2d Die2

2d Die2

Scarlet
Deep Scarlet

A total of twenty electros of this value were printed in red.

This value was copied from the 1½d produced a few months earlier. In this case however the die size, like all 2nd series zoologicals, is slightly smaller (17 x 21.5mm versus 17 x 22mm).

Engraved by TC Duffell.

Thin paper varieties exist.

Date	Perf	Watermark	Imprint
11/7/38	15x14	CA	Ash	No lines. Electros 1 to 11
		CA	Ash	1 line gutter. Electros 12 to 16
		CA	Ash	2 line gutter. Electros 17 to 20
		CA	No imprint	Corner block, 1 electro
	coil-pair	CA		Large Holes
	coil-pair	CA		Standard
	Booklets	CA

Plate layouts and numbers.

The 2d Die 1 was produced on 13 plates in a mixture of 320on copper and 640on electro. In all cases the plate numbers were in corners rather than the later convention of central gutters for the steel 640on.

The first plates produced were two, double 320on copper plates. These had plate numbers 1 or 2 in the corners with no gutter lines.

All following plates shifted the position of the plate numbers to the central gutters.

The next 3 plates (#'s 3, 4 & 5) were standard 320on copper plates, again with no gutters and with the traditional flush perforations associated with this plate type.

A steel 640on master plate was produced, from which four altos were made.

The first alto had no gutter lines and produced four nickel electros 6 to 9. The 9th electro was never used.

Altos 2 and 3 had a single line gutter, and produced electros 10 to 16

Alto 4 had a double line gutter producing 4 electros, 17->20. Only 18 and 20 were used.

Imprints were always in the traditional left corner of each pane.

11/7/1938 Die 2 Perforation change

Initially supplied with blank gutters (plates 1 to 9), due to the security risk, they were later inscribed with single lines (plates 10 to 16), followed by double lines (plates 17 to 20).

Perforation pips were in the 640 on position for all plates. As such, they can be collected with 0, 1, or 2 line gutters.

On one electro, the imprint is missing from one corner block of a po sheet.