Coils and coil leaders Stamps were printed for use in machines, by guillotining the sheet printings, and were delivered from the printers in rolls, or coils. These varied in value and denomination, and identification was put on a wrapper fixed to each roll. This wrapper is known as a coil leader, as the first stamp of each roll is attached to this strip of paper. Two more examples of ½d coil leaders, but on the later stamp issue of 1941 the pale green, instead of the dark green.
The differences in this coil leader are the Identification letter (Z) for the 1d value, the positional row (10) and the total value £8. The paper of the coil leader was usually the same colour as the stamp. These coil leaders are becoming quite scarce, and it is very difficult to get a complete run of the leaders of any one value with the positional numbers of from 1 to 12. Rolls of stamps which are not continuously printed, are made up by joining rows of stamps from sheets, the join being made with the sheet margin. The stamps were joined either vertically or horizontally for different types of vending and dispensing machines. The definitive stamps are 14mm wide and 19mm long, so a sideways-issuing machine has a larger centre core than the vertical issue. The horizontal join shown here on the 4d light ultramarine stamp is clearly visible.Introduction definitive stamps Definitive stamps inverted watermarks High Value stamps Coil stamps and leaders Sheet markings Stamps in booklets Forces Mail and Airletters Commemorative issues Overprints Wartime slogans |
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