Queensland First Sideface Plate Proofs - 6d.

Here are some examples of the 1st sideface 6d. plate proof. For general information on the 1st sideface plate proofs see here

In February 1879, the Government Engraver, William Knight, submitted for approval to the Colonial Treasurer, proofs of the 6d. These were printed on thin card, imperforate, in a yellow-green colour. The submission was forwarded to the Postmaster-General, who returned it on 7 March 1880 with his approval, but suggested the green should be more decided. It would appear that one sheet was produced, with the bottom 50 stamps surviving as an intact multiple.

The supply of the new inks was received from England in November 1880, with a green shade known from March 1881.

Imperforate proofs for several values, printed on the watermarked paper, in these new inks, were retained by William Knight, including at least one pair of the 6d. Some are defaced with blue crayon and some with ink lines presumably to distinguish them from the issued stamps. The 6d. stamp was issued to the public in December 1879. Judging by the examples shown here in the yellow-green and green shades, some of these may well have been colour trials.

Plate proofs of the 6d. are known printed in black. The ony one I have seen is perforated on  Crown over Q Type II paper

Perforated plate proofs of the 6d. are known with blue crayon cancelling marks. These were made during normal printings.

To summarise:

• Imperforate on thin card - yellow-green
• Imperforate on Crown over Q Type II paper - yellow-green and green, some defaced with blue crayon and ink
• Perforated on Crown over gummed Q Type II paper - green, defaced with blue crayon
• Plate proof on Crown over Q Type II paper in black

Imperforate on thin card

6d. yellow-green block of fifty Imperforate Plate Proofs on Thin Card , being the complete lower five rows of the sheet with [83] showing the beginning of damage to second "e" of "Queensland". Positions no 71-120. Ex Griffith. Click on the link to see it in hi-resolution

6d green, imperf plate proof block of 30 seen in the HL White collection at the State Library of NSW


6d Die II imperforate marginal block of 6 (2 x 3) in bright yellow-green on thin card, minor tone spots on the reverse. Ex Manning


6d. proofs on card. From the L'Estrange collection at the Queensland Museum


6d. marginal from the top of the sheet Imperforate unwatermarked plate proof on thin card. From my collection

6d yellow-green plate proof pair, no watermark, seen in a private collection. Ex Griffith

6d. imperforate Plate Proof block of 4 on Thin Card. Ex Griffith

6d yellow-green imperf plate proof blk of 4, no wmk thin card. VF UN. Seen at Status auctions

6d yellow-green imperforate Plate Proof pair on thin card, fine. Seen at Phoenix auction no 64 lot no 1020

6d yellow-green, imperf plate proof pr on thin no wmk card. Seen at Status auctions

6d green, imperf plate proof pair on thin no wmk card. Seen at Corinphila auctions

6d yellow-green, imperf plate proof pr on thin no wmk card. Seen at Phoenix auction no 62 lot no 959

6d green, imperf plate proof pair on thin no wmk card. Seen at Abacus auction no 229 lot no 406

6d green, imperf plate proof on thin no wmk card with a date on the back 3. 79 (March 1879). The 6d plate proof was submitted by the Government Engraver to the Colonial Treasurer for approval on 21 February 1879 

6d green, imperf plate proof seen in the HL White collection at the State Library of NSW

6d green, imperf plate proof seen in the HL White collection at the State Library of NSW

Imperforate on Crown over Q Type II paper

Imperforate Plate Proof pair on Crown over Q Type II Paper 6d. yellow-green pair cancelled by blue crayon strokes. Ex Griffith


6d Imperforate Plate Proof pair on Crown over Q Type II Paper cancelled by blue crayon strokes. Ex Griffith

6d Imperforate Plate Proof pair cancelled by blue crayon stroke seen in the HL White collection at the State Library of NSW

6d Die II imperforate marginal vertical pair from the right of the sheet in green on gummed watermarked paper. Ex Manning

Here is an imperforate proof on thin paper with a pencil line across it. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 152

6d imperforate proof with a pencil line across it seen in the HL White collection at the State Library of NSW


6d yellow-green plate proof vertical pair, seen at Phoenix Auctions


6d. on watermarked paper, traces of blue crayon. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore, Queensland stamp collecting Facebook group


6d Imperforate pair, watermarked paper. Courtesy of Carl Burnett, Queensland stamp collecting Facebook group

6d Imperforate pair, watermarked paper. Courtesy of Carl Burnett, Queensland stamp collecting Facebook group


6d. Imperforate. Dated 11 March 1881 on the reverse. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore, Queensland stamp collecting Facebook group

6d yellow-green plate proof pair, ex Griffith

6d plate proof pair. Seen at Status Stamps auction no 223 lot no 1923

6d. proof on watermarked gummed paper. From the collection of Dave Elsmore

Proof in black

6d. perforate proof on Crown over Q Type II paper in black. No gum. Image supplied by Dave Elsmore

Perforated on Crown over gummed Q Type II paper

6d. proof block of 4 on watermarked gummed paper with blue crayon cancel. From the collection of Dave Elsmore

This one does not fit any of the categories. It is plainly an imperf proof pair but appears to have been perforated at bottom. Seen on Ebay