24 JANUARY 2016 http://www.stampandcoin.co.ukasasas
Stamp sidelines
Gallons of printer’s ink must have been
used over many years reproducing in the
philatelic press the complaints of collectors
about the use of the dreaded ballpoint pen
to cancel stamps on packages, writes David
Gwynn, or where the stamp on a letter had
missed cancelling during sorting.
Justifiably, collectors were miffed when
a package from a stamp dealer arrived with
a selection of commemoratives carefully
applied, only for them to be ruined by
the use of a ballpoint pen – although not
exclusively for I have seen felt tip pens and
even crayons used – to ensure the stamps
are not reused.
Royal Mail seem to have taken these
complaints on board, for a new, small,
wavy line canceller has been introduced
specifically to cancel stamps on packages
and letter that have missed cancellation. It
measures 18mm x 17mm approximately and
comprises five short wavy lines. The lines
are quite thick and any stamps struck with
it would certainly be rendered unreusable.
Why this particular type of cancellation
was chosen is unclear, when for exactly the
same effort a neat, small circular datestamp
could have been used. However, they are an
improvement on the ballpoint pen!
A comprehensive list of the offices where
this cancellation is being used has yet to
be created, and we would urge readers to
make a note of the source of any covers that
arrive so cancelled, with dates, and submit
them to Stamp & Coin Mart (matthewh@
warnersgroup.co.uk). This information will
help create such a list, and for postmark
collectors information like this is the
lifeblood of the hobby.e end of the
curse of the
ballpoint pen?
POSTMARKS
Errors on presentation packs came about due to printer problems, such as movement in the
card during printing or a colour being missed from the printer. Since only a limited number
of packs are affected by this, they are classified as an ‘error’ rather than a ‘type’.
A number of the early presentation packs had a gold Royal coat of arms embossed on the
front and there are a number of different packs missing this crest, such as 1971 Christmas
(PP41), 1972 British Explorers (PP42) and 1974 Fire Engines (PP58, illustrated above).
The 1975 Parliament Commemorative Pack (PP67) is known to exist missing the purple
colour on the cover of the pack, as well as on the inside. Errors have also been observed on
definitive packs, for example the gold crest on the 1988 Castles pack was printed on the back
of the pack.
Colour shifts and colour variations on packs can sometimes look spectacular, with lots
of potential variation. For example, the pink colour shift on the 1982 British Theatre Pack
(PP115) gives a blurred effect.
As printing methods have developed and more stringent product checks have been carried out,
fewer examples have been observed. The error and colour shift packs are very collectable and make
interesting additions to a collection. A pack with a printed colour shift might have a value of £10
to £100, depending on how spectacular the error. The value of a pack with a missing colour can
range from £75 to £600, depending on how different the pack is to the original.Discover more about Error Packs by checking out the Packs & Cards website http://www.PacksAndCards.com
or call: 01252 360530; email [email protected]; Packs & Cards, Oaklands House, Reading
Road North, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 4AB.Printing problems
PRESENTATION PACK ERRORS
1988 Castles Defi nitive Pack, the top example has the gold crest misplaced, unpside down on the ‘Introduction’ page1974 Fire Engines pack, with the gold
crest missing from the front (left) and the
correct version (below)p24 Sidelines.indd 24 23/11/2015 14:06