1899 ½d green - Split fraction variety

This page is a census of the 1899 ½d green stamp (the so-called Widows Weeds) 'split-fraction' variety. It is the most prominent constant variety for this issue and is described by Scudder as "Near vertical white flaw on the "2" and the fraction line. It appears to have commenced as a scratch below the fraction line and then extended slightly further and got slightly larger over time. It was fully formed while still on the original plate 1.

This variety is not present on early sheets. Scudder states this variety is known from 1900 onwards. The earliest example I have seen is from 1901.

On the original plate, known as plate one, it occurs in position no 107 with the Cowan Crown over Q watermarked paper. In 1906 this plate was refurbished and rearranged whereby the centre and lower electros were interchanged. Called plate 1a, this variety then became position 67. 

Examples seen on the Cowan Crown over Q watermarked paper can be from either plate. However, all examples seen on the Cowan Crown over A watermarked paper are from plate 1a (position 67)

This variety is not listed in either the Stanley Gibbons or Brusden White catalogues.

The split fraction variety when it first formed

The split fraction variety in its fullest extent

Positions 67 and 107 without the variety

This block of 30 from the Butler collection shows both positions (67 and 107) without the variety, thus indicating that it was NOT present originally but developed later

Another block of 30 in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock also showing both positions (67 and 107) without the variety

A block of 42 courtesy of Dave Elsmore also showing both positions (67 and 107) without the variety

Mint examples

Plate 1

Position 107. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

Watermark Crown over Q, so probably plate 1. From my collection

Plate 1a

A full sheet with the flaw shown in position 67. Click on the image to enlarge. Seen in Status Stamps auctions in 2015

Another full sheet with the flaw shown in position 67. Click on the image to enlarge. Seen on Ebay in 2020

Position 67; from a block of 24 in the collection of Dave Elsmore

Used

Plate 1

1901

Plate 1 (position 67) dated 1901. Seen in my collection

Plate 1a

1908

Plate 1a (position 67) dated 1908. Seen in the collection of Tony Griffin

Plate 1

Unknown year

Position 107 (plate 1). Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

Position 107 (plate 1) from my collection

Two examples of position 107 (plate 1) from my collection

Plate 1a

Unknown year

An undated example seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Four examples from my collection

An undated used example courtesy of Dave Elsmore

An example from Position 107 (plate 1) and position 67 (plate 1a). Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

1895 ½d green blob - a transient flaw (SG 223)

This page shows examples of a spectacular transient flaw where an irregular shaped piece of paper has adhered to the plate. The adhesion is in the same colour ink as this issue, albeit more concentrated, suggesting it has come into contact with the ink used to print the sheets of stamps. 

The flaw has been seen in two different positions, indicating that it shifted on the plate before either being noticed and removed or naturally being loosened off the plate. It is not known which of the two positions (assuming it is in fact the same paper adhesion) came first

Flaw at bottom left

A lovely example on a pair. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

An example on a single stamp. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Flaw at top centre

Here the flaw is at the top of the stamp. From my collection

Queensland 9d brown and ultramarine postally used blocks

A census of Queensland 9d brown and ultramarine (SG 265 and SG 266) used blocks. This issue first went on sale in July 1903. Most of these stamps, being of a high value, were used on telegrams and parcels and while postally used examples are not that scarce,  postally used blocks are

Postally used

1908

9d block of 6 cancelled with a Cairns type 5a date stamp dated 28 October 1908. Seen in the collection of Dave Elsmore

1910

9d block of 4 cancelled with a Mount Perry date stamp dated

August 1910. Seen in the collection of Henk Godthelp

1911

9d block of 4 cancelled with a Brisbane Parcel Post Branch datestamp dated 13 February 1911

9d perf 11 block of 4 cancelled with a Brisbane Parcel Post Branch datestamp dated 19 December 1911. Seen in the collection of Dave Elsmore

1912

9d block of 4 cancelled with a Townsville type 6t date stamp dated 29 August 1912. Seen on Ebay

1913

9d block of 4 cancelled with a Toowoomba type 5a date stamp dated 23 February 1913

9d block of 4 cancelled with a Brisbane Parcel Post Branch datestamp type 5 dated 14 May 1913

Unknown year

9d block of 4 cancelled with a Brisbane parcel post branch roller cancel type 6

9d block of 4 cancelled with a Cairns type 5a datestamp with an indistinct date. Seen in the collection of Dave Elsmore

9d block of 4 cancelled with a Brisbane registered datestamp with an indistinct date. Seen in the collection of Dave Elsmore

