The solid line with the letter O and U are coming from the very edge of the watermark layout. Any lettering at the very edge usually contains text that reveals anything from the manufacturer, the country... My guess is that in this case, the letters are part of the word SOUTH -- but that's just a guess. I don't know the exact watermark layout.
As you know, watermark and compound perf varieties abound for this issue.
Is your perforation measure EXACTLY 11.5, or is it actually a little less than 11.5 (i.e., close to 11.25)?
Despite listing all those perf varieties, Scott is not always reliable for exact measurements. During that era, Scott rounded the perforation gauge to what they felt was the nearest 1/2. My experience is that the "rounding" is not consistent.
I don't have an Australia specialty catalog, so I don't know the exact perf measurements. But what Scott lists as perf 11, could actually be something like perf 10.75x11.25.
I'll let an Australian expert chime in with actual numbers. I'm just explaining the problems I've run into with Scott perforation measurements with British Commonwealth stamps.
Yes, that makes sense. The partial letter to the right of the "O" appears to be the bottom portion of an "S", so that fits.
Your reasoning on the perfs seem logical. It is exactly on 11 1/2 on my perf gauge, but that could be a problem with the gauge itself.
If your measurement is slightly greater than 11.5, Scott has been known to round the perforation up to 12. Sometimes they do that, sometimes they don't. It's most irritating, and hopefully this problem will be solved when Michael##### buys Scott.
Again, hopefully an Australian specialist can chime in with exact perf measurements.
Okay, Bobby....
I pulled out my 2006 Stanley Gibbons British Commonwealth, and there certainly were a number of varieties for that critter!
From the Issues 1871-1903:
From the Issues 1882-1897:
And based on kjh's assumption about Scott's interpretation of the metric system
I suspect what you may have is SG catalog #233d
Not sure, but it could be large crown over NSW. SG#231 dull green SG#232 bright green or SG#233 blue green.
NOTE from SG catalog. (Royal Philatelic Society, London, Perf 12 denotes the perforation formerly called, 11½, 12 and perf 13 that formerly called 12½, 13) Hope that made some sense. A real expert on Australian States could help, I am sure. I only show this because your Perf Gauge could be right.
Very good, Terry. I was looking up all this while you were posting.
I agree 233d
Whenever there is a perforation measurement issue on WW stamps in Scott, I always try to go to the specialty catalogs, as they tend to give the exact perforation measurement. This holds true not only for BC, but other areas such as Scandinavia (I use Facit).
Thanks to those more knowledgeable than I for chiming in with additional info and conclusion!
re: NSW Scott type A11 5d blue green - help needed with watermark and perfs
The solid line with the letter O and U are coming from the very edge of the watermark layout. Any lettering at the very edge usually contains text that reveals anything from the manufacturer, the country... My guess is that in this case, the letters are part of the word SOUTH -- but that's just a guess. I don't know the exact watermark layout.
re: NSW Scott type A11 5d blue green - help needed with watermark and perfs
As you know, watermark and compound perf varieties abound for this issue.
Is your perforation measure EXACTLY 11.5, or is it actually a little less than 11.5 (i.e., close to 11.25)?
Despite listing all those perf varieties, Scott is not always reliable for exact measurements. During that era, Scott rounded the perforation gauge to what they felt was the nearest 1/2. My experience is that the "rounding" is not consistent.
I don't have an Australia specialty catalog, so I don't know the exact perf measurements. But what Scott lists as perf 11, could actually be something like perf 10.75x11.25.
I'll let an Australian expert chime in with actual numbers. I'm just explaining the problems I've run into with Scott perforation measurements with British Commonwealth stamps.
re: NSW Scott type A11 5d blue green - help needed with watermark and perfs
Yes, that makes sense. The partial letter to the right of the "O" appears to be the bottom portion of an "S", so that fits.
Your reasoning on the perfs seem logical. It is exactly on 11 1/2 on my perf gauge, but that could be a problem with the gauge itself.
re: NSW Scott type A11 5d blue green - help needed with watermark and perfs
If your measurement is slightly greater than 11.5, Scott has been known to round the perforation up to 12. Sometimes they do that, sometimes they don't. It's most irritating, and hopefully this problem will be solved when Michael##### buys Scott.
Again, hopefully an Australian specialist can chime in with exact perf measurements.
re: NSW Scott type A11 5d blue green - help needed with watermark and perfs
Okay, Bobby....
I pulled out my 2006 Stanley Gibbons British Commonwealth, and there certainly were a number of varieties for that critter!
From the Issues 1871-1903:
From the Issues 1882-1897:
And based on kjh's assumption about Scott's interpretation of the metric system
I suspect what you may have is SG catalog #233d
re: NSW Scott type A11 5d blue green - help needed with watermark and perfs
Not sure, but it could be large crown over NSW. SG#231 dull green SG#232 bright green or SG#233 blue green.
NOTE from SG catalog. (Royal Philatelic Society, London, Perf 12 denotes the perforation formerly called, 11½, 12 and perf 13 that formerly called 12½, 13) Hope that made some sense. A real expert on Australian States could help, I am sure. I only show this because your Perf Gauge could be right.
re: NSW Scott type A11 5d blue green - help needed with watermark and perfs
Very good, Terry. I was looking up all this while you were posting.
I agree 233d
re: NSW Scott type A11 5d blue green - help needed with watermark and perfs
Whenever there is a perforation measurement issue on WW stamps in Scott, I always try to go to the specialty catalogs, as they tend to give the exact perforation measurement. This holds true not only for BC, but other areas such as Scandinavia (I use Facit).
Thanks to those more knowledgeable than I for chiming in with additional info and conclusion!