12$. (d) M.-Perf. 13. (e) M.-Perf. compound. 
 
 Id., bluish and yellow-green (shades). 
 2d., violet, reddish-lilac, lilac, slate (shades). 
 4d., carmine, rose, pink (shades). 
 8d., orange-yellow (shades). 
 
 Errors. Id., green ; watermarked 4. 
 
 Id. 
 
 » 
 
 N 
 
 6. 
 
 Id. 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 8. 
 
 Id. 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 in letters, " sixpence." 
 
 2d., 
 
 lilac 
 
 >J 
 
 4. 
 
 2d. 
 
 » 
 
 5> 
 
 6 (two varieties). 
 
 2d. 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 8. 
 
 2d. 
 
 » 
 
 N 
 
 in letters, " sixpence." 
 
VICTORIA. 
 
 123 
 
 III. 1867. Yellowish-white laid or wove paper. No watermark. 
 
 (a) M.-Perf. ll£. (b) M.-Perf. 12. (c) M.-Perf. 12£. (d) M.-Perf. 13. 
 
 (a) On laid paper. 
 4d., rose (Moens). 
 
 (b) On wove paper. 
 
 Id., green (shades). | 2d., lilac (shades). | 4d., rose (shades). 
 
 IV. 1867-82. "White, yellowish-white, lilac or pink, wove paper, varying in substance ; 
 
 watermark, " v " over Crown. 
 
 (a) Imperf. 2d., lilac. 
 
 (b) M.-Perf. 12. (c) M.-Perf. 12£. (d) M.-Perf. 13. 
 
 Id., green (shades). 
 2d., violet, lilac (shades). 
 2d., lilac (shades), on lilac-tinted paper. 
 4d., carmine, rose (shades). 
 4d., bright rose-aniline colour. (October, 1881.) 
 8d., red-brown (shades), on pink wove paper. (February, 1877.) 
 8d. „ aniline colour „ „ „ (1883.) 
 
 Error. 8d. „ watermarked 10. 
 
 Owing to the difficulties connected with the arrangement of these stamps, 
 it has been considered advisable to give an alternative list in the form of a 
 chronological table : 
 
 Issues. 
 
 Value and Colour. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Watermark. 
 
 Perforation. 
 
 1863 
 
 4d., dull rose 
 
 White wove . 
 
 Double -lined nu- 
 meral 4i • 
 
 Mach. 12, 124, 13. 
 
 
 4d. „ . . 
 
 i» • • 
 
 » » 
 
 Imperf. 
 
 1864 
 
 Id., bluish and yellow- 
 green (shades) 
 
 „ and yel- 
 lowish, thick to 
 
 
 
 
 
 very thin . 
 
 Single-lined 1 
 
 Mach. 12, 124, 13, 
 
 
 2d.,violet, reddish-lilac, 
 
 
 
 and compound. 
 
 
 lilac, slate (shades) . 
 
 White wove „ 
 
 2 . 
 
 n >> 
 
 
 4d., carmine, rose, pink 
 
 
 
 
 
 (shades) 
 
 »> » 
 
 4 . 
 
 >> »i 
 
 
 8d., or.-yellow (shades) 
 
 »» » 
 
 8 . 
 
 »> !> 
 
 
 Id., green 
 
 >> • • 
 
 1 • 
 
 Imperf. 
 
 
 2d., slate 
 
 >> • • 
 
 2 . 
 
 » 
 
 
 4d., dull rose 
 
 »> • • 
 
 4 . 
 
 » 
 
 1867 
 
 Id., green (shades) . 
 
 White wove . 
 
 None . 
 
 Mach.ll£,12,12j, 
 13. 
 
 
 2d., lilac ( „ ) . 
 
 >» • • 
 
 „ . . . 
 
 
 4d., rose ( „ ) . 
 
 >> • 
 
 „ . • . 
 
 »» >» 
 
 
 4d- „ ( „ ) . 
 
 White laid. (See 
 
 
 
 
 
 Remarks) . 
 
 „ . . 
 
 „ 12* (?)• 
 
 
 Id., green ( „ ) . 
 
 White wove . 
 
 Double-lined 1 . 
 
 „ 12, 12i, 13. 
 
 1867-82 . 
 
 Id- „ ( „ ) . 
 
 ,, hard and 
 soft varying sub- 
 stances 
 
 Crown surmounted 
 
 
 
 2d., lilac and violet in 
 
 
 by the letter "v" 
 
 „ 12,12J,13. 
 
 
 every variety of shade 
 
 White wove, hard 
 and soft, and on 
 
 
 
 
 
 lilac tinted 
 
 »> » • 
 
 »> » 
 
 
 4d., carmine, rose 
 
 White wove, hard 
 
 
 
 
 
 and soft . 
 
 j> »> 
 
 » » 
 
 
 2d., lilac 
 
 >> »> 
 
 » » • 
 
 Imperf. 
 
 1877-82 . 
 
 8d., red-brown (shades) 
 
 Pink wove . 
 
 » » • 
 
 Mach. 13. 
 
 1881, Oct. 
 
 4d., bright rose-aniline 
 
 
 
 
 
 colour . 
 
 White wove . 
 
 » » • 
 
 „ 12. 
 
 1883 
 
 8d., red-brown-aniline 
 
 
 
 
 
 colour . 
 
 Pink wove . 
 
 » » 
 
 „ 12. 
 
124 
 
 VICTORIA. 
 
 Errors in Watermark of Stamps of Type XI. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Earliest Postmks. 
 
 Issues. 
 
 Values. 
 
 Watermark. 
 
 Perf. 
 
 produced before 
 the Society. 
 
 1867-68 
 
 2d., lilac (shades) 
 
 Double-lined numeral 2, 
 
 Various 
 
 Feb., 1868. 
 
 
 Id., green ( „ ) 
 
 » 4 . • . 
 
 » 
 
 July, 1868. 
 
 
 2d., lilac ( ,, ) 
 
 • » >)»)•• 
 
 » 
 
 March, 1868. 
 
 
 Id., green ( „ ) 
 
 Single-lined ,, 4 
 
 » 
 
 Feb., 1867. 
 
 
 2d., lilac ( ,, ) 
 
 4 
 
 5> 
 
 March, 1867. 
 
 
 Id., green ( „ ) 
 
 ,» » 6 
 
 5> 
 
 June, 1867. 
 
 
 2d., lilac ( „ ) 
 
 Two varieties, single-lined numeral 6 
 
 » 
 
 June, 1867. 
 
 
 Id., green ( „ ) 
 
 Single-lined numeral 8 . 
 
 J> 
 
 Feb., 1867. 
 
 
 2d., lilac ( ,, ) 
 
 » >» ... 
 
 » 
 
 Jan., 1867. 
 
 
 Id., green ( „ ) 
 
 In letters, " sixpence " . 
 
 » 
 
 1867. 
 
 
 2d., lilac ( ,, ) 
 
 » >i ... 
 
 J) 
 
 1867 (?). 
 
 1878 . 
 
 8d., red-brown (shades 
 
 ) Single-lined numeral 10 . 
 
 13 
 
 March, 1878. 
 
 (b) One value. The One Penny, green, of Type XI., converted provisionally 
 into a Half Penny value by surcharging the stamp in red, with the word " half " in 
 Roman capitals above the original value, and with the numerals "^ " on each side 
 of the portrait. (Illustration 103.) 
 
 September, 1873. 
 |d., green, red surcharge ; wmk. " v ■ over Crown ; machine-perf. 12*, 13. 
 
 Remarks. — The variety Four Pence, on white laid paper, without watermark, 
 is given on the authority of M. Moens ; it is not known to the Society. In the 
 marginal frames of the One Penny, Two Pence, and Four Pence there are noticeable 
 irregularities, the outer lines being sometimes wholly or in part missing. In some 
 specimens of the Two Pence there would seem to have been a slip in the printing of 
 the value, which appears to be in double- lined lettering instead of in solid type. 
 The perforations given in the table are found variously combined, but a detailed list 
 of these is scarcely necessary. 
 
 Type XII. 
 
 (a) Two values. Engraved by Mr. Richards, of Sydney. Coloured impression 
 on white and coloured wove paper, varying in substance; various watermarks; 
 white gum. Design : Laureated profile of Queen Victoria, to left, on background 
 of horizontal lines, enframed by double-lined oval, of the colour of the paper, which 
 almost touches the top, bottom, and sides of the stamp, and is inscribed in the 
 upper and lower curves with coloured Roman capitals. The two inscriptions are 
 separated on either side by small double-lined ovals containing the Arabic numeral 
 of value in colour. The pattern of the border is fluted, and there are small 
 rectangular blocks of solid colour in each corner. The spandrels are filled in with 
 a small arabesque ornament. Shape, upright rectangular. (Illustration 105.) 
 t. "victoria." b. "six pence." "ten pence." r. and l. "6.6." "10.01." 
 I. 1865. White or pink wove paper, varying in substance ; watermark, single-lined 
 numeral of value, 
 (a) M.-Perf. 12. (b) M.-Perf. 12*. («) M.-Perf. 13. 
 6d., blue (shades). 
 10d., slate-grey (shades). 
 
 10d., red-brown, brown (shades), on pink paper. (1866.) 
 Errors, (a) Watermark, single-lined numeral. 
 6d., blue ; watermark, 4. 
 10d., slate-grey ; watermark, 8. 
 (b) Watermark, double-lined numeral. 
 6cL, blue ; watermark, 2, . 
 6d. „ ,, 4< 
 
VICTORIA. 
 
