Could anyone help me with this Tasmanian dilemma: I have what first appears to be SC #58 (blue)in the 1871-76 series. These stamps have the "barred TAS" watermark and are Perf. 11 1/2.
The confusion arrives when I can detect no watermark, and the stamp is CLEARLY 11 perf. --not 11 1/2.
The only other 9p I can see in my 2016 Classic Scott catalogue is SC #70 (chalky blue) in the 1889-96 series. But that stamp does not seem to be the right color and is listed as 12 Perf.
This stamp is 11 by 11 on the dot. And while there may be a watermark -- I don't see it.
Also, tiny letters on the back -- RP in ink. I see pencil markings a lot. Rarely ink.
You may have a reprint. The reprints were on unwatermarked paper. I do not know the perforation on the reprints. Don't know if the "RP." might have been somebody's notation that it was a reprint. I didn't check to see if matched any expertizer marks.
Just to clarify, that was just a guess that it might be a reprint. I don't have a specialized catalog. I had seen some imperforate reprints and specimens before, and I know they were unwatermarked. I don't know if any of the reprints were made perforated (or perforated afterwards), nor do I remember if that specific denomination was reprinted.
Tooler, I revisited the catalogue and you are correct -- I glossed over the 1903 and the 1907 listings. It is likely one of those, except I still can't find any trace of a watermark -- even with a USB microscope and graphics software. Per the rule I will assume it is the least valuable of the two positions. But I won't rule out the re-print possibility either.
Sorry, I didn't even bother to double-check your catalog listing search.
In the 2014 Scott Classic, Tasmania 98c is the perf 11 variety with Watermark 70 (V and crown).
Regarding the absence of a watermark -- I am not familiar with the layout of the watermark mat for Watermark 70; but in many watermark mats with only a single relatively small watermark, there can sometimes be positions near the edge of the watermark mat where a small stamp can be in a "watermark-free" space.
It does happen with European stamps. Hopeful an Australian States specialist or someone familiar with this can chime in and let us know if this might be possible for Watermark 70.
This stamp looks like a single line perf and if I am correct it must be from the Federal period and can only be one of the two mentioned by Tooler. These were printed in Melbourne where the Victorian printer did not have a comb perf machine of the correct size.(refer Brusden White ACSC "The Kangaroos and the Early Federal Period,1901-1912")
It appears that the Government Printer in Hobart did not have a perf machine gauged 11 as no other issues from Hobart were perfed 11.
The reprints were perfed 11½. (noted in Stanley Gibbons)
As the paper used for the Melbourne printings was not designed for use with the Tasmanian plates it is possible that the watermarks could be misplaced.