|
|
Dissatisfaction
with the suitability
of the low value
unappropriated dies
for postal usage
led to De La Rue
being instructed
in 1891 to overprint
the current 1d lilac
and the 2d, 4d and
6d Jubilee definitives
‘BRITISH BECHUANALAND’
in two lines. These
values were overprinted
and issued in December
1891. The overprinted
½d Jubilee
had been in use
since 1887 and there
was no requirement
for a three pence
value. Uncharacteristically,
these De la Rue
overprints produced
a number of varieties.
The 1d, 2d and 6d
values were printed
in sheets with two
panes of 120 comprising
10 rows of 12 stamps,
one pane above the
other. The three
values were overprinted
using a 240 set
forme to print both
panes in one operation.
The one established
constant flaw for
these values is
the top right stroke
of the ‘H’
of ‘BRITISH’
cut at an angle
as illustrated.
This flaw was referred
to in the 2/81 edition
of the Overprinter
by H.R. Holmes,
the author of the
definitive reference
book on Bechuanaland
philately.
The position of
this flaw has since
been established
as row 7 position
8 on the upper pane.
Interestingly, all
three overprints
are sloping slightly
downwards.
|
|
|
Another
constant flaw on the
upper pane is the
short leg of R and
chamfered top of U
on row 3 position
12 illustrated from
an upper right corner
block of the two pence
stamps. |
|
There
were three over-printings
of the penny value:
in November 1891
on control N, in
February 1894 on
control O and finally
in January 1895
on control R and
it is assumed the
same plate was used
for all over-printings
of the four values
without making any
corrections to minor
defects.
Illustrated are
the bottom right
corner of the lower
pane of the QV 1d
lilac with control
R and continuous
marginal rule which
is rounded at the
corners and perforated
through the bottom
margin from which
three minor overprint
varieties are positioned
and the single stamps
with controls N
and O.
|
|
|
| The
lower pane of the
one penny lilac allows
three minor varieties
to be identified
|
.jpg)
R14/2
Chamfered left arm
of U
|
.jpg)
R14/6
Damage to tops of
HU and short L |
.jpg)
R20/6
Damage to right leg
of first H
|
| Other
overprint varieties
that have not been
positioned are
|
.jpg) Short
2nd I
|
.jpg)
Damaged
B of BECHUANALAND
|
.jpg)
Damaged
B |
In
1894 the one shilling
green Jubilee definitive
was also issued using
the overprint forme
set up for the two
panes of 120 stamps,
so it can be expected
to have some of the
same flaws as the
other values, although
none have been recorded.
In his book ‘The
Postage Stamps,
Postal Stationery
and Postmarks of
the Bechuanalands’
Holmes states ”It
seems likely that
the stamps were
printed from stereos
made from the original
type setting, and
that these stereos
were renewed as
a fresh printing
was required, as
broken letters that
appear on one sheet
do not always occur
on other sheets.
The broken letters,
however, are of
no real importance.”
That last sentence
needs clarifying.
Finding and positioning
constant flaws is
truly fascinating
for a student of
the overprints and
can lead to a greater
understanding of
how the overprinting
was done.
However, many of
the overprint flaws
to be seen were
transitory and caused
by a perforation
chad or some other
matter that was
stuck on the type
face. Such flaws
can normally be
identified by carefully
examining the front
and back of the
stamp. Below is
an example of with
such transitory
flaws, often referred
to as perf flaws,
which are of not
any real significance.
|
| There
is a visible pale
stretch mark where
what was probably
a perforation chad
on the type-face has
pushed down above
the short first I
and there is a typical
indent with central
black mark where the
upper part of the
I should be. There
is a similar black
mark where there is
a ‘break’
in the B of Bechuanaland. |
|
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)