DK
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Post by DK on Dec 31, 2020 2:52:40 GMT
Thought that I'd start a thread on the 'Penny Universal' of New Zealand. Disclaimer: I am not an expert on these. Just an enthusiastic amateur :-) Acknowledgements: www.nzstamps.org.uk/universal/index.htmlThe Penny Universal
First issued on New Year’s Day, 1901 to commemorate the almost world-wide introduction of 1d postage on ordinary mail, this stamp remained in use for seven years. The first supply was printed in London, but later printings were made in Wellington. Several plates were used to print from and these differ from each other as follows: The plates - examples:  The plates used: • Waterlow ‘London’ plate. Stamps issued on 1 Jan, 1901.
• 3 Waterlow plates printed locally – 1st ‘Local’, February 1901.
• 4th Waterlow plate printed locally - the ‘Reserve’ plate - April 1902.
• Royle ‘Booklet’ plate, August 1902.
• 3 Royle 'Dot' plates, January 1904.
• 2 ‘Waterlow Trial’ plates, January 1906.
• 4 Royle plates, 2 trial plates in January 1906 and 2 more in February 1907.
• Redrawn, 1908.
Watermarks Used – per CP  No Watermark on ‘London’ and ‘Cowan’ W6 used on 1st Local (Waterlow) and Basted Mills printings W7 used on ‘Booklet, ‘Reserve’, ‘Cowan’, ‘Waterlow Trial’ , ‘Royle’ and ‘Redrawn’ printings. Dave |
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DK
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Post by DK on Dec 31, 2020 2:58:08 GMT
Group 1 - No 4 o’clock flaw on these issues until the ‘Dot’ plate prints later London Print
Thinnish paper. Perforations 12-16. Well printed. No watermark. Small dot above top left corner of value tablet. WaterlowThick, Soft paper. Watermark W6 can be hard to see, is a double lined ‘NZ & Star’. Design not as clear as the ‘London’ print. Basted Mills
Watermark W6 same as above but more easily seen. Wmk is found normal, inverted, reversed and inverted/reversed. Paper is similar to ‘Waterlow’ but thinner and hard. Impressions are not as good as earlier plates. Perforations are usually not clean cut. Cowan Unwatermarked
Medium thick paper, whiter than the watermarked papers above. No dot above value tablet as in ‘London’ print. Perforations usually are not clean cut.   No 4 o’clock Rosette Flaw Dave
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DK
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Post by DK on Dec 31, 2020 3:08:41 GMT
Group 2 – All have single lined ‘NZ & Star’ W7 watermark Cowan watermarked
No 4 o’clock flaw on Rosette. All others in this group except the ‘Reserve’ plate have this flaw. Not as well printed or as bright as the ‘Reserve’ plate. Reserve Plate
No 4 o’clock flaw. The colour is always rich, deep red. There is a strong inner line in the ‘spur’ ornament below the left rosette.  Dave
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DK
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Post by DK on Dec 31, 2020 3:30:40 GMT
4 ‘o’clock flaw on next 4 types
 On ‘unworn’ plate On ‘worn’ plate Booklet Plate
Copies are often imperf. on one or two sides (as these came from panes of 6 stamps each).  
The main distinguishing mark of the booklet plate is that the pearl in the top left hand corner was retouched and is larger and stands out more clearly than in any other plate. The outer of the three pearls at the middle left was also retouched and stands out clearly.
Dot Plate
The pearl outside the top left rosette is weak or partly absent. The outer teeth of the ‘spur’ ornament, below the left rosette are broken. A small dot usually appears in the margin between stamps, halfway down the side. Very pale impressions (worn), with the 4 o’clock flaw, are always from this plate.
