Page 30 - Sierra Leone to 1961 - The Collection
P. 30
The First Victorian Keyplate 1872 to 1896
1872 Preparation for the Introduction of Keyplate Issues.
In 1871 Sierra Leone had only the sixpence stamp paying the half ounce rate to the United Kingdom. In
readiness for an internal service that was to be re-established in 1872, additional values were sought. The
colony was one of the first to take advantage of De La Rue’s new keyplate and duty plate printing process.
Before Hardening die proof of keyplate design
Dated proofs of keyplate die and value dies
The manuscript annotation 1 - 53 appears to refer to the plate number 1 and current number 53 that were
subsequently engraved in the margin of this plate.
