Royal Cypher

Contents
Booklets

1.1  Series 1
1.2  Series 2
1.3  Series 3
1.4  Series 4

Panes
Adverts


Trial for a Red Cross surcharge

A Profile Head of the King, based on a design by Bertram Mackennal, replaced the Downey Head design in 1912. The first booklet containing these stamps was issued in April 1913.

Profile Head stamps were printed in letterpress by Harrison on paper with a Royal Cypher watermark. There are two types of Royal Cypher, Simple Cypher and Multiple Cypher, but only the first type occurs in booklets. In 1924 the printing contract changed to Waterlow and the watermark was changed to a Block Cypher.

Watermarks Royal Cypher (Simple Cypher) and Block Cypher.

The period from 1913 to 1924 not only spanned the First World War, but saw many changes in the booklets, which included booklets from Series 1 through to Series 4. Staples were changed to stitches because of a shortage of wire staples during the war, different compositions and values of booklets were produced, the first coloured adverts were included, adverts were placed on the front cover, a vertical perforating machine was introduced, and the minimum letter rate increased from 1d to 1½d in 1918, then to 2d in 1920, then reduced back to 1½d in 1922.

Stapled & Stitched


Staples: 9mm, 13mm, and 17mm.

The majority of stapled booklets were bound with 13mm (half inch) wire staples, although some are known bound with 17mm staples. A 9mm stapling machine was brought into concurrent use for edition 33 onwards.

Trials for stitching were made with editions 56 and 57. Editions 61 to 64 were issued both stapled and stitched. Edition 65 onwards were stitched only, although some booklets were stapled up until the King George VI dark colours. These re-stapled booklets were missewn booklets which were given new covers and then stapled, so that stitch holes are present in the contents but not in the covers, but some booklets exist with no stitch holes in the contents or covers.


Edition 62: with 13mm staples, with stitches, and AVC with 9mm staples.

Known Re-stapled Editions
BB10: 72, 80
BB11: 1
BB12: 10, 11, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 63, 71, 95, 100, 129, 143, 151, 194
BB13: 104, 105, 106, 107
BB14: 286
BB15: 288, 294
BB16: 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 304
BB17: 315, 340, 344, 352
BB22: 22, 28, 32, 34, 46, 48, 54
BB24: 55, 66, 74, 106, 219
BB25: 172
BB28: 294, 296
BB29: 318, 319
BB32: 3
BB34: 3
BB37: 14, 15
BC2: 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 365, 367, 368, 370, 372, 375, 378, 381, 384, 385
BC3: 320, 321, 323, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332
BC4: 16, 17
BD11: 387, 388, 390, 393, 394, 396, 405
BD12: 415, 454, 466, 490
BD21: 333, 337
BD22: 360, 370
BD23: 18
BD24: 22
BD25: 1

Series 1

The first Royal Cypher booklet continued on from the last Downey Head booklet. Only the edition number on the front cover was changed, and the stamps were updated to the new design. They were numbered from 10 to 81.

2s Booklet Series 1: BB6

To see more BB6 booklets click here.

Date: Apr 1913
Editions: 10-35
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, int, BC
Cancels: 26, G, H, I

Edition 10: a trial for front cover adverts exists (Lipton’s Tea).
Edition 12: a trial for makeup exists, containing perforated plain paper.
Edition 13: exists with interleaves from edition 12.
Edition 13: exists without interleaves.
Editions 13, 21, 23, 25, 29, 31: advert Millennium Flour Type I.
Edition 14 onwards: printer’s imprint at the foot of the back cover.
Edition 15: exists with interleaves from edition 16.
Edition 27: advert YMCA Type I.
Edition 30: advert Millennium Flour Type II.
Edition 31: printer’s imprint on the back of the last interleaf.
Edition 32: advert Red Cross.
Edition 33: 9mm staples brought into concurrent use.

10 Apr 1913
11 June 1913
12 July 1913
13 Sept 1913
14 Oct 1913
15 Dec 1913
16 Jan 1914
17 Feb 1914
18 Apr 1914
19 May 1914
20 June 1914
21 July 1914
22 Sept 1914
23 Oct 1914
24 Nov 1914
25 Dec 1914
26 Jan 1915
27 Mar 1915
28 Apr 1915
29 May 1915
30 May 1915
31 June 1915
32 July 1915
33 Aug 1915
34 Sept 1915
35 Oct 1915
 

A trial for front cover adverts was made by pasting a postal notice and an advert for Lipton’s Tea over the postal rates on the front cover, and a piece of white paper over the inside of the back cover with “Reserved for Rates of Postage & other Post Office Information”.

