PICTORIAL STAMPS

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 100, 1 May 1935, Page 10

PICTORIAL STAMPS

Methods of Reproduction

H&ND-ENGKAVED INTAGLIO

Wlienutho new pictorial stamps make their appearance on May 1 it will bo found that the Postal Department has aimed at a high degree of excellence at every stage of the long process involved "in 'their preparation. The designs,. with one exception, Were prepared by New Zealanders and chosen from a very largo selection submitted in competition, and all are reproduced in a manner reflecting great credit on 1 the English craftsmen responsible for a series of processes which are worthy of description. Except for tne lithographed 9d denomination, the series lias been reproduced in line engraving printed by the intaglio process. Tne design is first photographed the exact size of the stamp on to soft steel, and its details are. then hand-engraved. From this‘can ho taken the die proof which is submitted for correction or approval and once approved the die is hardened. The next action is to make impressions on a soft steel roller. The roller face carries a positivo impression very much resembling the final appearance of the stamp. The roller is in turn hardened and run adross a flat plate of soft steel or copper under very heavy pressure, producing negative impressions in regular order up to. 240 on the sheet. This plate in turn is hardened after careful examination for irregularities, and is bent into half-circular form for use in the intaglio dry-print-ing rotary, press.

PRINTING METHOD.

Unlike the ordinary printing method, where paper picks up ink from the top of the type, the ink in the intaglio process is deposited in the indentations of ■the plate, the surface being wiped clean before the paper is impressed against it. Printing is done under heavy pressure, which forces the paper into the indentations, causing it to pick up the ink. The deeper the cuts the heavier the ink impression on the paper. The result is not only a high quality of printed detail, hut an embossed effect which greatly adds to the effectiveness of the reproduction. Tho paper used for the pictorial issue is an esparto mixture specially tnado for the purpose and watermarked with tho letters “N.Z.” and immepiately underneath them a five-pointed star. There are 240 sets of watermarks on the larger sheets, so arranged that each of tho smaller stamps has , ono watermark, and tho larger ftblong denominations up to two. ' PERFORATION PROCESS > Tho stage is now reached where tne stamps havo been printed in sheets, and tho next process is that of perforation. The number of perforations varies in the new pictorial scries mainly owing to the differences in sizes of the perforating pins. With the small size stamps, namely, }d, Id, 1-Jd, : . 3d, and 1/-, the perforations by the comb type of machine are 13} to the centimeter. In connection with the next size, 4d, 6d, and Bd, there is 6omo variation, the 4d perforations being 14 x 14; 6d, 13} x 14; and Bd, 14 x 13}. The 9d lithographed stamp is perforated regularly 14 x 14 throughout. There aro further variations to be noted in the 2}d, 2/- and 3/stamps, the perforations ranging 13 to 14 x 13-}. Philatelists will be intmcsieci to know.that, in the case of the }d, Id, l}d, and 2d denominations so largely in use, two plates have been made for each denomination, the numbers being for the }d, l}d, and 2d 1A and 18, and for the Id, A 1 and 81. The other denominations have one plate, the plate number being shown on the selvedge jof each sheet except for tho_3d and yd values- ~