A Close Up.

Here are a collection of close-up images of the top left corner of the stamps from varied sources. They were taken at the same time, same  position, same lighting and same camera settings. Apart from resizing for comparability there has been no manipulation of the images. It seems that the use of the camera accentuates the colour differences between  the stamps, but these images can be used to compare the resolution and  high detail print patterns of the different stamps. Click on any image for a larger version.


                     Pre-Bath test print                      from a Wincanton perf                      from an Enschede sheet


             First Pseudopolis cover                       Second Pseudopolis cover                  Third Pseudopolis cover

Some observations are immediately apparent.
The Pre-Bath print is a lower resolution than the Wincanton perfed stamp. It is known that during their lifetime attempts were made to improve  quality, so the Wincanton stamp may be from a later batch. I need a Bath perforated stamp in order to draw further conclusions regarding the earlier prints.
The Enschede stamp and that from one first Pseudopolis cover are clearly the same print. The slight colour  difference will be due to the white envelope as a background. These are so crisp you can see the detail of the cabbage hearts (just).
The  stamp from the second Pseudopolis cover bears a great similarity to the Wincanton, but it is not quite as good a print, and is definitely a paler print. Again the background (a brown envelope) may have affected the colour the Pseudopolis cover stamp, but by eye there is a slight  difference in hue between the two stamps.
The stamp from the third Pseudopolis cover has the lowest resolution of all, and is clearly from a different printing. The apple-green colour does reflect the colour shade of the stamp. This stamp has perhaps the highest contrast between  light and dark of all the printings; the background the the value text  is particularly intense.

From this and the other observations I feel I can compile the DWS Completist`s Checklist of stamps.

 

Stamp source

Perforations

Sheets of

Overprint

Other

1

Pre-Bath test print

imperf

4

 

 

2

Bath rat nibbled

12/2 rough

28

 

 

Bath bees waxed

12/2

28

 

 

4

Wincanton early

10/2

28

 

lower definition

5

Wincanton later

10/2

28

 

higher definition

6

Enschede

13.5/2

20

 

larger stamp design image, smaller borders
highest definition prints

7

Going Postal

10.5/2

88

 

inkjet print with dragline flaws
smaller measuring 35 x 30 mm

8

Clerk of Works refund

10/2

 28?

1/4p addition

small 1/4p

9

Clerk of Works refund

10/2

 28?

1/4p addition

larger 1/4’

10

1st Pseudopolis cover

13.5/2

 20

hand-written 3

Enschede print

11

1st Pseudopolis cover

10/2

 20

hand-written 3

digital print
paler, more emerald print

12

2nd Pseudopolis cover

10/2

 ?

 

digital print

13

3rd Pseudopolis cover

10/2

 ?

8 pence

digital print
larger stamp
glossy surface
high contrast image
apple green