Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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 cross the harbour.
Seven stamps were issued; 2d (Carmine-Red), Types A & B. 3d (Blue), Types A & B. 5/- (Dark Green), these stamps were recess printed. And a third 2d printed by Letterpress. Displayed are 6 of the seven stamps in mint unhinged condition with 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, mesh of paper vertical
TYPE B: Size of design 31.75 x 21.75mm, mesh of paper horizontal
All 5/- stamps are horizontal.
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.
Paper thickness: 0.082mm
Perforation: 2d, 3d and 5/- recess are 11 (single-line), and the letterpress is 10.5 (comb)
Width: 36mm
Height: 26mm
Overprint: (2d) 3mm spacing between ‘O’ ‘S’
Overprint height: (2d) 6mm from base of design
2d recess – 9,749,680, including 256,000 overprinted O S
3d recess – 3,128,000, including 104,000 overprinted O S
5/- recess – 72,800 (an unknown percentage were cancelled-to-order)
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 perpetrators. The 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).
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” pair is valued at $6,500.
5/- stamp: Although the iconic 5/- stamp is valuable it is not recognised as being scarce or even rare but as it is always in high demand, more so a specimen in the condition shown in the display, it will always be the most valuable holy grail of the Harbour Bridge series.
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02:35:56am
Another query.
Are you using letterpress and lithography interchangeably?
One involves pressing the paper over inked raised letters or a design.
Lithography involves water, grease and inked "plates or stones.
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Hi cdj1122
I just noticed that, I meant Letterpress, I mentioned Letterpress in the story, I'll try and correct that mistake. How embarrassing.
Rob
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1932 Harbour Bridge (all stamps are mint unhinged)
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 cross the harbour.
Seven stamps were issued; 2d (Carmine-Red), Types A & B. 3d (Blue), Types A & B. 5/- (Dark Green), these stamps were recess printed. And a third 2d printed by Letterpress. Displayed are 6 of the seven stamps in mint unhinged condition with 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, mesh of paper vertical
TYPE B: Size of design 31.75 x 21.75mm, mesh of paper horizontal
All 5/- stamps are horizontal.
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.
Paper thickness: 0.082mm
Perforation: 2d, 3d and 5/- recess are 11 (single-line), and the letterpress is 10.5 (comb)
Width: 36mm
Height: 26mm
Overprint: (2d) 3mm spacing between ‘O’ ‘S’
Overprint height: (2d) 6mm from base of design
2d recess – 9,749,680, including 256,000 overprinted O S
3d recess – 3,128,000, including 104,000 overprinted O S
5/- recess – 72,800 (an unknown percentage were cancelled-to-order)
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 perpetrators. The 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).
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” pair is valued at $6,500.
5/- stamp: Although the iconic 5/- stamp is valuable it is not recognised as being scarce or even rare but as it is always in high demand, more so a specimen in the condition shown in the display, it will always be the most valuable holy grail of the Harbour Bridge series.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
01 Oct 2021
02:35:56am
re: Set of 7 Harbour Bridge stamps in MUH condition
Another query.
Are you using letterpress and lithography interchangeably?
One involves pressing the paper over inked raised letters or a design.
Lithography involves water, grease and inked "plates or stones.
Login to Like
this post
re: Set of 7 Harbour Bridge stamps in MUH condition
Hi cdj1122
I just noticed that, I meant Letterpress, I mentioned Letterpress in the story, I'll try and correct that mistake. How embarrassing.
Rob
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this post