The Union "Waffle-Plate"

[dstorm 10]

Hello all

 

I hope to post articles on material that I have knowledge on. I trust that other Stamp Forum members will reciprocate by doing the same.

 

Union of South Africa. The Waffle Plate (SACC 86c). A printing "variety" that has many a collector stumped.

 

The Waffle Plate is actually a nick-name for the Coarse Screen printing (5th issue) of the 1½d Gold Mine Issue. Some philatelists prefer to refer to this as a Plate 5. Quoting from the Union Handbook: “ Examined under a magnifier, many parts of the design stands out like a series of Pearl Shaped Beads, which together with their grid-like pattern has gained this the name of the Waffle–plate production.

 

This issue had no Cylinder Numbers!

 

I am illustrating Issue 5 (waffle plate / coarse screen) on top and Issue 6 (fine screen) at the bottom.

 

Looking at the Bottom Left or Bottom Right detail (green) the difference in printings should be quite obvious.

[korrie 10]

Hi Jacques

 

Thanks for this info

This "waffle" info had me baffled for a long time

Seeing your pics really indicated what a waffle looked like

Funny that I never accociated with the cream/ice cream before

Never to ancient to learn

thanks a lot

 

If you have some of these wafflles with cream or without cream for sale please advise me

Regards

Korrie

[dstorm 10]

Hello Korrie

Thanks for your reply.

By the way, the SACC states that the Waffle-Plate is from the FIRST printing. This is incorrect.

Yes, I have some Waffles in stock, but definitely not with cream, nor ice-cream.

One the one hand, I believe that the catalogue value of the Waffle-Plate is somewhat arbitrary. The current catalogue value is R180-00. Why? This stamp is much scarcer than many other stamps with a higher catalogue value. I would gladly swop you some RSA First Definitive Control Blocks catalogued at R300-00 upwards for a pair of Waffle Plates. Or just compare this catalogue value to the value of a pair of London used 2d’s. Or a SUPERB MINT set of 1938 Voortrekkers (SACC 79/80). Ludicrous to say the least. In fact, I will offer you 3 Voortrekker sets for one pair of Waffles.

But on the other hand, should you have a sharp eye, you could pick up these stamps as the normal ones, paying a few Rand per pair.

Regards

Jacques

[2dblue 10]

Thanks for the image - it really helps sometimes to actually see the variety then to read about it in a book - In this regard i am refering to the Union Handbook