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NOTES: 1: The most recent research into this period, primarily by Mike Williams, but with contributions from other experts, has established that the 'Transitional' issues can be loosely broken down into three groups, all printed on UNBLUED paper (paper is not necessarily 'toned', and not usually 'thicker'). C8A, the red-brown shades on unblued paper, occurred both in early and late 1856, and may be found used as late as early 1857 - the use of unblued paper at these times being almost certainly entirely accidental. The subsequent C9 shades fall into two groups: the Orange-brown, Red-orange, Pale Red, and Bright Rose-red (C10(1) - March 1857) shades appeared in February and March 1857, printed at Perkins Bacon's Whitefriars Fleet Street premises. The unblued paper arose as a result of changes in the chemical ingredients of the ink, which may or may not have been designed to reduce the blueing - there is in fact no evidence to suggest that the removal of the blueing was as a result of any deliberate attempt to achieve this effect. Then in mid-March 1857, Perkins Bacon's premises suffered a major fire, as a result of which much of the prepared stock of stamps (and ink ingredients) was destroyed. The printing operation moved to temporary premises in Savoy Street, at which time, as a result of the use of a temporary 'make do' mix of ink ingredients, the Pale Rose shades appeared. Towards the end of the Savoy Street period, the true 'Rose-red' shades appeared, but these are indistingishable from the shades produced on the return to Fleet Street.

2: What are described as CONSTANT VARIETIES in the listings for these issues are generally features described and illustrated in 'Penny Red Stars', Parts 1 and 2, by Wiggins and Tonna.

Item No.	SG/Spec	Plate/Letters	Description	Price	Key
RP:C8A:8949	37 C8A	34 NC	1856 1d Red-brown on White Paper: Ex WIGGINS, a VFU single from this SCARCE issue, the RED-BROWN shade on WHITE PAPER, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a smudged English Provincial numeral. CONSTANT VARIETY: R upright of 'N' thin. 'N' also misplaced left. Cat.£300+.	£75.00
RP:C8A:9005	37 C8A	35 OI	1856 1d Red-brown on White Paper: A FU+ single from this SCARCE issue, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a smudged Kettering '414' numeral. CONSTANT VARIETY: blur SE. Also NE corner frame-line extending E, and SE ext S. Cat.£300+.	£65.00
RP:C8A:9006	37 C8A	44 MI	1856 1d Red-brown on White Paper: A FU+ single from this SCARCE issue, off-centre high, but with FULL PERFS, cancelled with an Oxford '603' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX. DOUBLE LETTER 'M', and also lower E frame-break and NE 1 o'clock Ray Flaw. Cat.£300+.	£65.00
RP:C8A:9002	37 C8A	45 EB	1856 1d Red-brown on White Paper: A FU+ single from this SCARCE issue, off-centre high left, but with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a WOLVERHAMPTON SPOON. 'B' misplaced right, and both letters tilted W. Cat.£300+.	£65.00
RP:C8A:9003	37 C8A	45 SF	1856 1d Red-brown on White Paper: A FU+ single from this SCARCE issue, off-centre high, but with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a RARE ODIHAM '590' numeral (Parmenter RARITY 'F' - 'RARE'. Lower E frame-break, NE 1 o'clock Ray Flaw, and 'F' misplaced right. Cat.£300+.	£65.00
