THE MASTER DIES

The master die was a single impression of the stamp from which the stamps for whole plates would be subsequently made.

Imprimatur, die 1 plate 169

The head part of the design was engraved by Charles and Frederick Heath. This head was used as the origin of all British line engraved stamps for the following 40 years. The fine lines in the background and side ornametation were typical work of the Rose engine, mechanically transferred to the die by a roller.

Imprimatur, die 2 plate 9

In 1855 a new master die, "die 2", was laid down using the original die and the impression retouched. Whilst this led to many subtle differences between the two dies, the following are particularly prominant :-

	Die 1	Die 2
			1) The shading under the lower rim of the crown is heavier in die 2.
			2) In die 1, the shading of the eye and eyebrow is light whereas it is heavily shaded in die 2.
			3) In die one the line of the nostril is fairly straight whereas in die 2 it is distinctly curved.
			4) In die 1 the mouth has a slightly open appearence whereas it is closed in die 2.
			5) In die 2, the lower hair has additional shading. In particular the hair appears to curle back on itself (arrowed).