The 1-Pound kangaroo/map started out a very attractive ultramarine and brown in 1913. In 1924, the stamp is changed to grey. Does anyone know why that happened?
Seems a shame to go from two-color glory to sooty grey.
No, it was a purposeful decision to change colors, I am just curious as to why the decision was made. Below are the roo/map versions of the 1Pound. The 2Pound stamp never switched to a single color by the way.
1913 SG 15 1Pound brown and ultramarine
1916 SG 44 1Pound chocolate and dull blue
1924 SG 75 1Pound grey
1935 SG 137 1Pound grey
Just purchased the 1935 stamp, which got
me interested in the color change.
Just found a clue to the color change in a 1978 ACSC Commonwealth Specialists Catalogue.
It states that in 1924 a new plate was made for the 1-pound stamp, and the colour changed to grey. So I take it that what was two plates (one plate for the kangaroo) became one plate for the whole design, like the lower value stamps.
The remaining questions might be why the need for a new plate and why to change the color to grey, and not let it remain blue or brown or another sporty color. As those colors were taken by other values, perhaps all that was left was ... grey?
Someone with more knowledge on these stamps than I will hopefully opine.
Thank you Oldmanemu. That is a tasty bit of information.
Funny thing is, the 1924 3d King George V is "dull ultramarine" and not a heck of a lot of contrast from "grey," at least on my time worn versions of the stamps. I see that in 1932 the 3d King George V was changed from "dull ultramarine" to "ultramarine." A markedly bluer stamp.
Very funny, Wine. You caught me. I thought you meant that you had the stamp and the color of the stamp turned to gray. I see it now, unless you bought the stamp in 1913 and noticed it turned to gray in 1924, but have been confused by the color changeling ever since. OK, long day. I'm going to bed now...
These stamps do go through a lot of time zones.
