Royal Cypher

Trial for a Red Cross surcharge

A Profile Head of the King, based on a design by Bertram Mackennal, replaced the Downey Head design in 1912. The first booklet containing these stamps was issued in April 1913.

Profile Head stamps were printed in letterpress by Harrison on paper with a Royal Cypher watermark. There are two types of Royal Cypher, Simple Cypher and Multiple Cypher, but only the first type occurs in booklets. In 1924 the printing contract changed to Waterlow and the watermark was changed to a Block Cypher.

Watermarks Royal Cypher (Simple Cypher) and Block Cypher.

The period from 1913 to 1924 not only spanned the First World War, but saw many changes in the booklets, which included booklets from Series 1 through to Series 4. Staples were changed to stitches because of a shortage of wire staples during the war, different compositions and values of booklets were produced, the first coloured adverts were included, adverts were placed on the front cover, a vertical perforating machine was introduced, and the minimum letter rate increased from 1d to 1½d in 1918, then to 2d in 1920, then reduced back to 1½d in 1922.

Stapled & Stitched

Staples: 9mm, 13mm, and 17mm.

The majority of stapled booklets were bound with 13mm (half inch) wire staples, although some are known bound with 17mm staples. A 9mm stapling machine was brought into concurrent use for edition 33 onwards.

Trials for stitching were made with editions 56 and 57. Editions 61 to 64 were issued both stapled and stitched. Edition 65 onwards were stitched only, although some booklets were stapled up until the King George VI dark colours. These re-stapled booklets were missewn booklets which were given new covers and then stapled, so that stitch holes are present in the contents but not in the covers, but some booklets exist with no stitch holes in the contents or covers.

Edition 62: with 13mm staples, with stitches, and AVC with 9mm staples.

Known Re-stapled Editions

Series 1

The first Royal Cypher booklet continued on from the last Downey Head booklet. Only the edition number on the front cover was changed, and the stamps were updated to the new design. They were numbered from 10 to 81.

2s Booklet Series 1: BB6

To see more BB6 booklets click here.

Date: Apr 1913
Editions: 10-35
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, int, BC
Cancels: 26, G, H, I

Edition 10: a trial for front cover adverts exists (Lipton’s Tea).
Edition 12: a trial for makeup exists, containing perforated plain paper.
Edition 13: exists with interleaves from edition 12.
Edition 13: exists without interleaves.
Editions 13, 21, 23, 25, 29, 31: advert Millennium Flour Type I.
Edition 14 onwards: printer’s imprint at the foot of the back cover.
Edition 15: exists with interleaves from edition 16.
Edition 27: advert YMCA Type I.
Edition 30: advert Millennium Flour Type II.
Edition 31: printer’s imprint on the back of the last interleaf.
Edition 32: advert Red Cross.
Edition 33: 9mm staples brought into concurrent use.

A trial for front cover adverts was made by pasting a postal notice and an advert for Lipton’s Tea over the postal rates on the front cover, and a piece of white paper over the inside of the back cover with “Reserved for Rates of Postage & other Post Office Information”.

A trial for makeup was made containing panes of perforated plain paper with watermark “Harrison & Sons, London” in script. The watermark occurs horizontally, vertically and inverted horizontally.

2s Booklet Series 1: BB7

Front cover changed to show “New Rates of Postage”.

To see more BB7 booklets click here.

Date: Nov 1915
Editions: 36-42
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: H, I

Edition 41: advert Millennium Flour Type I.

2s Booklet Series 1: BB8

Interleaves printed in black instead of green.

To see more BB8 booklets click here.

Date: May 1916
Editions: 43-45
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: I

Edition 44: advert Millennium Flour Type II.
Edition 45: a trial for a Red Cross surcharge of ½d exists, see top of page.

2s Booklet Series 1: BB9

Cover colour changed from red to orange. The binding was changed from stapled to stitched during the first world war due to a shortage of staples. Editions 61 to 64 were issued both stapled and stitched.

To see more BB9 booklets click here.

Date: July 1916
Editions: 46-64
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: 24, H, I

Editions 46-60: stapled.
Editions 61-64: stapled or stitched with brownish thread.

Edition 48: advert (1st interleaf) Millennium Flour Type I.
Edition 48: advert (2nd interleaf) YMCA Type II.
Edition 51: advert Millennium Flour Type II.
Edition 56: a trial for stitching exists, without stamps.
Edition 57: a trial for stitching exists, cancelled Type 24.
Edition 62: a trial for stitching exists, cancelled Type 24.

Editions 56, 57, and 62 stitching trials.

2s Booklet Series 1: BB10

“New Rates of Postage” moved from the front cover to the back of last interleaf, and the space on the cover used for commercial adverts.

To see more BB10 booklets click here.