A trial for makeup was made containing panes of perforated plain paper with watermark “Harrison & Sons, London” in script. The watermark occurs horizontally, vertically and inverted horizontally.

2s Booklet Series 1: BB7

Front cover changed to show “New Rates of Postage”.

To see more BB7 booklets click here.

Date: Nov 1915
Editions: 36-42
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: H, I

Edition 41: advert Millennium Flour Type I.

36 Nov 1915
37 Dec 1915
38 Jan 1916
39 Feb 1916
40 Feb 1916
41 Mar 1916
42 Apr 1916
 

2s Booklet Series 1: BB8

Interleaves printed in black instead of green.

To see more BB8 booklets click here.

Date: May 1916
Editions: 43-45
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: I

Edition 44: advert Millennium Flour Type II.
Edition 45: a trial for a Red Cross surcharge of ½d exists, see top of page.

43 May 1916
44 June 1916
45 July 1916

2s Booklet Series 1: BB9

Cover colour changed from red to orange. The binding was changed from stapled to stitched during the first world war due to a shortage of staples. Editions 61 to 64 were issued both stapled and stitched.

To see more BB9 booklets click here.

Date: July 1916
Editions: 46-64
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: 24, H, I

Editions 46-60: stapled.
Editions 61-64: stapled or stitched with brownish thread.

Edition 48: advert (1st interleaf) Millennium Flour Type I.
Edition 48: advert (2nd interleaf) YMCA Type II.
Edition 51: advert Millennium Flour Type II.
Edition 56: a trial for stitching exists, without stamps.
Edition 57: a trial for stitching exists, cancelled Type 24.
Edition 62: a trial for stitching exists, cancelled Type 24.

46 July 1916
47 Aug 1916
48 Sept 1916
49 Oct 1916
50 Oct 1916
51 Nov 1916
52 Dec 1916
53 Jan 1917
54 Jan 1917
55 Feb 1917
56 Mar 1917
57 Mar 1917
58 Apr 1917
59 May 1917
60 May 1917
61 June 1917
62 July 1917
63 July 1917
64 Aug 1917
 
 


Editions 56, 57, and 62 stitching trials.

2s Booklet Series 1: BB10

“New Rates of Postage” moved from the front cover to the back of last interleaf, and the space on the cover used for commercial adverts.

To see more BB10 booklets click here.

Date: Sept 1917
Editions: 65-81
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: 24, H, I

Edition 65: has an additional interleaf after the front cover.
Edition 67: a trial exists, stapled and cancelled Type 24.
Edition 70: a trial exists, without stamps.
Editions 73-78: do not include postal rates.
Edition 76: a trial exists, containing perforated plain paper.

65 Sept 1917 Glaxo
66 Sept 1917 Harmer Rooke
67 Oct 1917 Harmer Rooke
68 Nov 1917 State Express
69 Nov 1917 Harmer Rooke
70 Dec 1917 Jaegar
71 Jan 1918 Wood-Milne
72* Jan 1918 Glaxo
73 Feb 1918 Viyella
74 Mar 1918 Ladies Wanted
75 Mar 1918 Wood-Milne
76 Apr 1918 Wood-Milne
77 May 1918 Glaxo
78 June 1918 Wood-Milne
79 June 1918 Duro
80* July 1918 Rotax
81 Sept 1918 Viyella
 

* These editions are known bound with staples.

A stapled booklet with no stitch holes in the contents or covers, and a paste-up booklet with front cover and all adverts pasted into a previous display booklet.

Series 2

Series 2 booklets replaced Series 1 in Oct 1918, following an increase in the minimum inland letter rate from 1d to 1½d in June 1918. The booklets in this series were numbered from 1 to 38 and consisted of both 3s and 3s6d values. There were several essays for the design of a new front cover with “Book of Stamps” arched across the top.

Hand drawn essay for a Series 2 cover on card (232 x 168mm) with manuscript “Pierce” in pencil (instructions to pierce the block for insertion of type). This essay was accepted.

First proof based on edition 79 (Duro), and a second amended in manuscript.

