ut, as is so
frequently the case with mauves, lilacs and violets, tint variations
were soon noticed. Shades varying from deep red lilac to grey and
blue-grey are known. It is difficult to draw the line, in some
instances, between true shades and "fades" but the grey would appear to
be undoubtedly a true color variety and one that should be recognised as
a provisional, if wholly unintentional, color change. Scott, in fact,
lists it as a separate issue under the date 1875-77, but this is an
arbitrary classification which has, apparently, no foundation in fact,
and the best plan is to include the variety in its logical place with
the rest of the 1868 series.

The paper used for this set of stamps is what is generally known as
"wove" and it varies, as Mr. Howes states, "from a very thin, almost
pelure quality to a quite hard and thick variety." Mr. King, who was
evidently untiring in his efforts to discover varieties of paper, says,
"This series is of a most interesting nature, having a very large number
of varieties of paper, all quite distinct, and specimens of some are of
considerable rarity." Mr. King then lets himself go and describes some
_seventeen_ varieties of paper but, with the exception of two well
marked varieties to which we shall make extended reference shortly, they
all seem to resolve themselves into minute variations of the wove paper
such as can be found in connection with most stamps of the 'sixties and
'seventies with the aid of a micrometer and a well trained imagination!
We doubt whether any specialist, however willing and enthusiastic, could
follow Mr. King through his intricate listing.

Scott's catalogue lists a sub-variety of all values except the 1/2c on
"watermarked" paper. The watermarked letters found in these stamps were
known at least as early as 1870 and much speculation was rife as to
their meaning. Mr. John N. Luff finally solved the problem by assembling
a large number of the watermarked stamps so that he was able to
reconstruct the complete watermark, viz:--

E. & C. BOTHWELL
CLUTHA MILLS

The letters are large double lined capitals 12-1/2 mm. high with the
exception of the initial letters E, C and B of the upper line, which
are 13 mm. high. The "watermark" is, of course, the trademark of the
paper manufacturer and, like other watermarks of a similar nature, it is
not of very great philatelic importance. It is very generally presumed
that the paper watermarked in this manner was us