PERFORATION

The advantages of having an easy method of seperating stamps where first brought to the notice of the Government by Henry Archer, an Irish London buisinessman.

Henry Archer produced the so-called "Prince Consort Eassay" which he used whilst conducting experiments with his various perforating machines.

After several attemps, which were to include rouletting as well as perforation, Henry Archer's perforating machine was finally approved and a trial issue took place. These trials are easilly identified since they are the only alphabet 1 stamps that were perforated.

P14	P16	P14	P16
Small Crown Wmk		Large Crown Wmk

The introduction of perforation was one of many changes occuring around 1855. The above examples (lettered AK, die 2, plate 4) cover the change of perforation guage and watermark.

Whilst perforation was fairly new, getting the stamps well centered proved to be difficult and badly centered copies are fairly common.

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