 125 
 
 II. 1867 (?). White wove paper, varying in substance ; watermark, value in letters, 
 
 " SIXPENCE." 
 
 (a) M.-Perf. 12£. (b) M.-Perf. 13. 
 6d., blue (shades). 
 Errors. 6d. „ watermarked " threepence." 
 
 6d. „ „ "fourpence." 
 
 III. (?) White wove paper ; no watermark. M.-Perf. 13. 
 
 6d., blue. 
 
 IV. 1867. White wove paper, varying in substance ; watermark, " v " over Crown. 
 
 (a) M.-Perf. 12. (b) M.-Perf. 12fc. (c) M.-Perf. 13. 
 6d., blue (shades). 
 6d., ultramarine (shades). (1876.) 
 
 A chronological table is given for these two values, for the same reasons as 
 for the stamps described under Type XI. : 
 
 Issues. 
 
 Value and Colour. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Watermark. 
 
 Perf. 
 
 1865 . 
 
 6d., blue (shades) 
 
 Medium white wove 
 
 Single-lined numeral 6 . 
 
 Mach.l2,12£, 
 13. 
 it tt 
 
 >> • 
 
 10d., slate-grey (shades) 
 
 >> »» 
 
 n tt 8 . 
 
 >» • 
 
 10d., „ ( „ ) 
 
 >> f» 
 
 ,, io . 
 
 >t tt 
 
 1866 . 
 
 10d., red-brown, brown 
 
 
 
 
 
 (shades) 
 
 Stoutish pink wove 
 
 „ io . 
 
 >t it 
 
 1867 (?) 
 
 6d., blue (shades) 
 
 Medium white „ 
 
 Value in letters,"sixpENOE" 
 
 >> it 
 
 1867 . 
 
 6d. „ ( „ ) . 
 
 White wove, varying 
 
 
 
 
 
 in substance 
 
 " V " over crown 
 
 Mach.l2,12|, 
 13. 
 
 >» >» 
 
 1876 . 
 
 6d., ultram. (shades) 
 
 >> »» • 
 
 >» » • 
 
 (?) • 
 
 6d., blue . 
 
 Medium white wove 
 
 No watermark 
 
 „ 12£. 
 
 Errors in Watermark. 
 
 Issues. 
 
 Values. 
 
 Watermark. 
 
 Perf. 
 
 Earliest 
 
 Postmarks known 
 
 to Society. 
 
 1865 
 1867-70 
 
 6d., blue 
 
 6d. ,, (shades) 
 6d. „ ( „ ) 
 6d. „ ( „ ) 
 6d. „ ( „ ) 
 
 Single-lined numeral 4 
 Double-lined numeral 1 
 
 Value in letters, " threepence " 
 ,, "fotjrpence" 
 
 Various 
 
 1867. 
 1867. 
 
 Early, 1870. 
 Sept., 1870. 
 
 Remarks. — Specimens of the Ten Pence, apparently printed in greyish-brown 
 on whitey -brown paper, and watermarked 10 x were shown ; but they were regarded 
 with suspicion as being probably the result of chemical experiments upon the Ten 
 Pence of 1866, or of some accidental discolouration. 
 
 There is the same reason for doubting the authenticity of the Ten Pence, grey 
 on white paper ; also watermarked 10. 
 
 (b) One value. This is the Ten Pence, Type XII., converted provisionally 
 into a Nine Penny value by printing " nine pence " in blue, Roman capitals, in a 
 straight line across the bottom of the stamp and the numeral 9, in the same colour, 
 over the original numeral 10 on either side of the oval. {Illustration 106.) 
 
 May, 1871. 
 9d., surcharged in blue on the 10d., red-brown on rose ; wmk. 10 ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 Remarks. — "Varieties may be found in the position of the surcharge. The 
 stamp also exists with double surcharge. 
 
126 VICTORIA. 
 
 Type XIII. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on stout coloured 
 paper ; white gum. Design : Laureated profile of Queen Victoria to left, on 
 background of horizontal lines, enframed by a circular band of two inner and 
 three outer lines inscribed in the upper and lower curves, with legends in Roman 
 capitals. The two inscriptions are separated by small six-rayed stars on either side. 
 The outline of the stamp is octagonal, but the lines of perforation are rectangular 
 {Illustration 104.) 
 
 t. "victoria." b. "one shilling." 
 
 1865. 
 Is., deep blue on blue wove paper ; wmk. single-lined numeral 1 ; macbine-perf. 12£. 
 Is. „ „ „ no watermark ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 1875. 
 Is., deep blue on blue wove paper ; wmk. " v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 Type XIV. 
 
 (a) One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium 
 white wove paper ; various watermarks ; white and yellowish gum. Design : 
 Laureated profile of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of solid colour, within a 
 double-lined white oval, which almost touches the borders of the stamp, and is 
 inscribed in the upper and lower curves with coloured Roman capitals. The 
 two inscriptions are separated by a small crown on either side. The spandrels 
 are reticulated, and there is a rectangular double-lined white block in each of the 
 four corners, with shaded and coloured Arabic numeral of value. The whole stamp 
 is enframed by two plain outer lines. Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 107.) 
 
 t. "3 victoria 3" (in shaded capitals), b. "3 three pence 3" (in plain Roman capitals). 
 
 October, 1866. 
 3d., dull lilac (shades) ; wmk. single-lined numeral 8 ; machine-perf. 13. 
 
 1867. 
 3d., dull and slatey (shades) ; wmk. double-lined numeral 2. ; macbine-perf. 13. 
 
 1868. 
 3d., dull, reddish, and slatey (shades) ; wmk. "v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12 J. 
 
 October, 1869. 
 3d., deep orange to yellow (shades) ; wmk. " v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 (b) Same stamp, surcharged in blue, with the words "stamp duty" in small 
 block letters on each side of the portrait. {Illustration 108.) 
 
 L. " stamp " reading upwards. R. " duty " reading downwards. 
 
 1885. 
 3d., yellow on medium white paper ; wmk. " v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 Remarks. — As the stamps of this type were never printed upon paper expressly 
 set apart for them, the issues upon the paper watermarked with the numerals 8 
 and 1 have not been classed as errors. 
 
 Proofs on stoutish wove paper, without watermark, in pale lilac, are known. 
 Various trials were made of this stamp in bi-colours and distinct self-colours for 
 approbation. The former were produced by a paste and scissors operation, cutting 
 out the oval containing the head, and gumming it on a border cut from a proof of 
 another colour, and the latter were simply printed in self-colours. A list of these 
 colours and combinations is beyond the scope of this catalogue. 
 
VICTORIA. 127 
 
 Type XV. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on yellow and on 
 white wove paper ; white gum. Design : Laureated profile of Queen Victoria to 
 left, on ground of solid colour, enframed by a plain circular band, inscribed in the 
 upper and lower segments in coloured block letters. The two inscriptions are 
 separated on either side by a small ring with a dot in the centre. Above the circle 
 is a royal crown, and the whole is surrounded by arabesque and foliate ornaments. 
 The shape of the design is an irregular seven-sided figure, but the stamp is 
 perforated as a rectangle. {Illustration 110.) 
 
 T. " VICTORIA." B. " FIVE SHILLINGS." 
 
 January, 1868. 
 5s., Prussian-blue design, and inscriptions, on yellow wove paper ; wmk. " v " over 
 Crown ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 July, 1868. 
 58., Prussian-blue design, carmine crown inscription, on white wove paper ; wmk. " v " 
 over Crown ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 1878. 
 5s., pale ultramarine, carmine crown inscription, on white wove paper ; wmk. " v " 
 over Crown ; machine-perf. 12|. 
 
 1881. 
 5s., deep aniline-blue, scarlet crown, on white wove paper ; wmk. " v " over Crown ; 
 machine-perf. 12. 
 
 Type XVI. 
 
 One value. Engraved and type-printed by De la Rue and Co. Coloured 
 
 impression on white wove, slightly surfaced watermarked paper. Design : 
 
 Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines within 
 
 a double-lined white oval, which touches the borders of the stamp, and is inscribed 
 
 in the upper and lower curves in coloured Roman capitals. The two inscriptions 
 
 are separated on either side by a small circle of colour containing the minute Arabic 
 
 numeral of value in white. The spandrels are filled in with arabesques, and the 
 
 whole stamp is bordered by a plain outer line of colour. Shape, upright rectangular. 
 
 {Illustration 109.) 
 
 t. "victoria." b. "two pence." 
 
 January, 1870. 
 2d., rosy to grey shades of lilac ; wmk. " v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 Type XVII. 
 
 (a) One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on rose wove 
 watermarked paper, white gum. Design : Profile to left of Queen Victoria with 
 Gothic crown, on ground of horizontal lines, enframed in double-lined circle, with 
 scalloped inner edge. Above and below the circle and following its outline are 
 curved labels with notched ends, inscribed in coloured Roman capitals. The 
 spandrels are of solid colour, and the borders consist of fleurs-de-lis-like ornaments. 
 In each of the four corners is a small escutcheon, on the left upper and right lower 
 of which is a Kangaroo, and on the left lower and right upper an Emu. Shape, 
 upright rectangular. {Illustration 111.) 
 
 T. " VICTORIA." B. " NINE PENCE." 
 
 March, 1873. 
 9d., red-brown (shades) ; watermark, single-lined numeral 10 ; mach.-perf. 12J. 
 
