Some ago I read an article referring to the puzzle of the ½d. blue-green (S.G.56) local WAR TAX in black with an albino impression of the word HALFPENNY as in the setting for the ½d. on ½d. blue-green (S.G.55) in red. This same item has intrigued me for some time and I have been awaiting more learned opinions but none seem to be forthcoming. As was pointed out in the article the setting is identical on both stamps but for the absence of the word halfpenny on S.G.56.It is my opinion that the albino impression is present on ail copies of S.G.56.irrespactive of the actual-position of the overprint on the stamp unless. it is placed so low when the impression would fall on the stamp immediately below in a vertical row but to be seen clearly a stamp in pristine condition is required. Pressure in albums and the average care in handling stamps soon destroys this impression in the same way as with Gambia Cameos though these latter are, of course, much older.
I suggest that both those overprints S.G.55 and 56 were made from one and the same forme and that in the second-type the word halfpenny was not inked. This could easily be accomplished by 'ringing the inker' whereby annular sections are removed from the roller that applies ink to the type face opposite the word half penny in the forme. As the inking rollers are made up of a soft composition this is a relatively simple expedient and I am assured by a working printer far simpler and quicker to effect than removing every halfpenny from the forme with the resultant resetting and re-spacing of the type. The final procedure is that the overprinting would be carried out with the forme on its side and the stamp sheets fed in the sideways position to the machine and so producing continuous inked lines of WAR TAX and uninked impressions of HALFPENNY. Has anyone any other explanation?
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