White Papers

White Papers

So called 'White' papers.

White paper issues can be a confusing area. They can be best distinguished by the three totally different paper types used

	Watermarked
	Unwatermarked
	Chambon rolls

'White' Watermarked paper.

A watermarked Harrison white paper was introduced to the note printing branch in mid 1964. This paper replaced the supply of Wiggins Teape watermarked cream paper.

The first issue to be affected with this new, genuinely whiter, paper was the 5/- cattle in June 1964. Previous print runs of this value used two different Wiggins Teape cream papers.

Subsequently, further print runs of the then partially complete Navigator series are found on this white paper. Previous printings were in cream.

Remaining issues of the Navigator series, one of which replaced the 5/- cattle, were ONLY printed on this newer, whiter, watermarked paper.

Unwatermarked 'white' papers.

	It is erroneously stated in catalogues that the emergency 2/6d Aborigine was from the same watermarked paper stock of mid 1964. This is nonsense. The reality is that the paper used in the 1965 was far more bleached than when this issue was first introduced in 1952. See 2/6d Abo in the KGVI section.
	This stamp had a remarkable print run from 2/2/1959 to the end of the predecimal era in late '65. Printings from 1965 are noticeable as being considerably 'whiter' than the others. No doubt, print stock had run out and any suitable paper available was used during this year of turmoil when helecon issues came on stream.
	The so called 2/3d white paper of 1964, was simply a comparison against the maize paper which had run out and was not re-ordered. This issue was subsequently re-printed again on helecon coated paper in 1965.

Cream vs white paper Chambons.

Again, this 'white' paper cannot be compared to that supplied for the recess print machinery. This stock was especially supplied in rolls.

Trial printings were carried out on Wiggins Teape cream paper in 1962 and held in reserve. The first issued printings for all the bird series was on Harrison white paper during 1964/5. The trial printing of the 2/5d wren was later released as emergency stock 15th July 1965 just at the end of the pre-decimal era when the Chambon press was flat out producing new, decimal, issues.