An essay for the new design on orange-faced card, and a final proof (67 x 52mm).

3s Booklet Series 2: BB18

To see more BB18 booklets click here.

Date: Oct 1918
Editions: 1-11
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: I

1 Oct 1918 Glaxo
2 Oct 1918 Horne Brothers
3 Nov 1918 Clydella
4 Dec 1918 Jaegar
5 Jan 1919 Lord Roberts
6 Feb 1919 Wood-Milne
7 Mar 1919 Glaxo
8 Apr 1919 Clydella
9 May 1919 Clydella
10 May 1919 Rudge-Whitworth
11 June 1919 Glaxo
 

3s Booklet Series 2: BB19

To see more BB19 booklets click here.

Date: July 1919
Editions: 12-26
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, BC
Cancels: H, I

12 July 1919 Nestles
13 Aug 1919 Grimble’s Vinegar
14 Aug 1919 Corona Typewriters
15 Sept 1919 Britannia
16 Oct 1919 Keith Prowse
17 Oct 1919 Pullars
18 Dec 1919 Ideal Milk
19 Dec 1919 Jaegar
20 Jan 1920 Jaegar
21 Feb 1920 Harrods
22 Feb 1920 Keith Prowse
23 Mar 1920 Turnwright’s Toffee
24 Apr 1920 Bourneville Cocoa
25 May 1920 Turnwright’s Toffee
26 June 1920 Turnwright’s Toffee
 

3s6d Booklet Series 2: BB30

The minimum inland letter rate increased from 1½d to 2d in June 1920.

To see more BB30 booklets click here.

Date: June 1920
Editions: 27-32
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB10, int, NB10, int, NB10, int, NB7, int, BC
Cancels: H, I

Editions 27,28,30,31: have an additional interleaf after the front cover.
Edition 27 onwards: Postal Rates interleaf is dated.
Edition 28: an unadopted trial makeup exists without stamps.
Edition 32: has an additional interleaf before the back cover.

27 June 1920 Turnwright’s Toffee
28 July 1920 Harrods
29 Aug 1920 Harrods
30 Sept 1920 Harrods
31 Oct 1920 Harrods
32 Nov 1920 Jaegar

3s6d Booklet Series 2: BB31

Makeup changed to include four denominations ½d, 1d, 1½d, and 2d.

First essay for the new makeup (68 x 53mm), as BB30 but with pasted revised contents, no edition number. Second essay with a white label pasted over the upper panel of edition 31, with manuscript “33”.

To see more BB31 booklets click here.

Date: Jan 1921
Editions: 33, 34, 36, 38
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB10, int, NB10, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, BC
Cancels: H, I

Editions 33, 34: have an additional interleaf before the back cover.
Editions 34, 36: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type I
Edition 38: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type II

33 Jan 1921 Castlemac
34 Feb 1921 T1 Turnwright’s Toffee
36 Apr 1921 T1 Turnwright’s Toffee
38 June 1921 T1 Cadbury

From edition 34 single line Post Office Notices were printed at the top of the front cover as follows:

T1: AIR MAILS — ASK AT HEAD P.O.
T2: Route CABLEGRAMS “via IMPERIAL.”
T3: Cable to CANADA, etc., “via IMPERIAL.”
T4: PLEASE POST EARLY IN THE DAY

T5: AIR MAILS — ASK AT ANY HEAD P.O. FOR LEAFLET
T6: BEAM Empire Telegrams “via EMPIRADIO”
T7: “AIR MAILS” for letters and parcels: ask at any P.O.
T8: POSTAL UNION CONGRESS, LONDON, 1929
T9: FOR POSTAL INFORMATION SEE INSIDE
T10: Let the Post Office Savings Bank serve YOU
T11: BOOKS OF STAMPS, 2s., 3s. and 5s.
T12: SEND A GREETINGS TELEGRAM
T13: POST THAT PARCEL
T14: Use the Post Office Savings Bank
T15: POST EARLY IN THE DAY
T16: ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS CORRECTLY
T17: KEEP TRUNK TALKS SHORT
T18: SEND AIRGRAPHS: SAVE AIRCRAFT SPACE

Punctuation and use of capitals vary slightly between editions.

3s Booklet Series 2: BB20

An experimental booklet with eighteen 2d stamps, sold alongside the 3s6d booklets.

