Tudor Crown

The first Elizabethan stamps were printed on Tudor Crown watermarked paper. Six of the nine values of the previous reign were issued. There was sufficient stock of 1d, 1½d, and 1s postage dues that they did not need to be reprinted before the watermark changed to St. Edward’s Crown.

Postage Dues continued to be printed in letterpress by Harrison & Sons on sheet-fed machines, giving the possibility of inverted watermarks.

Watermarks shown as seen from the front of the stamp.

1954-55 Tudor Crown, Sideways
½d Bright Orange 8 June 1955
2d Agate 28 July 1955
3d Violet 4 May 1955
4d Blue 14 July 1955
5d Yellow-brown 19 May 1955
2/6 Purple/Yellow Nov 1954

The ½d, 2d, and 2/6 are known sideways-inverted.

Varieties

Imperforate block of nine, watermark sideways.
A complete imperforate sheet was found at Ewell Post Office, Surrey.