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Good evening all.

Recently I have acquired a few Western Australia 'Swan' stamps. I was sitting this afternoon trying to sort them by watermark. The only guide I have is Scott 2009 general.

Scott lists five watermarks, noted as Wmk82, a swan; Wmk83, A crown W; Wmk70, A stylised 'V' over a crown; Wmk13, crown over double lined'A' and Wmk13, a crown over a single lined 'A'. So far, so good. Scott then refers to the 1865-79 set perf 12½ and 1872-78 as Wmk1. Do they mean the unillustrated 'Crown and CC' Wmk? If this is the case, then is Wmk2 the unillustrated 'Crown and CA' ?

With CC and CA, should they be viewed from the front or back of the stamp to read in the right order?

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With kind regards, Jim

Last question first: Viewed from the front to read CA or CC.
Viewed from the back = backwards.

I don't have a Scott, but use SG. Does Scott illustrate the watermark in the front notes? So many countries used the same paper that 'generic' images are usually shown to cover all of them.

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Greg - Looking for Goulburn Australia Cancels and Grangemouth Scotland Cancels and Covers
Member of the S.T.A.M.P Club for Slightly Twisted And Mad Philatelists - Motto: "Bring back the lick!"

Why on earth is ANYONE in the UK using SCOTT for Aust or States???

Total waste of time basically.

A few year old SG will cost you a few quid. And then the rest of the world will understand your queries.

First watermark - swan - used on issues from 1854 through 1861


1864 issues are unwatermarked.

Second watermark - crown CC - used 1865-1878; 1885


(Forged surcharges are known on both second and third watermarked papers)

Third watermark - crown CA - 1882-1895


Fourth watermark - W crown A - 1899-1901


The 1902-1911 printings were all done in Melbourne using V and crown watermark paper; and for your amusement, printings done 1905-1912 used crown A watermarked paper - mostly sideways.

Hope this helps.

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FORESTS OLD, PASTURES NEW
(An expert is one who knows more and more, about less and less, until they know absolutely everything about nothing at all)

Well, having been seduced by the Australian cadre on here, I have started to pick up a few Australian stamps, I haven't got enough yet to justify a specialised catalogue. I will do though, Robert Murray in Edinburgh generally has older issue catalogues for sale at a reasonable price.

Lovely stamps the swans, very elegant design.

BTW, my query was understood, and answered!

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With kind regards, Jim