Colour trials and were printed for both stamps. All colour trials were made with the final design and were therefore taken from the printing plate. The trials therefore also served as plate proofs.
The 1d (6d) was printed in four basic colours with several variations for each basic colour. No reason is known as to why so many variations were produced for the 1d (6d) value.
Prestige Philately estimated that 1d to 2d proofs exist in a ratio of about 100:1.
At least eleven colour trials were printed across the four basic colour classes - red, green, blue and violet - in differing colours and shades.
All were printed on ungummed watermarked paper and left imperforate.
The watermark was the same as for the issued stamp -
Q over Crown sideways (rotated clockwise i.e. top of the Crown towards the right side).
Most of the colour trials had flaws especially on or just outside the external frame.
There are few complete sets known. One is in the Royal Collection while another is in the Australia Post Archival Collection.
The Presentation Sheet included elsewhere is a third example of a complete set.
There are probably less than than five other complete sets in private hands - all of single images.
Spink (June 2023) Lot 3107 had 10 colours for the 1d coulur trial and one example of the 2d colour trial.
Singles are scarce and those which do come on the market tend to be in a narrow range of colour shades.
Multiples are rare. Those known are shown below:
- one block of four in each of eight colours/shades;
- pairs in dull rose-pink, violet blue, olive green and deep blue.
All known multiples are recorded below.
All blocks of four shown below have provenance of Alan Griffiths (Spink October 2012 Lot 1392) and Johnstone. There is probably another set of blocks of four also.
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 Dull rose-pink pair - rare multiple. Prestige Philately December 2009 Lot 403. |
 Claret. The above Colour Trial is attached to the Presentation Sheet included elsewhere. The claret Trial is annotated on the sheet as being the"Colour and design approved for 1d.". |
 Apple-green (pale yellowish green) block of 4. |
 Emerald block of 4. |
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 Blue-green block of 4. |
 Green pair. |
 Ultramarine block of 4. |
 Blue block of 4. |
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 Dark blue pair. |
 Pale violet |
 Violet |
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The pair of the violet-blue Colour Trial at the left is printed in a most unusual shade. It also shows a number of frame varieties which needed correction before the final printing commenced. |
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 Violet blue |
 Violet |
 Violet. |
| The above Colour Trial is attached to the Presentation Sheet included elsewhere. |
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