RP:C9:8977	- C9(4)	27 BJ	A VFU single from this SCARCER Transitional plate, in a PALE ROSE shade on UNBLUED paper, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, on a neat small DATED PIECE of 10 NOVEMBER 1857, neatly cancelled with a Glasgow '159' duplex. This is a VERY LATE DATE for usage of a Transitional shade. Blur outside NE. Cat.£75+.	£20.00
RP:C9:8966	33/- C8(5)/C9(3)	27 CE	A VFU SCARCE MATCHED PAIR, the C8 in the SCARCER ORANGE-BROWN shade on blued paper, and the C9 TRANSITIONAL in the PALE RED shade on UNBLUED paper. Both are WELL-CENTRED, both with FULL PERFS, both lightly cancelled with English Provincial SIDEWAYS DUPLEXES, the C8 with a RARE BUNGAY (Suffolk) '147' (Parmenter RARITY 'F' - 'RARE'), and the C9 with Brighton '132'. CONSTANT VARIETY: blur in 'C', and also lower E blurred, and 'C' misplaced low right. Cat.£130+.	£37.50
RP:C9:8975	- C9(4)	27 IG	A VFU single from this SCARCER Transitional plate, in an UNUSUALLY PALE PALE ROSE shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with two strikes of an English Provincial numeral. Letters misplaced right and high left respectively. Cat.£75+.	£18.50
RP:C9:8976	- C9(3)	27 PC	A VFU single from this SCARCER Transitional plate, in the PALE RED shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a Bradford '107' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX. Letters misplaced low right. Cat.£75+.	£18.50
RP:C9:7431	- C9(4)	27 PE	A VFU single from this SCARCER plate, in the PALE ROSE shade on UNBLUED paper, centred a whisker low left, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a RARE UPPER CLEVEDON '017' numeral (Parmenter Rarity 'G' - 'VERY RARE'). 'P' with large loop, and tall 'E' misplaced slightly right. Cat.£75+.	£25.00
RP:C9:7458	29/- C8/C9(4)	31 AG	The C8 ex WIGGINS, a VFU+ SCARCE MATCHED PAIR, the C9 TRANSITIONAL in the PALE ROSE shade on UNBLUED paper: the C8 is centred slightly high right, the C9 WELL-CENTRED, both with FULL PERFS, both lightly cancelled with English Provincial numerals, the C8 with such a faint cancel that the HEAD is virtually CLEAR. A MISSING IMPRIMATUR, showing blind 'A' with lower serifs meeting, and 'G' misplaced right. Cat.£93+.	£30.00
RP:C9:7422	30/- C8(2)/C9(3)	31 DI	The C8 ex WIGGINS, a FU+ SCARCE MATCHED PAIR, the C8 in the BRICK-RED shade, and the C9 TRANSITIONAL in the PALE RED shade on UNBLUED paper, the C8 WELL-CENTRED, the C9 off-centre low left, both with FULL PERFS, but cancelled with smudged English numeral and Scots Local respectively. Blur upper E, 'D' misplaced right, and 'I' tilted W. Cat.£115+.	£25.00
RP:C9:7426	30/- C8(2)/C9(2)	31 EC	The C8 ex WIGGINS, a FU/VFU VERY SCARCE MATCHED PAIR, the C8 in the BRICK-RED shade (minor faults), and the C9 TRANSITIONAL in the SCARCE RED-ORANGE shade on UNBLUED paper: both are WELL-CENTRED, both with FULL PERFS (some perf-tips slightly trimmed on the C8), and are cancelled respectively with a tiny high fragment of an English Provincial numeral, leaving almost COMPLETE CLEAR HEAD, and a neat Congleton '216' numeral. Blur over 'E', and 'C' tilted E. Cat.£140+.	£30.00
RP:C9:8970	- C9(3)	31 II	A VFU single from this slightly SCARCER Transitional plate, in an UNUSUAL shade of PALE RED, very close to the BRIGHT ROSE-RED shade of March 1857 (currently listed as C10(1), but now recognised as a Transitional pre-fire shade), centred a whisker high, with FULL PERFS, neatly cancelled with a HULL SPOON. A MISSING IMPRIMATUR, showing weak W frame-line. Cat.£75+.	£20.00
