GB 1881 Surface Printing - 1d Lilac

• Date of Issue : 1881

Die 2 - 16 dots in corner with flaw from a stray thread or hair on the paper/plate when printed.

16 dots in corner overprinted with a specimen handstamp.

16 dots in corners right stamp showing frame break at bottom left & right

• • Die 1 (14 dots) - 12th July; Shades: Lilac, Pale Lilac
    • Watermark : Imperial Crown also found inverted
  • Die 2 (16 dots) - 13th December Blueish Lilac, Deep Purple, Mauve
    • Watermark : Imperial Crown

Post Office Savings Bank slip with 12 x 1d Die 2 - 16 dots in corner

Die 1 - 14 dots in corner

Die 2 - 16 dots in corner

Control Codes

Control codes were introduced on the Lilac 1d in 1884 by De La Rue printers. They are found in the margins of sheets below the 11th stamp column.
The control codes ran from A to X for the 129 plates used to print them.

N to O

These erroneous sheets were then overprinted with a couple of bars cancelling the N and placing an O alongside. All these have an imperf bottom margins.

O over N control where a few sheets were printed with control N in error when they should have been control O.

U

Cover bearing U control codes for 1d Lilacs one perfed through margin and the other imperf through margin. Additional 'O' coded ½d vermillion jubilee on cover to Sao Paulo Brazil. 1897 London W Hooded cancels

V

Die 2 - 16 dots in corner control code V Corner mint block.

Trials & Proofs

1881 1d Colour trial (Die 2). Very fine unused imperforate example printed on gummed, crown watermark paper in pale orange.

1881 1d Colour trial (Die 2). Very fine unused Perf 14 crown watermark paper in blue.