The 1882 Halfpenny Provisional

In April 1882 the postage rate for newspapers was reduced to ½d and as a result new stamps were required. These were duely ordered from de la Rue but until they arrived a provisional issue was necessary. Stocks of the existing 5s green were high and usage was small, and therefore this stamp was overprinted to meet the immediate demand.

The overprint consists of "½d" in small type, and once again bars were used to cancel the original value. The type used for the overprint was all from the same fount and there are no major varieties. The sheets of stamps were cut in half (horizontally between upper and lower panes) and the resulting half sheets were overprinted a pane at a time.

A pair of overprinted ½d on 5s provisionals showing wing margins (the line of perforations in the centre is the vertical join between left and right panes). The cancelling bars do not run up to the margin. The mis-alignment between the two sets of overprints and the difference in inking strength are due to the overprinting of the left and right panes separately.

A copy from the right pane, again showing the central wing margin. This time, however, the bar runs across the wing margin, stopping just short of the edge of the perforations.