GB 1913-1919 Seahorses

Description

• Dates of Issue : 1913-1919
• Designed by Bertram Mackennal
• Perforations : 11 x 14
• Watermark : Royal Cypher
• Sheet : 4 x 10 (40 stamps); except, Bradbury Wilkinson, sheet printed in 2 panes of 40 (80 stamps)
• Plate Numbers (on sheet margin):

The £1 was only printed by Waterlow & Layton between 1913 and 1914.

The dates against the individual printers are the contact dates, not the dates of issue.

For the 1934 re-engraved issue of the Seahorses please see GB_1934_Re-engraved_Seahorses

Waterlow & Layton Printings (1913-July 1915)

The Waterlow and De la Rue Printings both measure 22mm in the vertical.

		5 sh rose-carmine, used in 1914. SG401.
File:GB 1913-1919 Seahorses 10s.jpg
£1 green	£1 blue-green

De la Rue Printings (July 1915-July 1918)

DLR 2/6d Pale brown	DLR 2/6d worn plate Pale brown	File:GB 1913-1919 Seahorses a2.jpg DLR 2/6d Sepia
File:GB 1913-1919 Seahorses b.jpg DLR 5/-	File:GB 1913-1919 Seahorses c.jpg DLR 10/-

Varieties

DLR 2/6d worn plate Pale brown

The 1915 2s 6d seahorse variety - a very worn plate with most of the fine detail in the design gone. Kearsley's Discovering Seahorses (2005, p. 77) states that the worn plate variety were produced in the second half of 1915 when the new printer, De la Rue was supplied with the plates first used by the original printer, Waterlow & Layton.

Varieties: colour shades

DLR 2/6d Blackish brown, spec N64-14

In his book, Kearsley (2005, p. 43) says that "Many of the colour variations were ephemeral and came about more at random than by deliberate intention. Some of the scarcer shades probably involved no more than a handful of sheets."

Bradbury Wilkinson Printings (August 1918-December 1933)

BW 2/6d Olive-brown	BW 2/6d Chocolate-brown. Used SG414
File:GB 1913-1919 Seahorses aB3.jpg BW 2/6d Reddish-brown	File:GB 1913-1919 Seahorses aB4.jpg BW 2/6d Pale brown
BW 5/- Rose-red	BW 10/- Dull grey-blue

Guide dots

One of the distinguishing features sometimes seen on the Bradbury Wilkinson printings is a central guide dot above the frame line which was used when in laying down the stamp impressions on the plate, frequently the dot has been burnished out.

BW 5/- Rose-red showing guide dot

BW 10/- Dull grey-blue showing guide dot

References & sources

• Hamill, Ian & Roy Gault. Great British Perfins found on King George V Seahorses 1913-1939. Orpington: Perfin Society, 2009.
• Kearsley, Bryan, Discovering seahorses: King George V high values. London: GB Philatelic Publications, 2005.