9d block of 4 on a parcel label cancelled with an indistinct barred numeral. Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

Queensland 9 brown and ultramarine on covers

A census of Queensland 9d brown and ultramarine (SG 265 and SG 266) on covers with details of the postal rates used. This issue first went on sale in July 1903. Most of these stamps, being of a high value, were used on telegrams (the basic rate was 9d for the first 20 words) and parcels, and while postally used examples are common, postally used multiples and examples on covers are very rare

1909

A registered cover from Brisbane to Germany dated 9 September 1909. The postage paid was 1s ½d. including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate to Apolda, Germany was 2½d. per half ounce, so this was a 4 x letter rate cover with ½d. still to be paid. Seen in Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1402. Ex Alan Griffiths

A registered cover from Brisbane to Germany dated 22 November 1909. The postage paid was 1s 6d. including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate to Charlottenburg, Germany was 2½d. per half ounce, so this was a 5 x letter rate cover with ½d. left over. Seen on Ebay

1911

A registered cover from Brisbane to St louis, USA dated 4 December 1911. The postage paid was 1s 1d including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate to the USA was 2½d. per half ounce, so this was a 4 x letter rate cover. Seen in Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1403. Ex Alan Griffiths

1912

A registered cover from Brisbane to Newton, Massachusetts, USA dated 11 September 1912. The postage paid was 11½d. including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate to Charlottenburg, Germany was 2½d. per half ounce, so this was a 3 x letter rate cover with 1d. left over (perhaps a late fee?). Seen on Ebay

1913

An official registered cover from the Correspondence Branch, Postmaster- General's Department, Brisbane to Lyon, France dated 4 December 1913. The postage paid was 9d including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate to France was 2½d. per half ounce, suggesting that this was a 2 x letter rate cover with 1d left over. Seen on Ebay

1d Vermillion - Imperforate at right-hand margin

Discussion

This issue is known imperforate on the right-hand margin with the Crown over A watermark on Cowan gummed paper which was used from November 1907 onwards. There are three types of imperforate issues known; 

• wholly imperforate (discussed HERE)
• imperforate on the right margin of the sheet due to sheet not being rotated to perforate the margin. (discussed on this page)
• Left imperforate margins associated with the perforation 12 x 9½ stamps from mid-1901 (discussed HERE)

Not much is known about the imperforate on the right margin of the sheet issue but presumably, as was the case with most other mint imperforate Queensland 2nd and 3rd Sideface issues, a sheet or two was for some reason not perforated properly.

When perforated with the comb 12½, 13 perforating machine, the sheet was usually rotated & perforated a second time due to the insufficient number of columns of perforations on the Buncle's perforating machine. In this case it wasn't rotated which left the right margin imperforate. It appears that t two sheets were inadvertently issued with this error. Assuming this is correct, then a maximum of 24 stamps with an imperforate right hand margin can exist. 

It never went on sale at a post office but instead must have come from within the Queensland Post and Telegraph Department and made available for purchase to certain unknown favoured collectors.

It is not listed by Stanley Gibbons but is listed by Brusden White in their 2023 Australian States Federal Period, 1901-1912 catalog, where it is listed as Q11ba. Imperforate at right and priced at $450 mint. It includes the following note: "Available evidence suggests two sheets were issued showing the right-hand column imperforate at right. "

Below is a census of examples seen by me. I have so far seen 17 of the 24 possible examples. I also show, at the bottom, an example that is perforated to the end of the right margin horizontally but not vertically, so it must be from a different sheet

Census

A block of 12 on gummed Cowan paper from the top right-hand corner of the sheet. Seen in the collection of John Pearson

A block of 4 on gummed Cowan paper from the bottom right-hand corner of the sheet. Seen in Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1407. Ex Alan Griffiths and now in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

A block of 4 on gummed Cowan paper. Seen in Corinphila auctions in 2023. Ex Bernard Manning and E.R Slade

A block of 4 on gummed Cowan paper. Seen in Corinphila auctions in 2023. Ex James Mursell

A block of 4 on gummed Cowan paper. Seen in Spink auction no 20030 lot no 215(x). Ex Gary Diffen

A horizontal pair on gummed Cowan paper. Seen in Phoenix auction no 29

A horizontal pair on gummed Cowan paper. In my collection

A single on gummed Cowan paper. Seen in Corinphila auctions in 2022

Perforated to end of the right margin

A block of 6 perforated to the end of the right margin so it must be from a different sheet to the others, on gummed Cowan paper from the top-right hand corner of the sheet. Seen in Corinphila auctions in 2016. Ex Bernard Manning