 
The Dot Vs Royle Plates
  Dot Plate Royle Plate ‘spur’ incomplete. ‘spur’ complete. No shading line in ‘spandrel’. Extra line of shading in spandrel’. Waterlow Trial Plates
The pearl above the left top rosette is complete and clear. The pearls at the center of the left frame are all clearly defined, and those on the right are also strong.    Royle Plates
Similar to the ‘Dot’ plates but the teeth of the ‘spur’ are complete and there is an extra line of shading in the ‘spandrel’. The pearl above the top left rosette is incomplete. There is, sometimes, a short line from the outer pearl at the center of the left frame, extending into the margin. The pearls at left are usually strong, but the ones at right are printed much weaker.   Dave
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DK
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Post by DK on Dec 31, 2020 3:42:21 GMT
The 'Waterlow Trial’ Plates Vs Royle  Waterlow Royle The Waterlow plates also show the 4 o'clock flaw, but can be distinguished from the other two plates (Royle & Dot) as the pearl at the top left is always complete and the three pearls at the middle left are very clear and unshaded. In the Dot and Royle plates, the pearl at the top left is incomplete and the pearls at the middle left are shaded. The two Royle and the two Waterlow plates of 1906 were trial plates. They had plate numbers R1, R2, W1 and W2 respectively under the 12th stamp in the bottom margin. The Royle plates were judged superior and stamps printed from two further Royle plates appeared in 1907. Dave
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DK
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Post by DK on Dec 31, 2020 3:48:11 GMT
Surface Printed on chalk-surfaced paper
Redrawn
This is a much stronger design, similar to the 1d ‘Dominion’ which followed it. The lines on the globe are diagonal, while all others are vertical. Printed on ‘chalk surfaced’ paper.  Dave
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DK
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Post by DK on Feb 7, 2021 22:25:36 GMT
Here is a block of 12 (1/-) of the 1d 'London' print. A corner block with sheet number and guide lines. A couple of tone spots unfortunately (brought up more by the scanner) : SG277 Dave |
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DK
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Post by DK on Feb 7, 2021 22:45:25 GMT
Another practice employed by the printers was to 'patch' misperfed sheets of perf 14 stamps, and to reperforate them with a perf 11 machine. Hence 'mixed perf' stamps. SG307 Cowan wmk 'NZ & Star' mixed perf with piece of patching paper still attached :  Dave |
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DK
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Post by DK on Feb 7, 2021 22:50:32 GMT
A booklet pair used from a small block of 6 stamps from booklets :  Dave |
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DK
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Post by DK on Feb 7, 2021 23:03:53 GMT
A nice 'Registered' cover to Goulburn, NSW, Australia from Oamaru, NZ - 8th Feb, 1901 - via Wellington 9th Feb,1901 - Goulburn arrival b/s FE 14 1901 SG277 'London' print & SG273 (1900 ½d green)  Dave |
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skid
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Post by skid on Nov 26, 2021 4:29:14 GMT
Does anyone know what this is? It looks like some kind of proof, but the paper is very thin (a bit like smoke paper for rollies back in the old days). Also the image is not very clear. Perhaps it is from a book?   |
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skid
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What I collect: NZ Chalons, 1800's NZ, Thames Valley NZ, and other interesting NZ stamps
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Post by skid on Nov 26, 2021 5:11:35 GMT
Here's another interesting proof. Printed on both sides of the paper, but not an offset as the back image is not reversed.   |
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DK
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Post by DK on Nov 26, 2021 22:42:18 GMT
Does anyone know what this is? It looks like some kind of proof, but the paper is very thin (a bit like smoke paper for rollies back in the old days). Also the image is not very clear. Perhaps it is from a book? I have seen this once before a long time ago now! I am not certain of its origins but this and the other black example you show both may be from a book or similar, as you say. More info needed. Dave |
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skid
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What I collect: NZ Chalons, 1800's NZ, Thames Valley NZ, and other interesting NZ stamps
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Post by skid on Nov 27, 2021 0:33:00 GMT
Does anyone know what this is? It looks like some kind of proof, but the paper is very thin (a bit like smoke paper for rollies back in the old days). Also the image is not very clear. Perhaps it is from a book? I have seen this once before a long time ago now! I am not certain of its origins but this and the other black example you show both may be from a book or similar, as you say. More info needed. Dave I probably posted it on a different forum and you saw that. |
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skid
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Post by skid on Jun 12, 2022 0:40:44 GMT
I came across this universal. I guess it is from the booklet. It has the larger pearl on the top left. It is different than the one above because it has perforations on all sides even though it has a large margin on the right.  |
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DK
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Post by DK on Jun 12, 2022 5:26:08 GMT
Booklet Plate
Copies are often imperf. on one or two sides (as these came from panes of 6 stamps each).
