Page 197 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

possibility is made less certain by the absence of a la. Edward Crown
Registration Sheet (which we know was definitely issued with this water­
mark), but it seems incomprehensible that out of a sale of 87,273 no
single mint copy survives. It is, of course, quite possible that some
speculator bought up the entire stock it would only have cost about
£600; but why, after 18 years, have no mint copies appeared?
Considering the small numbers required, the surcharged Q.E.II
“Castles" provide a surprising number of varieties. The 2s.6d. with type­
set surcharge on the basic Watcrlow stamp was issued on September 23rd,
1955; and, in February 1957, the same stamp was plate-surcharged.
The principal difference between the two printings lies in the position of
“2" in relation to “RUPEES" — low on the type-set and high on the
plate-surcharge. There arc other minor differences which are detailed in
the catalogues.

7: The wide-spaced ‘5’
(second stamp down)
|ggp^

•* POSTAGE__

On March 1st, 1957, a new high value was added to the series, the
Waterlow 5s. being surcharged (type-set) “5 RUPEES". The total number
issued was 42,760, done in two printings. The first amounted to 18,880
(472 sheets) and the second, in May 1957, to 23,880 (597 sheets). On
the first printing only, Row 8/4 showed a major variety, the “5" being
spaced an extra 1 mm. further away from “RUPEES"; this was corrected
in the May printing. Both printings were done on sheets of the basic
stamp which included the major re-entry on Row 8/1; and the Registration
Sheet in the National Postal Museum shows both re-entry and wide sur­
charge. Unlike the Rs2, the Rs5 was never plate-surcharged.

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