Prussian Blue 1

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>King George V Silver Jubilee</B><B> - The </B><B>2½d</B><B> </B><B>Prussian Blue</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="King George V Silver Jubilee"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B>               </B><A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Information"><U><B>General Information</B></U></A><B>               </B><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stamps"><U><B>Stamps</B></U></A><B>               </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Postal History"><U><B>Postal History</B></U></A><B>               </B><A HREF="id298.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Location"><U><B>Variety Locator</B></U></A><B>         </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Information"><U><B>Help/Site Information</B></U></A><B>                              </B><A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Search"><U><B>Search</B></U></A><B>                               </B><A HREF="mailto:philatel2@yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:philatel2@yahoo.com"><U><B>Contact Me</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> See<A HREF="#stamps" TITLE="Prussian Blue 1"><U><B> </B></U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#stamps" TITLE="Prussian Blue 1"><U><B>lower table</B></U></A><B> </B></FONT>for listing of Stamps section</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="112" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div> <B>GREAT BRITAIN </B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div> - <A HREF="id369.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Timeline GB"><U>Timelines</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div> - <A HREF="id370.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GB Essays"><U>Essays</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div> - <A HREF="id372.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Colour Trials"><U>Colour Trials</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div> - <A HREF="id421.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GB Printing"><U>Printing Information</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div> - <A HREF="id373.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GB Specimen"><U>Specimen stamp</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div> - <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prussian Blue"><U>Prussian Blue</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div>         - <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PB Proofs"><U>trials/proofs</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div>         - <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PB Mint"><U>mint PB </U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div>     -<A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prussian Blue 1"><U> Proof vs Error</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div>     - <A HREF="id280.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prussian Blue 2"><U>Control Number</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div>    - <A HREF="id281.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prussian Blue 3"><U>Used PBs</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div>    - <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PB Control"><U>The 4th </U></A><A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PB Control"><U>Sheet</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div> - <A HREF="id220.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GBBooklet"><U>Booklets</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div> - <A HREF="id260.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Great Britain"><U>Perfins</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="106"><div> - <A HREF="id379.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GB Postal Orders"><U>Postal Orders</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="127" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div> <B>STAMPS</B>  <A NAME="stamps"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Common Design"><U>Common Design</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Countries"><U>Other Countries</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div>    - <A HREF="id438.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Australia"><U>Australia</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div>    - <A HREF="id141.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Canada"><U>Canada</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div>    - <A HREF="id274.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Great Britain"><U>Great Britain</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div>     - <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Zealand Dependencies"><U>NZ Dependencies</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div>     - <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Papua"><U>Papua</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div>     - <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Africa"><U>South Africa</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div>     -<A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Southern Rhodesia"><U>Southern Rhodesia</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div>     - <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OC Printers"><U>Printers</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Booklets"><U>Booklets</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div> <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Perfins"><U>Perfins</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div> <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dates of Issue"><U>Dates of Issue</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="121"><div> <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WAD"><U>Classification</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="045fa583.png"> <div> <B>Links to all Great  Britain related material are listed in the left sided navigation bar</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Circulated Proofs or Error in Printing Colour?</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="583" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 82 WIDTH="575"><div> For many years controversy swirled as to whether the prussian blue were in fact proof stamps that were inadvertently perforated or correct issue stamps that were printed in the wrong colour. This was related to the fact that the 2½d stamp was submitted in two colours (ultramarine and prussian blue) to the king for final approval. King George chose ultramarine.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="503" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 98 WIDTH="246"><div> <IMG SRC="55c965b0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="246"><div> <IMG SRC="55d965c0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="92" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="246"><div> Ultramarine</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="246"><div> Prussian Blue</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="583" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 115 WIDTH="575"><div> The accumulated evidence strongly supports an error in printing colour. It appears that a large number of 2½d stamps were printed in prussian blue (turquoise) by mistake. Most were destroyed. Six were slated for destruction but three of these were mistakenly placed in an order to Upper Edmonton Post Office and a fourth sent to an unknown Post Office. All three sheets were sold. The remaining two sheets in stock were destroyed. It is not known what happened to the stamps from the fourth sheet. Thus a maximum of 480 Prussian Blue stamps were available for sale.  Below are the facts.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>Dimensions</U></B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="454" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="146"><div> <B>Stamp</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> <B>Colour Trial</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> <B>Issued Stamp</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="146"><div> Ultramarine</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> 38.75 x 22.25 mm</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> 38.4 x 22 mm</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="146"><div> Prussian Blue</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> 38.75 x 22.25 mm</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> 38.4 x 22 mm</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Paper</U></B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="454" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="196"><div> <B>Colour Trial</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="46"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="46" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <B>Issued Stamp</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 49 WIDTH="196"><div> Photogravure screen under high magnification appears screenless. i.e. virtually no lines</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="46"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="49" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="46" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> Diagonal screen of exactly 80 lines/cm easily seen under high magnification</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Correspondence</U></B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="453" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 82 WIDTH="136"><div> <B>March 29, 1935</B></div> <div> (Internal)</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="306"><div> Post Office Stores Department</div> <div> "I questioned the printers on the subject this morning. On looking into the matter they admitted they had inadvertently used turquoise (prussian blue) instead of ultramarine."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 411 ><NOBR><div> <B>November 22, 1935</B></div> <div> (Internal)</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="306"><div> From D.P. Bell (Stamp Section, Post Office Stores) to A.R. Kidner (Controller of Stamps, Somerset House)</div> <div> "Messrs Harrison and Sons printed some <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >2½d Silver Jubilee stamps in </FONT>turquoise-blue for use as colour essays but, through inadvertence, they also printed at a later date a considerable quantity in this colour. With the exception of 6 sheets sent in to this  Department for inspection all of these stamps were cancelled before leaving the printing factory and were subsequently destroyed. The 6 sheets (less 4 stamps which are still being held in this Department as specimens) were handed to the Superintendent Warehouseman in charge in charge of the Postage stock on the 24 June for cancellation and destruction, but this officer, during a period of very heavy pressure of work, inadvertently placed four sheets with his good stock. It is known that some of the four sheets were issued to 134 Fore Street, Upper Edmonton, on the 25th of June to meet a requisition for three sheets and it is probable that all three sheets sent to that office were of the turquois colour. The remaining sheet of turquoise was no doubt issued on the same day to another Post Office. The balance of the six sheets (1 sheet 116 stamps) was made waste in this Department."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 98 ><NOBR><div> <B>November 28, 1935</B></div> <div> (External)</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="306"><div> Letter from A.R. Kidner to H.R. Harmer (auctioneer) in response to a query.</div> <div> Kidner indicated that the prussian blue stamps were properly sold over a post office counter and categorically did not come from either trial or proof sheets.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>