Printing Techniques

Printing Techniques

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To even the most casual observer, there are two classes of stamps that are startlingly different in appearance.

The multicoloured photogravures from Chambon presses.

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The photogravures 1^st appeared for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, and were introduced very, very late in the pre-decimal era. Within a few short years after decimalisation they took over completely.

The mono (or rarely) dual coloured rest.

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To the slightly more observant collector, there are two starkly different classes of ‘others’ best exemplified by the KGV 1d Engraved, and the KGV 1d Surface printed. It is the only instance of an (almost) identical design using two different printing techniques. If, like New Zealand, there were many instances of the two printing methods, the differences would be more apparent to every collector

Of the three major printing techniques useable at that time, typography, recess, and lithography, only the first two were employed on Australian pre-decimals (see note). The major visual difference between the two being that in recess, the image is impressed into the paper, giving much sharper detail. In typography, alias letterpress, the image is pressed onto the sheet, relying on the ink to ‘take up’ onto the paper.

From the engraver’s perspective, the lines he cut in the die for recess issues, were the lines of colour on the stamp. For Typography it was completely opposite, he was creating a true negative.

Two quite different methods were used for monocoloured printing in Australia.

	Flat Plates:-. Electroplate or Steel. Recess and Typographed.
	Rotary Recess:-. Electroplate or steel.

Rotary recess printing had as dramatic effect on the production of Australian stamps as the Chambon photogravures were to have later.

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Note: Lithography, literally stone printing, was used on colonial issues (WA 6d lithographed swan e.g.) but not in the Commonwealth era.

This is a dual plate printing using Recess (green) and TYPOGRAPHY for the lilac.

Prior to the Chambon multicolour photogravures, dual color printing was used sparingly for only a few commemoratives in the 1950's. Clearly however, a fore-runner of things to come.