Great Britain 1841 1d Rainbow Trial (State 3), SGDP20.
A superb unused four margin top marginal example printed on white wove paper in deep green.
A scarce specialised philatelic item of early GB postal history.
These trials were produced to test various combinations of stamp and cancellation ink.
It has long been considered that the voiding of the corners was achieved by filling the grooves of the plate with wax. However, recent research has brought this assumption into question. It is believed that the wax could not have withstood the immense pressure and would not have given a consistent result. To date, the exact method employed has not been determined, but is believed to either have been using a harder filling substance or the area being completely ground away.
State 3 was produced with impressions being re-entered (probably using the roller with the blank upper corners as evidenced by the new thinning of the north-west corner star). The corners were again voided, but more carefully and are generally smaller and more uniform in appearance than seen in State 2.
GB Specialised Catalogue No: DP20 (State 3)b.
-
BUY NOW: Order online, by phone +44 (0)1534 639 998, or via email info@paulfrasercollectibles.com
