Rhodesian Admirals - The Mono-colored Stamps

The Mono-colored Admirals

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Identifying the mono-colors:

Suppose we have a large group of mono-colored stamps in front of us. In good north light, we begin sorting out the ½d. greens, 1d. reds, 1½d. browns and the 2½d. blues. Upon referencing the catalogue listings we find there are two sections which list the ½d. greens. SG 188b and SG 282, both ½d. greens, are each listed as dull green, perforated 14. The only other source of information is that in 1922, SG 282 was a "new printing on white paper with clear white gum." There is no mention of which paper or gum was used for SG 188b.

The same scenario can play out with the one 1d. reds especially those that are perforated 15. Forgetting the rather easily distinguishable brown-red shade for a moment, the values for the remaining two listed perf 15 stamps are currently £550 for SG 204 and £45 for SG 289, a "new" printing (see below). Clearly, it is paramount that one knows which stamp is which! The 1½d.'s present a problem similar to the ½d. and 1d. values. With only two listed shades, the 2½d.'s are fairly easy to distinguish .

Back to the listings for a moment:

Even though no exact issue dates are given regarding the ½d. and 1d. mono-colored stamps, the numerical sequence assigned catalogue status closely follows the chronological order of release. That is, SG 186 (blue-green) is an earlier printing than say, SG 189 (the bright green shade). Similarly, SG 190 (rose-carmine) will be an earlier printing than SG 195 (rose-red). How do we know this?

Plating the ½d. and 1d. Admirals:

The Shaded Left Ear Die:

During the mid-1900s, researchers studied many thousands of used ½d. and 1d. stamps bearing clear date cancellations. This research yielded what appears to be a correlation between stamps hosting 1913 -1915 cancels and shading on the Kings left ear. This is Plate 1. Due to plate wear, more specifically wear to certain lines of engraving, the shaded ear seemed to disappear by 1916 and is not found on stamps with later cancellations. Shown below is a used copy of SG 186 (left) with a 1914 cancel. Note that the King's left ear has color. On SG 188b (right), the left ear almost appears white.

Below are close up views of the left ear on the same stamps:

To further illustrate this point, below are two used 1d. stamps. The left stamp is from the rose-red group SG 195, has the shaded ear and a 1914 cancellation. The right stamp is from the scarlet group SG 194. It has an un-shaded ear and a 1916 cancel.

Below are close up views of the left ear on the same stamps:

We can conclude the shaded ear die will be found on the earliest printings of the ½d. and 1d. stamps and is far less common than the un-shaded ear. For the ½d's, these would include SG 186, the blue-green group, SG 187, the deep greens and the perf 15, SG 202. For the 1d's, the shaded ear will appear on SG 190, the rose-carmine group and the very elusive (in mint condition) perf 15, SG 204. Thus, the un-shaded ear is typical of all middle and late printings.

On two later occasions, the plates that produced the shaded ear were re-entered with dies that showed an outline to the ear. Through wear, the inner area of the ear became white as the shading lines eventually disappeared. These re-entries produced some SG 187's, the deep green and myrtle green group, SG 191, the carmine-red group, SG 194, scarlet, SG 196, rosine, crimson, or cherry (these shades exist and are scarce), and SG 208d, perf 13½. Because of these re-entries one can find doubled or sometimes tripled frame lines and scroll work.

Current prices are £550 for SG 204 (left) and £45 for SG 289, a "new" printing.
Note the shading of the left ear, different ink colors and the paper.

Additionally, two new ½d. plates with the un-shaded ear die were produced. Plate 2 is associated with the rare perf 14x15 SG 208a, the equally rare perf 15x14 SG 208b, and the perf 15, SG 203 shown below. Stamps from this plate generally have clear, sharp impressions.

Plate 3 produced stamps with whitish faces with dull impressions. These are SG 188, SG 188b, and SG 189 all of which are a bright shade of green or yellowish green.

The 1922-23 ½d. white paper printings:

When examining half-penny Admirals, carefully study the engraved lines at the top of the King's left shoulder. If a white spot is present the stamp is from the 1922-23 printings. This defect identifies Plate 4.

