Same Design ; Different Print Process Or Printer

I thought it might be fun and even informative to show
stamps with the same design/image but printed by way
of different print methods.

To start off here are 4 Austrian definitives with exactly
the same design but each printed by a different process.

Engraved Scott 620 ******************* Typography Scott 621
Lithography Scott 622 *************** Photogravure 630B

A couple from Russia (Soviet Union)


Engraved Sc 4526 .....................Lithography Sc 4605

That Russian item really shows off the quality of engraving over lithography.
So much sharper and detailed.

Why would Austria print the same stamp design by 4 different methods?

Terrific stuff Litho. A great way of seeing for real the differences between the different printing styles.

The Russian ones are perfect comparisons as mentioned Anthony. The lithography print looks smudged when placed side-by-side with the Engraving.

This cover from Jaipur has a nice selection of recess printed/engraved ¼ Anna stamps printed by Perkins, Bacon in London (the deeper shades) and typograped/letterpress ¼ Anna stamps printed locally in Jaipur, making up the 3½ Anna registered letter rate ... all with the smallest available denomination

That's a good question rohumpy.

By 1957 the old costume definitives had been around for almost 10 years
therefore they were due for replacement.

The new building series was developed & designed by Hans Strohofer.

The first stamp issued on June 22, 1957 (Scott 620) was printed recess engraving (Georg Wimmer engraver)
depicting Mariazell Basilica, the most important pilgrimage destination in Austria and one of the
most visited shrines in Europe.
Since 1957 was the 800th Anniversary of the town's founding the stamp was more or less
a definitive commemorating an event.

But engraved stamps are much more expensive to produce compared to
other print methods, especially when hundreds of millions are required.

The Post Office wanted a cheaper process so the State Printer produced
the typography version (Scott 621) Issued on October 25, 1957.
Apparently no one was happy with this printing especially when compared
to the engraved version.

Therefore it was finally decided to print the low & mid values via lithography (offset)
and only the high values 10S and 20S by way of recess engraving.
The lithography version (Scott 622) was issued January 19, 1959.

The photogravure stamp (Scott 630B) in a smaller format (see below) was issued
on February 1, 1960.
They were produced in coils & sheets for vending machines.
Printing was done by the British printer, Harrison & Sons.

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Nice cover Tony.

Any chance to see a close up of the two types?

Machins use so many different printers, printing methods and paper even within single values.
Here are some of the same item showing how varied they can be.

Actually I had the Machins in mind when I started this thread
but I haven't too many varieties to show examples.

Perhaps you could elaborate on the different types Anthony?

Here are some stamps from Vanuatu where it appears that the overprints were printed by different methods. Anyone got information on them?

The original stamp (unoverprinted) was from 1993 and this stamp was overprinted with a new value of 2 in 1999, but I have no information on this overprint.

During the seventies Canada Post had contracts with 3 security printers, Canadian Bank Note Company, Ottawa,
British American Bank Note Company, Ottawa and Ashton-Potter Limited, Toronto.

These printers used various printing processes.

CBNC - recess engraving, lithography (offset) and combination engraved & lithography

BABN - recess engraving, lithography, photogravure and combination engraved & photogravure

AP - strictly lithography but better quality than either of the other two at that time


On April 22, 1977 CP issued the low value floral definitives printed by CBNC combo print engraved & lithography.


Most of the set was reprinted in 1979 by BABN, this time combining engraved with photogravure

On the left are CBNC (litho) Scott 705 - 711) on the right BABN (photogravure) Scott 781 - 786.

Notice the mottled background on the photogravure stamps compared to the solid colours of the litho. Also the visible vertical tagging
bars.

peterethio, I'm guessing that it's not a question of different
print process but quality control ; poor ink flow control


Years ago surcharges were primarily added by typography because most local printers could produce
a half decent job even though he might miss a few values or print them inverted.
But hey, this was a good thing for us collectors.

I don't know about yours, probably lithography or maybe ink jet?

For the $1 Landscape definitive we have Scott 600 issued March 17, 1972.

British American Bank Note printed the one colour engraved portion and Ashton Potter added four
colour lithography

On October 24, 1973 the stamp (Scott 599) was re-issued but this time BABN did the job themselves
by combining engraved with photogravure.

I'm not sure why Scott asigned a lower number to the stamp which was issued a year and a half later.
Why didn't they number it 600A ?


Scott 600 Engraved & Litho below



Scott 599 Engraved & Photo above

Actually, I saw this thread title, and was sure it was going to be all about Machins. :^D

They've been printed by engraving, offset, gravure, and embossing. When I started to learn Machins I had trouble seeing the differences. Then one day everything "clicked" and I wondered how I had trouble telling them apart in the first place. I felt like I could tell them from across the room.

On May 3, 1977 Canada issued a 12c definitive Scott 714.
Printed by British American Bank Note, 1 colour recess engraved.

Sometime in March 1978 it was re-printed by Canadian Bank Note Company
again 1 colour recess.
Scott does not differentiate between the two but Unitrade assigns
it a minor number 714iv rightfully so since there are noticeable
differences between the two issues.


I borrowed this from the 2016 Unitrade Specialized Catalogue
Page 204



..................... Scott 714....................... Unitrade 714iv