Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533 
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Apr 8, 2017 20:46:21 GMT
Here is a selection of my Hong Kong 1862 no watermark definitives. These are almost impossible to collect in perfect condition, as they invariably have a minor fault of one sort or another. The most frustrating trait is the centreing. The margin for error when perforating sheets of these values was minute; less than 1mm. So finding a perfectly centred copy is slim. The printers eventually acceded to requests to increase the perforation margins, which was done for later issues. The odd pulled perf is common, as is a messy cancellation. All those below are cancelled with the Hong Kong assigned B62 barred numeral, in either black or blue. I've selected those pictured for having the most visual appeal, balanced with condition. |
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator 
Posts: 5,652
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Apr 8, 2017 23:28:35 GMT
Here is a selection of my Hong Kong 1862 no watermark definitives. These are almost impossible to collect in perfect condition, as they invariably have a minor fault of one sort or another. The most frustrating trait is the centreing. The margin for error when perforating sheets of these values was minute; less than 1mm. So finding a perfectly centred copy is slim. The printers eventually acceded to requests to increase the perforation margins, which was done for later issues. Thanks for indulging my request, Anping! After taking a look through my own holdings, it appears that I do not have a single stamp from this first set. Looking at the Scott catalogue values, I think it will be a while before I get any, too, unless I get lucky and somehow find an especially good deal somewhere. I also appreciate your comments about condition and centering. These are things that I normally seek, of course, but it sounds like I may have to make some concessions in order to find a few of these for my collection. In any case, yours look pretty good to me! By the way, for HK Scott #1, the 2-cent value, the catalogue lists pale brown and dark brown colours. In your photo, are both colours represented or are both considered to be the same one, and if so which one? Just curious. Thanks again! |
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Apr 9, 2017 0:01:48 GMT
By the way, for HK Scott #1, the 2-cent value, the catalogue lists pale brown and dark brown colours. In your photo, are both colours represented or are both considered to be the same one, and if so which one? Just curious. Those are actually a mid-tone; neither one or the other. The difference between the pale and deep brown is not that pronounced anyway. I do have a couple of the deep shade, but the cancellations are a bit intrusive (one of which has a very early 'Amoy Paid' CDS over the B62). That's why I didn't use them. I've shown a left hand wing margin copy, which doesn't always survive from the 1862 issue. Early collectors were offended by these and cut many of them down. I like them. I have a mini collection of these for the early issues (barely any others from 1862). I try to find left and right hand versions, which make quite a neat display. These now command higher prices than their normal brothers. This in some ways is understandable; after all these were only present interpaneau. |
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Apr 9, 2017 13:52:00 GMT
By the way, for HK Scott #1, the 2-cent value, the catalogue lists pale brown and dark brown colours. In your photo, are both colours represented or are both considered to be the same one, and if so which one? Just curious. The difference between the pale and deep brown is not that pronounced anyway. I've just added a pale 2 cent value to my image. Now having had the opportunity to look at these in daylight, the first 2 cent (wing margin copy) is in fact the deep brown. The second one I'll consider as an intermediary shade, as it is has a slight chestnut hue. The pale 2 cent is probably a very late used copy, as it has just a partial CDS. The B62 'killer' was phased out more than 20 years later. |
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Apr 9, 2017 19:39:47 GMT
Prompted by bobby1948's recent bargain find of a US 1869 12c Pictorial, I thought I might mention my own, bought from a bricks and mortar shop years ago. It was marked as SG19 (Scott #24). I paid £19 ($23) for it: Having checked it when I got home, it was in fact the 1892 96 cent SG7 (Scott #7). This was catalogued at £400; that's about $500 at today's exchange rate. So who was the dealer concerned? Non other than Stanley Gibbons in the Strand, London.  I was beside myself at getting such a difficult stamp for a song. |
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I was beside myself at getting such a difficult stamp for a song.