Date: Sept 1917
Editions: 65-81
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: 24, H, I

Edition 65: has an additional interleaf after the front cover.
Edition 67: a trial exists, stapled and cancelled Type 24.
Edition 70: a trial exists, without stamps.
Editions 73-78: do not include postal rates.
Edition 76: a trial exists, containing perforated plain paper.

* These editions are known bound with staples.

A stapled booklet with no stitch holes in the contents or covers, and a paste-up booklet with front cover and all adverts pasted into a previous display booklet.

Series 2

Series 2 booklets replaced Series 1 in Oct 1918, following an increase in the minimum inland letter rate from 1d to 1½d in June 1918. The booklets in this series were numbered from 1 to 38 and consisted of both 3s and 3s6d values. There were several essays for the design of a new front cover with “Book of Stamps” arched across the top.

Hand drawn essay for a Series 2 cover on card (232 x 168mm) with manuscript “Pierce” in pencil (instructions to pierce the block for insertion of type). This essay was accepted.

First proof based on edition 79 (Duro), and a second amended in manuscript.

An essay for the new design on orange-faced card, and a final proof (67 x 52mm).

3s Booklet Series 2: BB18

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Date: Oct 1918
Editions: 1-11
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: I

3s Booklet Series 2: BB19

To see more BB19 booklets click here.

Date: July 1919
Editions: 12-26
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, BC
Cancels: H, I

3s6d Booklet Series 2: BB30

The minimum inland letter rate increased from 1½d to 2d in June 1920.

To see more BB30 booklets click here.

Date: June 1920
Editions: 27-32
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB10, int, NB10, int, NB10, int, NB7, int, BC
Cancels: H, I

Editions 27,28,30,31: have an additional interleaf after the front cover.
Edition 27 onwards: Postal Rates interleaf is dated.
Edition 28: an unadopted trial makeup exists without stamps.
Edition 32: has an additional interleaf before the back cover.

3s6d Booklet Series 2: BB31

Makeup changed to include four denominations ½d, 1d, 1½d, and 2d.

First essay for the new makeup (68 x 53mm), as BB30 but with pasted revised contents, no edition number. Second essay with a white label pasted over the upper panel of edition 31, with manuscript “33”.

To see more BB31 booklets click here.

Date: Jan 1921
Editions: 33, 34, 36, 38
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB10, int, NB10, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, int, BC
Cancels: H, I

Editions 33, 34: have an additional interleaf before the back cover.
Editions 34, 36: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type I
Edition 38: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type II

From edition 34 single line Post Office Notices were printed at the top of the front cover as follows:

T1:	AIR MAILS — ASK AT HEAD P.O.
T2:	Route CABLEGRAMS “via IMPERIAL.”
T3:	Cable to CANADA, etc., “via IMPERIAL.”
T4:	PLEASE POST EARLY IN THE DAY
T5:	AIR MAILS — ASK AT ANY HEAD P.O. FOR LEAFLET
T6:	BEAM Empire Telegrams “via EMPIRADIO”
T7:	“AIR MAILS” for letters and parcels: ask at any P.O.
T8:	POSTAL UNION CONGRESS, LONDON, 1929
T9:	FOR POSTAL INFORMATION SEE INSIDE
T10:	Let the Post Office Savings Bank serve YOU
T11:	BOOKS OF STAMPS, 2s., 3s. and 5s.
T12:	SEND A GREETINGS TELEGRAM
T13:	POST THAT PARCEL
T14:	Use the Post Office Savings Bank
T15:	POST EARLY IN THE DAY
T16:	ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS CORRECTLY
T17:	KEEP TRUNK TALKS SHORT
T18:	SEND AIRGRAPHS: SAVE AIRCRAFT SPACE

Punctuation and use of capitals vary slightly between editions.

3s Booklet Series 2: BB20

An experimental booklet with eighteen 2d stamps, sold alongside the 3s6d booklets.

An essay for the experimental booklet (67 x 52mm), with paste overs for “Book of Stamps”, “18 @ 2d”, and “/-“, the edition number “1A” struck out, and with “35/” in the margin; and a proof of the approved design.

Date: Apr 1921
Editions: 35, 37
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB10/11, int, NB10/11, int, NB10/11, int, BC
Cancels: I

Editions 35, 37: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type I.
Edition 35: 2d Die I only.
Edition 37: most 2d Die I, small number 2d Die II.

Some catalogues list edition 37 containing 2d Die II under BB21.
It is, however, a series 2 booklet, and BB21 is series 3.

Series 3

Series 3 booklets replaced Series 2 in June 1921. The booklets in this series were numbered from 1 to 377 and consisted of both 3s and 3s6d values. This long-lived series covered the reigns of KGV, KEVIII, and KGVI and included commemorative issues for the 1929 Postal Union Congress and 1935 Silver Jubilee.

3s6d Booklet Series 3: BB32

To see more BB32 booklets click here.