 August, 1875. 
 9d., red-brown (shades) ; watermark, "v" over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12 and 12 J. • 
 
128 VICTORIA. 
 
 (b) This is Type XVII. (a) converted provisionally into an Eight Penny value, 
 by surcharging the stamp in blue with the words "eight pence," in Koman 
 capitals, in a straight line above the original value, and with the value "8d." 
 on each side of the portrait. (Illustration 112.) 
 
 August, 1876. 
 8d., red-brown, blue surcharge ; watermark, " v" over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12 and 12£. 
 
 Type XVni. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on white and 
 coloured wove watermarked papers, white gum. Design : Diademed profile of 
 Queen Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines, within a single-lined oval, 
 which touches the top, bottom, and sides of the stamp. The upper and lower 
 curves of the oval are formed by two white labels — the first with convex, and the 
 other with concave extremities — inscribed with coloured block letters. The sides of 
 the oval, between the two inscribed labels, are filled in with a reticulated pattern, 
 and the spandrels with Etruscan ornament. The whole stamp is bordered by a 
 plain line of colour. Shape, upright rectangular. (Illustration 113.) 
 
 T. " VICTORIA." B. " TWO PENCE." 
 
 March, 1873. 
 2d., mauve (shades), on medium white wove paper ; wmk. " v " over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12 \. 
 
 1878. 
 2d., mauve (shades), on medium green wove paper ; wmk. " v " over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12J. 
 *•■ » » » ouii „ „ „ „ 
 
 1879. 
 2d., mauve (shades), on medium white wove paper ; wmk. " v " over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12J. 
 
 Variety. — In 1879 the plate was altered, and the outer border of the oval, 
 from being a thick single line, was changed to two fine ones. 
 
 Type XIX. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on white and 
 coloured wove watermarked paper, white gum. Design : Diademed profile of 
 Queen Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines, within a double-lined oval, 
 which almost touches the sides of the stamps. Above and below the oval, following 
 its outline, are white labels with pointed ends, inscribed with coloured block letters. 
 The stamp is bordered by two lines of colour, which are broken at the four corners 
 by circular coloured blocks with ^d. in white. The remainder of the stamp is 
 filled in with reticulations. Shape, narrow, upright, rectangular. (Illustration 114.) 
 
 T. "Jd. VICTORIA id." B. "id. HALF PENNY id." 
 
 1874. 
 Jd., carmine-lake, to rose (shades), white wove paper ; wmk. " v" over Crown ; perf. 11J, 12J. 
 
 1878. 
 Jd., carmine, pink wove paper ; watermark, " v" over Crown ; perf. 12 J. 
 
 1883. 
 Jd., carmine, aniline colour on white paper ; watermark, " v " over Crown ; perf. 11 J. 
 
 Remarks. — The watermark is spread over two stamps. The printing of this 
 value, the Two Pence of Type XVIII., and the One Penny of the following type, 
 upon coloured papers, seems to have been an experiment, which, judging from the 
 speed with which it was abandoned, could hardly have afforded the results expected. 
 
VICTORIA. 129 
 
 Type XX. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on white and 
 coloured watermarked paper, white gum. Design : A barely three-quarter face 
 of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines, within a white oval of two 
 fine inner and outer lines, which touches the border of the stamp at top, bottom, 
 and sides, and is inscribed in the upper and lower curves with coloured block letters. 
 The two inscriptions are separated on either side by a conventional ornament. The 
 spandrels are filled in with Etruscan ornament. In each of the two upper angles is 
 a circle containing Geometric ornament, and ih each of the lower ones a single- 
 lined circle with fancy \ A - in colour. Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 115.) 
 
 T. "VICTORIA." B. "Id. PENNY Id." 
 
 December, 1875. 
 Id., dull green (shades), on white wove paper ; wmk. " v " over Crown ; mach.-perf. 11 J, 12 J. 
 
 1878. 
 Id., dull green (shades), on yellow wove paper ; wmk. " v " over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12J. 
 Id. „ „ drab „ „ „ „ 
 
 Type XXI. 
 
 (a) One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on stout 
 coloured watermarked paper, white gum. Design : A diademed portrait of Queen 
 Victoria, closely resembling that in Type XX., on ground of solid colour within 
 double-lined circle. Scrolled labels above and below circle inscribed with block 
 letters in hue of the paper. The border is formed of a heavy line of eccentric 
 shape, and the rest of the stamp is filled in with reticulations. Shape, upright 
 rectangular. (Illustration 116.) 
 
 t. "victoria." b. "one shilling." 
 
 October 4th, 1876. 
 
 Is., blue (shades) upon a lighter blue wove paper ; wmk., " v " over Crown ; 
 
 mach.-perf. ll£ and 12£. 
 
 (b) The same stamp, surcharged "stamp duty" in black, similar to Type XIV. (b). 
 
 1885. 
 Is., blue upon a lighter blue wove paper; watermark, "v" over Crown; mach.-perf. 12£. 
 
 Type XXII. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium white 
 wove watermarked paper, white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen Victoria 
 to left, on ground of horizontal lines, enclosed by a single white oval line. 
 Surrounding this and following the shape of the oval is an ornamental fancy 
 frame, consisting of scrolled labels of solid colour, diminishing in width at the 
 centre, above and below the oval, containing inscriptions in white block letters, 
 also diminishing in height, like the labels, at the centre of the words. The 
 remainder of the ornamental frame is made up on each side by a curved row 
 of ten pearls and other ornamentation. The angles are filled in with irregularly 
 shaped blocks and triangles. The small blocks in the corners are coloured, and 
 bear a minute white letter "a.c." in the upper and "c.e." in the lower, most 
 likely the initials of the engraver. The design is completed by a single outer 
 line of colour. Shape, upright rectangular. (Illustration 117.) 
 
130 VICTORIA. 
 
 T. "victoria." b. "two pence." 
 
 January, 1881. 
 2d., brown (shades) ; wmk., " v" over Crown ; maehine-perf. 12|. 
 
 December 21st, 1883. 
 2d., mauve (shades) ; wmk., "t* over Crown ; machine-perf. 12^. 
 
 Type XXHI. 
 
 (a) One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on stout coloured 
 watermarked paper, white gum. Resign : Similar to Type XX., except that the 
 oval band enclosing the portrait is of solid colour, and has the block letters in the 
 hue of the paper. The conventional ornaments separating the two inscriptions 
 are also a little different. The circles in the corners are replaced by an irregular 
 pentagon, bearing "2s." in colour. Shape, upright rectangular. (Illustration 118.) 
 
 T. "2S. VICTORIA 2S." B. " 2S. TWO SHILLINGS 2S." 
 
 June (?), 1881. 
 2s., blue upon a light green wove paper ; wmk., " v " over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12£. 
 
 (b) The same stamp, surcharged "stamp duty" in black, similar to Type XIV. (b). 
 
 1885. 
 2s., blue upon a green light wove paper ; wmk., " v" over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12 J. 
 
 Type XXIV. 
 
 (a) One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium 
 white wove watermarked paper ; white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left (similar to Type XXII. ), on ground of horizontal lines, enclosed by 
 a single white oval line. Surrounding this and following the shape of the oval is 
 an ornamental fluted frame, containing two scrolled labels above and below the oval. 
 These labels, though rather smaller, are similar in shape to those of Type XXII., 
 and are similarly inscribed with white block letters. The spandrels and corners are 
 filled in with branching portions of the ornamental frame, and under the " p " and 
 "e" of "pour pence" are small coloured circles, containing minute letters — "c" in 
 the left, and " a " in the right. The design is completed by a double outer line of 
 colour. Shape, upright rectangular. (Illustration 119.) 
 
 t. "victoria." b. "four pence." 
 
 Jan., 1882. 4d., carmine-rose; wmk. "v" over Crown; machine-perf. 12^. 
 (?) 4d., „ (aniline colour) „ „ „ 
 
 (b) The same stamp surcharged " stamp duty " in blue, similar to Type XIV. (b) 
 1885. 4d., carmine-rose; watermark "v" over Crown; machine-perf. 12|. 
 
 Type XXV. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium white 
 wove watermarked paper ; white gum. Design : Diademed head of Queen Victoria, 
 nearly three-quarter face, to left, on background of horizontal lines, enclosed by a 
 linear oval band, which touches the top, bottom, and sides of the stamp, and is 
 inscribed, in coloured block letters, with the name of the colony and the value. 
 The upper portion of the inscription is separated from the lower by an arabesque 
 ornament on either side. The four corners contain small white circles, enclosed by 
 a single coloured line, containing in the two upper circles a species of linear Maltese 
 cross, in the centre of which is a minute letter — " c " in the left corner, and " h " in 
 
VICTORIA. 131 
 
 the right. The two lower circles contain the value " Id." The design is completed 
 by a double outer line of colour. Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 120.) 
 
 t. "victoria." b. "Id. victoria Id." 
 
 29th October, 1883. 
 Id., green and emerald-green (shades); wrak. " v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12^. 
 
 Type XXVL 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium white 
 wove watermarked paper ; white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left, on background of solid colour, enclosed by a white oval band, 
 which touches the top, bottom, and sides of the stamp, and is inscribed, in coloured 
 block letters, with the name of the colony and the value. The two inscriptions 
 are separated by arabesque ornamentation. The two upper corners are filled in with 
 arabesque ornaments, and with two curved labels of solid colour, containing in the 
 left the word " stamp," reading upwards, and in the right " duty," reading down- 
 wards, both words being in small block letters. The lower corners contain two 
 rectangular linear blocks, impinged upon by the oval band, and bearing the value 
 "£" expressed in white figures. On the inner side of the figures there are two 
 white semicircles. The design is completed by a single outer line of colour. Shape, 
 upright rectangular. (Illustration 121.) 
 
