The Lithographic issues of Papua
A listing of major printing varieties

The major varieties and their postions within the sheet are as follows: (sources: The Stamps of Papua, Alec Rosenblum; The John Leask Collection of Papua, Robson Lowe Auctions).

perf 12.5 x 11

Pictured at right is a very rare pair of stamps, which are perforated 12.5 vertically between an otherwise perf 11. The stamp pictured above has the same variety, and it seems possible that they are from the same sheet. The pair pictured at left sold for over $AUD 1000 in 2000. There are a number of perf 'errors' in the small PAPUA lithographic series, most notably occuring on the half penny 2d and 4d. Croaker mentions some forgeries in existance so a joined pair is very collectable.

Varieties in the Vignette:

Constant varieties in the centre

Sheet Position

Values

Rift in clouds

23

All

Two bars in rope of sail

7

All but 1/-

As above but retouched

7

All but 1d &6d

Blob on hill at right

11

2d, 21/2d &6d

Flaw in Sky at Right

28

All but 4d

Constant Varieties in the Frame common to more than one Value:

White Leaves at Left Value Tablet

27,28

2d and 21/2d

White leaves above Right Value Tablet

20

1/2d,2d & 21/2d

Constant Varieties in the frame peculiar to one value:

as above but Redrawn

20

1/2d

Thick "d" at right

21

1/2d

Flaw in second "p" of "papua"

-

1d

Flaw over left value Tablet

16

2d

Inner Frame broken to NE of right value tablet

-

21/2d

Thin "d" in left Tablet

18

4d

Top Frame line Redrawn

28

6d
     
Stamps with major varieties, such as 'rift in cloud', are generally worth three times the ordinary stamp's valuation.