The 1d. Red Imperforate Printed From Penny Black Plates

In this expert feature from Gibbons Stamp Monthly, the UK’s best-selling stamp magazine, Edward Klempka delves into the origins of the 1d. Red imperforate—Britain’s response to early stamp fraud.

By Edward Klempka

Soon after the release of the Penny Black in May 1840, concerns were raised about the ease with which the red Maltese cross cancel could be removed, allowing the stamp to be used again. To combat this fraudulent reuse, a change in colour of the 1d. stamp from black to red was introduced 175 years ago. Edward Klempka looks at the first issue of the 1d. red printed from Penny Black plates.

The Penny Black was issued on 6 May 1840 with instructions that it should be cancelled at the post office where the letter was posted by a Maltese cross (obliterating stamp) type of cancellation. A red composition ink must be used for this purpose to obliterate the stamp so as to distinguish it as a stamp which could not be reused. The directions for preparing the red stamping ink was to mix well 1lb of printers red ink, 1 pint linseed oil and half-pint of the dropping of sweet oil. These instructions were contained in a postmaster’s notice dated 25 April 1840.

Almost immediately after the Penny Black was issued, concerns were raised by Rowland Hill as to the effectiveness of the ink composition as it could readily be removed from the stamp, thus allowing it to be reused. In doing so, the exchequer was being deprived of revenue.

In addition to the ink, the quality of the stamp’s line engraved printing in black was such that any ink removal could not be readily identified. As a consequence, steps were taken to prevent the cleaning and fraudulent reuse of the black stamps (Fig 1).

A series of trials, known as the Rainbow Colour Trials, were conducted in May 1840 by the production of a small plate of three stamps (later extended to a plate of 12 stamps) with void NE (North East) corners. The purpose was to test various combinations of stamp colour (Fig 2 and Fig 3) and ink cancellation, so that any tampering with the stamp could readily be identified (Fig 4).

Eventually, the combination of a stamp printed in red-brown and a black ink cancellation was decided upon. In December 1840 the first stamps were printed in red-brown. The plates used for the printing were those that were originally used to print the stamps in black ink.

Several of the black plates were used (plates 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11). The number of sheets printed of each colour from each plate is shown in Table 1. Interestingly, the red-brown printings on some of the plates was done prior to the final printings in black ink, and many of the plates were re-entered, giving rise to pre-provisional printings and stamps printed in different states.

Specimen examples

Fig 5 Postmaster’s circular announcing the introduction of the new red- brown labels (stamps)

The Post Office announced the issue of the new stamps by a Post Office circular dated January 1841 (Fig 5), which stated:

‘An immediate alteration is about to be made in the adhesive postage label stamps and a new description of stamped envelopes, both penny and two-penny, introduced, the new labels and envelopes are intended to replace those in present use, but until the stock of the latter remaining on hand is disposed of, the old labels and envelopes are to circulate in common with the new ones...’.

The transitional period saw the use of both penny stamps used in combination (Fig 6).

Fig 6 Lettersheet originally franked with 1d. red-brown letters ‘NB’ from black plate 9, redirected with postage paid with Penny Black letters ‘FK’ from plate 9 (Reduced)

Fig 7 Post Office circular with copies of the 1d. red-brown (plate 10), 2d. blue (with blank corners) and 1d. pink envelopes (sizes B and F)

A further Post Office circular was produced (Fig 7):

‘Referring to the accompanying circular, announcing an alteration in the adhesive postage label stamp and stamped envelopes, I enclose you specimens of the new labels, which are intended to replace those in present use, when the stock of the latter shall be exhausted; in the meantime, however, these new stamps are to be brought into immediate use, in common with those now circulating... It is intended, hereafter, to obliterate the postage stamps with black composition, a supply of which will be forwarded to you as soon as possible, but until you receive this supply you will continue to obliterate the postage stamps with the red composition, as heretofore.’

