Queensland 1882 2d Die Proof material

This page is a census of known examples of the 2d (1882) (SG 168) die proof issues. This stamp was introduced in 1882 and was a completely different design to the 1st Sideface issues that preceded it. The 2d stamps, issued in a blue shade, first went on sale in August 1882

The 1882 steel die was engraved by William Ridgway of the firm Bradbury, Wilkinson in London, arriving in Brisbane on 19 April 1882. It was in an unclear state with a 1mm solid edging which was removed before the die was used 

There was also a previous "die" which had been received in September 1881 after being ordered on 18 March 1881. However it was been rejected as instead of a steel die two soft electrolytes were received which could not be used to prepare the electrolyte plate. It also had a flaw to the tip of the Queen's nose. Nevertheless proofs were taken from it. In early 2024 proofs in various colours and retained by Bradley, Wilkinson in their archives were sold on Ebay

The following die proofs exist as per Scudder (Kenneth Scudder, Queensland Postage Stamps 1879 to 1912, p. 99)

First (rejected) "die" - with a frame 0.75 mm outside the design and a flaw to the nose

• In black or blue on a portion of a letter
• On thin card in blue, rose, lilac and black
• From the archives of Bradley, Wilkinson

Second (approved) die

• Uncleared state - 1 mm solid edging, in black on card
• Cleared state - on thick card in blue, brown and brick-red
• Cleared state - on thin card in blue, violet, green, brown and brick-red

Left to right; 1st rejected die, 2nd approved die - uncleared state, 2nd approved die - cleared state

1st (rejected) Die

Letter portion

1st rejected die in blue (issued colour) with 0.75 mm edging on a portion of a letter. Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

Black

1st rejected die in black with 0.75 mm edging on what is described as "unwatermarked cream wove paper" (110 x 78 mm). Seen in Corinphila auction April 2018. The annotation is "Engraved Proof 8"

Lilac

1st rejected die in lilac (described in the auction as mauve) with 0.75 mm edging on what is described as "unwatermarked cream wove paper" (110 x 78 mm). Seen in Corinphila auctions November 2023. Ex Besançon, Corinphila sale 221, Zurich, 23 Nov 2017, lot 6198. The annotation is "Engraved Proof 6"

Rose

1st rejected die in rose (described in the auction as red) on what is described as "affixed to card" (50 x 48 mm). Seen at auction

1st rejected die in rose (described in the auction as dull red) on what is described as "cream woven paper". Seen in Classic Philately March 2019. The annotation is "Engraved Proof 4"

1st rejected die in rose (described in the auction as carmine) with 0.75 mm edging on what is described as "small card" (60 x 84 mm). Seen in Corinphila auction April 2018. It is handstamped "Engraved By / Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. Ltd." in red at base

From the Archives of Bradley, Wilkinson

1st rejected die in black with 0.75 mm edging from the Bradbury, Wilkinson archives and sold on Ebay in January 2024

1st rejected die in brown with 0.75 mm edging from the Bradbury, Wilkinson archives and sold on Ebay in January 2024

1st rejected die in green with 0.75 mm edging from the Bradbury, Wilkinson archives and sold on Ebay in January 2024

1st rejected die in blue with 0.75 mm edging from the Bradbury, Wilkinson archives and sold on Ebay in January 2024

2nd (approved) Die

Uncleared State

2nd approved die uncleared state in black on card (60 x 91 mm) with 1 mm solid edging. Seen in Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1274. Ex Alan Griffiths. Now in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock. The annotation is "engraved by W Ridgway"

2nd approved die uncleared state in black on wove paper (55 x 62 mm) with 1 mm solid edging. Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

Cleared State - Thick  and thin cards

Blue

2nd approved die cleared state in light blue on what was described as wove paper (109 x 71 mm). Seen in Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1275. Ex Alan Griffiths

2nd approved die cleared state in blue on cream wove paper (60 x 60 mm). Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

2nd approved die cleared state in blue on card. Seen in the L'estrange collection at the Queensland Museum

Brick-red

2nd approved die cleared state in brick-red (stated to be orange-red) on cream wove paper (60 x 60 mm). Seen in Corinphila auction October 2017

2nd approved die cleared state in brick-red (stated in auction description as dull orange-red) on thin card (23 x 28 mm). Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 146 lot no 1104. Ex Bernie Manning

Brown

2nd approved die cleared state in brown on cream wove paper (60 x 60 mm). Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

2nd approved die cleared state in brown on thin card (23 x 28 mm). Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 146 lot no 1103. Ex Bernie Manning

Green

2nd approved die cleared state in green on cream wove paper (60 x 60 mm). Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

Violet

2nd approved die cleared state in violet on thin card. Seen in the L'estrange collection at the Queensland Museum

2nd approved die cleared state in violet on what the auctioneer described as cream wove paper (60 x 60 mm). Seen in Corinphila auction October 2017

Unknown colour

2nd approved die cleared state in an unknown colour seen in the Bassett Hull plates for the 2nd volume that was never issued