GB. KGVI. 1943/44. RARE!! JERSEY Wartime MISE-EN-TRAIN imperf proof set of 4. MUH.

Unmounted mint. FABULOUS OFFSET on 1½d!

Source: "The German Occupation of the Channel Islands 1940–1945". Presented to The Royal Philatelic Society London 29 September 2016 by Ron Brown.

JERSEY VIEWS or PICTORIAL STAMPS 1943-44

"A local artist of repute, Edmund Blampied, was commissioned to prepare a series of designs for the
six stamps and these were first approved by the Bailiff and then submitted to the Field Commandant
on 6 January 1943 for his approval and were duly approved on 7 January 1943.

MISE-EN-TRAIN imperf proofs. 

"These are not strictly ‘Proofs’ as the stamps had already been proofed and finally approved.

‘Mise en Train’ means ‘put in motion’ or ‘make ready for action’. The prints represent trial runs to
ensure the correct setting of machines prior to commencing production.

"The French Government printing works always used a special pink paper and black ink for this
purpose so that the prints could not be mistaken for proofs.

"These trial runs were usually destroyed. However, it is understood, two partly crumpled sheets of
the ½d, 1d, 1½d and 2d values apparently survived. The 2½d and 3d values were destroyed in the
normal way – by incineration.

"The complete series therefore consists of 120 examples of each of the ½d, 1d, 1½d and 2d values,
of which the majority are creased.

"The 120 examples comprised two whole sheets of each value and for many years they were in the
possession of Professor Yves Maxime Danan, at the Sorbonne, a leading French philatelist. They
were offered to the Jersey Post Office on its inauguration in October 1969, but were declined
by the Postal Committee. 

"Subsequently they were purchased privately by a member of the Committee and broken up to produce less than 80 passably presentable sets. The proofs were printed by hand"

The Offset Error:

"A true offset occurs when a sheet of paper fails to feed correctly, causing the inked image to be stamped directly onto the impression cylinder. When the subsequent sheet of paper passes through, the wet ink from the cylinder transfers a mirrored or ghosted image to the back (gummed side) of the stamp.

"Because these trial sets and press setup sheets were never meant to enter postal circulation, survival rates for mis en train blocks or sheets with dramatic reverse offsets are incredibly low. They are highly sought after by specialized Channel Islands postal history collectors"

This selection is in super condition - the 1d and 2d have an almost imperceptible bend/crease as described above. The 1½d and 2d are perfectly flat - with the 1½d showing a magnificent offset!

SG 3-6. SG GB Specialist Catalogue Vol 2 lists these with a value guide of £120 each - presumably for mounted mint.

All are clean, bright and fresh with no thins, tears or toning.

This unmounted mint set of 4 represents an extraordinary and scarce philatelic trial run - with an even rarer offset on the 1½d. 

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