This circular was produced by E S Lees and dispatched from the General Post Office, Edinburgh in early 1841. The specimens of stamps attached to the circular comprises 1d. red-brown, 2d. blue (printed from a plate with blank corners) and two specimens of the 1d. pink envelope (size B and size F). The 1d. red-brown stamps were cut from sheets printed from three different black plates. The vast majority of circulars contained stamps from plate 10; a small number of circulars had stamps from plate 5 attached; and a very rare circular with a stamp from plate 9 (only one surviving copy known).

On 10 February 1841 the 1d. red-brown imperforate was issued. Whilst some covers are known dated February 1841 they are of the upmost rarity. It seems that the stocks of the old stamp (Penny Black) were significant and the new stamps were held back until the black ones were exhausted. The 1d. Red Imperforate Fig-8-CC-.jpg

Fig 8 One of the largest surviving blocks from plate 1 containing ten stamps from states 1b, 1c and 1d.

Plate 1

Plate 1 had an eventful life. It was printed in black in two states, the original black printing plate (1a) and the repaired impression plate (1b). The red-brown printing commenced with impressions from plate 1b. However, the plate was repaired three further times, giving rise to red-brown stamps in states 1c, 1d, and 1e. Multiples of stamps printed in red-brown are very rare. The block of ten stamps shown at Fig 8 is one of the largest surviving pieces and contains stamps with letters ‘PB’, ‘PC’, ‘QB’ and ‘RC’ from state 1b; ‘RB’, ‘SR’, ‘QC’ and ‘TC’ from state 1c and ‘TB’ from state 1d. The 1d. red-brown stamps were normally cancelled with the Maltese cross with black ink (Fig 9). Fig 10 shows an example cancelled in black used on a 1d. pink envelope to pay postage up to one ounce.

Fig 9 1d. red-brown from black plate state 1b cancelled with black Maltese cross at Clones 28 May 1841 (Reduced)

Fig 10 1d. red-brown from black plate state 1b used on 1d. pink envelope (size F), both cancelled with black Maltese cross, London 17 September 1841 (Reduced)

Plate 2

The black printing from this plate appears in two states, the second state affected eight impressions only. The red-brown printing replicated the second state and a repair early in 1841 can be identified on four impressions.

The shade variation from this plate is quite spectacular. Early printings are in a chocolate-brown shade (Fig 11) and later printings in a light red-brown shade. The stamp at Fig 12 is from the light red-brown printing and has been used from Truro 11 December 1840 with blue Maltese cross.

Fig 11 Letter posted with four 1d. chocolate-brown stamps from plate 2, paying postage of up to 2 ounces. Used with black Maltese cross, Ellesmere 31 May 1841 (Reduced)

Fig 12 Penny light red-brown from plate 2 used Truro 11 December 1841 stamp cancelled with blue Maltese cross (Reduced)

Plate 5

Three states of the black printing from plate 5 can be found, the original printing and two printings that followed repairs to the plate. Further black printings were carried out following a third repair to the plate. Sixteen stamps exist in the second state and two stamps in a fourth state.

The printings from this plate between 22 January and 3 February 1841 are known as provisional black printings as the printing was preceded by a plate repair, giving rise to some of the stamps printed in black after the plate repair.

The printings in red-brown are complex and comprise the early state, printing of stamps subject to the 1840 repairs, pre-provisional printings (prior to the final printing in black) following the 1841 repair and printings following a fourth repair in 1841.

Fig 13 A block of 18 from plate 5 printed in red-brown shade, from the earliest state printed, together with marginal inscription

A number of large blocks have survived. Fig 13 illustrates a block of 18 stamps with marginal inscriptions from the earliest state printed in red-brown. Later printings can be identified particularly by the weak corner letters, as seen on the letter sheet shown at Fig 14 with stamp ‘DC’ (state 3) with very weak corner letters and upper stars.

