Australian KGVI 2d Flaw?

sausage

I recently came across this unusual stamp. It is a KGVI 2d postmarked 1939, and has a colour flaw. See the two attached pics. It appears that on very close inspection perhaps some sort of spill has turned the red into a very distinct purple.

Does anyone know what kind of link may have done this or perhaps it may really be a printing flaw? Some other sized images can be found here for closer inspection....


http://waynejohnson.net/images/stamps/kg-small-front.jpg
http://waynejohnson.net/images/stamps/kg-medium-front.jpg
http://waynejohnson.net/images/stamps/kg-large-front.jpg
http://waynejohnson.net/images/stamps/kg-small-back.jpg
http://waynejohnson.net/images/stamps/kg-medium-back.jpg
http://waynejohnson.net/images/stamps/kg-large-back.jpg

Smittys

It's hard to say, could be a spill, could be a ink error????
I don't know.

laceupboots

Because it's a used stamp it could have picked up something from the envelope tha it was attached too. You might want to have a profesional look at it.

sausage

Thanks for the replies. Sure has me curious.

UncleWiggly

Wayne, I don't think this is a spill. The two colors are too distinct. Also, I don't see any fading in either color. The colors are uniform in respect to the area it fills. And, the colors are clearly divided by a "straight" line from the bottom of the letter "S" down to the left, back, portion of the jaw bone.

It might have been caused by the elements. Maybe something, like a torn envelope, was laid overtop part of the stamp while it was still on the letter and it sat that way for many years.

Or, maybe while the stamp was still on the envelope it was sitting on a night stand with a candle. Wax ran from the candle on to part of the envelope partially covering the stamp. When it cooled, someone was able to lift the wax in it's entirety creating the 2 color shades seperated by distinct curved and straight lines. Well, you never know.

When you find out for sure please let us know!



Jerry