Date: June 1921
Editions: 1-11, 14-18
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB10/11, int, NB10/11, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: H, I

Editions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type II.
Edition 14: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type III.

* These editions are known bound with staples.

3s Booklet Series 3: BB21

A second experimental booklet similar to BB20, also sold alongside the 3s6d booklets.

Date: Nov 1921
Editions: 12-13
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB11, int, NB11, int, NB11, int, BC
Cancels: I

Edition 13: advert Millennium Oat-Flakes Type III.

3s Booklet Series 3: BB22

The minimum inland letter rate was reduced from 2d to 1½d in May 1922.

To see more BB22 booklets click here.

Date: June 1922
Editions: 19-20, 22-23, 25-54
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: I

* These editions are known bound with staples.

3s Booklet Series 3: BB23

A third experimental booklet similar to BB20 and BB21 but with 24 x 1½d stamps, sold alongside BB22 editions.

Date: June 1922
Editions: 21, 24
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, NB8, int, BC
Cancels: I

Edition 24: omits the interleaf before the back cover.

An extract from Post Office Circular 2680, 6 June 1923:
The issue of 3s Stamp Books (Blue Cover) containing twenty-four 1½d stamps is being discontinued. Postmasters should dispose of their existing stock of these books by sale to the public; but no further requisitions should be made on the Stores Department for this item.

Series 4

Series 4 booklets were introduced in Jan 1924. The booklets in this series were numbered from 1 to 508 and were all 2s values. They were the first booklets to contain advertising labels, which were part of the first stamp pane in the booklet. This long-lived series covered the reigns of KGV, KEVIII, and KGVI and included commemorative issues for the 1929 Postal Union Congress and 1935 Silver Jubilee.

2s Booklet Series 4: BB11

Date: Jan 1924
Editions: 1-2
Printer: Harrison
Watermark: Simple Cypher
Makeup: FC, int, NB9, int, NB8, int, NB7, int, NB6, BC
Cancels: I

Edition 1: is known as an uncut vertical strip of four AVCs.
Edition 2: has a 5th interleaf before the back cover.

* These editions are known bound with staples.

Booklet Panes

Booklet panes of six were printed in letterpress, each sheet having 240 stamps arranged as 20 upright panes, and 20 inverted. Cancellations (precancellations, “specimen” and “cancelled” overprints) are equally likely to be found on upright or inverted panes, unless otherwise noted.

The vertical gutter between the left and right halves of the sheet contained short horizontal bars which can be seen in the selvedge of panes from the inner two columns. Panes from the outer two columns do not have these bars. Panes with and without bars occur in equal numbers.

Sheets were perforated by Harrison initially using a horizontal comb machine with a single extension pin that produced perforation Type B1(E). A vertical perforating machine was introduced in February 1919. Sheets could be fed left side or right side first, the first pane to enter the perforator receiving an imperforate selvedge Type B3(I), and all other panes receiving perforated selvedge Type B3A(P).

Booklets were stapled up to BB9 edition 60, editions 61-64 were stapled or stitched, and editions 65 onwards were stapled.

1913-1917 (BB6-9) stapled, perf E
1917-1919 (BB9-10, BB18) stitched, perf E
1919-1924 (BB18-23, BB30-32, BB11) stitched, perf P or I

Watermark Royal Cypher (Simple Cypher).

NB6/a: Booklets BB6-11, BB18-19, BB22, BB31-32; Perfs E, P, I; Cancels 23, 24, 26, G, H, I
Variety NB6b: New Moon flaw (R2/3)
Variety NB6ab: Broken left frame (R1/1)
Variety NB6ac: White spot on tablet (R2/2)

NB7/a: Booklets BB6-11, BB18-19, BB22, BB30-32; Perfs E, P, I; Cancels 23, 24, 26, F, G, H, I
Variety NB7b, NB7ba: Watermark reversed
Variety NB7c: Q for O with spot in centre (R2/3)

NB8/a: Booklets BB11, BB18-19, BB22-23, BB31-32; Perfs E, P, I; Cancels 23, 24, H, I

To see all advert panes click here.

NB10/a Die I; Booklets BB20, BB30-31, BB32; Perfs P, I; Cancels 26, H, I
NB11/a Die II; Booklets BB20, BB21, BB32; Perfs P, I; Cancels H, I

Adverts & Interleaves

Initially interleaves were printed in green. Starting with BB6 edition 15 (Dec 1913), interleaves were identified with letters A to F (from the back of the booklet) at the bottom centre of the sheet, so on two of every 40 booklets. Identification continued with variations of letters and numbers throughout the period of stitched booklets.

BB6 edition 23 interleaves (Oct 1914).

From BB8 edition 43 (May 1916) printing was changed from green to black.


BB10 edition 80 interleaves (July 1918).

BB20 edition 35 interleaves (Mar 1921).

Next: Profile Head, Block Cypher