The design of Liberia’s first issue, “Allegory of Liberia sitting
on a rock and a sailing ship”, was probably inspired by the Perkins
Bacon die of 1848 for Trinidad, Mauritius and Barbados first used in 1851.
Initially, four transfers were made, lithographed from line-engraved dies to stone
by Dando, Todhunter and Smith, London (first transfer), later trading as T.F. Todhunter
(second to last transfer). The re-issue of 1880 is listed here as fifth transfer
because despite its inferior printing it is certain that for the 6c to 24c values
the same matrix dies were used as for the first four transfers. Engraver of all
five values (confirmed for 1c and 2c) was probably D. Feldwick.
Transfers are numbered here following Beier, Manfred:
The third and fourth transfer of Liberia’s first issue. LPS Journal October/December 2018: 12–13.
Information about paper thickness was taken from Mackal,
Roy P.: Identification and paper thickness of the first issue of
Liberia, Part II. LPS Journal May/June 1985.
[Note: 1 mil = 0.001 inches = 25.4 µm.]
1st Transfer (1860)
No. 1–3 in all catalogs:
Stamps without frame lines (except the 12c which can show broken dividing
lines between the stamps) on handmade thickish hard paper of 3 to 3.7 mils
thickness, mean 3.3 mils (84 µm), set 1.5 to 2 mm apart, and
perforated 12 (11¾ to 12¼). Gum is yellowish-white and shiny.
Colors are generally described as “deep” and “rich”,
as opposed to the other transfers, but in reality only the 24c can easily
be identified by color alone.
2nd Transfer (1864)
SG 4–6, Scott 7–9, Michel 4–6:
Stamps with an extra frame line 1 mm all round and stamps more widely
spread (approx. 4 to 6 mm) on the sheet, according to Michel catalog
normally perforated 11, but 24c also perforated 11½ x 12
and 11½; other sources give perforations of 11 and 12 exactly.
On medium grayish to white wove paper of 2.2 to 2.9 mils,
mean 2.6 mils (66 µm).
According to some sources also on very thin, almost pelure, white wove
paper.
Gum is thick and yellowish, generally crackly.
Colors are rather dull and closer to those also found in the fourth transfer.
3rd Transfer (1866)
SG 10–12 as fourth transfer, unlisted in Scott and Michel:
Like second transfer, but stamps placed more closely together (distance
between stamps about 2 to 2½ mm)
so that the extra frame lines (which are only partial in places) appear as
double frames on two or more sides on some stamps.
Exists perforated 12 exactly and with irregularly placed holes gauging from
11 to 12.
This issue is on very thin, almost pelure, white wove paper of 1.5 to 2.1
mils, mean 1.7 mils (43 µm).
Gum more thinly spread, smooth, shiny and white.
Colors generally quite pale, but at least one of the two 6c stamps in my
possession does not have the same washed-out appearance as my 12c and 24c
stamps whose colors are indeed easily distinguishable from any other issue.
4th Transfer (1867)
SG 7–9 as third transfer, Scott 13–15, Michel 7–9:
Like first transfer with no extra frame line except on the 24c which can
show faint signs of extra frame lines on one or more sides.
Stamps approximately 2 to 2½ mm apart and usually perforated 12,
6c also perforated 11½ x 12 (Michel).
Gum is smooth, shiny and white to yellowish white.
Paper is thinner on average than in first transfer, 2.4 to 3.2 mils, mean
2.9 mils (74 µm).
Colors are usually less saturated than in the first transfer, but the 6c
and 12c stamps come also in shades which can be found in the first
transfer as well.
5th Transfer (1880)
SG 13–17, Scott 16–20, Michel 10–14:
Re-issue with changed colors.
Like second transfer stamps with extra frame line and wide space between,
approximately 2½ to 3 mm apart.
Perforated 10½.
Issued without gum.
WWI Provisionals (1916)
1
2
3
7
8
9
SG10
SG11
SG12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
157
158
159
