John Davies Prints 
on Thick Soft No Watermark Paper
1863

Thick no watermark paper was used by Davies for the same reason he used the Pelure paper; to meet the increased demand for stamps when his stock of star watermark paper was exhausted. The five reams of star watermark paper that remained from the shipment with the 3d plate was used up early in 1863 and the next supply, a further 20 reams, was invoiced 6 March 1863.  Until the arrival of this shipment the white no watermark paper was used.

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2d Dull Deep Blue

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This soft white paper was used to print only the 2d value. In quality, the paper is whiter and softer than that used by Richardson, though it varies somewhat in thickness. Experts have noted that this paper has a slight greyish tinge and is known to be susceptible to thinning. This is a subtle characteristic that may help collectors to distinguish these stamps from the Richardson prints on soft white paper.

With the increase in the population due to the gold rush, 150,991 letters were dispatched from Dunedin in the first half of 1863 for delivery within the Colony, the majority requiring the 2d postage rate. The requisition for 2d stamps by Dunedin during this period was close to equalling the sum of all the other offices in the colony.

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Separation varieties reported include:

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• Perf 13 (at Dunedin): (SG 96a)

• Pin-Perforation 9-10: (not listed in SG)

Earliest recorded use of SG 96: 27 June 1863 on a local cover within Christchurch.

Earliest recorded use of SG 96a: 4 May 1863 on cover from Dunedin to Dunstan.