Grenada King George VI - 10/ Value Identification
Aug 8, 2023 14:04:56 GMT
Philatarium, Ryan, and 8 more like this
Post by kgvistamps on Aug 8, 2023 14:04:56 GMT
Some of you have noticed that I am partial to the Grenada 10/ stamp (SG 163). It was one of the first stamps that made me realize how important factors other than just color were in identifying King George VI stamps.
Potter & Shelton (who created detailed tables showing the various King George VI printings) list nine versions of this stamp from eight printings. Eric Yendall describes nine versions and provides dates and quantities which are also listed in the Commonwealth Catalogue (Murray Payne). The Stanley Gibbons Catalogue describes seven options of this stamp. So no matter where you get your source, it can be a confusing stamp to properly classify. However, there is a way to identify all nine of the printings by just breaking them down based on their differences.
Start by measuring the perforations using something like the Stanley Gibbons Instanta Gauge. There were four perforation options with three stamps accurately identified just by this factor.
Here are the choices: Perf 11.75 x 13 (SG 163 - CW 22); Perf 13.75 x 14 (SG 163a - CW 23) which also has a Bluish Center; Perf 11.75 (SG 163c - CW 24); and Perf 14 (All of the other listings).
So just by checking the perforations, we are down to six remaining printings, all of which are Perf 14. This seems like a lot, but there is an additional factor that will help which is the width of the actual design on the stamp. De La Rue printed these stamps using two different methods which are known as Wet or Dry. The Wet method is called that because the paper was dampened prior to the printing. The result is called the Narrow Width which measures between 23.5 - 23.75MM. These stamps are listed in the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue as SG 163b and SG 163e - CW 25 and sublistings.
The other option is called the Dry method which does not include the stamp of dampening the paper prior to printing. This results in a width of about 24.5MM. These stamps are listed as SG 163d or SG 163f - CW 26 and sublistings.
Although there are two listings of each option in the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue, there are really three examples of each one to consider. So after you identify the perforations, check the width of your stamps and sort them into two groups - Perf 14 with Narrow width and Perf 14 with Wide width.
Having reached this point, you now need to consider the paper and gum as well as the color of the stamps.
Here is how to sort the Narrow printings.
Compare the frame colors to see if you have one that is more pinkish and with a slight color to the white border around the stamp. This is not listed in Gibbons, but is from the 1943 printing (CW 25a). If you have stamps that have a white paper border, they are either SG 163b, or SG 163e. Notice the Black center color. If it is blurry, it is SG 163b - CW 25. If not, it is SG 163e - CW 25c. If you can't decide, you probably have SG 163e. 29,400 of these were printed compared to 2,200 of the SG 163b version. So statistically it is unlikely you have the scarce one.
The Wide printings can also be sorted. Compare the frame colors. If the frame is a Rose-Carmine color, it is the May 1947 printing (SG 163f - CW 26b). The other two are from the same printing in 1943, and are both listed as SG 163d. There is a variation in the frame color that leads to one of the two Commonwealth listings that are not included in the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue. CW 26 has a Deep Carmine frame, and CW 26a has a Deep Claret frame. Both options are deeper in color than the other Wide Perf 14 issue.
Potter & Shelton (who created detailed tables showing the various King George VI printings) list nine versions of this stamp from eight printings. Eric Yendall describes nine versions and provides dates and quantities which are also listed in the Commonwealth Catalogue (Murray Payne). The Stanley Gibbons Catalogue describes seven options of this stamp. So no matter where you get your source, it can be a confusing stamp to properly classify. However, there is a way to identify all nine of the printings by just breaking them down based on their differences.
Start by measuring the perforations using something like the Stanley Gibbons Instanta Gauge. There were four perforation options with three stamps accurately identified just by this factor.
Here are the choices: Perf 11.75 x 13 (SG 163 - CW 22); Perf 13.75 x 14 (SG 163a - CW 23) which also has a Bluish Center; Perf 11.75 (SG 163c - CW 24); and Perf 14 (All of the other listings).
So just by checking the perforations, we are down to six remaining printings, all of which are Perf 14. This seems like a lot, but there is an additional factor that will help which is the width of the actual design on the stamp. De La Rue printed these stamps using two different methods which are known as Wet or Dry. The Wet method is called that because the paper was dampened prior to the printing. The result is called the Narrow Width which measures between 23.5 - 23.75MM. These stamps are listed in the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue as SG 163b and SG 163e - CW 25 and sublistings.
The other option is called the Dry method which does not include the stamp of dampening the paper prior to printing. This results in a width of about 24.5MM. These stamps are listed as SG 163d or SG 163f - CW 26 and sublistings.
Although there are two listings of each option in the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue, there are really three examples of each one to consider. So after you identify the perforations, check the width of your stamps and sort them into two groups - Perf 14 with Narrow width and Perf 14 with Wide width.
Having reached this point, you now need to consider the paper and gum as well as the color of the stamps.
Here is how to sort the Narrow printings.
Compare the frame colors to see if you have one that is more pinkish and with a slight color to the white border around the stamp. This is not listed in Gibbons, but is from the 1943 printing (CW 25a). If you have stamps that have a white paper border, they are either SG 163b, or SG 163e. Notice the Black center color. If it is blurry, it is SG 163b - CW 25. If not, it is SG 163e - CW 25c. If you can't decide, you probably have SG 163e. 29,400 of these were printed compared to 2,200 of the SG 163b version. So statistically it is unlikely you have the scarce one.
The Wide printings can also be sorted. Compare the frame colors. If the frame is a Rose-Carmine color, it is the May 1947 printing (SG 163f - CW 26b). The other two are from the same printing in 1943, and are both listed as SG 163d. There is a variation in the frame color that leads to one of the two Commonwealth listings that are not included in the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue. CW 26 has a Deep Carmine frame, and CW 26a has a Deep Claret frame. Both options are deeper in color than the other Wide Perf 14 issue.
Shown below is an ID Chart that you can save if you like. Please double-click the image to see it in more detail.