The main distinguishing mark of the booklet plate is that the pearl in the top left hand corner was retouched and is larger and stands out more clearly than in any other plate. The outer of the three pearls at the middle left was also retouched and stands out clearly.
Dave Hi Mark Your one above is definitely a 'Booklet' plate example. Nice it is too :-) Dave |
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sudbury12000
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Post by sudbury12000 on Jan 4, 2023 22:17:18 GMT
Moderator Note: This post and the two immediately after it were originally part of a thread titled New Zealand SG301 (Sc801r) Perf 11. These posts were moved to this existing thread, as their subject matter fits here very well.
I found this in a lot of stamps. As it is a fairly common design, I suspect it was not looked at too carefully. Plus SC#801r seems to go extinct from the last specialized catalogue I have. I have a couple of questions for those who collect New Zealand, and specifically this issue.
1. It is thin hard paper, but how to tell if it is "Cowan" is beyond me.
2. Since the paper is hard, the watermark is very hard to see, if at all. 3. Although the perfs are all 11, the top perfs seem to be a little rough. I do find many rough perfs on early NZ, so unless this a red flag, I am not that concerned with it. I was trying to be thorough in my description.
All responses and thoughts are most welcome!
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Post by nbstamper on Jan 5, 2023 1:41:14 GMT
I checked my specialized Campbell Paterson catalogue and it would seem, unless I missed something, there should be a watermark lurking there somewhere. The only variety on unwatermarked paper is G1a which has a variety of perforations, but no perf 11. The perf 11 varieties are as follows: G2a - thick "Pirie" (Waterlow) paper - vertical mesh G3a - thinner "Basted Mills" paper - also vertical mesh G5b - Cowan paper - there is a note which says, "the only single lined watermark but without the '4 o'clock flaw'" The flaw occurs in the 4 o'clock position of the upper right rosette. It looks to be a thickening of the circle at that point and occurs on every Universal subsequently issued. This issue has watermark 7 and is easily distinguished from the earlier issues with double-lined watermark 6. G6b - also on Cowan paper; but the flaw would be evident G9b - Waterlow paper - expensive stamp - W7 G10b - same; not as expensive; but rare. As you probably know, this is a very complicated stamp, the domain of the specialist collector. Hopefully this helps. Maybe DK knows more about this than I was able to pull from a quick read of the catalogue. |
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DK
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What I collect: Classic NZ, Closed NZ Post Offices, New Zealand Postal History, Classic Br. Empire, Pacific Islands, France
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Post by DK on Jan 5, 2023 4:59:19 GMT
I found this in a lot of stamps. As it is a fairly common design, I suspect it was not looked at too carefully. Plus SC#801r seems to go extinct from the last specialized catalogue I have. I have a couple of questions for those who collect New Zealand, and specifically this issue.
1. It is thin hard paper, but how to tell if it is "Cowan" is beyond me.
2. Since the paper is hard, the watermark is very hard to see, if at all. 3. Although the perfs are all 11, the top perfs seem to be a little rough. I do find many rough perfs on early NZ, so unless this a red flag, I am not that concerned with it. I was trying to be thorough in my description.
All responses and thoughts are most welcome!
