Newfoundland Re-entries
Long Coronation Issue 1937
1¢ Codfish (grey)
The first stamp of the Long Coronation Issue of Newfoundland is a delightfully attractive stamp showing a Codfish to the left of the King's portrait oval. There are very few varieties to be found on this stamp, however, including one that is very plentiful and very often mistaken for a re-entry. (Scroll down to Stamp #10) Likely the best known variety on this particular stamp is what is known as the "Fish Hook" variety found in positions 23 and 7 on different plates.. Robson Lowe, in his Encyclopaedia of British Empire Postage Stamps, refers to the "Fish Hook" variety as a re-entry, but I am not certain about that. It strikes me more as a cross of two guidelines on the plate that should have been removed before the plate was laid down. (See #8 & 9 for a few examples, possibly showing both plate positions, but this needs to be verified by someone with access to a top strip showing position #7. I have position #23 in a strip of 3 with margin selvedge on the left, confirming its position. Reports of any other re-entries would be greatly appreciated!
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Scott #233iii
Re-entry or Retouch?
Plate Position #11
The lower left stamp in this corner block of 4 shows an extra line inside the inner right frameline. This was originally identified as a re-entry, however, on close examination it looks more like a misplaced retouch than re-entry. If it were a re-entry, I would think there would be further evidence of doubling of other elements in the immediate area, such as the 'D' of NEWFOUNDLAND, the 1937, the portrait oval and the '1.' None of these appear to be affected. Also, the extension of this line up into the inner white margin makes an even stronger case for retouch. Oddly, though, the original inner frameline does appear to need retouching - it is full and strong for its entire length.
I would venture to say this should be relisted as a retouch.
Any thoughts?
^ From the RETrimble Collection ^
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Scott #233
Re-entry
Plate Position Unknown
This stamp shows a nice little re-entry of the lower right corner, with doubling of both the inner and outer framelines. Unlike the stamp seen above, this one shows a distinct doubling of the outer corner of the frameline, along with extensions of background lines into the left side of the '1.'
^ From the RETrimble Collection ^
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Scott #233
"Fish Hook" Variety
Plate Position #23
The "Fish Hook" Variety has what appears to be a cross in the mouth of the cod, as if it had a hook stuck in its jaw. While Robson Lowe called this a re-entry, or at least included it in his list of re-entries on this series, I cannot determine just 'where' it would have originated on the transfer roll if it is doubling from a re-entry. I believe it to be a pair of guidelines that were on the plate when the designs were entered, and they just 'happened' to land in the mouth area.
I show close-ups of 3 of the copies in my collection, all from position #23 on the plate. (The full stamp is from a strip of 3 with selvedge on the left proving it is from the third column.) The 4th copy (stamp #9) is from a stamp I have on cover which was sold as the "Fish Hook" variety, and while the vertical line in the mouth is very faint, it is still there. I believe this may be the other "Fish Hook" variety that Lowe lists, but it needs to verified by someone with an upper strip showing position #7 from the other plate.
"Fish Hook" Variety - Close-up from above stamp
^ From the RETrimble Collection ^
"Fish Hook" Variety - Close-up #2 from a second copy
^ From the RETrimble Collection ^
"Fish Hook" Variety - Close-up #3 from a third copy
^ From the RETrimble Collection ^
Scott #233
"Fish Hook" Variety
Plate Position #7 ?
This is from a stamp I have on cover which was sold as the "Fish Hook" variety, and while the vertical line in the mouth is very faint, it is still there. I believe this may be the other "Fish Hook" variety that Lowe lists, but it needs to verified by someone with an upper strip showing position #7 from the other plate.
"Fish Hook" Variety - Close-up from a stamp on cover in my collection - Possibly from the other plate, position #7?
^ From the RETrimble Collection ^
Scott #233
Slip Print
Plate Position - Many
This stamp shows complete doubling of the entire design and is very, very often thought to be a re-entry. Unfortunately, it is not.
Examples of this stamp can very easily be found in almost any dealer's stock. It is so widely common that there must have been complete sheets with virtually every impression showing similar doubling.
This most likely happened during the set-up of the printing press when the feeding and removal of the paper onto and from the printing plate was being adjusted during one printing session. I would not be at all surprised if every single sheet from that printing ended up like this.
Remember that a true re-entry will show sharp, clear doubling of design elements, whereas these, while impressive to look at, are all blurry. I have seen multiples in which every single stamp appears similar to the shown example.
^ From the RETrimble Collection ^
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Ralph E. Trimble
Specialist in BNA Re-entries
retrimble@rogers.com