NORFOLK ISLAND 1961 BIRD SPECIMEN w/FRAME RETOUCH ERROR MNH

Description

****
N O R F O L K    I S L A N D
****
[MO]
10/- TROPIC BIRD 'SPECIMEN' OVERPRINT - UPPER LEFT POSITION - WITH PRINTING ERROR
VARIETY S.G.V6: FRAME RETOUCH ABOVE "R" OF "NORFOLK" - R.5/4
Sc.#41 (specimen), S.G. 36s - V6
Issued 14 August 1961
CHOICE DE LUXE QUALITY - PRISTINE NEVER HINGED (UNMOUNTED) MINT CONDITION
R R R +
UNIQUE OFFER - NORFOLK ISLAND'S RAREST STAMP!!!
The impressive emerald-green 10-shilling Norfolk Island "Tropic Bird" stamp was printed by the Australian Government Printer in sheets of 80 (10 x 8), and issued by the Norfolk Post Office on 14 August 1961, as part of its permanent (definitive) stamp series.
THE "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT RARITY
*
The stamp is of exceptional quality in fresh, never hinged (unmounted) mint condition. The "SPECIMEN" overprint is in the scarcest
*
of the three printings produced.  The printing error - a frame retouch - occurs
only once per sheet
of 80 stamps, on Row 5, stamp 4.
The overprints were ordered by Australia Post for inclusion in their AUSTRALIAN TERRITORIES SPECIMEN FOLDERS, and were available to Australia Post subscribers.
Three printings
of the "SPECIMEN" stamp were made, resulting in three positions
*
of the overprint, being the
upper left, lower right, and lower center
.
•
1st printing
:
upper left
- January 1962 -
25 sheets of 80 (2,000 stamps)
=
only 25 stamps with retouch error
•
2nd printing
:
lower right
- May 1963 - 42 sheets of 80 (3,360 stamps) = only 42 stamps with retouch error
•
3rd printing
:
lower center
- June 1964
and
December 1964 - 100 sheets (50 each time) = 100 stamps with retouch error.
13,360 "SPECIMEN" STAMPS PRINTED INCLUDES ONLY 167 STAMPS WITH THE RETOUCH ERROR ON R5/4 !!!!
The
weak top frame line
of the design was
retouched
on the printing plate above the "R" of "NORFOLK" on
stamp 4 of row 5
- so only 1 out of 80 stamps per sheet was retouched!
NOTE: The
same
printing plate was
also used
ALL
on 10/-
decimal currency surcharge stamps
of 14 February 1966.
REFERENCE:
June 2012 magazine article "Philately from Australia", by Australia Post Chief Archivist Richard Breckon.
Sincere thanks for the information to philatelic friend Doug, from Wamuram, Queensland, Australia.
Could this be the scarcest Norfolk Island stamp known
? -
INVEST in QUALITY and RARITY
!
GALASALES - IT'S ABOUT CHOICE  - COUNT ON US ® !!
KINDLY
NOTE
WE SELL SHIP POSTCARDS, COVERS, AND STAMPS OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH, AND WORLDWIDE TOPICAL AND THEMATIC ISSUES.
PITCAIRN ISLANDS
WE OFFER PITCAIRN ISLAND'S POSTAL, PHILATELIC, AND SOCIAL HISTORY, INCLUDING WORLDWIDE PITCAIRN-RELATED STAMP ISSUES.
SHIPPING/HANDLING OPTIONS
WE COMBINE SHIPPING ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES
U.S.A.
: FIRST CLASS MAIL
.75
::: INSURED/CERTIFIED MAIL
with tracking
.95
WORLDWIDE
: AIRMAIL
.95
no tracking
:::
REGISTERED AIRMAIL
with tracking
.95
Orders are
always
well packaged, to prevent any damage in the mail
_________
SEE OUR 100% FEEDBACK AND POSITIVE BUYERS' SATISFACTION RECORD. BUY WITH CONFIDENCE. MAKE US
YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR NORFOLK & PITCAIRN PHILATELY.
WE POST IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK, PACK SECURELY AND SHIP IN 24-36 HOURS. THANK YOU.
NOTE TO BUYERS IN
INDIA, CHINA, AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
:
1. Due to missing orders mailed to India & China, we RECOMMEND adding REGISTERED MAIL delivery to your payment.
2. WE DO NOT SHIP to any country in Africa or the Middle East, EXCEPT South Africa, Namibia, and Israel.
FOR DISCOUNTED SHIPPING, ADD YOUR ITEMS TOGETHER IN YOUR SHOPPING CART, AND REQUEST INVOICE. THANK YOU.