Queen Victoria Line Engraved Stamp Collection

The original method of printing stamps

The process of line engraving involves etching lines out of a slab of soft steel to create an image of the stamp, which is a time consuming and skilled process. A transfer roller is used to duplicate the image typically 240 times onto a steel plate. An ink is then squeezed into the recesses made by the engraving and any surplus ink wiped clean. Finally, great pressure is applied on a rolling press to damp paper, which is forced into the recesses and the ink markings are picked up.

This collection of four different line-engraved stamps includes the Two Penny Blue, Penny Red, Half Penny Red and Three Half Pence. The production of all four stamps involved this labour intensive process of line engraving, which was later rarely used due to advances in technology and the introduction of surface printing. In fact, line engraving was later only used for specially released stamps such as the £1 Seahorses and the Postal Union Congress £1 stamp.

The high level of craftsmanship involved to create line engraved stamps is a key reason why they are special and in such high in demand today. Indeed, as a result of this continued demand, the last 20 years has seen the official Stanley Gibbons catalogue value for a fine used example of all four stamps rise by 67% to £328. 

Key Issue Information:

• Highly skilled method of stamp production, which required craftsmanship and time to execute properly
• The stamp image would be raised on the paper due to the recesses on the plate
• The introduction of surface printing meant the labour intensive process of line engraving was phased out and only used for very special stamps
• This collection includes an 1841 Two Penny Blue, which is ten times rarer than the Penny Black
• In 2015 the official Stanley Gibbons Catalogue value for fine used example of all four stamps was £328 – a 67% increase over 20 years*

*2015 Stanley Gibbons Catalogue price for fine used example