Australia

1913 Issue £2 (two types)

These reproductions, replicas of position L50, are printed on genuine watermarked and perforated stamp paper with genuine cancels retained. Sperati used 1d red stamps as raw material as shown on page of mounted material below.

Two clichés were used, one for the frame and a second for the kangaroo. A single frame cliché was used for both types. Although not described in Sperati I or Sperati II, the cliché for the kangaroo exists in two types. On type A the kangaroo's mouth is open. On type B the mouth is closed.

page thumbnails:

1. the kangaroo appears to have an open mouth (image of proof of kangaroo only is here)

2. the bite of the genuine typography is absent on the photo-lithographed reproductions

3. there are three small breaks in the left outer frameline between 3 and 6 mm from top

 

1. the mouth of the kangaroo is closed

2. frame characteristics as type A

additional information from Sperati I: Plate 1    Australia Text

Richard Frajola (April 25, 2020)