The change of contract from the De La Rue Crown Q (
2nd type) paper took place about May, 1896, with the dandy roll being transferred
from that firm to Messrs. Alexander Cowan & Sons, and thus the watermarks
in the two papers are identical.
The Cowan paper may, however, be distinguished by its being
of a more open texture and generally showing a distinct mesh, and being thicker
and not so surfaced as the De La Rue paper. It is also of an ivory white tint
as against the dead white of the De La Rue manufacture.
From about 1901 onwards the Cowan paper varies in thickness
and quality, and sometimes shows very little, if any, mesh, and might easily be
mistaken for the De La Rue paper, if it were not for the ivory white tint and
the rougher surface.
The Cowan paper was supplied in books of 500 sheets each,
the sheets being numbered consecutively in black, reading downwards in the side
margin at the right lower corner. The numerals are usually 5½
mm. high, but earlier supplies had 6¾ mm. Figures similarly to the De La
Rue paper. The makers state that the size of the numerals simply depended on
which numbering machine was in use at the time.
The white Cowan paper was in general use for postage stamps,
except the 2½d.
printed on blue paper, from August 1896, until replaced by the Crown A paper about
December 1907.
The watermark used for the Cowan Crown Q Paper
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