William Cochrane.

The following was a paper, accompanied by a display, given at the meeting of the Herts Philatelic Society, London, on October 25th. 1921. by Ernest H. Collins.

South Australia was discovered by the Dutch in 1627. Its coast was charted in 1802 by Captain Flinders, but it was not founded or settled until 1836, only 20 years before it was separated and responsible Government granted. This Colony, with an area of 903,700 square miles, is the second largest in Australia, large additional territory having been added in 1861 and 1863.

Messrs. Napier & Gordon Smith’s most valuable work on the postal issues of South Australia, published in 1894, and the later researches of other distinguished philatelists have dealt so exhaustively with the subject there is little to add to our philatelic knowledge. Mr. Barnard, the Colonial Agent-General, in 1853, was in communication with Messrs. Perkins & Bacon on behalf of the Governments of South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania and their estimate was obtained in September of that year. Shortly afterwards the printers communicated with the Agent-General in connection with the “Victoria” order that their estimates were based on having the contract for the three Colonies, as then only one watermarked paper mould (the large Star) need be prepared, and thus by adding a mere trifle to the price per ream, would avoid any charge for the moulds; that only one of the tenders had been accepted, and unless the others were agreed upon, unwatermarked paper must be used or the cost of the moulds – 20 guineas – be charged for. The Victoria estimate had not been accepted at that time, nor had that for Tasmania: therefore, it is clear that the South Australia tender was the first one accepted. This enables us to fix the date as early in September, 1853.

The first official intimation appeared in the South Australia Official Gazette of October 23rd, 1854, giving notice that postage stamps would be issued on January 1st, 1855. The specimens shown are evidently from an unfinished die, without expressed value, and the top right hand corner square not completed, but it must be borne in mind that only the 2d. and Is. stamps of the early issues correspond to this die, the Id. and 6d. differing slightly in that three lines are added in the pointed ends of the curved label containing the name. (Specimens of the 1d. are found without these lines.) The first, second, and third correspond to the approved colours of the 1d., 2d., and 6d. and the fourth is a darker shade of the 1/- London print referred to later.

It is worthy of notice that the plate for the 2d value appeared first and was sent out in April, 1854, together with a supply of stamps, those for the Id. and 6d. values following in June (the earliest date I have been able to find is January 25th, 1855, on an entire with a strip of three 2d. stamps), but it was not until October 26th, 1855, that a second official notice appeared, informing the public the stamps of 1d., 2d., and 6d. were then issued. A strip of three 2d. shows a specimen with a faulty Star watermark occasionally found,

The earliest stamp, therefore, was the 2d. value, described in the catalogue as carmine, practically the same shade as the New Zealand 1d., London print, referred to in the Gazette on July 18th as having been received, although it is recorded the first consignment of New Zealand stamps left London in the preceding September. Evidently the same ink was used for the Id. New Zealand and the 2d. South Australia. Blue ink was used for the 6d. South Australia and for the 2d. New Zealand. The mixtures, however, differed the ” blued ” appearance of the latter not being found on the former, where the shade closely follows that of the first printings of the New Zealand 1862 issue of the 2d.

I think Messrs. Napier & Smith were incorrect in stating that the Id. London print was of uniform shade, as in addition to the dark .full green,, dull or bluish green and dark yellow-green shades are found. A pair of this last shade on an entire shows a distinct re-entry.

In passing, I would draw attention to an interesting 6d. on entire, this having a descriptive design illustrating “Ocean postage,” and dated July, 1858.

Two plates of the 1s. value with half a million violet stamps and a supply of watermarked paper and violet ink were sent out on August 21st, 1856. If the quantity stated was correct, it represented 2,083 complete sheets and a part sheet of 80. There is no record of these being issued and no definite record of used specimens being found although occasionally single specimens are seen.

Local printings soon commenced from the plates sent out, including the 1s., and although supplies of inks had been forwarded for use, the shades are distinct from the first issues. It is interesting to note the gradations in shades of the 1d., some of the Colonial prints (imperforate) being almost as clear as the London prints, and the general appearance is decidedly of a better class of workmanship than is generally found in the early Colonial prints. The 2d. blood red was the earliest Colonial print, and the whole surface smeared with colour, although a few specimens are found of a better appearance owing to the plate having been properly cleaned. Then followed different shades of red, pale to dark, much more clearly printed.

The colour of the 6d. bears no comparison with the London print and is of a bluish slate shade with very little variation.

An official notice, dated July 8th, 1857, announced that stamps of the value of 1s. were ready for use. Early dates are difficult to be found of this issue, and which I think probably commenced with the shade referred to as or later printings being a red orange, somewhat rarer; soon afterwards the same shade appeared rouletted. If the 1s. had been in general use from July, 1857, dated copies would be obtainable and fewer pairs of the 6d. The 2d was apparently the first to be issued rouletted (February being the earliest date recorded) and of a dark red shade, the 1d. (pale yellow-green), 6d. and 1s. following. I can find nothing earlier than May for the 1d. You will note a pair of 1d. pale green on thin glazed paper imperforate between.