 T. "STAMP. VICTORIA. DUTY." B. "£ HALF-PENNY £." 
 
 1884. £d., rose (shades), aniline colour; wmk. " v" over Crown; mach.-perf. 12£. 
 
 Type XXVII. 
 
 Three values. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium 
 white wove watermarked paper ; white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left (similar to Type XXVL), on ground of horizontal lines, enclosed by 
 a single white-lined oval. Surrounding this and following the shape of the oval is 
 an ornamental fancy frame, consisting of scrolled labels of solid colour above and 
 below the oval. The labels diminish in width at the centre, and bear the name of 
 the colony and value in block letters. At either side is a small linear label, 
 inscribed in white block letters — l. "stamp," reading upwards, and r, "duty," 
 reading downwards. The upper corners are filled in with floral ornaments, and the 
 lower with small, irregularly-shaped linear blocks. The design is completed by a 
 single coloured line. Shape, upright rectangular. (Illustration 122.) 
 
 T. * VICTORIA." B. " ONE PENNY," " THREE PENCE," " SIX PENCE." 
 
 1884. Id., yellowish-green to green (shades) ; wmk. "v" over Crown; mach.-perf. 12|. 
 3d., bistre „ „ „ „ 
 
 6d., ultramarine „ „ „ „ 
 
 Type XXVHI. 
 
 Two values. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium white 
 or coloured wove watermarked paper ; white gum. Design : Diademed profile of 
 Queen Victoria to left (similar to Type XXVL), on ground of solid colour, enclosed 
 by a plain white circular line. Above and below, and following the shape of the 
 circle, are two plain white labels, inscribed with the name of the colony and value. 
 The bottom label of the One Shilling bears the value in the hue of the paper, upon 
 a linear ground. At either side is a small circle, which touches the side of the 
 stamp, and impinges upon the circle containing the head. The circles on the 
 
132 VICTORIA. 
 
 Two Pence contain the numeral of value upon a white ground, while those on the 
 One Shilling bear the numeral in the hue of the paper upon a ground of solid 
 colour. In the bottom corners arc two small curved linear labels, with " stamp " to 
 left and "duty" to right in block letters. The upper corners are filled in with 
 conventional ornaments. The remainder of the design is completed by fancy 
 fancy framework, and by an outer line of colour. Shape, upright rectangular. 
 (Illustrations 123, 124.) 
 
 T. "victoria." b. "stamp, two pence, duty," "stamp, one shilling, duty." 
 
 1884. 
 2d., violet, mauve, rose-violet (shades) on white wove paper; wmk. "v" over Crown ; 
 
 machine-perf. 12^. 
 
 1885. 
 Is., blue, on light yellow wove paper ; wmk. "v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12£. 
 
 Type XXIX. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium white 
 wove watermarked paper, white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left (similar to Type XXVI. ), on ground of solid colour, enclosed 
 within a narrow white circular line. Curved linear labels above and below. 
 The upper one inscribed with the name of the colony, and the lower with the 
 value in full in white Eoman capitals. In the left upper corner is "stamp," and 
 in the right "duty," both in thin coloured block letters; and the two lower 
 corners contain the numeral of value. The design is completed with conventional 
 ornaments, irregularly shaped blocks, and an eccentric outer line of colour. Shape, 
 upright rectangular. {Illustration 125.) 
 
 T. "STAMP. VICTORIA. DUTY." B. "4 FOUR PENCE 4." 
 
 1884. 4d., puce ; watermark, " v " over Crown ; machine-perf. 12|. 
 
 Type XXX. 
 
 Two values. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on medium 
 coloured wove watermarked paper, white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left (similar to Type XXVI.), on ground of horizontal lines, enclosed 
 within an irregular octagon, the frame of which is composed of dented ornamen- 
 tation. The frame is broken at the top and bottom by two small plain labels 
 with rounded ends. The upper one is inscribed " stamp," and the lower " duty," 
 both in coloured block letters. Above and below these are two straight labels 
 of solid colour, of the width of the stamp, the first bearing the name of the colony, 
 and the second the value in full, in plain Koman capitals. At either side is 
 the numeral of value upon a diamond of solid colour. The spandrels are filled 
 in with conventional ornaments, and along each side is a key pattern border. 
 The whole design is enclosed within a single outer line of colour. Shape, upright 
 rectangular. (Illustration 126.) 
 
 "victoria "duty "doty 
 
 ' stamp." • eight pence." two shillings." 
 
 1884. 
 8d., rose on a lighter rose coloured paper ; wmk., " v" over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12^. 
 
 1886. 
 2s., olive-green on light green coloured paper ; wmk., "v" over Crown ; mach.-perf. 12£. 
 
VICTORIA. 133 
 
 Type XXXI. 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on thin white 
 wove watermarked paper, white gum. Design : Diademed profile of Queen 
 Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines within a double-lined circle, the 
 inner line of which is notched. Above the circle is a curved white label with 
 pointed ends, inscribed with the name of the colony in coloured fancy capitals. 
 Straight white label below the circle bearing the value in full in coloured block 
 letters. Both labels extend the whole width of the stamp. On either side 
 of the circle, between two rows of six white pearls, are two small white labels, 
 inscribed, in thin block letters, "stamp" to left and "duty" to right. Below 
 these are two white upright labels, with the upper ends rounded. They rest upon 
 the bottom label of value, and are inscribed "i" in coloured numerals. The 
 remainder of the stamp is filled in with conventional ornaments, and a narrow 
 fancy border along the top and sides, and the design is completed by a double outer 
 line of colour. Shape, oblong rectangular. {Illustration 127.) 
 
 T. "VICTORIA." B. "£ HALFPENNY £." 
 
 1886. £d., dull lilac ; wmk., " v" over Crown, placed sideways ; mach.-perf. 12£. 
 
 Type XXXIL 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on thin white wove 
 watermarked paper ; white gum. Design : Same head of Her Majesty as the 
 preceding type, but somewhat larger in size, upon ground of horizontal lines, within 
 an upright rectangle, the upper portion of which is rounded. Above, on a straight 
 white label, is the name of the colony, and crossing the bottom is a white arched 
 scroll bearing the value in full, both inscriptions being in coloured block letters. 
 The scroll passes round the sides of the oblong, and the ends are straight, and 
 are inscribed in small thin block letters " stamp " to left, and " duty " to right. 
 Conventional ornaments and two outer lines of colour, the inner one of which is 
 notched, complete the design. Shape, upright rectangular. {Illustration 128.) 
 _ u . „ „ "stamp duty. 
 
 T. "VICTORIA." B. «__ __-_» 
 ONE PENNY. 
 
 1886. Id., yellow-green; wmk. "v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12J. 
 
 Type XXXIIL 
 
 One value. Engraved in the colony. Coloured impression on thin white wove 
 
 watermarked paper ; white gum. Design : Same head of Her Majesty as the 
 
 previous type, upon ground of horizontal lines, within a toothed circle, broken at 
 
 the top by a curved label of solid colour, inscribed with the name of the colony in 
 
 white block letters, and at the bottom by two straight labels, one resting upon the 
 
 other. The upper of the two is white with rounded ends, and bears the words 
 
 "stamp duty" in small coloured block letters. The lower one is of solid colour, and 
 
 is inscribed with the value in full in white block letters. A royal crown surmounts 
 
 the label with the name of the colony. The upper spandrels are filled in with 
 
 radiating lines grouped in couples, and along the bottom of the stamp there is a key 
 
 pattern border. The design is completed by a double outer line of colour. Shape, 
 
 upright rectangular. {Illustration 129.) 
 
 „ "stamp duty, 
 
 t. "victoria." b. „_\LJ^L» 
 
 SIX PENCE." 
 
 1886. 6d., ultramarine ; wmk. " v" over Crown ; machine-perf. 12^. 
 
134 VICTORIA. 
 
 ENVELOPES. 
 Issue I. November 1st, 1869. 
 
 One. value. On white or blue laid paper, varying in substance. In the right 
 tipper corner of the envelope is a stamp engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. 
 The die was probably printed from in the colony. Coloured impression. Design : 
 Embossed diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of solid colour, 
 enclosed by a white embossed beaded oval. Surrounding this is a white embossed 
 reticulated oval band, inscribed t. "postage two pence," b. "victoria," in coloured 
 block letters, the two inscriptions being separated by star-shaped ornaments. A 
 single outer oval line of colour completes the design. Shape, upright oval. 
 {Illustration 131.) 
 
 Sizes, (a) 4f x 2f inches or 120 x 67 mm. 
 
 (b) 5|x3 „ 132x80mm. 
 
 (c) 5| x 3£ „ 145 x 88 mm. 
 
 (d) 8|x3| „ 222 x97 mm. 
 
 2d., pale rose, dull rose-lilac, bright rose (slight shades). 
 
 Remarks. — Specimens are known with a double impression of the stamp on 
 the face, the second being without colour. The flaps are found pointed and rounded 
 with several varieties in shape of the latter. There are also numerous varieties of 
 the tresse impressed upon the flap. The following "note" is taken from Major 
 Evans's Catalogue : " The above sizes are those given in the Postal Guide of Victoria, 
 and I am informed that envelopes in these four sizes are to be purchased at the Post 
 Office. Various ornaments are to be found on the flaps (I possess eighteen varieties 
 besides each size with plain flap) ; but these can hardly be considered of any official 
 significance, as the envelopes as a rule are purchased by the Government ready made, 
 and the stamp is impressed upon them afterwards. I find two specimens which are 
 apparently exceptions to this — one of the smallest size with a fancy " v " on the 
 flap, the stamp on which was evidently embossed before it was made up ; the other 
 size 5fx 3| inches, with a crown enclosed in a garter, inscribed "victoria" on the 
 flap, stamped after it was made up, but the envelope of colonial manufacture. The 
 foolscap envelope of thin wove paper may have been printed to order, as I am 
 informed are all blue or coloured envelopes." The varieties of the size, tresse, and 
 flap, of this and the succeeding issues do not seem to the Society to merit the 
 separate classification devoted to them in some catalogues. 
 
