Page 67 - Sierra Leone to 1961 - The Collection
P. 67
The Second Victorian Keyplate 1896 to 1901
1888 - 1899 Imperium Essays
De La Rue produced a small number of essays in fugitive inks. These were printed from a keyplate of six
stamps and a duty plate with the country name of IMPERIUM and a value of either 2c or 6d. The paper
was unwatermarked and gummed. The early items were line perf 14, and the later ones imperforate.
. .
1888 Mauve & carmine 1893-99 Mauve & black
2c essays used for 1d 6d essay used for 5d
1896 Colour Trials
A series of colour trials were produced to allow the final designs and colours to be selected. The majority of
these were printed from a duty plate that had the colony name SIERRA LEONE and 3d in the value tablet
with a clear background. These trials were gummed and imperforate. The white paper is unwatermarked.
. . . .
Mauve & black Mauve & shades of carmine Mauve & mauve
Used for 5d Used for 4d Used for 6d
. . . .
Green & ultramarine Green & ultramarine Green & carmine Purple on red paper
Watermark ‘GE’
Used for 2s From Appendix Sheet Used for 5s
from ‘CROWN AGENTS’
Used for £1
