Die proofs are printed in black on white glazed card, typically 92 x 60mm, unless otherwise noted. They are listed below ordered by head size then date, with undated proofs following dated ones. The rightmost column gives the number recorded in our database: in private hands + institutionalised.
1
2
3
4
5
There are five heads associated with telegraph stamps. The small head die (States 1 & 2), thought to have been started with halfpenny postage stamps in mind, was considered but not adopted. A middle sized die (3, De La Rue head die 195 “New original, Queen’s head reduced”) was adopted for the low values (1d, 3d, 1s), and a larger die (4) was possibly considered for the 5s, but the head used for the existing 5s postage stamp (5, De La Rue head die 25 “Original for 4d”) was adopted instead.
Since telegraph heads were intended to be smaller than postage heads, the engraving is less detailed. This is clearly seen in the simpler crosses on the diadem:
Telegraphs Diadem (Die 195)
Postage Diadem (Die 25)
| Head Die | Punch | Stamp Die | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d: | 195 | 196 | 199 |
| 3d: | 195 | 196 | 201 |
| 4d: | 195 | 196 | 224 |
| 6d: | 195 | 196 | 225 |
| 1s: | 195 | 196 | 200 |
| 3s: | 195 | 196 | 222 |
| 5s: | 25 | 27 | 198 |
| 10s: | 25 | 27 | 221 |
| £1: | 25 | 27 | 223 |
| £5: | 25 | 27 | 226 |
Small Head Die
The small head die is thought to have been started with halfpenny postage stamps in mind, as trials by De La Rue in preparation for surface printed stamps of these values, but there is little evidence to support this. However, a letter from Warren De La Rue dated 13 May 1875, associated with the die proof with manuscript “Cancelled”, states in part:
“We have asked Mr. Page to send you the original little Head Die of which the enclosed is a proof, and which we prepared some time ago so as to satisfy ourselves that we could, if required, produce stamps of the size of the d postage by the Surface process.”
Small Head, State 1
12-14 pearls in upper row
2 lines in bandeau
11mm diameter circle
Small Head, State 2
19 pearls in upper row
3 lines in bandeau
11mm diameter circle
Small Head, State 1 Die Proofs
Probably started with a halfpenny postage stamp in mind.
To see more Small Head, State 1 Die Proofs click here.
| 1 | Jan 5, 1875 | — | — | — | 0 + 1 |
| 2 | Jan 6, 1875 | — | — | — | 1 |
| 3 | Jan 21, 1875 | — | — | — | 1 |
| 4 | Feb 16, 1875 | — | — | — | 0 + 1 |
| 5 | Feb 16, 1875 | — | — | In lilac | 1 |
| 6 | no date | — | — | In green | 1 |
Institutionalised/Total: 2/6.
Small Head, State 2 Die Proofs
To see more Small Head, State 2 Die Proofs click here.
| 1 | Mar 31, 1875 | — | — | “BEFORE HARDENING” | 1 + 1 |
| 2 | Apr 29, 1875 | — | — | “BEFORE HARDENING” | 4 |
| 3 | Apr 29, 1875 | — | — | “BEFORE HARDENING”, m/s “Made for In. Rev.” | 1 |
| 4 | Apr 29, 1875 | — | — | “AFTER HARDENING” | 1 + 1 |
| 5 | Apr 29, 1875 | — | — | “AFTER HARDENING”, “Cancelled” | 1 |
| 6 | no date | — | — | Solid circle | 1 |
| 7 | no date | — | — | Uncleared square | 1 |
| 8 | no date | — | — | Cut down, m/s “Sent to In. Rev.” | 1 |
| 9 | no date | — | — | In sepia | 0 + 1 |
| 10 | no date | — | — | In pale rose, large circle | 2 |
| 11 | no date | — | — | In green, large circle | 1 |
| 12 | no date | — | — | In sepia, 34x45mm, frame lines | 1 |
| 13 | no date | — | — | In carmine, 97x128mm | 1 |
| 14 | no date | — | — | In green, 92x129mm, frame lines | 1 |
| 15 | no date | — | — | In green, 97x128mm | 1 |
Institutionalised/Total: 3/21.
Adopted Head Die
The Adopted Head is very similar to Small Head, State 2, only larger.
20 pearls in upper row, 3 lines in bandeau, 13mm diameter circle
Adopted Head Die Proofs
To see more Adopted Head Die Proofs click here.
| 1 | Apr 9, 1875 | — | — | — | 1 |
| 2 | Apr 12, 1875 | — | — | — | 1 |
| 3 | Apr 23, 1875 | — | — | “BEFORE HARDENING” | 3 + 1 |
| 4 | Apr 27, 1875 | — | — | In carmine | 0 + 1 |
| 5 | Apr 27, 1875 | — | — | In green | 1 |
| 6 | no date | — | — | In sepia | 3 + 1 |
| 7 | no date | — | — | In carmine | 2 + 1 |
| 8 | no date | — | — | In green | 1 + 1 |
| 9 | no date | — | — | In grey-green, 75x83mm | 1 |
Institutionalised/Total: 5/18.
In a Countersunk Frame
| no date | Cut down, set in a countersunk frame | 2* |
* Other values have both cream and buff frames. A cream frame may exist, but has not been seen by us.
Large Head Die Proofs
Only a single undated example of this head die has been seen by us. It was sold as a telegraph proof and the head does appear to be a larger version of the adopted telegraph head. However, it is more likely a proof of one of the experimental head dies which lead to the 1879 Tender.
| no date | Large Head | 1 |