Great Britain 1841 2d blue Plate 3, SG14.
A very fine used large four margin example lettered 'IE', tied to a clean unfolded entire letter by a crisp London 'No.4’ Maltese Cross.
Addressed to Perth and backstamped accordingly for 'NO.09.1843' with a Edinburgh transit circular date stamp for earlier the same day and a London dispatch circular date stamp for 'NO.07.1843'.
Most attractive and scarce with the 'Number 4 in Maltese Cross' cancellation.
Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £2,250.
White lines were added to the 1841 printings of the 2d blue to distinguish them from the original 1840 2d blue printings.
According to the Treasury Minute dated 17 December 1840, it had proved impracticable to change the colour of the 2d blue to another light colour.
In accordance with the instructions “…as it may be important, hereafter, to have the means of distinguishing the new Twopenny Labels from the old ones, to make some alteration in the plate used for printing them,” the white lines were added.”
The design of the 2d blue was therefore changed with a horizontal white line being added at the top and bottom. The new design became known as the “white lines added issue”.
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