Does anybody know how to tell the difference between the 1913 waterlow 2/6 (SG 399/4000,
Scott
173) & the 1915 De La Rue 2/6 (SG 405-408, Scott 173a).

There is a more expert collector of these stamps than
I am, on this NG, but I'll have a go....

DeLaRue stamps generally have smaller perforation holes
than the other printers, and have one larger hole at the top
of each vertical side. The Gum appears more 'yellowish'
and is a little patchy in appearance - also the colour of the
stamp can usually be seen through the back of the paper!

Hope this may help,

David.

The top tooth on the Waterlows is usally about 2/3rds the size of the
others along the side (it could be almost a "1/2 tooth" in some),
while the DLR (having a slightly smaller gauge as well as smaller
holes) has about a 20% larger tooth at the top than the others.


In other words - it's time to get the Micrometer out!!

David.