1910 Rhodesia 2&1/2d Double Head - SACC 131 Pos. 21 - MM

British South Africa Company

1910 Rhodesia 2&1/2d Double Head

SACC 131a/SG131 Deep ultramarine

Position 21.

Mounted Mint

14x14 perforation

Below is the 2&1/2d Deep ultramarine Position 21.

Please note: There is some slight toning on the top of the stamp. Further, although the pencil marking on the back says SG131a I believe it to be SG131. Please however bid accordingly.  

Some of the noted flaws

Below are the identifying flaws for position 21 as drawn from Charles Temple and Stephen Reah-Johnson's published work. 

Note that d) is not present on SG131 printings

Unlike the bi-coloured double heads the 2&1/2d Double Heads were printed in single plates of 50 positions. Thus the identifying flaws for the 50 positions are completely different. There is also no distinction between the head plate and frame plate as they were one.

There were also 2 states of the 2&1/2d plate.

Note: one distinguishing trait for SG 131 and SG 131a is to place the stamp under ultraviolet light - they will turn a light green colour.

The above is meant to encourage interest in the collecting of Double Heads and is drawn from the sources mentioned below. With special thanks to Simon Hensman.

Key sources of information to learn more about Double Heads

• Rhodesia: The Bi-Coloured Double Heads by David Underwood & Stephen Reah-Johnson, Edition 10 - a critical resource
• Southeby's 1987 Auction Catalogue - Postage Stamps of Rhodesia Robert M. Gibbs 1910-13 Double Heads - the crucial auction catalogue
• http://www.cjrstamps.com
• Rhodesia: The colours of the Double Heads by the Rhodesia Study Circle Double Heads Committee - http://www.rhodesianstudycircle.org.uk