There is little difficulty in distinguishing this first rouletted issue as the colours correspond to the imperforate Colonial prints. Messrs. Stanley Gibbons classify the issues following as from 1860 to 1869, but prior to 1862 the shades were all closely allied to the first rouletted stamps, except the change late in 1859 of the 6d. to a violet-blue. Especially are the shades of the 1d. and 6d. of so varied a nature occurring and recurring, that I have placed each value of these issues solely according to dates of postmarks. By the dates of the 1d dark green and 6d. true Prussian blue (Sept., 1869), these undoubtedly finish the “rouletted all round” issues of these values as they correspond to the earliest known of these shades after the single line perforating machine was introduced.

I would like to draw your attention to a rare specimen of the 1d., dated October, 1863, of an exceptionally clear shade of printing. True sage green is very rarely found, nearly all usually offered closely, resembling the common dull green. There are two shades of the 2d., and the mint specimen of the latter from the corner of the sheet is imperforate vertically. Specimens of these issues are to be found in this state owing to the length of the rouletting surface of the machine.

On June, 1860, Messrs. Perkins & Bacon despatched the plate for the 9d. value and in June, 1866, the first of the 4d. plates, also the plate for the 2s. All these were engraved by C. H. Jeens, the preceding plates being the work of W. Humphrys. It must be admitted Jeens’ work fully equals Humphrys’, but unfortunately the early shades of the 9d. do not give Justice to the engraving. Early shades were in a deep brown-lilac, followed by a pale grey-lilac. Dated copies for the year 1868 to 1870 cannot be found. The plate was in constant use until 1902, but in the 1872-76 issues the plate shows considerable wear and underwent retouching, especially in the hair, some specimens showing no traces of the curl pendant.

The announcement of the 10d. value was made in July, 1866, the 9d. plate being utilised by a blue surcharge and the first issue being in orange red. October 29th, 1866, is the earliest date I can find, 1865 mentioned in Stanley Gibbons being evidently a misprint. Later issues were in blue on yellow (October, 1867), and in black on yellow (August, 1869). There are six types of surcharge forming a “cliché.” With the exception of the inverted surcharge (October, 1869, three copies) and that on Crown and S.A. paper (November, 1868, four copies) the plating is shown.

Messrs. Napier & Gordon Smith refer to the issue of the 1s. yellow as towards the end of 1859 (sic), although the 1s’ orange is still found with various dates in 1861. You will note a pair of 1s. yellow, dated October 28th, 1861, and the olive yellow shades as October, 1862. This was followed by the 1s. grey-brown and a darker brown shade, both March, 1863.

With the chestnut (1864) and lake brown printings of this value and the 2s. rose carmine (April, 1867), the “rouletted all round” series ends. The machine used was probably made by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, of Derby, under their patent taken out in June, 1855. Although the gauge is not throughout the same, probably only one machine was in operation, and the work performed by it merits great praise. It remained in use for some years longer, used in conjunction with the single-line machine of 22in. length perforating round holes, and which was sent out by Messrs. Perkins & Bacon in July, 1867. From dated specimens it appears that at first this was used alone, subsequently for a time in conjunction with the old “rouletter,” and which again for a short period was also used alone. Some of the most interesting specimens are the 1d., 3d., and 6d. rouletted all round and partly perforated by the new machine, also a very limited number of the 2d., perforated by the new machine, two to four copies of all being shown. Until Mr. Hausburg’s visit to Australia, two new machines were thought to have been used, 12½ and 11½, both gauges appearing, but he then ascertained that the one machine was responsible for both gauges. It perforated a length of 21½ in., about two-thirds of which was 11½, the remainder about 12½, and which accounts for the comparative rarity of the latter. As the full length was required horizontally for a sheet which consisted of 20 horizontal rows of 12 – about one-third of each vertical row would be 12½. I have pairs and blocks showing both 11½ and 12½, the two gauges appearing in adjoining vertical rows.

Among South Australian first type issues some rarities other than those referred to are found. Prominent amongst them is the error 4d. blue without surcharge of which I show one copy, only six to eight being known. If this had been caused by a “dropped” surcharge, another row in the sheet would give a surcharge appearing twice, which is not known in the large Star. I show one copy with surcharge doubled, also two copies of the 3d. broad Star surcharged twice. There are also the curiosities printed on both sides, copies of all recorded being shown except S.G. 57a. A number of “re-entries,” “retouches,” and “double strikes” are also found, and altogether it is one of the most interesting of Colonials for specialists.