The following article was first published in Australian Stamp Monthly (August, 1952). It was Illustrated by J. Biffs.

The Illustrations this month deal with flaws in the lettering of the stamp and, when applicable, the surrounding area. No fewer than six of the major right and left plate flaws are included in the illustrations as well as quite a number not so well-known. It might be mentioned that more than half of the flaws shown occurred after June, 1928, in the retouched or re-entered state of the stamps mentioned, and therefore can only be found in the greens.

In the first drawing three flaws are shown which occurred on stamp 3/43, affecting the left side of the diadem of the crown, the top of the letter “R” and the left foot of the last “A”, which is shorter and square cut. The dot under the second “A” in stamp 8/50 in -the same drawing not occur until late in the red printings and was then constant.

The next drawing shows the distorted “T” which came about when stamp 7/37 (flaw under neck) was re-entered. In the drawing immediately below that one is illustrated a general thinning of the letters “GE”, which occurred when this same stamp was retouched. Going back to the top right drawing, there is a notch in the colour bar above “R”, which is on stamp 7/55. This same stamp often shows a small white dot between “ST” of Postage and this is also illustrated in the drawing second down on the right. The top right drawing includes the well-known “RA” joined flaw and three minor flaws on stamps 8/29, 8/55 and 3/31. As the flaws for these latter three units are small, they should be combined with some other flaw before making an identification.

One penny lettering flaws

The second drawing down on the left hand side shows the well-known damage to stamp 7/1 (secret mark) and one of the results of the retouch to this flaw can be seen in the centre drawing in the bottom row. Also shown is the “thin G” variety occurring on stamp 4/40 and stamp 4/31, on which the final E of Postage has a thicker serif on the lower bar. Of the other flaws in this drawing, the notch for 6/30 only occurs late in the green printings and the flaw for 7/20 (GE joined at base) is not always constant because of inking, but it is a helpful aid to plating when present.

The small drawing in the centre of this set shows the well-known “Penavy” flaw. The result of the retouch to this flaw is shown in the drawing on the bottom, right.

The bottom row of drawings shows flaws occuring to the letters “One Penny” and the surrounding areas have numerous instructions near the references as the condition described could not be illustrated without having a large number of drawings. The drawing on the left of this row shows the well-known “Run N” variety on stamp 8/60 and the “NY joined” variety on stamp 8/25; this latter being one of the scarcer items in the red printings.

This drawing also shows the third state of stamp 8/30, which has the “E” and “P” distorted with a small dash immediately over the centre of these letters. This drawing also shows a dash on the oubr edge of “Y” occurring on stamp 7/38 and a dot occurring a little lower down on stamp 4/41. Care should be taken not to confuse the dot on 4/41 with the dash in the same position on stamp 4/47, shown in the next drawing along. Likewise, it should be borne in mind that the dash on 7/38 is a little higher than the dash on 4/47, this last stamp being the one shows immediately below 4/41.

The centre drawing in the bottom row makes reference to the bases of the letters “NE PE” being distorted described when 7/37 was retouched as well as the letters “Penny” being ragged when stamp 2/60 was retouched in June, 1928. Also shown, is the thinning and distorting of the letters “one” when stamp 7/1 was retouched.