Below: Compare these two stamps. The right stamp is from the 1922-23 white paper printings. Note the difference in paper color as well. Only SG 282-283 and the perf 15 SG 288 will have the shoulder spot. Shades vary in color from dull green to dark blue-green.

The 1d. "OD dot":

All 1d. stamps printed from Plate 1 have a roller die flaw that appears as a colored dot in the margin just above the OD in Rhodesia. This flaw is sometimes referred to as the "OD dot".

At the same time as the two new ½d. plates were made, a new 1d. plate (Plate 2) was made as well. The first printing produced SG 286, the aniline red shade. With almost no frequency will the "OD dot", associated with Plate 1, appear on this stamp. Although released for use in 1924, this stamp was printed in 1916. There is much speculation as to why this printing was held back. Some think it was a strange stamp or perhaps inferior as the back looks quite different from any other 1d. Admiral. Others merely think it was a reserve printing and was issued when postmaster's stocks became depleted. Whatever the reason, it is not a scarce stamp. When it was finally released many went to dealers. Today, one can still find never hinged blocks and singles.

SG 286 - The aniline red Admiral of 1924

At some point re-entry work was done and as a result, more positions acquired the "OD dot" associated with Plate 1. It can sometimes be found on SG 193, the red group, and SG 195, the rose-red group.

The 1d. "Penny dot":

Another plate, Plate 3, was made. This plate is almost always identifiable by a dot that in the margin just above the right value tablet. Roughly 90% of the stamps printed from this plate will have this flaw which is sometimes referred to as the "Penny dot".

This plate was initially used to produce the brown-red group. These are the perf 14, SG 192, and the perf 15, SG 205, occurring on toned paper. Plate 3 was also used to produce the 1922-23 1d. new white paper printings SG 284, SG 285, and the perf 15, SG 289. Here, the presence of the "Penny dot" can be a very useful tool in correctly identifying the new printings.

Plating the 1½d. Admiral:

Plate 1 - Two Dies:

This value did not appear until 1917 and is the direct result of the half-penny War Tax imposed on the standard one-penny postal rate. There were two dies used for Plate 1 and both can often be found horizontally se-tenant in blocks or larger multiples. Although only three shades of this value are listed in the catalogue, more exist.

Shown above are the two dies of Plate 1; the difference being the break where the lower margin line meets the right scroll. Below are the three basic shades as listed in the catalogue. Left to right: SG 197 brown-ochre, SG 198 bistre-brown, and SG 199 drab-brown.

Plate 2:

Plate 2 was used to produce the 1923 new printing. The yellowish-brown shade is diagnostic.

The 2½d. Admirals:

The catalogue lists two printings for this value. SG 200, deep blue, and SG 201, bright blue, are Perf 14. SG 207 and SG 208 are the perf 15 varieties. Robson Lowe, in the British Africa section of his Encyclopædia, mentions a third printing which, when viewed under long-wave ultraviolet light, will fluoresce cobalt.

The Livingstone Provisionals:

In 1917, Rhodesian postmasters found that their stocks of ½d. stamps were running low. This was mainly due to the half-penny War Tax surcharge imposed upon the standard one-penny postal rate for letters. To fill this void, an authorized overprint was added to sheets of 1d. stamps. These became known as the Livingstone Provisionals as the overprint was added by the Northern Rhodesian Administrative Press, Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia. As seen below, two types of overprints are found and these are SG 280 (left) and SG 281. The overprint on SG 280 can be found in either violet or violet-black. Both colors were printed on the same sheets. In addition to the hyphen and stop, SG 281 will only have a deep violet overprint.

While not particularly scarce, two other settings exist on SG 280. One will have a wide space between the letters "nn" in Penny; SG 280b. The other will have a wide space between the letters "ny" in Penny; SG 280c.

This issue is not without controversy, however. There are inverted overprints found on SG 280. This variety has long been given catalogue status as SG 280a. Supposedly, the printer in Livingstone inverted two sheets as a favor to a wealthy Rhodesian. Eventually, the sheets were sold into the trade and broken up. Currently, a single mint stamp has a value of £1,400 - used, a mere £1,500! Forgeries exist.....

Overview Mono-colors Die I - Die II Die III