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Blog Overview: Definitive Issue of King George VI   Tags:kenya, kgvi, kut, tanganyika, virtual exhibit

Date Blog Published: Sep-12-2009 03:36

KENYA, UGANDA & TANGANYIKA – GEORGE VI

The definitive issue released in KUT during the reign of King George VI provides possibly one of the most interesting areas of philatelic study for that era. The designs were largely the same as those for George V but with additional values and a few new designs. The printers were Messrs Thomas De La Rue & Co and some of their difficulties in production will be appreciated when it is remembered that their activities during the first year of World War II drew upon themselves the particular attention of the enemy with unfortunate results to their buildings in Bunhill Row, London and the immediate neighbourhood. The air raid of 29th-30th December 1940 completely destroyed more than half their premises and, apart from machinery, dies and stocks, all “Works” records were destroyed. This helps explain certain differences and changes in perforation, colours of inks, etc in subsequent printings.

Item 1

1c black and red brown – Retouched tablet (3rd stamp, 1st row, disturbance below ‘c’ in left hand value tablet)

Found on Row9/6, Plate 2 – 4A to – 7B

Owing to progressive development of wear of the plate, the value tablet part of the design became worn causing flaws to appear and was crudely retouched (probably in the press). It exists on printings between 1942 and 1946.

This imprint block of 8 confirms the position on the sheet. All sheets were printed in two panes of 100 stamps each composed of 200 duty plates and 2 x 100 vignettes, then cut in half. The “A” and “B” in the plate numbers refer to the left and right panes respectively.

Item 2

10c black and green – Mountain retouch (2nd stamp, 1st row)

Found on Row5/10, Plate 9 – 7B

The damage to plate – 7B first occurred during 1949. The damage consists of five unequal-sized marks below the dip at the left of the mountain peak. The plate was also used for the 1s and 3s values of which copies exist in these denominations. No trace of the original damaged condition on the 10c has come to light and it seems that plate – 7B was only used for the 10c black and green after retouching.
This block of 4 clearly shows the retouches on the mountain top.

Item 3

25c black and red

This denomination was issued on 1 April 1952 – after King George VI died in February of that year. This item is an example of a plate proof pair of the frame and value tablet printed in carmine red on grey green paper with black vignette strikes of the dhow design for this 25c denomination on the reverse as well as brown vignette strikes of the Lake Naivasha design used for the 10c brown and orange stamp of the same set. In addition, these strikes are on top of the frame of the Ceylon King George VI 50c issue. An altogether unusual item.

Item 4

50c deep purple and black – Short stay

Found on Row2/5, Plate blank

On the King George V 50c definitive, the rope at the top of the mast failed to join the mast itself. The same centre plate was used for the first printing of the King George VI 50c run after the short stay had been lengthened on 99 subjects on the plate. The exception was R2/5 where the correction was overlooked. A number of sheets were printed and placed on sale in May 1938. The Die was then corrected and a new plate was laid down. Stamps printed from this plate were placed on sale in September 1938 and the remainder of the first printing was withdrawn.
This item reflects the short stay on the second stamp in the second row.

Item 5

1s black and brown

This item is an example of a plate proof of the frame, head and value tablet printed in brown on security lined paper with no watermark. It is a working proof from Plate B.