Discerning 1E1 from 1E3a

This is one of the hardest distinctions to make and mostly because the 1E3a is a rare paper on any issue. I have a single 5p1E3a and it is damaged! The 30c1E3a is the least rare, it is printed on bright colors. It is also helpful to know that the 1E3a paper is slightly thinner than the 1E1, but not by much.






For example, the 25c1E1 is a dark pink and very much unlike the 25c1E3a. The 1E1 is cream BEFORE discoloration. If you have a 1E3a that is discolored in such a way as to resemble the 1E1, then it is time to take a look at the color of the stamp. In some cases, you will be stuck with a 1E3a that just looks like a 1E1 or viceversa, but because most 1E3a are not discolored, most of the time there isn't a classification problem.

Reference description of the 1E1 paper

Paper with rectangular symmetrical grain.
Direction of the watermark is parallel to direction of paper roll and perpendicular to the 25c image. Rarely and only in some values, it is found perpendicular to he direction of the paper roll.
Procured from England.
First used October 1, 1935.



Here is a much rarer perpendicular specimen.

A small selection of the 40c1L6

These stamps were used in 1956 and 1957 and show some generalized plate wear.

The two major shades of the 40c2C

The first shade is purple.







The second shade is reddish purple.







Here is a detail of these two shades compared.

A few 40cNGR plate varieties

These plate flaws need to be confirmed as plate varieties.

















These two stamps show a plate variety I have shown previously.

A selection of 40cNGR

This stamp was printed in at least two shades of purples. This first specimen is reddish purple.











Here is a dated 40cNGR.



This comparison shows a range of shades for this stamp.

The two clay 40c printings

The first printing, from 1943, is on the second clay paper, the CL1B. The RA is vertical. The paper is of medium thickness and poorly perforated.









The second printing is on lighter colors and from 1952. The paper is thinner, the CL2B. The RA is horizontal.













Here is a comparison. The top two stamps are CL1B, and the bottom two are CL2B.