 Issue H 1878. 
 
 One value. Engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., and printed in the 
 colony. The stamp is impressed in the right upper corner of the envelope. 
 Design : Embossed diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on solid ground, 
 within a beaded oval. Surrounding this is a coloured oval band, inscribed, in the 
 upper portion, " one penny," in white block letters. The lower portion is filled with 
 an inner semi-oval reticulated band, inscribed " victoria," in coloured block letters. 
 Star-shaped ornament at each end of "victoria." The design is completed by an 
 oval outer line of colour. Shape, upright oval. {Illustration 132.) 
 
 Id., yellow-green. 
 
 Remarks. — Major Evans says: "I am informed that the One Penny envelopes 
 are not on sale at the Post Office in Victoria, but are printed to order only, as' 
 in the case of the English envelopes of higher values. I have seen this type upon 
 white, blue, and buff envelopes, and upon a wrapper." 
 
VICTORIA. 135 
 
 Issue III. 1882. 
 One value. Engraved by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., and printed in the 
 colony. The stamp is impressed in the right upper corner of the envelope. 
 Design : Same as that of the Two Penny stamp of 1869, previously described, except 
 in one or two unimportant details. The head is slightly larger. The reticulations 
 of the oval band are coarser, and the letters of the inscriptions are smaller and 
 thicker. Shape, upright oval. (Illustration 133.) 
 
 T. " ONE PENNY." B. " VICTORIA." 
 
 Various sizes and papers made to order. 
 Id., yellow-green. 
 
 Remarks. — Specimens are known with a double impression of the stamp on the 
 face of the envelope, the second being without colour. These envelopes were also 
 made to order; and the same observations apply to the varieties of size, paper, 
 tresse, &c, as to the previous issues. 
 
 Issue IV. January 1st, 1885. 
 Two values. Engraved and printed in the colony. The stamp is impressed in 
 the right upper corner of the envelope. Designs : Same as those of the adhesives, 
 Types XXVII. and XXVIII. ; various sizes (eight are given by M. Moens for the 
 Two Pence, and one for the One Penny). Shape, rectangular. (Illustrations 122, 123.) 
 Id., green. 2d., mauve, violet. 
 
 These two stamps, like the others, were doubtless impressed to order upon 
 envelopes of the various sizes, though among them are found the four quasi-official 
 sizes of the first issue. 
 
 Issue V. 1885. 
 
 Two values. Same as the types of Issues I. and III., but the words " stamp 
 
 duty" have been added to the die, in small block letters; "stamp" to left reading 
 
 downwards, and "duty" to right reading upwards. Various sizes and papers. 
 
 (Illustration 134.) 
 
 Id., green (shades). | 2d., light mauve (shades). 
 
 Issue VI. 1886. 
 One value. Same as Type XXXII. of adhesive. The stamp is impressed 
 in the right upper corner. Various sizes and papers. (Illustration 128.) 
 
 Id., yellow-green. 
 
 OFFICIAL ENVELOPES. 
 Issue 1865. 
 
 These are hand-stamped envelopes used by different officials and departments, 
 and are similar in character to those previously described for Tasmania. The hand- 
 stamps are printed in red, black, or blue, upon variously-sized and coloured envelopes. 
 The following are given by M. Moens : " Attorney-General ; Chief Secretary 
 (4 types) ; Colonel-Commandant of Volunteers ; Commandant of Local Forces ; 
 Commandant of Volunteers ; Commander of H.M. Land Forces ; Commander of 
 H.M. Sea Forces; Commander Eoyal Artillery; Commissariat Staff; Commissioner 
 of Crown Lands and Survey ; Commissioner of Public Works ; Commissioner of 
 Railways and Roads ; Commissioner of Trade and Customs ; Governor of Victoria ; 
 Minister of Justice ; Minister of Mines ; Minister of Public Works ; Postmaster- 
 General (3 types); Solicitor-General; the Treasury." (Illustration 130.) 
 
 A detailed list of the varieties would possess but little interest. 
 
136 VICTORIA. 
 
 REGISTRATION ENVELOPES. 
 Issue I. 1881. 
 
 One value. These envelopes are made of stout white laid paper. The face 
 and back of the envelope are divided into four equal compartments by two 
 lines which cross at right angles, and are continued from the face to the back 
 of the envelope. On the face in the upper part is an inscription in two lines — 
 "this letter must be given to an officer of the post-office to be registered, 
 and a receipt obtained for it " — in thin block capitals. The vertical crossing 
 line falls between the words "officer of" and "receipt obtained" in the two 
 lines of inscription. In the left upper compartment, below the lines of direction, 
 is the word "registered" in thick block capitals, enclosed in an oblong single- 
 lined frame. In the right upper compartment is a single-lined rectangle. The 
 whole printed in vermilion. Pointed flap with white gum, impressed with a 
 stamp in mauve, engraved and printed in the colony. Design : Embossed diademed 
 profile of Queen Victoria to left, on solid ground, enclosed by a beaded oval. 
 Surrounding this is an embossed reticulated oval band inscribed in block letters, 
 the two inscriptions being separated by star-shaped ornaments. The design is 
 completed by an outer oval line of colour. Shape, upright oval. (Illustration 135.) 
 t. "registered." b. "four pence." 
 
 Sizes, (a) 5^,- x 3 inches or 135 x 78 mm. 
 (b) 5J n x3|- „ 145 x88 mm. 
 4d., mauve. 
 
 Issue II. January 1st, 1885. 
 
 One value. Same paper, sizes, inscriptions, &c, as the preceding; but the 
 stamp on the flap is the same as the adhesive (Type XXIX.) On the smaller 
 sized envelope, 5 ^ x 3 inches, the directions — "this letter must be given," &c. — 
 are printed in smaller capitals closer together, thus shortening the length of the 
 inscriptions. (Illustration 125.) 
 
 Sizes, (a) 5^j x 3 inches or 135 x 78 mm. 
 (b) 5/ -x3f „ 145 x88 mm. 
 4d., puce. 
 
 Issue III. 1886. 
 
 One value. Similar in every respect to the envelope of Issue I., but the 
 stamp is surcharged " stamp duty." Sizes and paper, &c, as before. 
 4d., mauve, with mauve surcharge. 
 Remarks. — This envelope is unknown to the Society. 
 
 WRAPPERS. 
 Issue I. September, 1869. 
 One value. On white wove watermarked paper. Size, 10^ x 4^ inches. The 
 watermark is placed vertically, and consists of a crown, beneath which is "one 
 penny — victoria," in two lines, in double-lined block letters, the first letter of each 
 word being slightly larger than the other letters. The stamp, type of adhesive 1864, 
 is impressed about two inches from the top in the centre. The wrappers throughout 
 all the issues are ungummed. (Illustration 102.) 
 
 Id., pale green. 
 
VICTORIA. 137 
 
 Issue n. July, 1873. 
 
 One value. Similar to last issue, but the width of the wrapper is reduced to 
 4£ inches, and the stamp is impressed in the right upper angle, about \ inch from 
 the top. On either side and at the top of the wrapper is a coloured border, 
 consisting of two straight lines, the outer one being considerably thicker than the 
 inner. The wrappers on the sheet are rouletted on lines of colour at the top and 
 sides to facilitate separation. {Illustration 102.) 
 
 Id., green. 
 Varieties, (a) The side borders are distant 4^ inches from each other. 
 
 CJ » » » ^25 M » » 
 
 Issue HI. September (?), 1873. 
 One value. Same as last. The stamp is surcharged "|-" on either side of the 
 head, and " half " in Konian capitals above the original value, similar to adhesive 
 Type XL (b). (Illustration 103.) 
 
 ^d., red surcharge on Id., green, 
 ^d., black „ „ „ 
 
 Varieties, (a) and (b) as above. 
 Remarks. — The Half Penny with black surcharge has been chronicled, but is 
 unknown to the Society. 
 
 Issue IV. End 1882. 
 
 One value. Same as last issue, but the stamp is replaced by Type XX. of the 
 
 adhesives. (Illustration 115.) 
 
 Id., green, dark green. 
 
 Varieties, (a) and (b) as above. 
 
 Issue V. 
 One value. — Both types of the One Penny envelope — i.e. Issues II. and III. — 
 have been impressed on paper sent in by the public, without regard to make and 
 
 size. (Illustrations 132, 133.) 
 
 Id., green (Type I). 
 Id. „ ( „ II). 
 
 Issue VI July, 1883. 
 One value. Similar to Issue IV., but with stamp Type XIX. of the adhesives 
 in the right upper corner, and there is no border to the wrapper. (Illustration 114.) 
 
 Jd., rose. 
 
 Issue VIL January 1st, 1885. 
 
 Two values. Same as Issue IV. Stamps, type of adhesives issue January 1st, 
 1885, are impressed to right, about two inches from the top. The side borders are 
 distant i\ inches on the Half Penny. Varieties (a) and (b) as before for the 
 One Penny. (Illustrations 121, 122.) 
 
 (a) On white wove watermarked paper. 
 
