1910 Rhodesia 4d Double Head - SACC 140 - Unplated

British South Africa Company

1910 Rhodesia 4d Double Head

SACC 140/SG140 Greyish-black and Orange

Mounted Mint

Long Gash 1 Head Plate

14x14 perforation

No toning or thins.

The (shorter) beginning story on Double heads

The printing plates from the 2d to £1 denominations for the Double Heads consisted of the laying down of first a head plate, showing the heads of King George V and Queen Mary, during printing followed by the laying down of the frame plate that had the frame that, so to speak, framed the heads. The head plate itself would, outside of the mono-coloured 1/2d, 1d and 2&1/2d denominations, be used for all other denominations and had 50 stamp positions on each of the sheets printed. The use of distinctive head and frame plates is also tied to identifying the positions of those bi-coloured denominations.

The condition of the head plate is specifically used by philatelists today as the main basis with which to follow the various printings. The progression of the condition of the head plate(s) is followed through the appearance and condition of Position 2 on the head plate and occurs in all printings but the mono-coloured denominations, which are a separate story.

Position 2 is often identified by a distinct horizontal line in the Queens right ear extending from the ear hole to the back of the ear (but not always) and can be referred to as the 'Gash in Queens Ear' flaw. The flaw itself is sought after by Double Head collectors but was more importantly used to identify, track and name the various states of the head plate as it was worn down, refurbished and duplicated. Those states are then used to identify the various printings, which can separately identify the rarity (and worth) of stamps of the apparently same denominations.

The Position 2 flaw began on the original Electroplate #5555 head plate as an easily distinguishable 'Long Gash' (LG). That gash flaw was however worn down through repeated use to a smaller 'Mid Gash' (MG) size.  An overhaul was undertaken by Waterlow & Sons during this state to repair the plate before returning it back to use. It was during this same repair and overhaul that a second head plate, Electroplate #1, was copied from Electroplate #5555 and the Position 2 gash instead became a thin vertical line extending from the ear hole downwards on it. This was coined the 'Thick Ear' (TE) state.

Both plates were pressed into use and the Mid Gash became further worn down to a 'Small Gash' (SG) flaw on Electroplate #5555 before a second overhaul was undertaken and a third plate, Electroplate #2, was also copied from #5555. However the ear gash had disappeared entirely in the process of creating Electroplate #2 and gave rise to the 'No Gash' (NG) state, with Position 2 often having to be identified via other distinctive markings. Electroplate #5555 saw the gash become a small hook in the Queens ear, hence the state being called the 'Hook Plate' (HK) . Eventually the three plates were decommissioned.

Various flaws can also be identified from these six states of the head plate, allowing for the position of Double Head stamps in existence today to be identified against the original printing sheets. Some flaws appear and disappear, a few remain and others briefly transition in and out of various states.

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