Missing colour errors – the results of paper folds, faulty plates or cylinders, excessive cleaning fluids, insufficient ink, or temporary pressure changes in paper during reel printing – range from subtle to spectacular. They are flawed masterpieces in miniature. The result of human or mechanical failure. They are as visually arresting as they are rare. Following are ten of the best from 1960s Great Britain.
2½d POSB Centenary missing black
28 August 1961
The first missing colour error of the 1960s. A block of 30 stamps was discovered in Rochester, Kent, with column eight completely missing black. The sixth, seventh and ninth columns show traces of black while all other stamps are normal. The part sheet was split into three strips in the early 1980s and sold to collectors.
1s3d Parliamentary Conference missing blue
25 September 1961
Results in a blank box in place of the Queen’s head and shading. Just six examples exist from the rightmost column of the only sheet affected by the error. Only five are on the market as one example is held in the Royal Philatelic Collection.
1s3d National Productivity Year missing light blue14 November 1962
The error – which affects the Queen’s head, the leftmost arrow, and the N of NPY – was first discovered by a US serviceman attached to the Northolt air base. He purchased a lower right marginal block of 12 stamps from a Harrow post office. The remaining stamps from the lower row of the affected sheet were also sold over the counter. A second sheet was discovered later with rows nine and ten completely affected and row 11 partially affected. Around 18 examples exist in total.
3d Red Cross Centenary missing red
15 August 1963
Discovery details surrounding the circa 18 examples missing the red cross are unrecorded. However, it's known a plate 2A–2B pane was affected given the existence of the plate single in the Royal Philatelic Collection.
9d Botanical Congress missing green
5 August 1964
Results in yellow leaves rather than green. Barton Road post office in Maidstone has been confirmed as the source of error. Recorded examples indicate the lower two rows of a sheet were affected. However, just five mint, one used and one on first day cover survive.
3d Opening of Post Office Tower missing olive-yellow
8 October 1965
Results in the loss of the Post Office Tower and shading from the surrounding buildings. Around 30 mint examples and 15 used, including one on first day cover, emanate from two partially affected panes of 120 stamps.
1966 British Birds block missing black, blue, bistre and brown
8 August 1966
A sheet of 120 stamps (30 blocks of four) affected by the striking error was purchased from a London post office. Four of the eight colours used to print the stamps are missing resulting in the loss of inscriptions and ghost-like birds.
6d British Technology missing red
19 September 1966
Results in the loss of the Mini cars. The error occurred on rows seven to nine of a sheet resulting in 18 stamps affected by the error.
9d EFTA missing black, brown, cyan and yellow
20 February 1967
Most of the design is affected in some way and includes the loss of the Queen’s head, ship’s hull, rail track, border around the flags, and truck and cargo detail. The Finnish, Swedish and Portuguese flags are also affected. One sheet comprising 120 stamps was discovered.
5d British Ships missing black
15 January 1969
Results in the loss of the Queen’s head, value, hull and inscription. Two complete sheets (144 stamps) with the error were discovered at Leicester Square post office.
