1d vermillion (1897 - 1912) Zig-Zag Roulette (SG 256-61) - examples on covers and on piece

The zig-zag roulette perforations of the Queensland 1d postage stamp were introduced in an attempt to cope with the increased demand. The idea was to perforate a whole sheet in one operation rather than the 12 separate ones needed with the comb perforating machine. The experiment was largely unsuccessful - mainly due to the problem of aligning the perforator, the difficulty of separating the individual stamps without tearing adjacent ones, and a tendency for the sheets themselves to come apart - and I will discuss this in separate blog posts in greater detail at some future date.

This post shows postally used examples on cover and on piece - and which are far more scarce than the usually seen mint examples that were avidly collected at the time by collectors and speculators.

5,000 sheets went on sale in mid-November 1898 and around half of these were returned to the Lithographic office in January 1899 to be perforated on the Buncle comb perforating machine and then reissued to various post offices. Despite this very short run they were popular with collectors and examples could be seen postally used for several decades afterwards!

So, to sum up; conventional perforations were replaced by a zig-zag roulette - initially with plain incisions, then with black inked incisions, then with both types and finally with standard comb perforations added to make it work!

Mint examples of both plain and black inked zig-zag roulette perforations

On Cover

1898

Plain roulette perforations on what is an apparently 3d commercial rate letter from Brisbane to England on 29 November 1898. Seen in a private collection

Plain roulette perforations dated Muttaburra 28 December 1898. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Plain roulette perforations used on a single rate letter from Gympie to London, England on 31 December 1898. Seen in Abacus auction no 234 lot no 63

1899

Plain roulette perforations used on a country rate letter from Clifton to Gympie on 22 January 1899. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

Plain roulette perforations block of 6 from the top right hand corner of the sheet used on a country rate letter from Rockhampton to Brisbane on 9 August 1899. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

1900
Plain roulette perforations used on a double 2.5d rate plus 3d registration letter from Gympie to France on 3 November 1900. Seen on Ebay

1901

Black inked roulette perforations commercially used on a town letter in Brisbane on 23 May 1901. Seen in Abacus auction no 237 lot no 207. The year plug has most probably been transposed in this Brisbane type 9 duplex, as it was in use from 1899-1907

1903

Black inked roulette perforations used on a double rate town letter in Wellington Point, Brisbane on 3 September 1903. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 171 lot no 560

1909

Plain roulette perforations used on a double 2.5d rate plus 3d registration letter from Brisbane to Germany on 11 June 1909. Seen in a private collection

1910

Black inked roulette perforations commercially used on a town letter in Brisbane on 19 June 1910. Seen in Spink auctions no 12043 lot no 1374. Ex Griffiths

On Piece

1898

San Jose manuscript cancellation dated 7 December 1898. Seen in Phoenix auction no 9 lot no 827. Ex Smithies

Black inked roulette perforations dated One Mile Creek 9 December 1898. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1899

Plain roulette perforations dated Yatala 10 January 1899

Plain roulette perforations dated Mungarr 10 January 1899. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Plain roulette perforations dated Goombungee 20 January 1899

Plain roulette perforations dated Oontoo 10 February 1899. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Plain roulette perforations cancelled by a Brisbane duplex type 7 code 20 dated 13 February 1899

Plain roulette perforations dated Stanthorpe 18 February 1899