1932 Sydney Harbour Bridge Stamps
Oct 8, 2021 17:43:20 GMT -5
kacyds, Gordon Lee, and 7 more like this
Post by rob1956 on Oct 8, 2021 17:43:20 GMT -5
The 1932 set of Harbour Bridge stamps are in MUH condition.
These Commemorative stamps were issued on the day of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, March 19, 1932. The event marked the end of almost a century of speculation and planning around a bridge or tunnel that would eventually cross the harbour.
Eight stamps were issued; 2d recess (Carmine-Red) - Types A & B: 3d recess (Blue) Types A & B: 5/- recess (Dark Green): And a 2d letterpress.
All but the 5/- were printed on both horizontal and vertical mesh paper, the 5/- is printed only on horizontal mesh paper. A third 2d absent from this collection is printed on vertical mesh paper. The 2d printed by Letterpress is printed on horizontal paper. Displayed are 7 of the eight stamps in mint unhinged condition, the 5/- with superb centring and with excellent perforations, an extremely difficult stamp to find in this condition.
Types A & B of the 2d and 3d corresponded to two sizes due to the use of damped paper with the mesh facing in either direction led to the production of two sizes of stamps due to shrinkage of the paper across the direction of the mesh after printing.
TYPE A: Size of design 31 x 22mm, vertical mesh paper
TYPE B: Size of design 31.75 x 21.75mm, horizontal mesh paper
The 5/- stamp has horizontal mesh.
The recess printed stamps do not have a watermark; the letterpress 2d has a multiple crown and C of A watermark.
Other details using a digital micrometer, an Instanta perforation gauge, a thirkell position finder, a clear ruler, loupe and a microscope.
1 - Paper thickness: 0.082mm
2 - Perforation: 2d, 3d and 5/- recess are 11 (single-line), and the letterpress is 10.5 (comb)
3 - Width: 36mm
4 - Height: 26mm
5 - Overprint: (2d) 3mm spacing between ‘O’ ‘S’
6 - Overprint height: (2d) 6mm from base of design
Quantity Printed.
A - 2d recess – 9,749,680, including 256,000 overprinted O S
B - 3d recess – 3,128,000, including 104,000 overprinted O S
C - 5/- recess – 72,800 (an unknown percentage were cancelled-to-order)
D - 2d letterpress – 27,280,616
Trivia – The letterpress was one of two types of postal forgeries in 1932, the other the KGV 2d. These forgeries were intended for use on letters containing forged sweepstakes tickets. It is believed that the racket was discovered prior to the 2d Bridge forgeries ever being used, a small stock of stamps was discovered at the house of one of the counterfeiters. The forged 2d Bridge is a good copy, being reproduced photographically from the original, but is immediately identifiable being on unwatermarked paper and the perforation 11 (single-line) instead of the genuine 10½ (comb) on watermark paper.
The ACSC (Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue) values the original 2d letterpress issue at $8.00 (MUH), $4.00 (MLH), $4.00 (Used). The ACSC values the forged 2d letterpress stamp at $3,000 (MUH), $2,000 (MLH) and $1,750 (Us). An imperforate “plate proof” forged pair is valued at $6,500.
5/- stamp: Although the iconic 5/- stamp is valuable it is not recognised as being rare or even scarce, but as it is always in high demand, more so in the condition shown in the display, it will always be the most valuable holy grail of the Harbour Bridge series.
These Commemorative stamps were issued on the day of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, March 19, 1932. The event marked the end of almost a century of speculation and planning around a bridge or tunnel that would eventually cross the harbour.
Eight stamps were issued; 2d recess (Carmine-Red) - Types A & B: 3d recess (Blue) Types A & B: 5/- recess (Dark Green): And a 2d letterpress.
All but the 5/- were printed on both horizontal and vertical mesh paper, the 5/- is printed only on horizontal mesh paper. A third 2d absent from this collection is printed on vertical mesh paper. The 2d printed by Letterpress is printed on horizontal paper. Displayed are 7 of the eight stamps in mint unhinged condition, the 5/- with superb centring and with excellent perforations, an extremely difficult stamp to find in this condition.
Types A & B of the 2d and 3d corresponded to two sizes due to the use of damped paper with the mesh facing in either direction led to the production of two sizes of stamps due to shrinkage of the paper across the direction of the mesh after printing.
TYPE A: Size of design 31 x 22mm, vertical mesh paper
TYPE B: Size of design 31.75 x 21.75mm, horizontal mesh paper
The 5/- stamp has horizontal mesh.
The recess printed stamps do not have a watermark; the letterpress 2d has a multiple crown and C of A watermark.
Other details using a digital micrometer, an Instanta perforation gauge, a thirkell position finder, a clear ruler, loupe and a microscope.
1 - Paper thickness: 0.082mm
2 - Perforation: 2d, 3d and 5/- recess are 11 (single-line), and the letterpress is 10.5 (comb)
3 - Width: 36mm
4 - Height: 26mm
5 - Overprint: (2d) 3mm spacing between ‘O’ ‘S’
6 - Overprint height: (2d) 6mm from base of design
Quantity Printed.
A - 2d recess – 9,749,680, including 256,000 overprinted O S
B - 3d recess – 3,128,000, including 104,000 overprinted O S
C - 5/- recess – 72,800 (an unknown percentage were cancelled-to-order)
D - 2d letterpress – 27,280,616
Trivia – The letterpress was one of two types of postal forgeries in 1932, the other the KGV 2d. These forgeries were intended for use on letters containing forged sweepstakes tickets. It is believed that the racket was discovered prior to the 2d Bridge forgeries ever being used, a small stock of stamps was discovered at the house of one of the counterfeiters. The forged 2d Bridge is a good copy, being reproduced photographically from the original, but is immediately identifiable being on unwatermarked paper and the perforation 11 (single-line) instead of the genuine 10½ (comb) on watermark paper.
The ACSC (Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue) values the original 2d letterpress issue at $8.00 (MUH), $4.00 (MLH), $4.00 (Used). The ACSC values the forged 2d letterpress stamp at $3,000 (MUH), $2,000 (MLH) and $1,750 (Us). An imperforate “plate proof” forged pair is valued at $6,500.
5/- stamp: Although the iconic 5/- stamp is valuable it is not recognised as being rare or even scarce, but as it is always in high demand, more so in the condition shown in the display, it will always be the most valuable holy grail of the Harbour Bridge series.