RP:C9:9162	- C9(3)	33 JK	A FU+ single from this SCARCE Transitional plate, in the PALE RED shade, centred slightly high, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a slightly smudged London Inland numeral. Lower W weak, blurs SE, and 'K' tilted W. Cat.£100.	£22.50
RP:C9:8293	30/- C8(2)/C9(4)	34 AC	A VFU and good UNUSED RARE MATCHED PAIR, the C8 (ex WIGGINS) in a FINE RICH BRICK-RED shade, matched with a RARE UNUSED C9 PALE ROSE, both WELL-CENTRED, the C8 with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a London Inland '18' numerals, the C9 with some perf damage at top, and no gum. This lettering a MISSING IMPRIMATUR, showing CONSTANT VARIETY: mark in 'C' (faint on C9), and 'A' blind. Cat.£390+.	£45.00
RP:C9:8821	29/33/- C8(1)/C8(5)/C9(2)	34 DD	A VFU SCARCE MATCHED TRIO: the C9 is a SUPERB example of the VERY SCARCE TRANSITIONAL RED-ORANGE shade, matched with Red-brown and ORANGE-BROWN C8s on blued paper. All three are ex WIGGINS, though the great man had unaccountably incorrectly plated the C9 as Plate 36! All are WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled respectively with a neat London District '77' duplex, a Witney '902' numeral, and a Manchester '498' numeral (probably a SIDEWAYS DUPLEX). Base of SE weak, and letters misplaced right. Cat.£248+.	£75.00
RP:C9:6006	33/33/- C8(5)/C8(5)/C9(3)	34 GD	A good-VFU SCARCE MATCHED TRIO, the C8s ex WIGGINS in two different shades of the SCARCER ORANGE-BROWN (the first on VERY BLUE paper), matched with a TRANSITIONAL (SCARCER PLATE) in the PALE RED shade on UNBLUED paper, all WELL-CENTRED, but with one or two very minor perf faults, cancelled with an IRISH DERRY '172' SPOON, and London District duplexes. CONSTANT VARIETY: mark on cheek, and also 'D' with extended serif. Cat.£160+.	£30.00
RP:C9:8974	29/- C8/C9(4)	34 KG	A FU/GU MATCHED PAIR, the C8 ex WIGGINS in a light Red-brown shade on very faintly blued paper, and the C9 TRANSITIONAL in the PALE ROSE shade. Both are reasonably WELL-CENTRED, the C8 with FULL PERFS, but the C9 perfs trimmed upper W. They are cancelled respectively with a London Inland '43' numeral, and a VERY SCARCE LONDON DISTRICT '21' numeral. Lower W weak, and 'K' misplaced high right with lower serifs joined. Cat.£83++.	£15.00
RP:C9:8968	- C9(1)	35 AK	A FU+ single from this SCARCE plate, in the SCARCER ORANGE-BROWN shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, but corner perf SW pulled, lightly cancelled with a BRISTOL SPOON. A MISSING IMPRIMATUR, with heavy blur E, 'A' blind, and 'K' tilted E. Cat.£200+.	£45.00
RP:C9:8904	- C9(3)	35 NG	A FU single from this SCARCE plate, in the PALE RED shade, centred slightly low, with FULL PERFS, but faint vertical crease, lightly cancelled with an English Provincial numeral. 'N' misplaced left. Cat.£200.	£37.50
RP:C9:8917	- C9(3)	35 TC	A FU+ single from this SCARCE plate, in the PALE RED shade, centred slightly high left, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a Scots numeral. Top of 'T' sloping downwards to the left, and 'C' misplaced right and tilted E. Cat.£200.	£42.50
RP:C9:8978	- C9(2)	35 TH	A VFU single from this SCARCE plate, in a FINE and VERY SCARCE RED-ORANGE shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a London District '72' duplex. A SHORT STAMP (SCARCER from the 'T' Row), with upper E blurred, and E margin narrow. Cat.£200++.	£65.00
RP:C9:8999	30/- C8(2)/C9(4)	36 CF	A VFU SCARCE MATCHED PAIR, the C8 in the SCARCER BRICK-RED shade on blued paper, and the C9 TRANSITIONAL in the PALE ROSE shade on UNBLUED paper. Both are reasonably WELL-CENTRED, both with FULL PERFS, both lightly cancelled respectively with a NEWBURY '544' numeral and a Birmingham '75' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX. CONSTANT VARIETIES: marks/blurs SW, and also letters misplaced right and high right. Cat.£100+.	£25.00
