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A VERY PRETTY 3rd WATERMARK 5/- GREY AND PALE YELLOW KANGAROO VARIETY: “CLIPPED TAIL SQUARE; WHITE SPOT ON BACK; SHORT SPENCER'S GULF; SHAVED EARS & SMALL BREAK IN RIGHT LEG" - PLATE POSITION L55 - LISTED BY "5 SHILLING KANGAROO & MAP PLATE STUDY REFERENCE BOOK" - LISTED BY ACSC AS ACSC44(D)i "SPENCER'S GULF SHORT AND THICK" - 2021 CV$450
The 3rd Watermark printing of the 5/- Grey & Yellow was made in December 1917. The stamps were placed on sale in April 1918. They were printed by J.B. COOKE to May 1918; then T.S. HARRISON to February 1926, A.J. MULLETT to June 1927 and lastly by J. Ash to late 1929. There were some 13 printings over this period totalling 2,672,640 stamps (83,640 were spoiled). They were printed from a single Plate with 120 stamps-on, in two Panes of 60, each in 10 horizontal Rows of 6 stamps. These marsupials were used to 'make-up' the higher telegram, parcel, airmail and bulk postage charges of the day. This scarce 5/- Kangaroo variety is listed very simply (as "SPENCER'S GULF SHORT AND THICK") by the ACSC without detailing the other flaws enabling identification at L55. Those additional flaws are listed in an unattributed study titled "5 SHILLING KANGAROO AND MAP PLATE STUDY AND REFERENCE BOOK" as:
POSITION L55 5/- KANGAROO:
(a) Break in top outline of right hind leg at junction with bottom of left hind leg and a nick in left hind leg just above.
(b) Tips of both ears are sheared off horizontally. Late 5/-printings only.
(c) Short Spencer's Gulf with projection to left at tip.
(d) Spot of colour inland adjacent to coast NE of Bight.
(e) Shortish tail clipped square.
(f) White flaw at root of tail close to outline of back.
THIS variety recurs at position L55 … that is … it is the 55th STAMP (commencing the bottom row) on the LEFT PANE of the single Plate used to print the 5/- marsupial from 1913. This one is an "OFFICIAL SERVICE" example and as a variety it is listed at $450. The rear scan shows the vertical watermark line at the bottom consistent with its position on the bottom row. Lovely PALE YELLOW colour centered a little right.
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