New Zealand: Chalons - 1855-1873

I would agree with that statement too Klem, & Neil.

You see this quite a bit on Chalons, tearing them apart using a ruler (rule) is often cited.

I am away from my home base currently (up in Auckland for the week) but may try a wee experiment upon my return.
Just need to get a similar piece of paper (composition wise) to try it with.


Dave

Got these in the mail the other day.  Interesting pieces.  Something else for the Chalon collectors.

Nice one.  These were overprinted to raise money for Red Cross during WW2, as you can see. .  I would like a copy of these.  I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.  

Here is a rare stamp, not seen very often, SG32 6d 'Richardson' p13 at Dunedin with an L14 CDS cancel :






Dave

If it is after damage to the plate has occurred then:

If it is from row 20, and the lack of an impression below shows that, then with the lack of wear or damage showing then it must mean it is either of 20/11 or 20/12.
Looking at my Hausberg sheet those are the only 2 impressions lacking damage on that row.


If it is pre-damage then we need to identify something distinguishing it from the other impressions!
Can you identify any distinguishing features on your stamp at all Grant?



Dave

Here is a magnified image of the area you refer to, Around the Value tablet:





and with some of the marks (lack of ink) circled:





I looked at my Hausberg Reprint of the Plate II sheet and couldn't tell from that!

Best bet would be to either compare to a positional piece of an actual undamaged Plate II block/strip of the bottom row of the sheet, or, a plate proof positional piece from Plate II.

So until then, I do not know at this stage. It is a shame tundrawolf, Phil, isn't still posting here. He would be our best bet.  



Dave

Hi Dave

Very hard to pick. I have attached the only positional pieces I have from bottom right had corner of the sheet.

I also do have a high-resolution image of that large block ( so have shown a close up of the corner ).

My gut feeling is my single is from Row 20, No 12 ( but no definitive proof yet )

The 2d vermilion is SG138 on no watermarked paper perf 12.5

The pair is a plate 11 proof on no watermark paper from Row 20, Nos 10,11

The block of 8 is SG114 on star watermarked paper ( perf 12.5 ) and from Rows 19,20 No's 9-12 

Lovely copies of the 2d plate II Grant, gc .


nzgrant , Grant, I believe your example has been trimmed by a collector.

The wmk lines do indicate it as being from the edge of the sheet so will likely have had a wide margin, like this one.




Unless it is imperf all round, a 'Provisional' imperf, or it is a pair imperf between then no Chalon was normally issued with just the side margin imperf.



Dave

When you posted this I wasn't sure of your intentions so I didn't bid.  It had been there for a while but after it didn't sell again I decided the watermark was worth it in a strip of 3.  I got it today and it's actually very good.  The scan actually made it look worse than what it is - sure it's still repaired but an awesome watermark.

Neil

I would always like to pay less ;o)

On the country repatriation aspect - I was talking to someone the other day who didn't get collecting stamps one iota, but when I spoke about bringing them home (the vast majority of my purchases are fro overseas collections) they got right on board.  Interesting.

I also got another "Saved from the S.S. Wairarapa" cover, and some very interesting Pigeon Post items.  This is probably a post for another thread, but I have only ever seen three genuine used VP1 stamps, and two of those were on cover.  I got one from the recent Status International auction for AU275 + fees but what a bargain.  I have 11 forged used versions all with violet round cancel - all forged as are most used copies of this stamp.  Rarer than a 1d Dull Carmine.  Anyone else think they've got one?  I'll post this on the other thread to keep this sacred site holy.

Neil

A little digging and you will find some extensive research done by forum members including an excellent news letter article on cleaning. I now often give stamps from several countries 3 % peroxide baths for desulfurization with great results and no harm to the stamps or me. 

That is a lovely SG8 Klem. For $42 (US I presume) that is a bargain.
People often criticize eBay for various reasons, but purchases like this make it all worth while :-)

On the cleaning of the oxidation aspect, I have never had any issues at all using the HP 3%. Neither to the stamp involved nor to myself.
Always good results with it.

Your example proves what a great job it does.

On a side note :
I think of the 3 printers who were involved in the printing of the Chalons, I would choose Richardson every time.
His work was superb. And to put his work into perspective, he would have had the hardest conditions to deal with to produce his work.

His efforts have been well rewarded in the results of the quality of the printing and the paper used.



Dave


NB: Does anyone here reading this have a picture of Richardson to share?
Over the course of many years looking for one I have never found one!

Tough ask for just one name ......Richardson.

I am presuming a "John Richardson"   who owned a commercial press?

If so, is this any help?  if one of the same, it may lead you to a photograph

The Auckland Independent and Operatives' Journal (a fortnightly) was commenced on May 31 1851,
in William-street, near the Mechanics' Institute, by the late John Richardson, but did not last long.

In 1855, the Trumpeter (an advertising sheet) was published by John Richardson, Wyndham-street,
It was issued in conjunction with the Auckland Examiner, in 1857, when it was owned by Messrs. Richardson and Sansom.

In end of December, 1856, the Auckland Examiner (a weekly) was founded by Charles Southwell, a tragedian and lecturer,
who arrived in Auckland with Foley's dramatic company. He published a series of pen-and-ink sketches in it,
by "Quizzicus," of public men, which were witty but sultry. Poor Southwell died on 7th August, 1860,
but a fortnight before his demise the paper also ceased to be published.
It was printed by John Richardson and Thomas J. Sansom, the office being in Wyndham-street,
near the site of the present Shakespeare Hotel. Among the contributors
to the Examiner were Messrs. B. Reynolds, Win. Griffin, Hugh Carleton, and Captain Powditch.

Dave, 
I am getting the feeling the John Richardson had a fairly short run, for our relevance.
5 years?  1855-1861  or thereabouts
He seemed to have partnered up with a gentleman that would attract controversy.

Being so, would suggest finding an image is going to be extremely difficult

The Auckland Examiner owes its existence and its vitriolic content to Charles Southwell.
In Britain he had owned radical bookshops, run short-lived free-thinking newspapers,
and spent a year in prison for blasphemy, before coming to New Zealand in early 1856.

Southwell arrived in Auckland from Sydney as a member of W H Foley's theatrical troupe – acting,
along with lecturing, another of his occasional occupations.
In December that year he launched the weekly Auckland Examiner in partnership
with the printer and publisher John Richardson. One of several papers begun in order to
challenge the well-established Southern Cross and New Zealander newspapers,
it was the only one to last any length of time.

The Examiner attacked political hypocrisy and corruption and regularly poured scorn on its more powerful rivals.
In the Examiner, John Williamson, Auckland superintendent and New Zealander editor, was referred to as 'Cheap John',
while William C Wilson, the New Zealander’s co-proprietor, was 'Swipes'.