Crimean War set full of errors

The stamps were printed in litho by Walsall and reports came in of discoveries of imperforate sheets from two different areas of the country a week after the issue went on sale. Three imperforate sheets (all of 25 stamps) of the 57p value were found in High Wycombe and another imperforate sheet of the 68p value in a post office in Northern England.

During the second week of release, the discovery of two more sheets containing errors was confirmed. The find occurred in the town of Grimsby and affects the 2nd (class) value. One of the sheets lacks phosphor while the other lacks phosphor and dark grey (the Queen's head and value).

GB colour errors are reasonably rare but imperforate errors continue to crop up because of technology. From 2000 to date, some 17 different stamps are known imperforate - and that's just commemoratives. The figure is frightening if Machins are taken into consideration.

Since 2000 there have only been three GB missing colour errors - British Coastlines from March 2002, Birds of Prey from January 2003 and the new Crimean War error. All three of them have been litho printings by Walsall, however the two previous errors were due to interrupted secondary processes. No such excuse can be made with the latest issue.

Given the way the Crimean War sheets are produced, an even number of sheets of each of the errors would originally have existed. With a new copy being discovered very recently, it's possible there are more to discover. However, it's equally likely Walsall's checking procedures or the Post Office's return-for-destruction policy for anything non-standard picked up the remainder. Either way it'll be a while before the final error tally comes in.

STAMP MAGAZINE's GB error expert, Tom Pierron, explained: 'Due to the uncertainty of the number of copies of any of the errors in existence, dealers are hesitant in placing values on them. Prices will initially be high and settle down (or not) depending on further discoveries. Assuming no more of any of the errors surface, prices will roughly be £200 for a 57p imperforate pair, £450 for a 68p imperforate pair, £100 for a 2nd (class) missing phosphor and £600 for a 2nd (class) missing dark grey and phosphor'.

Extract from Stamp Magazine.

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