Page 159 - Jarvis & Wright: Jamaica Display to RPSL

Jamaica: The Vendryes Provisional

First setting: plating the positions.
The first printing, of 48,000 stamps (800 panes), was printed between 30 May 1890, when the
decision to overprint 4d stamps is recorded, and 4 June, the earliest known date of use.

This first setting of the overprint was set up as a single vertical column of 10 distinct varieties, struck
6 times to complete each pane. So all stamps in each row are from the same position.
Each position may be identified by distinctive features of the letters: their relative positions, their wear
and the use of cut letters such as cut E for F or cut R or B for P. Of particular help is the position of
the T, to the left, above or to the right of the second upright in the H.
1

Position 1. 2
T slightly to left. 3
Second foot of W short; 4
O flattened at top right; 5
second upright of second Position 6. 6
N in PENNY thinned. T to left.
O very thick, 7
8
and blurred at left.
9
Position 2. 10
T slightly to left.
Heavy first E in PENCE;
first foot of first N in
PENNY bent or shortened. Position 7.
T to right.
Top of C hooks inward;
A thick.

Position 3.
T slightly to left.
In PENCE, P spaced
and thick N;
cut E used for F;
short second upright of Position 8.
second N in PENNY. T above.
T with thick upright and
tilted bar;

Position 4. cut E used for F.
T slightly to left.
Left bar of T thin or broken;
Thick upright to P in
PENCE; thick F with Position 9.
irregular, rounded foot.
T above.
Thin T;
Both Ps spaced;
Bump on loop of P in
Position 5. PENNY, possibly a cut R.
T slightly to left.
Thick L; damage to
lower left of W;
E in PENNY thick, with Position 10.
short bottom bar. T slightly to right.
P in PENCE with heavy
upright and bump on loop,
possibly cut from a B;

Both Ps spaced; thick L.