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A SCARCE ACSC LISTED SUBSTITUTED CLICHÉ 9d VIOLET KANGAROO: "DIE II 'COOKE' PLATE SUBSTITUTION INTO DIE IIB 'ASH' PLATE" @ BANWELL & PARSONS 4R7B - ACSC 29(4)na - 2025 CV$150-$200 - THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH SPECIALISTS' CATALOGUE "KANGAROOS" (ACSC 2025) lists this variety as: ACSC 29(4)na "DIE II SUBSTITUTION" AT PLATE POSITION 4L7: "Shading line breaks below "INE" and "E"s of "PENCE”.
This variety recurs at position 4L10 or 4R7 ... that is ... it is EITHER the 10th STAMP on the LEFT PANE of PLATE 4 ... OR … it is the 7th STAMP on the RIGHT PANE of PLATE 4 (the lower plate of the two new plates (3 and 4) used for printing the 9d VIOLET from 1918). 4L10 can be distinguished by the lack of *(g). The ACSC states: "Archival records indicate that the substitutions were made prior to the second (and final) Ash printing on Third Watermark paper, in August 1927. These substitutions were effected using electrotypes manufactured in 1917 via wax moulds taken from Cooke Plate 2. The records indicate that as many as twelve substitutions may have been made, but at present only SEVEN have been identified - a block of 4 to replace 4L3-4/9-10, and single units to replace 4L48, 4R7 and 4R49. These substitutions were thus Die II, inserted in a Die IIB plate. However, since the substitutions were derived from a Cooke Plate and thus show (albeit relatively minor) Cooke Plate varieties, in Third Watermark, these can only be collected in multiples se-tenant with Die IIB stamps to prove they are not from an earlier Cooke printing. Very few such pieces have been identified thus far, although it is likely that more will be discovered in future." The ACSC reference then goes on to describe the seven different SUBSTITUTED locations identified thus far:
- 4L3 (variety e)
- 4L4 (variety f)
- 4L48 (variety ma)
- 4L9 (variety g)
- 4L10 (variety ha
- 4R7 (variety na)
- 4R49 (variety qa)
The 4L10 and 4R7 clichés were substituted by the Die II 2R33 cliché from the earlier Cooke Plate (see the last Reference scan below). For the Specialist: THIS PARTICULAR SUBSTITUTION CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS 4R7B (Banwell & Parsons). Reference scans from "The 9d Kangaroo Stamps" by A.D. Banwell & R.F Parsons are shown below. 4R7B is the late-3rd Watermark, Small Multi and CofA version and 4L10A is the 'ORIGINAL STATE' version in the 3rd Watermark only. Banwell & Parsons describe 4R7B as:
4R7B: Substituted Cliché (derived from 2R33). Late 3rd watermark to CofA.
(a) Gulf of Carpentaria: from southernmost point, seventh shading line short at each end and eighth line broken almost at left end.
(b) Shading between circle and Tasmania: five or six small breaks (not illustrated).
(c) NINE PENCE: shading at base of, i.e. between letters, is short at left of P and absent at right of last E.
(d) Shading below NINE PENCE: breaks in first line, under IN, NE. and EP.
(e) Lower inner frame: six breaks, under I, send N and each E (not all illustrated).
(f) Elsewhere: several small breaks (not illustrated).
*(g) Left frame: the lowest 5mm appears normal; above that the frame becomes noticeably but unevenly thickened for the next 5mm, with a narrow white flaw inside it; the frame then abruptly returns to normal… (apparently repair to damage caused while making the substitution). This frame condition is variable; our illustration shows the most developed State seen. Variety 4L10B is identical except for this condition (g).
The ACSC also states: "In Small Multiple and CofA Watermarks the substitutions are identifiable as single stamps, since these are the only Die II stamps with these watermarks. However, the substitutions are best collected in pairs. Care must be taken when identifying single Die II stamps, since the main Die IIB characteristic (top frame break over "ST") is often inked in and difficult to discern. A further Die IIB characteristic is a break at the junction of the inner top and right frames, which is complete in Die II. Correctly identified Die II stamps should exhibit the plating characteristics described for the substitutions".
As you can see, this is certainly a DIE II Watermark Kangaroo (it is the 2R33 unit Substituted into the DIE IIB CofA PLATE). There is no 'frame break' in the UPPER FRAME above "ST" and there is no inner frame break opposite Broome ... it is a Die II stamp which carries the precise variety description of the 2R33 substitution … The left lower frame is certainly variable in thickness but not as marked in the most developed state (illustrated). The centering here is LOW and to the RIGHT, the perforations are all fine, perhaps a few short at top left. The reference scans are from Banwell & Parsons. This is a scarce stamp and becoming harder to find now. The Banwell & Parsons Reference is also available from danmagpie.
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