The idea of a 50p TOA for the Year of the Three Roses looks to have been in the pipeline for several months. Colin Edwards had clearly been working on the proposal when he printed an artist’s reference sheet which contained ALL the TOA stamps from the first three years with all the sports, including those unissued from The Year of the Prawn. On this sheet were three 50p green designs. They are more of a yellowish colour and the same size as the $1 stamps, but clearly intended for consideration for issue.

Why are there three designs? Though there were no sports issued for this stamp, Two of them have the ANKH_MORPORK POST OFFICE in larger text. Is this a possible sport. or a design modification whereby the text would be easier to read on a smaller stamp? Perhaps the third stamp is the Owlswick forgery, suggesting this was all part of the plan all along.

Another colourful sheet shows 28 stamp designs in 14 colours, including the issued colour in the second position. While the value tablet states 50p on each design, all but the green stamps have ONE DOLLAR at the top instead of FIFTY PENCE. A bit of a hybrid design. The purpose of this sheet is not clear. The $1 TOA from the Year of the Three Roses was always going to be a two colour stamp, unlike these, and a colour trial sheet for these exists.