The Halfpenny and Three Halfpence Issues

The Halfpenny

The Half Penny was introduced as a result of a reduced rate for newspapers and other printed matter.  This stamp was issued in sheets of 480 and unlike the other line-engraved issues was perofrated vertically.  Mint stamps are not common, and blocks, particularly with marginal imprints are difficult to obtain.  Plate 9, of which only 50,000 sheets were printed, is the scarcest plate.  This can be compared with the most common plate, Plate 5, of which 533,200 sheets were printed.

Plate 11
Plate 6

 
Watermarked Half Penny
Plate 9
Plate 6
Plate 9

Note that the top of the numeral 6 faces the "1" of "1/2d" and the top of the numeral 9 faces the top of the "1" of "1/2d"
Characteristics of TheHalf Penny

Shades Rose-red and Rose
Watermark Half Penny covering three stamps in script
Varieties: Inverted; Reversed; Inverted and Reversed; No watermark
Imperforate One Side Exists
Imperforate Exists

Plates of TheHalf Penny

Plate 
Put to Press
Earliest Known Date
Sheets Printed
1
20 June 70
01 Oct 70
121,500
3
28 June 70
01 Oct 70
192,500
4
04 July 70
15 Oct 70
264,600
5
19 July 70
24 Oct 70
533,200
6
19 July 70
19 Oct 70
402,100
8
26 July 70
31 Oct 70
*120,000
9
23 July 70
05 Dec 71
*50,000
10
24 Oct 72
22 Dec 73
386,100
11
24 Oct 72
04 June 74
411,000
12
13 April 74
28 Aug 74
*400,000
13
20 April 75
27 June 76
*300,000
14
30 April 75
09 Mar 77
*250,000
15
16 Nov 76
10 July 78
*200,000
19
16 Nov 77
23 Aug 78
*175,000
20
31 Dec 78
04 Oct 79
*150,000
* Estimated Number  of sheets printed.  Plates 2, 7, 16, 17, and 18 were not completed and Plates 21 and 22 were
laid down but not used.  For more details refer to The Postage Stamps of Great Britain, Part 2
 

The Three Halfpence

This denomination was first registered on 22 March 1860 in response to a proposed change in the postal rates.  As the rate
was not approved this stamp, 10,000 sheets printed in Rosy Mauve (Lilac-rose) ,  was destroyed. This first issue was watermarked Large Crown Type I on  slightly blued paper.  However, some of the stamps survived, as well as the copies distributed to the postmasters.
10 years later, new postal rates went into effect for printed matter, including the 1-1/2d.  This stamp design  was issued again,
but in Rose-red instead of Lilac-rose.  Plate 1 was again put into service, without a plate number shown on the stamp.  Plate 2
was defective and not used.  Plate 3 was issued with the plate number as shown below.  Stamps issued from Plate 1 are less
common than stamps from Plate 3.
 
 

Plate 1
Plate 3
Enlargement of Plate Number 3
   Watermarked 
  Large Crown Type  I

Characteristics of TheThree Halfpence

Shades Rose-red or Lake-red
Varieties Error of Lettering  OP-PC for CP-PC
Watermark Inverted
Imerforate Plate 1 and 2
Dr. Perkins Paper Plate 1

 
 

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