Head Types
Click on the symbol for the associated item(s) in our Price List. Enlargements can be viewed for most images by clicking the image itself.
Machin litho printings were first introduced 1981 as a result of the Royal Mail looking for alternative suppliers to Harrison and Sons in order to be not so reliant on a single provider. Clearly, the first litho attempts produced stamps that were poor reproductions compared with there Harrison counterparts - the head tends to appear dull and 'washed out' and there is a lack of contrast between head and background.
From the outset, Waddington used two plates for these monochrome printings (unlike Questa who originally used just one plate). While a few values match Harrison Heads fairly closely, the majority appear to have been extensively modified by Waddington's producing a number of distinct 'Waddington' variants.
The following reviews Waddington printings by Head Type (the background is considered a separate and subsidiary feature) producing a number of groups
Harrison derived Head Type B
Some of the defining features Derived directly from a Harrison original Head Type B Two curves in hair. Base to dress - diffuse against background. Nose - slender. 22p rear cross has jewels present; 26p rear cross has no jewels present.
Some of the defining features
Waddington modified Head Type W1
Some of the defining features Derived from Harrison 10½p Scotland Head Two curves in hair. Very curved base to dress with dark shading - Waddington retouched. Nose - slender. Head - set high from bottom frame. Front of dress - fold starts higher up and very short. Back of rear cross - not truncated at top. Base of hair bun indented like 10½p.
Waddington modified Head Type E
Some of the defining features Waddingtons version of Harrison Head Type D One curve in hair. Flat base to dress (18p has undulation). Nose - bulkier appearance, more pronounced; heavy shading below nostril. Heavy shaded eyebrow - Waddington retouched. Heavy shading at front of hair behind eyebrow - Waddington retouched. Heavy dark shaded diagonal U shaped area (tilting to left) in hair above bun - Waddington retouched. Heavy shading running parallel to rear fold of dress - Waddington retouched. Head - set high from bottom frame (11½p and 18p).
Waddington modified Head Type W2
Some of the defining features Waddingtons version of Harrison Head B Two curves in hair. Flat base to dress with undulation at centre -Waddington retouched. Rear cross almost none existent - no jewels (most pronounced on the 20½p where its almost masked out). Hairbun curved at bottom right. Bottom of chin curved up at left. Front hair curl has extension in front of top of forehead. Top half of central cross distorted (most pronounced on the 20½p).
Waddington modified Head Type W3
Some of the defining features Derived from Harrison 10½p Scotland Head Two curves in hair. Slightly curved base to dress -Waddington retouched. Head - set close to bottom frame. Nose - more pronounced; heavy shading below nostril. Base of hair bun flat - not indented like 10½p. 13p Type 1 highlighting on top row of pearls in band of diadem at front is out of synchronisation. 17p Type 1 highlighting on bottom row of pearls in band of diadem at rear is out of synchronisation.
Waddington modified Head Type W4
Some of the defining features This is an anomaly - its difficult to attribute it back to a Harrison source - its almost like Head Type B with 'One curve in hair' ! and very different from Head Type E (20p, 11½p Scotland and 18p Scotland) above. One curve in hair. Base to dress - outline diffuse against background. Head - set close to bottom frame. Front cross short and does not curve back at top. Front cross appears joined to front jewels. Pale protrusion at top of forehead connecting front curl. Slender nose. Large diagonal pale area extends (North West) out of upper hairbun. Large pale area above necklace - right of centre.
Waddington modified Head Type W2A
Some of the defining features Derived from Harrison B Head Two curves in hair. Curved base to dress - outline clearly delineated against background. Nose - nostril masked out. Back of rear cross of diadem truncated. Head - set close to bottom frame. Rear cross is clearly discernible unlike Head Type W2; the top appears to be truncated. Base of hair bun flat. Chip at back of lower dress - occurs with Symbol Type I only). Top half of central cross distorted. Interesting, the area around the front cross shows a dark surrounding outline from the original cut-out (Click the image of the 31p for enlarged detail).
Interesting, the area around the front cross shows a dark surrounding outline from the original cut-out (Click the image of the 31p for enlarged detail).
Rory Matthews Head Type F
Some of the defining features Rory Matthews Head Type F (taken from a pencil drawn rendering made by Rory Matthews, originally produced in May 1982). This became the predominant Head Type for Litho printings from 1986 to 1998. Two curves in hair. Flat base to dress - outline clearly delineated against background.
S.G Heads A# Currently, 10½p S.G is designated Head Type A - Should be reclassified C* Head Type C with Country Symbols - rounder base to dress F (RM) Rory Matthews Head