Queensland First Sideface Essays - Waterlow and Sons

Waterlow and Sons produced a series of essays that were exhibited at the Paris International Exhibition of 1878 with the words Queensland and all showing a 2d value. 

It is understood that the company submitted unsuccessfully for the 1879 Great Britain tender in support of a recommendation of the line-engraved process. The Queensland Government was not involved in any stage with the commissioning or exhibiting of these essays and the Waterlow design bears no resemblance to the stamps that were eventually introduced in Queensland and for which the first plate - the one penny postage stamp - was completed in August 1878.

Here are the examples I have seen of the Waterlow essays. The annotations are from the relevant auction catalogues


1878 2d die proof in a delicate shade of grey-purple on thin wove paper (30 x 32mm). Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 146 lot no 1003. Ex Manning


1878 2d plate proof in black on white wove paper. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 146 lot no 1002. Ex Manning


1878 2d plate proofs on white wove paper in pale lilac, stone, brown, grey, blue-grey, grey-blue or pale blue. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 146 lot no 1003. Ex Manning


1878 2d plate proofs in black-brown on buff or in dark blue on blue wove paper. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 146 lot no 1004. Ex Manning

1878 2d plate proofs in pale turquoise or purple-brown on white wove paper, close even margins, both affixed to small pieces of thin card. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 146 lot no 1005. Ex Manning

Waterlow & Sons Ltd.2d. die proof in black on thin card (77x68mm). Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1165. Ex Griffiths

Essays by Waterlow & Sons Ltd.2d. imperforate trials (3), comprising brown and blue on white paper and green on buff paper; the last two with faults. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1166. Ex Griffiths

1878 2d Plate Proof ESSAY in black on white wove paper,
Printed by "WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS" in England. Even margins except at top where large margin is endorsed "196 c", central punch as normal. Seen on Ebay

Essays struck from a single die, inscribed “QUEENSLAND” and denominated 2d., four examples imperf. in grey, brown, purple and deep blue on blue. Originally exhibited by Waterlow & Sons at the 1878 Paris International Exhibition and submitted unsuccessfully for the 1879 Great Britain tender in support of a recommendation of the line-engraved process. Seen at Grosvenor auction 119

Essays struck from a single die, inscribed “QUEENSLAND” and denominated 2d., three examples imperf. in the U.P.U. colours of green, red and blue, two with part gum. Originally exhibited by Waterlow & Sons at the 1878 Paris International Exhibition and submitted unsuccessfully for the 1879 Great Britain tender in support of a recommendation of the line-engraved process. Seen at Grosvenor auction 119

Waterlow Head, Die proof without surround, in black on sunken card (75 x 96mm), annotated “un (deleted) touched for the ear and jaw” and dated “5/2/76” in pencil, a few minor peripheral tones. Ex ‘Clive’ Collection. Seen at Grosvenor auction 119

Seen on Stampboards in october 2018

Seen on Stampboards in october 2018

Seen on Stampboards in october 2018

 Printed in black on thick card. Seen at Corinphila auction 2018