An essay for the experimental booklet (67 x 52mm), with paste overs for “Book of Stamps”, “18 @ 2d”, and “/-“, the edition number “1A” struck out, and with “35/” in the margin; and a proof of the approved design.

Date: Apr 1921
Editions: 35, 37
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB10/11, int, NB10/11, int, NB10/11, int, BC
Cancels: I

Editions 35, 37: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type I.
Edition 35: 2d Die I only.
Edition 37: most 2d Die I, small number 2d Die II.

35 Mar 1921 T2 Bournville Cocoa
37 Apr 1921 T2 Turnwright’s Toffee

Some catalogues list edition 37 containing 2d Die II under BB21.
It is, however, a series 2 booklet, and BB21 is series 3.

Series 3

Series 3 booklets replaced Series 2 in June 1921. The booklets in this series were numbered from 1 to 377 and consisted of both 3s and 3s6d values. This long-lived series covered the reigns of KGV, KEVIII, and KGVI and included commemorative issues for the 1929 Postal Union Congress and 1935 Silver Jubilee.

3s6d Booklet Series 3: BB32

To see more BB32 booklets click here.

Date: June 1921
Editions: 1-11, 14-18
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB10/11, int, NB10/11, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: H, I

Editions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type II.
Edition 14: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type III.

1 June 1921 T2 Tricoline
2 June 1921 T1 Tricoline
3* Aug 1921 T2 Bournville Cocoa
4 Aug 1921 T1 Bournville Cocoa
5 Aug 1921 T2 Underwood Portable
6 Aug 1921 T1 Underwood Portable
7 Aug 1921 T2 Keith Prowse
8 Oct 1921 T1 Wright’s Soap
9 Oct 1921 T2 Jaegar
10 Oct 1921 T1 Jaegar
11 Oct 1921 T2 Car & General
14 Nov 1921 T1 Car & General
15 Jan 1922 T3 Car & General
16 Feb 1922 T1 Car & General
17 Mar 1922 T2 Bournville Cocoa
18 May 1922 T1 Bournville Cocoa

* These editions are known bound with staples.

3s Booklet Series 3: BB21

A second experimental booklet similar to BB20, also sold alongside the 3s6d booklets.

Date: Nov 1921
Editions: 12-13
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB11, int, NB11, int, NB11, int, BC
Cancels: I

Edition 13: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type III.

12 Nov 1921 T1 Car & General
13 Nov 1921 T2 Car & General

3s Booklet Series 3: BB22

The minimum inland letter rate was reduced from 2d to 1½d in May 1922.

To see more BB22 booklets click here.

Date: June 1922
Editions: 19-20, 22-23, 25-54
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: I

19 June 1922 T3 Car & General
20 June 1922 T3 Watson’s Soap
22* July 1922 T3 Peacehaven
23 July 1922 T1 Car & General
25 July 1922 T1 Bournville Cocoa
26 Sept 1922 T3 Onoto the Pen
27 Sept 1922 T1 Car & General
28* Oct 1922 T3 Jaegar Underwear
29 Nov 1922 T1 Jaegar Underwear
30 Nov 1922 T3 Onoto the Pen
31 Dec 1922 T1 Car & General
32* Dec 1922 T3 Onoto the Pen
33 Dec 1922 T1 Car & General
34* Feb 1923 T3 Car & General
35 Feb 1923 T1 Bournville Cocoa
36 Feb 1923 T1 Bournville Cocoa
37 T1 Car & General
38 Apr 1923 T1 Bournville Cocoa
39 May 1923 T1 Bournville Cocoa
40 June 1923 T3 Car & General
41 June 1923 T1 Car & General
42 July 1923 T3 Car & General
43 July 1923 T1 Car & General
44 Aug 1923 T3 Car & General
45 Aug 1923 T1 Car & General
46* Sept 1923 T3 Car & General
47 Sept 1923 T1 Car & General
48* Oct 1923 T1 Bournville Cocoa
49 Oct 1923 T1 Car & General
50 Oct 1923 T1 Bournville Cocoa
51 Nov 1923 T1 Keith Prowse
52 Dec 1923 T4 Car & General
53 Dec 1923 T1 Bournville Cocoa
54* Jan 1924 T1 Car & General

* These editions are known bound with staples.

