Die proofs, Printers Samples and Colour Trials of Melita 1922-26 Issue of Malta Stamps

Recorded Die Proofs of the 1922-26 Melita Issue of Malta Stamps are as follows:

Low values:

In Black on glazed card :

  1. Uncleared background features and duty tablets.
  2. Uncleared background and duty tablets
  3. With blank duty tablets (see cover)
  4. With blank duty tablets, stamped 'BEFORE HARDENING' and dated in pencil 22/5/22

In Brown on glazed card :

  1. With blank duty tablets, (at least five are known in different shades)
  2. With blank duty tablets dated in pencil 15/5/22
  3. With 'MALTA' and '1d' figure of value painted in.

High values:

Vignette in Black on glazed card:

  1.  Stamped 'BEFORE HARDENING' dated in pencil 23/5/22
  2.  Stamped 'BEFORE STRIKING' dated 13/6/22 (see cover)
  3.  Stamped 'AFTER STRIKING' dated 15/6/22

There are in existence Melita Registration Die Proofs (all values except 1/-, 2/- and £1 are known) printed in black on glazed cards, each with 1mm to 3mm margins. The object of these proofs was to ensure complete and perfect registration of the frame die and centre vignette die. A Registration Die Proof of the high values exists with the value tablet uncleared.

Printers' Samples

The following samples in unissued colours are known:

¼d

  1. Brown and Blue - Overprinted SPECIMEN diagonally bottom right corner reading upwards measuring 15½ x 1½mm
  2. Brown and Blue - Overprinted SPECIMEN diagonally bottom left corner reading downwards.

½d

  1. Brown & Blue - Imperforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  2. Blue & Brown - overprinted SPECIMEN
  3. Red & Mauve - Perforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  4. Red & Blue - Perforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  5. Blue & Red - Perforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  6. Red & Brown - Perforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  7. Brown & Mauve - Perforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  8. Brown & Blue - Perforate - overprinted SPECIMEN

£1

  1. Blue & Green - Imperforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  2. Blue & Brown - Imperforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  3. Blue & Sepia - Perforate - overprinted SPECIMEN
  4. Blue & Sepia - Imperforate - not overprinted
  5. Blue & Green - Imperforate - not overprinted

Colour Trials

The 1d value is known printed in Red Brown (two shades have been recorded) on upright watermarked paper, imperforate. This colour was adopted for the 1½d stamp.

£1 Die Proof of Malta 1922-26 Melita Issue in issued colours, printed on medium hard surfaced paper (37 x 47mm) showing printers guide lines. This very rare Die Proof was sold at Grosvenor Auction in 2010 for £4200 plus buyer's premium.

£1 stamp size die proof in issued colours, printed on medium hard surfaced paper. Sold at Grosvenor Auction in 2010 for £1500 plus buyer's premium.

Melita 1922-26 Issue Master Die Proof with blank country name and value tablets. Printed in black on glazed card (92 x 60mm), marked ''BEFORE/HARDENING'' and manuscript date ''22/5/22''. Used for the 1/4d. to 6d. and £1 values. Sold at Grosvenor Auction in 2010 for £600 plus buyer's premium.

Malta 1922-26 Melita Issue Master Die Proof with blank country name and value tablets, used for the 1/4d. to 6d. and £1 values, printed in brown on glazed card (92 x 60mm), unmarked. Sold at Grosvenor Auction in 2010 for £520 plus buyer's premium.

Die proof of the central vignette only, printed in black on glazed card (92 x 60mm), marked ''BEFORE/HARDENING'' and manuscript date ''23/5/22''. Used for the 1s. to 10s. values. Sold at Grosvenor Auction in 2010 for £600 plus buyer's premium.

References:

  1. Melita 1922-26. Malta Stydy Circle, Study paper 24, 1972

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