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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)

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