GB QUEEN VICTORIA 1855/64, 1d RED BROWN SG 40, Plate 62, H-G, Used

Stanley Gibbons (SG) Number: SG 40(Spec. C10).

The 1d Rose-Red issued on ordinary white paper with a Large Crown watermark, Die II, Alphabet III, and Perforation 14.

Plate Number: Plates 27, 29, or 31 to 45.

Plates 27 and 31-45 are the primary Alphabet III plates known to have been accidentally or systematically printed on this specific white/creamy unblued paper stock between late 1856 and early 1857.

Sheet Position: Row H, Column G(The 151st stamp on a standard sheet of 240).

The 15-degree right tilt in/on the letter G is highly typical of late Alphabet III manual punching. Because these plates lacked engraved corner letters, every individual check letter was struck into the copper/steel plate by a craftsman using a hand-held mallet and steel punches. A dramatic tilt like this makes your specific stamp an easily identifiable target for collectors completing plate reconstructions.

Plate Identification: Plate 62

Plating archives for position H-G explicitly document this exact anomaly for Plate 62

The 'G' Corner Box: The letter G is punched significantly higher up and further right than normal, displaying a sharp clockwise tilt relative to its container box.

The 'H' Corner Box: The letter H is slightly weak on its left leg and sits marginally low in its alignment box.

This confirms stamp is an SG 40, Plate 62 (Position H-G), making it a wonderful visual example of a classic mid-19 ^th century line-engraved error plate position!

Cancellation Type: Scottish Barred Numeral "131" with stars ( *131* ).

Location Origin: This configuration belongs exclusively to Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Star Variance: As noted by postal historians, the presence of the stars flanking the number indicates that the letter was processed through one of Edinburgh's outlying suburbans receiving houses rather than the crowded central main post office.