RP:C9:8912	- C9(3)	36 KF	A VFU+ single, in the PALE RED shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, cancelled high left with an English Provincial numeral, leaving most of the HEAD CLEAR. Letters misplaced high right. Cat.£60.	£18.50
RP:C9:8712	- C9(3)	37 CB	A VFU single in the PALE RED shade, centred a whisker low, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with an English Provincial numeral, leaving slender CLEAR PROFILE. CONSTANT VARIETY: mark by 'B', and also W frame-line weak. Cat.£60+.	£16.50
RP:C9:8980	- C9(4)	37 DG	A VFU single in the PALE ROSE shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, neatly cancelled with a London District '72' duplex. Slight lower E frame-break, NE corner frame-line extending N, and 'G' misplaced left. Cat.£60.	£15.00
RP:C9:8979	- C9(3)	37 FD	A VFU single in the PALE RED shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, neatly cancelled with a MANCHESTER SPOON. Slight lower E frame-break, and 'D' misplaced right. Cat.£60+.	£15.00
RP:C9:8991	- C9(3)(C10(1))	37 SK	A FU+ single in a FINE example of the SCARCE BRIGHT ROSE-RED shade, (currently wrongly listed by SG as C10(1)(March-April 1857), which of course is right in the middle of the Transitional period, and almost certainly pre-fire), here on a neat DATED PIECE of 17 OCTOBER 1857, a LATE USE of this C9 shade. It is slightly off-centre low right, with FULL PERFS, but toned at the corners, neatly cancelled with a Bristol '134' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX, leaving COMPLETE CLEAR PROFILE. 'S' misplaced left, and 'K' tilted E. Cat.£85+.	£20.00
RP:C9:8981	- C9(1)	40 BD	A good-FU single from this RARE plate, in a SUPERB BRIGHT ORANGE-BROWN shade (this plate is renowned for its orange shades, both on blued and unblued paper), WELL-CENTRED, but with perf faults (one perf missing centre W, and perfs along base slightly 'nibbled'), lightly cancelled with a Leeds '447' numeral. Blur outside NW, and 'D' misplaced right. Cat.£400+.	£55.00
RP:C9:8985	-/40 C9(3)/C10	43 IL	A VFU MATCHED PAIR, the C9 in the PALE RED shade, and the C10 in a DEEPISH Rose-red shade on white paper. Both are centred slightly high, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled respectively with a Stamford '742' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX, and an IRISH DROGHEDA '179' SPOON. Lower E frame-break, 'I' misplaced left, and 'L' tilted W. Cat.£75+.	£18.50
RP:C9:8984	- C9(1)	43 JE	A VFU single in the SCARCER ORANGE-BROWN shade, off-centre low, but with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a Bristol '134' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX. Lower E frame-break, NE 1 o'clock Ray Flaw, and letters misplaced to centre. Cat.£150+.	£37.50
RP:C9:8983	- C9(4)	43 LG	A VFU single in the PALE ROSE shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, neatly cancelled with a DUBLIN SPOON. Lower E frame-break, and letters misplaced right. Cat.£60+.	£15.00
RP:C9:8986	- C9(2)	43 RG	A VFU single in the VERY SCARCE RED-ORANGE shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a Coventry '223' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX. Lower E frame-break, NE 1 o'clock Ray Flaw, and letters misplaced low and left respectively. Cat.£175+.	£45.00
