Ceylon postage stamp year 1861-64 QV 1d blue MH

Ceylon postage stamp year 1861-64 QV 1d blue MH Ceylon 1861–64 Queen Victoria 1d Blue stamp was engraved and printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co. using a Large Star watermark paper. Because the initial crisp perforating pins rapidly deteriorated from wear, the 1d value is heavily cataloged by the precision of its perforation holes. Catalog Identification & Varieties The 1d blue is categorized into three main perforation states. Determining which one you have dramatically impacts its catalog profile: 1. Clean-Cut or Intermediate Perforations (1861) Perforation: 14 to 15½ (Holes are perfectly round and cleanly punched) Stanley Gibbons: SG 19 (Light Blue) or SG 19a (Blue) Scott Catalog: Scott 17 2. Rough Perforations (1861–1864) Perforation: 14 to 15½ (Ragged, torn holes where the paper discs didn’t detach cleanly) Stanley Gibbons: SG 27 (Blue) or SG 28 (Dull Blue) Scott Catalog: Scott 28 Note: This variety is much more common than the clean-cut version. Keep an eye out for a constant plate variety on SG 28 showing a prominent design doubling (re-entry) in the word “CEYLON”. 3. Star Watermark / Short-Lived Perforation 12½ (1862) Perforation: 12½ (A distinct gauge change printed briefly on Star watermarked paper) Stanley Gibbons: SG 35 (Dull Blue) Scott Catalog: Scott 28a Technical Specifications AttributeDetailsCountryCeylon (British Colony)Year of Issue1861–1864Denomination1 Penny (1d)PrinterPerkins, Bacon & Co.Printing MethodLine-engraved (Intaglio)WatermarkLarge Star Watch Out for Later Releases: In late 1863, De La Rue took over printing operations. They released a 1d stamp that looks nearly identical from the front, but it is printed on completely different paper. If the back reveals a Crown CC watermark (SG 49) or an unwatermarked soft paper instead of the Star, it belongs to the later 1863–1865 De La Rue printings.