Fig 14 Stamp ‘DC’ from plate 5 (state 3) in light red-brown shade. The corner letters and upper stars are weak

Plate 8

This is the first plate which shows the ‘O’ flaw (where the letter ‘O’ in ‘ONE’ resembles a ‘Q’ rather than a ‘O’) and almost every stamp is affected. The black printings can be found in two states; the original printing and a small provisional printing which occurred after some stamps had the ‘O’ flaw repaired.

The printings in red-brown comprise the original printing which follows the black printing, three small printings following minor repair and a printing in late 1841 after 87 impressions had been repaired.

The stamps were printed in a range of red-brown shades. The cover illustrated at Fig 15 is franked with four single stamps from the ‘D’ row. These stamps are printed in a chocolate-brown shade on deeply blued paper and are cancelled with the black Maltese cross.

Fig 15 Four stamps ‘DB’, ‘DE’, ‘DH’ and ‘DG’ printed in chocolate-brown from plate 8 on deeply blued paper. London 3 September 1841 (Reduced)

Plate 9

Plate 9, which also shows the ‘O’ flaw, had a long life, being registered on 9 November 1840 and destroyed on 7 October 1843. The printings in black are rather uneventful, whist the red-brown printings were made throughout the 1841–43 period. Mint stamps printed in red-brown are scarce.

Fig 16 Block of four 1d. red-brown stamps on blued paper from plate 9

Fig 17 Lettersheet posted from Glasgow and franked with a 1d. red-brown from black plate 9 lettered ‘PH’ and redirected with a stamp with the same ‘PH’ lettering from black plate 10 (Reduced)

Fig 16 shows a mint block of four. Fig 17 shows a cover with two stamps both lettered ‘PH’, one from plate 9, the other from plate 10. Fig 18 illustrates the 1843 printing, a strip of four cancelled with number 12 in Maltese cross. Fig 19 was used in 1844 cancelled with the numeral type handstamp introduced that year.

Plate 10

The third of the black plates to contain the ‘O’ flaw was put to press on 8 December 1840 and is relatively scarce as a black printing. The red-brown printing is significantly more plentiful. The plate was repaired and 22 impressions on the B, C and D rows (‘BA’ to ‘BD’, ‘BG’, ‘BI’, ‘BL’, ‘CA’ to ‘CL’, ‘DH’, ‘DK’ and ‘DL’) had the ‘O’ flaw corrected, but not prior to a pre-provisional printing in red-brown (Figs 20 and 21). Thus these stamps can be found both with and without the ‘O’ flaw.Fig 20 Marginal block of 16 with marginal inscription printed from black plate 10 with stamps ‘BC’, ‘BD’ and ‘CC-CF’ being from the pre-provisional printing with ‘O’ flaw. Stamps ‘BE’ and ‘BF’ never showed the flaw. All other impressions have the ‘O’ flaw

The majority of stamps printed from black plates are found cancelled with the black Maltese cross (Fig 22). However, a small number of stamps are found cancelled with the red Maltese cross. Fig 23 shows stamp ‘MG’ from black plate 10 cancelled with both a red and a black Maltese cross.

Fig 22 Lettersheet franked with six copies of the 1d. red-brown printed from black plate 10, cancelled with a black Maltese cross (Reduced)

Plate 11

This plate was not originally intended to be printed in black. However, 700 sheets were printed in this colour in early 1841. The remaining 61,140 sheets were printed in red-brown.

Fig 24 shows the largest surviving block (30 stamps) from this plate and Fig 25 illustrates a block of six stamps cancelled contrary to regulations with four strikes of the black Maltese cross (regulations specified each stamp had to be individually cancelled).

Numerous different types of cancellations can be found on these stamps ranging from distinctive Maltese crosses to manuscript markings (Figs 26 and 27) They can also be found uprating Mulready covers (Fig 28).

The 1d. red-brown imperforate had a long life, being replaced in 1854 with the same stamp but perforated. The design was constantly in use until 1880 when it was succeeded by the 1d. Venetian red.