 Jd., rose (shades). 
 
 Id., sage-green, green (shades). 
 
 (b) On white wove unwatermarked paper. 
 
 Jd., rose. 
 Id., green. 
 
 (c) On coloured wove unwatermarked paper. 
 
 id., rose, on green paper. 
 
 Id., yellow-green, on buff paper. 
 
 Id. „ on blue „ 
 
 T 
 
138 VICTORIA. 
 
 Issue VHI. 1885. 
 
 One value. Similar to last issue, but impressed upon thin greenish wove paper, 
 watermarked "n.s.w." in single-lined block letters, repeated fifty times, within a 
 single-line frame, outside of which, at top and bottom, is " new south wales " and 
 on either side "stamp duty" in double-lined block letters. The whole watermark 
 extends over about 2£ wrappers. This paper was obtained many years ago from the 
 Sydney Post Office, but was found unsuitable at the time. It has only lately been 
 used up. (Illustration 121.) 
 
 |d., rose, on greenish wove paper. 
 
 £d., „ white „ no watermark. 
 
 Varieties, (a) Without the coloured border at the sides, and not rouletted ; wmk. as above. 
 £d., rose, on greenish wove paper. 
 (b) Two stamps, impressed side by side ; wmk. of the maker's name of paper only. 
 |d. + £d. rose, on white wove paper. 
 
 Issue IX. 1885. 
 
 Two values. The Half Penny wrapper, Issue VI., and the One Penny wrapper, 
 
 Issue IV., surcharged in blue "stamp duty," similar to the Three Pence adhesive, 
 
 Type XIV. (b). 
 
 |d., rose. | Id., green. 
 
 Varieties, (a) With double surcharge. 
 
 Id., green. 
 
 (b) With the word "stamp" misspelt "stam.," and the word "duty" lower 
 down than the word " stam." 
 Id., green. 
 
 Issue X. 1886. 
 Two values. On unwatermarked wove paper. Same size as the preceding 
 issue, and with a similar border. The stamps, which are the same as the adhesive 
 Type XXXI. for the Half Penny and XXXII. for the One Penny, are placed about 
 two inches from the top at the right-hand side. (Illustrations 127, 128.) 
 
 (a) With border, and rouletted on lines of colour. 
 
 |d., dull lilac-mauve, on white paper. 
 Id., yellow-green „ „ 
 
 (b) Without border, and imperforate ; unofficial (J). 
 
 \&., dull lilac, on light blue paper, 
 id. „ yellow „ 
 
 Id., yellow-green on light blue „ 
 Id. „ yellow „ 
 
 POST CARDS. 
 Issue I. July 1st, 1876. 
 
 One value. Designed and printed in the colony upon white or straw-coloured 
 card, varying in substance. Size 4f x 3£ inches. The inscription is at the top of the 
 card in the centre, and is in two lines — first, " post card," in fancy capitals, with 
 the Royal Arms directly beneath ; second, " the address only to be written on 
 this side," in block letters. Lower down to left is the word " To" in script type. 
 The stamp is in the right upper corner, and is of the same type as the One Penny 
 adhesive issue, 1864. The design of the card is completed by a twisted or cable 
 pattern border. Size 4§ x 3 inches. (Illustration 136.) 
 
 Id., pale to deep lilac, on straw. 
 
VICTORIA. 139 
 
 Varieties, (a) With two imperfectly shaped dots after the word " SIDE." 
 Id., lilac (shades), on straw. 
 
 (b) Without period after the word " side." 
 Id., lilac (shades), on straw. 
 Id. „ „ on white. 
 
 Issue II. November 1st, 1876. 
 
 One value. Designed and printed in the colony upon straw-coloured card, 
 varying much in substance. Size 4f x 3 inches. At the top of the card in the 
 centre is a plain scroll with shaded ends, inscribed with the words " post card " in 
 fancy capitals. Beneath the scroll are the Royal Arms with the word "droit" 
 misspelt "drot," and lower down, in a straight line, is "The Address only to 
 be written on this side," in lower-case type. Below this to left is the word " To," 
 in script type. The stamp, type of the One Penny adhesive issue, 1875, is in the 
 right upper corner. The design of the card is completed by a frame composed of 
 fleurs-de-lis between two thin lines, with other fancy star-like ornaments at the 
 corners. Size 4 x 2£ inches. (Illustration 137.) 
 
 Id., red-lilac (shades). 
 
 Varieties, (a) With small dash of £ mm. in length after the word "card" in place of period. 
 
 Id., red-lilac. 
 
 (b) With dash of 1 mm. in length ; otherwise the same as variety (a). 
 Id., red-lilac, mauve (shades,). 
 
 Issue HL 1878. 
 
 One value. Similar to variety (b) of the preceding issue, but the frame is 
 reset. The lines are more regular, and the outer one is much thicker. The 
 dimensions also are slightly increased. The Royal Arms (still bearing the error 
 "drot") are 1£ mm. nearer the stamp, and the word " To" is l£ mm. further from 
 the frame than in the last issue. 
 
 Id., mauve on straw. 
 
 Id., red-lilac on light buff surfaced card. 
 
 Issue IV. 1882. 
 
 One value. Precisely the same as the last issue, except that the Royal Arms are 
 smaller, and the shield is enclosed within an upright instead of a transverse oval. 
 The error "drot" is corrected to " droit." 
 
 Id., lilac, on light huff surfaced card. 
 
 Issue V. November, 1883. 
 
 One value. Designed and printed in the colony upon light buff surfaced card. 
 
 Size 4£ x 3 T 3 F inches. The inscription consists of two lines at the top of the card. 
 
 First, " post card," in fancy shaded capitals, with the royal arms between the two 
 
 words ; second, " the address only to be written on this side," in block letters. 
 
 The stamp, type of the One Penny adhesive issue, October, 1883, is in the right 
 
 upper corner. The design of the card is completed by a frame formed of a plain 
 
 line crossed at the four corners like an Oxford frame. Size 4f x S~^ inches. 
 
 (Illustration 138.) 
 
 Id., rose. 
 
HO VICTORIA. 
 
 Issue VI January 1st, 1885. 
 
 One value. Designed and printed in the colony. The inscription and arms 
 are the same as those on the preceding issue, and they are similarly disposed. 
 The type employed is different. The words "post" and "card" are in fancy, 
 and "the address only," &c, in italic capitals. The stamp type of the One 
 Penny adhesive issue of the same date is in the right upper corner. The design of 
 the card is completed by a fancy frame with cross-like ornaments at the four 
 corners. Size, 4§ x 3 inches. Size of card, 4|- x 3£ inches. (Illustration 139.) 
 
 (a) On light buff surfaced card. 
 
 Id., rose (shades). 
 
 (b) On yellowish buff surfaced card. 
 
 Id., rose (shades). 
 
 (c) On white surfaced card. 
 
 Id., rose (shades). 
 
 (d) On bluish-white surfaced card. 
 
 Id., rose (shades). 
 
 Issue VH. 1886. 
 
 One value. Designed and printed in the colony upon light buff card. Size, 
 4| x 3J- inches. The inscription at the top of the card is in five lines — First, 
 "post card" in Roman capitals, with the royal arms between the two words; 
 second, third, and fourth, "<§P Note. — On affixing an additional One Penny 
 stamp to this Card, it may pass through — the Post to any of the following 
 Colonies, viz. : — New South Wales, South Australia — Queensland, Western Australia, 
 Tasmania, New Zealand, and Fiji," in small type; fifth, "the address only to 
 be written on this side," in Roman capitals. There is a short ornamental line 
 between the fourth and fifth lines of inscription. The stamp type of the One 
 Penny adhesive of the same date is in the right upper corner. The card is 
 without frame. 
 
 Id., pale red-brown. 
 
 REPLY PAID CARDS. 
 Issue I. 1883. 
 
 One value. Designed and printed in the colony upon stout light buff card. 
 Size, 4 T 7 F x 2^-£ inches. At the top in the centre of the first half is the word 
 "Victorian," in tall thin block letters, and below this "post card," in fancy 
 capitals. Lower down to left, in small block letters, is, " the address only to be 
 written on this side." Below this is the word " To " in script type, and two 
 long and one short dotted lines for the address. In the left lower corner is, 
 "the attached card is for the reply," in thin block letters. The stamp, type 
 of the One Penny adhesive issue, October, 1883, is placed in the right upper 
 corner. The second half has the word " reply " in fancy capitals, within brackets, 
 beneath "post card," and the two lines of inscription — "the address only," &c, 
 and "the attached card," &c. — are omitted. The cards have no frame, and 
 are folded along the top. The design is impressed on the first and fourth pages, 
 and the two halves are inverted to each other. (Illustration 140.) 
 
 Id. + Id., violet (shades). 
 
VICTORIA. 141 
 
 Issue II. January 1st, 1885. 
 
 One value. Precisely similar to the preceding issue, except that the stamp 
 on each half is surcharged "stamp duty" in the same way as the Three Pence 
 adhesive. (Type XIV. b.) 
 
 Id. + Id., violet, surcharged in violet. 
 
 OFFICIAL CARDS. 
 
 Most of the Government Departments issue cards which are used for official 
 correspondence. There are a large number of varieties, but they all have the 
 official handstamp in the right upper corner of the card, struck in blue or in black. 
 As in the case of Tasmania no detailed list is given, for the reasons there stated. 
 {Illustration 130.) 
 
 FISCAL STAMPS USED FOR POSTAGE. 
 
