Page 47 - Frank Walton GB Queen Elizabeth II Wildings

2½d Carmine-Red

The cylinders for all values were created from separate negatives for the head and frame portions of the design. A
glass negative of the head was combined with one of the frame to create a multipositive which in turn was used
to make 240 impressions on the cylinder. After 45 uses the first multipositive for the 2½d, numbered 358 by
Harrisons, needed replacing and a second one (numbered 460) was made with a different diadem and the alignment
slightly altered. This too failed after only two uses and was replaced by a third multipositive, numbered 474.

The three multipositives can be distinguished by the differences in the top line of the diadem and the overall
angle of The Queen’s portrait within the frame.

Multipositive 358 (Type A) Multipositive 460 (Type B) Multipositive 474 (Type C)

Diadem Type I Diadem Type II Diadem Type II
Top line incomplete Top line complete Top line complete

Extension to shoulder above Extension to shoulder meets Extension to shoulder below
red line (x4) red line (x4) red line (x4)

Multipositive Type A used for Multipositive Type B used for Multipositive Type C used for
Cylinders 1 to 45 Cyls 46 & 47 (47 not used) Cylinders 48 to 60
5 Dec 1952 - Cyls 2, 4-19, 22-25, 27 25 Jan 1957 - Cyl 46 only 22 Jun 1962 - Cyls 51, 52,54, 56 & 57
‡
Tudor watermark, Type I diadem St Edward’s watermark, Type II diadem Crowns wmk, Type II diadem, whiter
Cyl 46 dot - Type E/I perf paper, 4mm blue phos left band
Cyl 11 no dot - Type E/I perf ‡ delivery date to Royal Mail Cyl 54 no dot - Type E/I perf