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 rejected as instead of a steel die two soft electrolytes (rejected die and a duplicate rejected die) were received which could not be used to prepare the electrolyte plate. One example of this die has a flaw to the tip of the Queen's nose and the duplicate die was not shown by Scudder (Kenneth Scudder, Queensland Postage Stamps 1879 to 1912, pp. 98-9). Existing proofs of the rejected die with an undamaged nose suggest the nose damage occurred either in transit to Queensland or after it was received there

In early 2024 proofs in various colours and retained by Bradley, Wilkinson in their archives were sold on Ebay. These appear to be the rejected duplicate die not shown in Scudder. The major difference between the rejected die and the rejected duplicate die is that the dots in the frame have been damaged in several places. One other example on card from this rejected die is also known

To simplify matters I refer to the various dies and their state as follows:

Rejected die

With a frame 0.75 mm outside the design and a flaw to the nose in one example. There were two different rejected dies, the rejected die and the rejected duplicate die with frame dot damage (see letter from William Knight below)

• Rejected Die - on thin card in blue, rose, lilac and black
• Rejected Die, damaged nose - in black or blue on a portion of a letter
• Rejected Duplicate Die - from the archives of Bradley, Wilkinson (not shown in Scudder) in black, brown, green and blue and one other example on card in rose

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

Top row - Left to right; Rejected die, Rejected die showing nose damage, Rejected duplicate die 

Bottom row - Left to Right; Approved die - uncleared state, Approved die - cleared state

Letter from William Knight (reproduced in Scudder, p. 98), suggesting that there were two separate dies supplied - the die and the duplicate. They were rejected and were slightly larger than the later approved die

Rejected Die

Black

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

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

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"

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

Rejected die - nose damage

Rejected die in blue (issued colour) with 0.75 mm edging on a portion of a letter and showing the damaged nose, suggesting that the nose damage occurred in transit to Queensland as the 4 other known proofs of this rejected die, probably printed in England, do not show nose damage. In this letter William Knight is giving further instructions about his requirements for a new die. Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

Rejected Duplicate die

These, stated to be from the archives of Bradley, Wilkinson, were auctioned on Ebay in January 2024 and subsequently appeared in Abacus auction no 256 lot no 312. They appear to be from the duplicate version of the rejected die. The difference between the rejected die and the duplicate rejected die is damage to several of the frame dots

Black

Rejected duplicate die in black with 0.75 mm edging from the Bradbury, Wilkinson archives and sold on Ebay in January 2024

Brown

Rejected duplicate die in brown with 0.75 mm edging from the Bradbury, Wilkinson archives and sold on Ebay in January 2024

Green

Rejected duplicate die in green with 0.75 mm edging from the Bradbury, Wilkinson archives and sold on Ebay in January 2024

Blue

Rejected duplicate die in blue with 0.75 mm edging from the Bradbury, Wilkinson archives and sold on Ebay in January 2024

Rose

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

Approved Die

Uncleared State

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"

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

Approved die uncleared state in black on wove paper (55 x 62 mm) with 1 mm solid edging. Seen in Grosvenor auctions 2024

Cleared State - Thick  and thin cards

Blue

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 Ron Butler and Alan Griffiths

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

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

Brick-red

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

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

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

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

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

Violet

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

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

Approved die cleared state in an unknown colour seen in the Bassett Hull plates for the projected 2nd volume that never eventuated