 From January, 1884, all the fiscal stamps have been available for postage. 
 Following the rule adopted for the other colonies, no detailed list is given of 
 the varieties so used, although large numbers of them have been and are legitimately 
 employed to defray postage. 
 
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Issue I. 1855-60. 
 
 Four values. Lithographic transfers from dies engraved on steel by Messrs. 
 Perkins, Bacon, and Co., of London; printed in colour upon white and coloured 
 paper, varying in substance; brownish gum; watermark, a swan : imperforate. Design : 
 In the centre of each value is a swan, swimming to left. In the Two Penny and Six 
 Penny values there is an addition of reeds on either side of the swan in the vignettes. 
 In the Two Penny value the background is plain ; the border is octagonal, of solid 
 colour, and inscribed in white block letters. In the Four Pence the background 
 is reticulated ; the border octagonal, of solid colour, and inscribed in similar type. 
 In the Six Penny value there is an addition of reeds on either side of the swan 
 in the vignette ; the background is striped ; the border octagonal, of solid colour, 
 and inscribed in white block letters. The One Shilling has a reticulated back- 
 ground, and an oval border of solid colour, inscribed in white block letters. Shape, 
 oblong octagonal, except the One Shilling, which is a transverse oval. 
 
 The Two Pence, Four Pence, and Six Pence are inscribed : t. " postage." 
 b. "two," "four," and "six pence." l. "western." r. "Australia." The One 
 Shilling is inscribed : t. " postage . w. Australia." b. " one shilling," the 
 upper and lower inscriptions being separated by small cross -like ornaments. 
 {Illustrations 142, 143, 144, 145.) 
 
 The four values were issued in the following order : Two Pence and Six 
 Pence, 1855; Four Pence and One Shilling, 1858. 
 
 2d., brown, on red and orange paper. 
 
 4d., blue (deep, light, and nearly slate-), on white and yellowish paper. 
 
 6d., coppery- to golden-bronze, on white and yellowish paper. 
 
 Is., deep and pale red-brown, deep and pale bistre, on white and yellowish paper. 
 
 Varieties. — The Four Pence exists with the central vignette inverted in the 
 frame. The Two Pence is found printed on both sides, not merely having a 
 reversed impression, owing to one wet sheet being laid on the top of another. 
 
 Die proofs on India paper, in black, of the Four Pence and One Shilling are 
 known, and presumably existed for the other values. 
 
 Remarks. — In the case of the Four Pence, as M. Schmidt de Wilde has 
 pointed out, there are numerous varieties of type in the lettering of the octagonal 
 band. It seems probable that the frames were separately prepared and placed on 
 the stone, the swan and the centre portion of the design being the result of a 
 second operation. Several different frames evidently were drawn, in which the 
 size of the lettering differs. In the absence of an entire sheet, it is impossible to 
 say how many distinct varieties exist, though it is beyond doubt that only a limited 
 number of different frames were employed, and that consequently there are not as 
 
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 143 
 
 many varieties as there were stamps to the sheet. By this theory the error with 
 the swan inverted, which was evidently speedily corrected, is fully accounted for. 
 The whole question is difficult, and needs fuller investigation. The sheet consisted 
 of 240 stamps, divided into four panes or blocks, each containing ten horizontal 
 rows of six stamps. It is not known whether similar variations occur in the 
 other values, though this is far from improbable. 
 
 In 1861 the above four values were rouletted, probably unofficially. The 
 following varieties are known to the Society : 
 
 (A) 2d, 
 
 i brown ; 
 
 rouletted 9. 
 
 4d.. 
 6d., 
 
 , blue 
 i bronze 
 
 
 » 
 
 Is., 
 
 (B) IS. 
 
 (c) 2d. ; 
 
 bistre 
 
 >> 
 , brown 
 
 
 >> 
 18|. 
 
 13. 
 
 (d) 2d. 
 4d, 
 6d, 
 
 i blue 
 i bronze 
 
 
 14. 
 
 Is, 
 
 bistre 
 
 » 
 
 » 
 
 (E) 4d, 
 
 (p) 4d. 
 
 blue „ 
 „ pin perf. 
 
 17(i 
 
 14. 
 
 17 (a kind of pin-prick perf.) 
 
 L 
 
 Considerable differences exist in the sizes of the swans in the watermark. 
 
 Issue H. 1860-61. 
 
 Four values. Engraved on steel by "William Humphreys, and printed by 
 Perkins, Bacon, and Co. Coloured impression upon thinnish white paper, verging, 
 in some specimens of the Two Penny value, to pelure ; yellowish gum ; watermark, 
 a swan. Design : A swan swimming to left on reticulated background. Border 
 formed of four straight reticulated labels, separated in the corners by floreate 
 ornaments, and inscribed in white block letters. The One Penny value preceded 
 the others by about a year. Shape, oblong rectangular, t. "postage." b. "one 
 
 PENNY," "TWO PENCE," " FOUR PENCE," and " SIX PENCE." L. "WESTERN." R. 
 
 "Australia." Unperforated. (Illustration 141.) 
 
 Id, black. 
 
 2d, orange- vermilion (shades). 
 
 4d, deep blue. 
 
 6d, sap-green. 
 
 Remarks. — The Four Penny value is very seldom met with in a cancelled state, 
 although beyond doubt a limited number were used for postage. 
 
 Varieties. — All the values except the Four Pence, which has not been met with 
 in this condition, exist unofficially perforated. The following varieties are known 
 to the Society : 
 
 (a) Id, black ; rouletted 9|. 
 
 2d, orange-vermilion ; rouletted 9£. 
 6d, sap-green „ „ 
 
 (b) Id, black „ 12J. 
 2d, orange- vermilion „ „ 
 6d, sap-green „ „ 
 
 (c) Id, black ; perf. 13J (square holes). 
 
 2d, orange- vermilion ; perf. 13| (square holes). 
 
 Proofs in black, on plate paper, of all the values exist. 
 
144 WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Issue III 1862-64. 
 
 Five values. Engraved on steel by Perkins, Bacon, and Co. Coloured 
 impression upon stoutish white paper; whitish gum; watermark, a swan. Same 
 design and inscriptions as in preceding issue. Machine-perforated 16, 15|* 15, 141 
 14, 13. In most, if not all the values, the perforations are compound. All the 
 values, except the One Shilling (which alone is perforated 16, true), are found with 
 an all-round perforation of 14. (Illustration 141.) 
 
 Id., deep rose (shades, verging upon lake). 
 2d., blue (dark and light). 
 4d., vermilion. 
 6d., purple-brown. 
 Is., bright green. 
 
 Remarks. — Specimens of the One Penny and Two Pence are to be met with 
 with their respective values and a crown, printed upon the reverse side, in red. 
 This is the control mark. 
 
 Varieties. — The One Penny, Two Pence, and Six Pence are known imperforate, 
 and are probably in this state to be considered as proofs, although specimens of the 
 One Penny, imperforate, seem to have passed through the post. The Six Pence is 
 found upon paper blued by the acid action of the printing ink employed. 
 
 Issue IV. 1864. 
 
 Five values. Same type as preceding issue, but without watermark; various 
 perforations. (Illustration 141.) 
 
 Id., lake, carmine to deep dull red ; machine-perf. 13. 
 2d., deep blue ; machine-perf. 15, and 14 to 16 compound. 
 4d., carmine „ „ „ „ 
 
 6d., violet „ „ 151 
 
 Is., deep green „ „ 15| „ „ 
 
 Variety. — The Six Pence, violet, upon paper blued like the previous issue. 
 
 Issue V. 1865-80. 
 
 Five values. Same type as preceding issue. With this issue the printing 
 of the stamps of Western Australia by Messrs. De la Kue and Co. seems to 
 have commenced, for the watermark is changed to "cc" and Crown. Machine- 
 perf. 12^, and latterly 14. (Illustration 141.) 
 Id., bistre. 
 
 Id., yellow-ochre. 
 2d., chrome-yellow. 
 2d., pale violet. 
 
 4d., carmine. 
 
 6d., violet (deep to pale). 
 
 Is., bright green, dull deep green. 
 
 Is., bistre. 
 
 Remarks. — The One Penny, bistre, and the One Shilling, green, of this issue 
 are catalogued by M. Moens as existing watermarked with the swan instead of 
 "cc" and Crown. The President has seen the One Penny, bistre, so watermarked, 
 in the collection of Dr. Legrand; but the specimen is imperforate, and of a 
 distinct shade of bistre to that met with in the ordinary perforated stamps of that 
 value. Therefore it would appear probable that this label is only a proof struck 
 upon paper, watermarked with the swan, which had passed into the possession of 
 the new printers, together with Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co.'s dies. The One 
 Shilling stamp so watermarked appears to be a myth. 
 
 The One Shilling, bistre, is an error, printed by mistake in the colour of 
 the One Penny some time towards the end of 1869. 
 
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 145 
 
 The Two Pence, pale violet, is an error, having been printed by mistake, 
 towards the end of 1877, in the colour of the Six Pence. A die of the Two 
 Pence was by mistake inserted when preparing the plate to print off the Six 
 Pence. 
 
 A specimen of the One Penny exists printed in the exact colour of the Two 
 Pence. Whether this is an error or a variety of shade is not known. 
 
 Varieties. — Printed as proofs : 
 
 Id., deep bistre ; imperforate. 
 2d., yellow „ 
 
 6d., deep purple „ 
 
 Is., green „ 
 
 Issue VI. 1871. 
 