Firstly to the Moderators - please consider moving this to the Penny Univeral's thread here ==> NZ Penny Universals -1901-1908So to this one, My first impressions is that it immediately looks like an SG278 - 1901 (Feb-Dec) Thick, soft Pirie Paper with vertical mesh p11 Scott 100The watermark on these can be very, very hard to see but will be there - CP W6 / SG W38 / Sc. wmk.63 which is a double lined NZ & star NZ wmk. W6 Confirmation of the W6 wmk can mean only that it is 'Pirie' paper or the much much thinner 'Basted Mills' paper. This wmk. was only used on these 2 papers! The paper is thick and soft (varies a bit). It is unlike all other papers used for printing this stamp from all of the other plates. The impression is not as crisp and clear as is the 'London' prints that immediately preceded this issue a month earlier but is usually printed with a deeper Carmine color than the following Basted Mills & Cowan papers. Your copy shown also doesn't exhibit the 4 o'clock flaw so cannot be from plates later than 1904. ie it must be from a plate produced before the 1904 'Dot' plate - namely 'London', Waterlow, Basted Mills or Cowan therefore. Please do look for evidence of a wmk as I am sure that it is there. Dave |
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Beryllium Guy
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jan 5, 2023 5:19:32 GMT
Posting to bump this thread and to confirm the move and merger of the posts as suggested by Dave ( DK). |
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DK
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Post by DK on May 5, 2023 6:48:00 GMT
Picked these up recently. In an old Tobacco tin - 'Pioneer Gold Leaf' of Liverpool, England. 21 x 100 bundles of 1901 p11 1st Local printing of the Penny Universal (in theory anyway  ).    Initial looks it looks promising. Quite a few with 'A' class cancels and many old, closed offices. Even a couple of the p14 variety. Half way there now. I will post some pic's of the better items once all is discovered ..... Dave |
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DK
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Post by DK on May 5, 2023 23:54:09 GMT
So, after many hours of sorting I have this small summary to present:
There were @2100 Universals in total - all from the 1901 1st local printings
Postmark date range seen predominately Feb 1901 - Feb 1902, a few a bit later in 1902 (Aug 02 seen)
All are clean never hinged. Most were loose, some stuck together, most came apart but a few reqd a soak
All but 3 are from Nth Island towns
Al but 3 are p11, 3 are p14
0 have wmk varieties
A number have perfins from 1 company - A.C & S
All but a few have hand cancels, only a few have a machine cancel
About 60% have G or F class cancels
About 38% are A class, 2 % are H class and are good to keep
about 150 have clear A class office names
1 rated 8
a couple rated 7
a few rated 6
a few 5s, 4s, 3s etc
My conclusion is that this IS a good original lot saved by an old time collector.
A lovely lot to have handled :-)
Dave
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DK
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Post by DK on May 5, 2023 23:54:58 GMT
  Dave |
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DK
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Post by DK on May 6, 2023 0:03:14 GMT
And now to find homes for all of the keepers :-) Dave  |
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DK
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Post by DK on May 6, 2023 3:06:58 GMT
After a bit more sorting here are some of the nicer cancels. A mixture of (mainly) 'A' class and the odd 'H' class :  And a few I shall post in the Thames thread for skid, Mark, as well :  Dave |
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DK
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Post by DK on Feb 7, 2024 19:39:21 GMT
It's been a while since we posted on this thread. Yesterday I received a small lot from eBay - cost me about US$10 landed. Here are a few of the Universals that were amongst the lot. Some quite nice 'A' class cancels amongst them. The better 2 are rated 6 by Wooders. White Cliffs & View Hill.  There were a few hundred Universals in the small lot. Worth the few dollars paid I thought, and a bit of fun going thru' too  Dave |
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Post by redkiwi on May 19, 2024 19:38:17 GMT
 Cancelled on the first day of issue, the first day of the 20th century. |
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DK
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Post by DK on May 20, 2024 1:01:13 GMT
Nice strip with the 1st day of Issue Klem.
The 1st of January 1901 was a Tuesday!
Nice to see these dated examples. I have a few but no covers. I need to get myself one, hopefully with an illustrated cachet.
Dave
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DK
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Post by DK on May 20, 2024 1:12:36 GMT
While on this subject of 'Penny Universals' & also, we have been talking about early dates on the 1882 SSF set recently, it reminds me of early dates of use of the 'Redrawn' Universal on chalk surfaced paper. Released on 1 December 1908 it is extremely tricky to find one with a 1908 date stamp used! There was an article I read, I believe in the 'New Zealand Stamp Collector' about this exact topic. SG386 / Sc129 Anyway, I don't have a 1908 dated example. Does anyone else? I would love to see it if you do. The above dated example is the earliest I have found to date. 27 FE 09Dave |
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DK
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Post by DK on May 20, 2024 5:38:25 GMT
I found the article I was referring to above. It is in the New Zealand Stamp Collector - Vol 102 No 1 March 2022 You need to be logged into the RPSNZ website to be able to click on the following link to the article ==> link
If you are not a member of the RPSNZ then here are the opening paragraphs of the article by Stephen Jones : Early Use of the Redrawn 1d Universal Dave |
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