RP:C9:8988	- C9(1)	44 DA	A VFU+ single in a LOVELY SCARCE ORANGE-BROWN shade, VERY WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a SCARCE WELSH NEWCASTLE EMLYN '170' numeral (Parmenter Rarity 'E' - 'SCARCE'). Lower E frame-break, 'D' misplaced right and E of SW concave, and 'A' tilted W. Cat.£150+.	£45.00
RP:C9:8989	- C9(3)	44 DJ	A VFU single in the PALE RED shade, centred a whisker high left, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a Nottingham '583' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX. Lower E frame-break, and 'D' misplaced low right and tilted W. Cat.£60+.	£15.00
RP:C9:8987	- C9(1)	44 NB	A VFU single in the SCARCER ORANGE-BROWN shade, centred slightly low left, with FULL PERFS, VERY LIGHTLY cancelled with an English Provincial numeral. Lower E frame-break, and 'B' misplaced right. Cat.£150+.	£37.50
RP:C9:8812	- C9(3)	45 AJ	A VFU single from this RARE plate, in the PALE RED shade (with a slight ORANGE tint), centred slightly high left, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a Leeds '447' numeral. A MISSING IMPRIMATUR, showing lower E frame-break, NE 1 o'clock Ray Flaw, and 'J' misplaced right. Cat.£350.	£87.50
RP:C9:8760	- C9(4)	45 CB	A VFU single from this RARE plate, in the PALE ROSE shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a neat Manchester '498' numeral (probably a SIDEWAYS DUPLEX). Lower E frame-break, NE 1 o'clock Ray Flaw, and letters misplaced right. NOTE: faint blurs in letter-squares, though not mentioned by Wiggins & Tonna in 'Penny Red Stars', are visible on the Imprimatur photo. Cat.£350.	£85.00
RP:C9:8998	- C9(1)	45 HG	A VFU single from this RARE plate, in the a LOVELY PALE ORANGE-BROWN shade (or PALE RED with an ORANGE tint!), centred a whisker high, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a Birmingham '75' numeral. Lower E frame-break, NE 1 o'clock Ray Flaw, and 'H' misplaced right with extended serif. Cat.£350+.	£85.00
RP:C9:6509	- C9(2)	45 PK	A VFU single from this RARE plate, in a FINE example of the VERY SCARCE RED-ORANGE shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a London Inland '20' numeral. On exceptionally THICK SOFT TONED PAPER with ROUGH PERFS as a result. Lower E frame-break, and 'P' with large loop misplaced low. Cat.£350+.	£85.00
RP:C9:8994	- C9(2)	47 AB	A VFU+ single in a FINE SCARCE RED-ORANGE shade, VERY WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with an English Provincial numeral. A MISSING IMPRIMATUR, with blur outside NW, and letters misplaced low right and right, with a DISTINCTIVE HANDCUT 'B' with THIN CENTRE BAR. Cat.£175+.	£55.00
RP:C9:8992	- C9(1)	47 AD	A VFU+ single in a LOVELY SCARCE ORANGE-BROWN shade, centred a whisker low, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a neat IRISH CORK '156' numeral. A MISSING IMPRIMATUR, with lower E frame-break, and 'A' blind and misplaced right. Cat.£150+.	£45.00
RP:C9:8993	- C9(4)	47 AE	A VFU+ single in a LOVELY PALE ROSE shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled right with an English Provincial numeral, leaving COMPLETE CLEAR PROFILE. A MISSING IMPRIMATUR, with letters misplaced low and right respectively. Cat.£65.	£20.00
RP:C9:8990	- C9(3)(C10(1))	47 CL	A VFU single in a LOVELY example of the SCARCE BRIGHT ROSE-RED shade, (currently wrongly listed by SG as C10(1)(March-April 1857), which of course is right in the middle of the Transitional period, and almost certainly pre-fire), here on a neat and IMPORTANT DATED PIECE of 29 MAY 1857, proving that this is in fact a C9 shade. It is slightly off-centre low left, with FULL PERFS except for one short at SW corner, neatly cancelled with a London District '71' duplex. Lower E frame-break. Cat.£85+.	£25.00
