THE PRINTING OF STAMPS

Besides studying the various aspects of stamp collecting, it is also necessary to know about the kind of paper on which stamps are printed as well as the procedure of their printing.

In this chapter, various procedures stamp printing are being described. It is no doubt difficult to understand the printing procedures of stamps, but by talking some interest and paying a  little attention, it would seem easy and prove to be a source of pleasure and profit in future.

The following are the four main methods of stamp printing. 

1. Line Engraving: - This is also called Recess Printing. The lines of the design are first moulded on a metal and then filled with ink and after wiping the metal, a little wetted paper is pressed against it.

2. Lithography:  In it the design is first made with lubricious ink on the plate. Then acid solution is poured on it, which sticks to all parts of the plate except the design. Then a solution of lubricious ink and water is applied to it, which sticks to the design part of the plate.  Then printing is done pressing the paper against the stone.

Now the revised method of lithography is offset printing. In this method, design is transferred on tin plate with the help of some chemicals and negatives. Printing is made by the plate on machine. 

3. Photogravure: This is only a special kind of Recess Printing. In it, the photo print of the design is first made on a special kind of paper with coloured gelatine on it. Then pouring acid  solution on it, it is transferred to a plate.

4. Typography: This is also called Surface Printing by stamp collectors. In it, the lines or the design on the plate are raised, not moulded as in Recess Printing.

The First stamp the penny black , issued in England in 1840 was printed by line engraving or Recess Printing. In this kind of printing, the design of the stamp was first engraved on a piece of iron , as also the lines to be printed in colour, Then ink was applied to the plate, the surface of it wiped clean, with the ink remaining in the pits of the done.  A plate could print only 240 stamps in that way. If a stamp was to be printed in several colours, then the same number of plates had to be used. There was likelihood on many mistakes under this system due to the carelessness of the printer.