 One value. Type-printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co. in colour upon 
 
 medium white glazed paper, white gum; watermark, "cc" and Crown. Design : A 
 
 black swan swimming to left, upon ground of horizontal lines, within double-lined 
 
 oval; straight white labels at top and bottom of stamp, inscribed with coloured 
 
 block letters upon white ; sides and spandrels ornamented with bullrushes. The 
 
 whole enframed by a border of double lines. Shape, oblong rectangular. Machine- 
 
 perf. 14. (Illustration 146.) 
 
 3d., reddish-brown. 
 
 Remark. — The swan, portrayed so faithfully on this vignette, is the indigenous 
 black swan of the Australian continent, most appropriately introduced as an 
 emblem of the colony. 
 
 Issue VII. March, 1875. 
 
 One value. Owing to the temporary exhaustion of the stock of One Penny 
 stamps, a makeshift was extemporised by surcharging the current Two Pence with 
 " one penny " in Roman capitals, the initial letters of each word being larger than 
 the others. (Illustration 147.) 
 
 Id., surcharged in green, on 2d., chrome-yellow. 
 
 Varieties, (a) With treble surcharge. 
 
 (b) With inverted surcharge. 
 
 (c) With black surcharge. 
 
 Remarks. — In the last variety the letters "o" and "p" of the surcharge are 
 the same in size as the other letters, and there is a period after the word " penny." 
 
 Issue VHI. End of 1882. 
 
 Five values. Same types as those of Issues V. and VI., but the watermark 
 is changed to Crown and "ca"; machine-perf. 14. (Illustration 141.) 
 
 Id., yellow-bistre. 
 2d., chrome-yellow. 
 3d., reddish-brown. 
 4d., carmine. 
 6d., mauve (1885). 
 
 Issue IX. 1884. 
 
 One value. Same type, surcharged id., in figures measuring 10 mm. in height. 
 Watermark, Crown and "ca"; machine-perf. 12. (Illustration 148.) 
 
 Jd., surcharged in red, on Id., yellow-bistre, 
 u 
 
146 
 
 WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Issue X. 1885. 
 
 One value. Engraved and printed by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., in colour, 
 upon medium, white glazed paper; white gum; watermark, "ca" and Crown. 
 Design: Similar to that of the Three Pence of 1871. The sides are composed 
 of perpendicular bands of colour, each containing eight white oval ornaments. The 
 spandrels are filled in with arabesque ornamentation, and the inscriptions above and 
 below are in rather smaller block capitals. In other respects the stamps are the same. 
 Shape, oblong; machine-perf. 14. {Illustration 149.) 
 
 Jd., green. 
 
 Issue XL 1885. 
 
 One value. Same type as the issue of 1871, surcharged "Id." Watermark 
 Crown and "cc"; machine-perf. 14. [Illustration 150.) 
 
 Id., surcharged in green on 3d., reddish brown. 
 
 Remarks. — There are two varieties of the numeral " 1 " of the surcharge. 
 In one the figure has a straight top ; in the other it is slanting, and the down 
 stroke is thicker. 
 
 STAMPS EMPLOYED FOR OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Most of the stamps already enumerated are to be found with a circular hole, 
 varying in size, punched as nearly through the centre of the label as possible. In 
 the early days of stamp collecting a superstition was current to the effect that these 
 stamps were supplied to convicts, serving their sentences of transportation in Western 
 Australia, and distinguished their correspondence from that of the rest of the com- 
 munity. As a matter of fact, these mutilated stamps were employed to frank and 
 to particularize official correspondence. There were two distinct sizes of punch in 
 use — the earlier (A) cutting a hole about 3, and the later (B) one of 4 mm. in 
 diameter. The following varieties are known to the Society : 
 
 4d., blue 
 6d., bronze 
 Is., brown 
 
 ISSUE I. Varieties of holes 
 ( imperf. and rouletted \ A and B 
 1 imperf. V B 
 ( imperf. and rouletted ; A 
 
 2d., orange 
 6d., green 
 
 Issue II. 
 { imperf. j 
 1 imperf. ) 
 
 AandB 
 A and B 
 
 Issue III. & IV. 
 
 
 Id., deep rose 
 2d., blue 
 
 4d., vermilion and carmine 
 
 6d., violet 
 
 6d., violet, blued paper 
 
 Is., green 
 
 / perf. 151 ^ 
 
 perf. 15 
 
 perf. 14-16, 
 < shades and varieties of perf. 
 
 perf. 13 
 
 V perf. 14-16 j 
 
 AandB 
 A and B 
 
 A and B 
 
 AandB 
 
 A 
 
 A 
 
 Id., bistre and yellow-ochre 
 2d., chrome-yellow 
 4d., carmine 
 6d., violet 
 Is., green 
 
 Issue V. 
 
 1 -~ 1 
 
 A and B 
 A and B 
 - A and B 
 A and B 
 AandB 
 
WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 147 
 
 ISSUE VI. Varieties of holes. 
 3d., reddish brown A and B 
 
 Issue VII. 
 Id., chrome and green A and B 
 
 Varieties. — Some of the above values may be found with two and even three 
 holes in them, showing both varieties on the same stamp. This system of puncturing 
 the stamps has now ceased. 
 
 POST CARDS. 
 
 Issued May, 1879. 
 
 Two values. Type-printed in colour by Messrs. De la Rue and Co., of London. 
 Two lines of inscription: first, "post card," in Roman capitals, the two words 
 being separated by the Royal Arms and supporters ; second, " the address only to 
 be written on this side," in block letters. The stamp is in the right upper corner, 
 and the design comprises the black swan, of the same type as in the Three Penny 
 adhesive, with a frame varying for each value. In the Half Penny card the swan 
 is in an oval, on ground of horizontal lines. Above and beneath the oval are white 
 double-lined straight labels, inscribed in coloured block letters, " western Australia " 
 and " postage one halfpenny." The side labels are filled in with floreate ornaments, 
 and the spandrels with conventional arabesques. In the One Penny card the swan, 
 on ground of horizontal lines, is enframed in a double-lined octagon of irregular 
 shape, resembling that of the first Four Penny adhesive. The top and bottom 
 labels are the same as in the Half Penny card, and the lower one is inscribed 
 "postage one penny." The side labels are filled in with lozenge-shaped ornaments, 
 with a,fleur de lis in the centre of each. The spandrels have conventional arabesque 
 ornaments. Both cards have the same key-patterned border, and the reverse side is 
 plain. (Illustration 151.) 
 
 id., red-brown on stout rosy-buff card ) Size 44 x 2& inches. 
 Id., blue „ bluish white card ) 
 
 FISCALS USED POSTALLY. 
 
 In 1882 the One Penny, yellow-ochre, of the type previously described, was 
 converted into a fiscal stamp by means of a surcharge " i.r." in Roman capitals, and 
 two parallel bars obliterating the word "postage." The surcharge was printed in 
 green, and specimens are known that have been used for postal purposes. 
 
 The One Penny telegraph stamp is also catalogued by M. Moens as having been 
 similarly used. Since these specimens were catalogued a decree of the Postmaster, 
 dated October 25th, 1886, has been issued, officially authorizing the use of this 
 stamp for postage during the exhaustion of the stock of the ordinary One Penny 
 adhesive. 
 
CORRECTIONS AND ADDENDA. 
 
 Page 73. Stamps for Official Correspondence. II. Surcharged in red. — 
 Add to (c)— (1) Per/. 12£ : 
 
 2d., blue (Type of 1871). | 6d., lilac (Type of 1882). 
 
 Page 91. Issue I. — To the Varieties add: The One Shilling may be found 
 printed in purplish-blue instead of in its normal colour, orange. 
 This stamp seems to have been an error, printed by mistake in the 
 colour of the Six Pence. 
 
 Page 115. Type I. — Add to the Remarks: Proof impressions, in black, upon thick 
 white card, of the Two Pence (state a) are known. 
 
 Page 115. Type II. — Add to the Remarks: Mr. David H. Hill, of Melbourne, 
 informs us that the plate was engraved by ^Thomas Ham, of 
 Melbourne, whose name it bears at foot, and that it was not copper, 
 but steel. 
 
 In the plan of the lettering of the sheet, at the bottom of the 
 page, No. 18 should read " S W," not " S K" 
 
 Page 117. Type III. — Strike out the date 1862 above the 6d., black, and sub- 
 stitute August, 1861 (1) 
 
 Add to the Remarks: The Six Pence, black, has been seen on 
 an envelope postmarked " Warnambool, Victoria, August 21st, 
 1861," and "Melbourne, August 23rd, 1861." The envelope 
 bearing this stamp, as well as the one described for Type VI., 
 has been sent to the Society by Mr. J. Walker, of Edinburgh. 
 
 Page 119. Type VI. — Strike out the date April, 1861, for the 6d., and substitute 
 June, 1859 (?). After the Varieties add: 
 
 Remarks. — The Six Pence has been seen on an envelope post- 
 marked "Warnambool, June 7th, 1859," and "Melbourne, June 
 10th, 1859." 
 
 Page 143. Issue I. — Add to the list of rouletted stamps : 
 
 4d., blue, rouletted horizontally ; imperforate vertically. 
 
 Page 144. Issue III. — Add to Remarks: Complete imperforate sheets of all the 
 values exist at Somerset House, with swan watermark, and bearing 
 the official approval, dated 13th December, 1860. The colours are 
 as follows : 
 
 Id., carmine. 2d., blue. | 4d., rose. 
 
 6d., deep red. Is., pale green. 
 
 The sheet of the One Penny consists of 240 stamps, in twelve 
 horizontal rows of twenty; while the sheets of the other four values 
 have half that number of stamps, arranged in ten horizontal rows of 
 twelve. 
 
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