User:Ww2censor/Postage stamp essays of Ireland

On February 1, 1922, the postmaster general of the Irish Free State issued an invitation for the submission of designs for a permanent definitive stamp issue. By March several designs had been submitted and four of these were chosen but many of the other essays and die proofs have become collectibles.

Dollard Printing House Ltd.
All sheets contained 30 labels to a sheet on gummed paper with 15 perforations per inch.

Engraved essays
A 2d design shows a winged figure sounding a trumpet and leaning on an Irish harp that is by her side. This essay was engraved in four different colours and Feldman reports one sheet of 30 essays was printed in each colour from this plate.

Mono-coloured essays
A second group of labels in fifteen different colours was lithographically printed in the same 2d design.

Bi-coloured essays
Another group of lithographed essays was printed in the same design but these were a bi-coloured printing. The frame in one colour and the central figure in a different colour.

Valdivia Specimens
A design based on the 1911 Chile 2 centavo value portraying Pedro de Valdivia are regarded as specimens but must be included because of their similarity to the chosen design of the "Map of Ireland" stamp that was issued. Lithographed in sheets of 24 on gummed paper. Nine different colours were printed in both perforated and imperforated styles.

Hely Ltd.
A lithographed series of a 2d value show an angel silhouetted against the rising sun. Printed in sheets of 25 with a line-peroration of 12 on gummed paper.

Mono-coloured essay
Ten different single colour essays were printed.

Bi-coloured essay
Seventeen different two colour combinations were printed where the centre has one colour and a different one for the frame. The 2002 Hibernian catalogue identifies an additional five colour combinations.

Perkins Bacon & Co.
Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., submitted two designs, both showing Hope seated, holding a torch in her right hand and an Irish harp to her left with an Irish wolfhound at her feet. A 2d value was printed on thick wove paper, both gummed and ungummed, and also in die proofs on thick card. A 3d value was also on thick wove paper but only ungummed.

O'Loughlin, Murphy & Boland
At the request of the new Minister for Posts and Telegraphs requested the firm of O'Loughlin, Murphy & Boland to prepare postage stamp designs.