King George V Seahorse Stamp Guide

The original Seahorse set comprised four values: 2s 6d (broadly associated with brown shades), 5s (broadly associated with red shades), 10s (broadly associated with blue shades), and £1 (broadly associated with green shades).

Shade descriptions vary between catalogues and across printings. Do not assign a specialised shade from an online photograph alone. Later printings did not always include the complete original four-value set.

Waterlow Bros and Layton produced the original 1913 issue, including all four denominations. Fine engraving and paper or shade characteristics require careful comparison against specialist references.

De La Rue took over production during the First World War period. Printer identification depends on details of printing, paper, shade and impression. Do not identify De La Rue solely from the colour shown on a screen.

Bradbury Wilkinson produced later printings after the De La Rue period. Some identifying features are subtle and may vary. The absence of one commonly described feature is not always proof that a stamp belongs to another printer.

The 1934 Waterlow re-engraved issue is the most accessible broad distinction. Earlier printings normally show horizontal engraved lines behind the King's head. The 1934 re-engraved stamps show cross-hatching instead. This is a strong starting point, but the complete stamp should still be examined carefully.

Confirm the denomination.

Check the background behind the King's head for horizontal lines (earlier issues) or cross-hatching (1934 re-engraved).

Examine the clarity and strength of the engraved impression.

Compare paper and shade with a recognised specialised reference.

Check perforations and centring.

Examine the watermark safely where necessary.

Study the cancellation.

Check for any overprints.

Inspect for thinning, creases, tears, repairs, reperforation, regumming or cleaning.

Seek specialist advice where the exact printing materially affects identification.

Printer: Different printer groups are central to Seahorse collecting. Identification requires careful comparison, not colour matching from a screen.

Engraving: Strong, clear impressions are desirable. Worn, blurred or over-inked printing may make identification harder.

Centring and perforations: Large-format stamps can be poorly centred. Check that perforations are complete and natural.

Shade and paper: Differences can matter, but online images are unreliable for precise identification.

Cancellation: Clear postal cancellations can be attractive. Heavy fiscal, parcel or telegraphic cancellations may affect collector preference differently.

Mint condition: Check gum carefully. Regumming, redistributed gum and hinge damage can materially affect condition.

Used condition: Look for cleaned cancellations, repairs, thins, creases and reperforation.

Better Seahorse stamps may be reperforated, repaired, regummed or cleaned. Cancellations can be altered or removed. Shades can be misdescribed.

Overprints may require specialist examination. A certificate or recognised specialist opinion may be appropriate for higher-value printings, scarce overprints or stamps with questionable condition.

StampSeeker does not authenticate stamps.

Seahorse stamps were high denominations and remain popular with collectors, but prices vary greatly.

Collector interest depends on: denomination, printer and printing, shade and paper, mint or used condition, centring and perforations, gum condition, cancellation, overprint, faults or repairs, and certificates or reliable provenance.

Marketplace asking prices are not proof of value. Compare stamps from the same printer and denomination in similar condition before drawing conclusions.

The Postal Museum (London) — Seahorse High Values: postalmuseum.org

Stanley Gibbons Great Britain Specialised Catalogue, Volume 2 (current edition).

Robson Lowe, Encyclopaedia of British Empire Postage Stamps, Vol. 1 (1948).