3s Booklet Series 3: BB23

A third experimental booklet similar to BB20 and BB21 but with 24 x 1½d stamps, sold alongside BB22 editions.

Date: June 1922
Editions: 21, 24
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, BC
Cancels: I

Edition 24: omits the interleaf before the back cover.

21 June 1922 T1 Watson’s Soap
24 July 1922 T3 Bournville Cocoa

An extract from Post Office Circular 2680, 6 June 1923:
The issue of 3s Stamp Books (Blue Cover) containing twenty-four 1½d stamps is being discontinued. Postmasters should dispose of their existing stock of these books by sale to the public; but no further requisitions should be made on the Stores Department for this item.

Series 4

Series 4 booklets were introduced in Jan 1924. The booklets in this series were numbered from 1 to 508 and were all 2s values. They were the first booklets to contain advertising labels, which were part of the first stamp pane in the booklet. This long-lived series covered the reigns of KGV, KEVIII, and KGVI and included commemorative issues for the 1929 Postal Union Congress and 1935 Silver Jubilee.

2s Booklet Series 4: BB11

Date: Jan 1924
Editions: 1-2
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB9, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: I

Edition 1: is known as an uncut vertical strip of four AVCs.
Edition 2: has a 5th interleaf before the back cover.

1* Jan 1924 NB9(1)
2 Feb 1924 NB9(2)

* These editions are known bound with staples.

Booklet Panes

Booklet panes of six were printed in letterpress, each sheet having 240 stamps arranged as 20 upright panes, and 20 inverted. Cancellations (precancellations, “specimen” and “cancelled” overprints) are equally likely to be found on upright or inverted panes, unless otherwise noted.

The vertical gutter between the left and right halves of the sheet contained short horizontal bars which can be seen in the selvedge of panes from the inner two columns. Panes from the outer two columns do not have these bars. Panes with and without bars occur in equal numbers.

Sheets were perforated by Harrison initially using a horizontal comb machine with a single extension pin that produced perforation Type B1(E). A vertical perforating machine was introduced in February 1919. Sheets could be fed left side or right side first, the first pane to enter the perforator receiving an imperforate selvedge Type B3(I), and all other panes receiving perforated selvedge Type B3A(P).

Booklets were stapled up to BB9 edition 60, editions 61-64 were stapled or stitched, and editions 65 onwards were stapled.

1913-1917 (BB6-9) stapled, perf E
1917-1919 (BB9-10, BB18) stitched, perf E
1919-1924 (BB18-23, BB30-32, BB11) stitched, perf P or I


Watermark Royal Cypher (Simple Cypher).

NB6/a: Booklets BB6-11, BB18-19, BB22, BB31-32; Perfs E, P, I; Cancels 23, 24, 26, G, H, I
Variety NB6b: New Moon flaw (R2/3)
Variety NB6ab: Broken left frame (R1/1)
Variety NB6ac: White spot on tablet (R2/2)

NB7/a: Booklets BB6-11, BB18-19, BB22, BB30-32; Perfs E, P, I; Cancels 23, 24, 26, F, G, H, I
Variety NB7b, NB7ba: Watermark reversed
Variety NB7c: Q for O with spot in centre (R2/3)

NB8/a: Booklets BB11, BB18-19, BB22-23, BB31-32; Perfs E, P, I; Cancels 23, 24, H, I

NB9/a: Booklets BB11; Perfs P, I; Cancels 23, I

(1) Stamp Auctions / Millennium Oat-Flakes

(2) Millennium Oat-Flakes / Stamp Auctions

To see all advert panes click here.

NB10/a Die I; Booklets BB20, BB30-31, BB32; Perfs P, I; Cancels 26, H, I
NB11/a Die II; Booklets BB20, BB21, BB32; Perfs P, I; Cancels H, I

Adverts & Interleaves

Initially interleaves were printed in green. Starting with BB6 edition 15 (Dec 1913), interleaves were identified with letters A to F (from the back of the booklet) at the bottom centre of the sheet, so on two of every 40 booklets. Identification continued with variations of letters and numbers throughout the period of stitched booklets.


BB6 edition 23 interleaves (Oct 1914).

From BB8 edition 43 (May 1916) printing was changed from green to black.


BB10 edition 80 interleaves (July 1918).


BB20 edition 35 interleaves (Mar 1921).

Next: Profile Head, Block Cypher