RP:C9:7902	- C9(4)	47 EH	A VFU single from this slightly SCARCER plate, in the PALE ROSE shade, VERY WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with a Bradford (Yorks) '107' numeral. Lower E frame-break. Cat.£65.	£16.50
RP:C9:6712	- C9(3)	47 HI	A VFU single from this slightly SCARCER plate, in the PALE RED shade, centred a whisker low, with FULL PERFS, neatly cancelled with a London District '74' duplex. Letters misplaced right and high respectively. Cat.£65.	£16.50
RP:C9:8995	- C9(4)	47 PK	A VFU single in the PALE ROSE shade, centred slightly low, with FULL PERFS, cancelled right with a Leeds '447' numeral. Lower E frame-break, small loop 'P' misplaced high right, and 'K' tilted W. Cat.£65.	£16.50
RP:C9:8969	- C9(3)	48 AB	A VFU single from this SCARCE plate, in the PALE RED shade (approaching PALE ROSE, but this plate was not in use at Savoy Street), centred a whisker high, with FULL PERFS, lightly cancelled with a neat Glasgow '159' numeral. Lower E frame-break, 'A' misplaced right, and blur over 'B'. Cat.£125.	£32.50
RP:C9:7441	- C9(2)	48 GA	A FINE RARE UNUSED single from this SCARCE plate, in the SCARCER RED-ORANGE shade, centred slightly left, with FULL PERFS, but no gum and a tiny slight thin behind NW corner. Lower E frame-break, 'G' misplaced left, and 'A' tilted W. Cat.£650+.	£75.00
RP:C9:8996	- C9(3)	48 JJ	A FU single from this SCARCE plate, in the PALE RED shade, WELL-CENTRED, with FULL PERFS, but smudgily cancelled with an oily Dover '285' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX. Letters misplaced low. Cat.£125.	£25.00
RP:C9:8997	- C9(1)	48 NI	A FU+ single from this SCARCE plate, in the SCARCE ORANGE-BROWN shade, centred slightly high, with FULL PERFS, cancelled with an indistinct English Provincial numeral. CONSTANT VARIETY: mark at base of NE star square. Also lower E frame-break, and 'I' misplaced left. Cat.£150+.	£38.50
RP:C9:9161 RPS CERT	- C9(4)	49 EC	A GU+ single from this RARE plate, in the PALE ROSE shade, off-centre high left, with a couple of perf tips trimmed at top right, on irregular small DATED PIECE of 4 JULY 1857, cancelled with a NEWPORT (Mon.) '561' SIDEWAYS DUPLEX. CONSTANT VARIETY: blur SE below 'C', lower E frame-break, and NE 1 o'clock Ray Flaw. With RPS CERT, which astonishingly incorrectly describes it as C9(3) Pale Red! Cat.£380+.	£45.00
RP:C9:8757	- C9(3)	52 BG	Ex WIGGINS, a FU single from this RARE plate, in the PALE RED shade, centred slightly low, with FULL PERFS, but minute pinprick, cancelled with a Wellingborough '858' numeral. No fewer than THREE CONSTANT VARIETIES: dot above NE, mark on back of 'G' (slightly DOUBLED?), and blur SE around 'G'. Cat.£380+.	£75.00
RP:C9:8916	-/40 C9(4)/C10	55 QC	A FU RARE MATCHED PAIR from this VERY RARE Transitional plate, in the PALE ROSE shade, matched with a C10 Rose-red. Both are off-centre high left, but with FULL PERFS, cancelled with English Provincial numerals. RE-ENTRY, showing marks in 'POSTAGE' and value, of which the blurs in the 'O' and 'E' of 'POSTAGE', the 'O' of 'ONE' and the 'Y' of 'PENNY' are the most clearly visible. In addition the narrow E margin and top right of SE 'C' square are heavily blurred, and the letters are misplaced right and left. Cat.£980+.	£200.00