Jansimon

17 Feb 2017
08:42:06am

re: Australia Kings Help identify

It's difficult if not impossible to identify them like this. You need to check the watermarks.

This site will help you determine what you have: http://australianstamps.hsservices.com.au/data2/

Login to Like
this post

lemaven

17 Feb 2017
10:44:15am

re: Australia Kings Help identify

Good timing Karen!

I had about 75 Ozzie Kings in a pile of Australia stamps that I couldn't sell at 2.5c each (with free shipping!) so I decided to work through them looking for variations. Previously, I had decided to just keep one of each denomination.

I have found there are watermark differences as Jan-Simon noted, but also perforation and paper variations. Frustrating - like the early U.S. issues I found - but interesting once you get into them.

I am at my out-of-town office today but going into a Bachelor Weekend with my wife away until Sunday night. I will try to post some info tonight/tomorrow (as another relative rookie) with what I have found and we can see what some of the more expert members contribute.

Cheers, Dave.

Login to Like
this post

lemaven

17 Feb 2017
05:28:02pm

re: Australia Kings Help identify

In terms of process, I'm finding start easy then go deeper works well (I have a pretty low threshold for spending time on difficult or time consuming efforts).

I've found it easiest to sort by Perf (horizontal 11, 14.1/2 or 13.1/2) then by Watermark (larger single Crown over "A", larger multiple Crown/A, Unwatermarked, small multiple Crown/A, small multiple Crown/CofA).

Some are easy to exclude if the watermark is difficult to eyeball (e.g. Perf 11 is only a 1p carmine and Unwatermarked is only a 1p green or 1.1/2p carmine).

Then there is the tortuous color variations where I usually give up quickly ( e.g. #21 1p red, carmine rose, carmine, scarlet, rose red, and bright rose!!!) not to mention regular/rough papers...

There are also some interesting variations.

I found this Die 1a, with a little spur under the right edge of the left-side "1".



Then there was this, which may be something called a tin shed variety (?) with blotches of white in the color on the face side and blotches of red on the gum side.



Next was this, a Perf 13.1/2 multiple Crown/CoA with what appears to be an inverted watermark.



And finally (so far) there were these. All Perf 14, single Crown/A, but very different colors, intensity and papers. #5 and 6 very poorly printed on paper that seemed to have a small grill pattern throughout, #7similar but not as worn out looking and more "regular" paper, and #8 very bright and brilliant on very nice paper.




That's what I've found, but I'll have to leave it to our experts to comment with more insight than I can provide.

For your identifications I think they should be really easy (e.g. your #7) if you just check the watermarks.

Good luck! Looking forward to more expertise.

Dave.

Login to Like
this post

StampCollector

21 Feb 2017
08:36:49pm

re: Australia Kings Help identify

Single crown with and "A" underneath and a cross on top, looks like wmk 9

Login to Like
this post

StampCollector

22 Feb 2017
07:46:16am

re: Australia Kings Help identify

My Australian collection its been pretty dormant, Karen woke me up so I went to see what I have, in all 4 Roos and 17 Kings, surprisingly most of these stamps (Roos & Kings) are very reasonably price, time to add to the zoo and royalty!

Login to Like
this post