The 1/2d on 1d Provisional of 1940
Taken from "The Post Office, Postal Markings and Adhesive Stamps of Bermuda"
M.H. Ludington c 1962
Mr Ludington died in 1998 and this page is dedicated to him
With thanks to the American Philatelic Society and particularly to Ellen Peachey for all their help

ROW81.GIF

The 1/2d. value was always in particular demand at Christmas-time to pay the postage on unsealed local Christmas cards. Stocks of the 1/2d. stamps were getting low during 1940, and a new supply was ordered, but although the consignment was shipped by Transatlantic Clipper before Christmas, the plane was delayed in the Azores, and the stock of 1/2d. stamps in Bermuda became exhausted.
Recourse was had to a provisional by surcharging the 1d. value. The surcharge consisted of the words "HALF PENNY" in two lines of Roman capitals placed in the upper left, so as to appear in the sky above the ocean liner on the stamps, and a large Roman capital "X" in each lower comer cancelling the figures of value. In addition, a dot above and to the right of the left "X" was inserted, according to the official explanation, to make forgery of the surcharge more difficult.
The surcharging was carried out by the Bermuda Press, who used a linotype machine. The linotype slugs were combined into formes of fifteen surcharges each, and four of these were in turn combined to surcharge a complete sheet of sixty at a single operation.
Officially, only two printings were made, the first of which was issued on December 20th, 1940, and the second during the second week of January 1941. The official figures, released by the Colonial Postmaster, state that the first printing consisted of 4,500 sheets and the second of 1,300 sheets, or a total of 348,000 stamps. Actually, there are three settings of the surcharge, the first two of which formed the so-called "first printing". The first setting is unofficially reported to have consisted of 500 sheets, or 30,000 stamps, leaving 4,000 sheets, or 240,000 stamps, for the second setting and 1,300 sheets, or 78,000 stamps, for the third setting.
Before giving details identifying the settings, it should be pointed out that the vertical spacing between the base of "PENNY" and the left "X" is found in three different measurements, constant throughout all settings for each horizontal row, as follows:
Spacing 12.75 mm. in horizontal rows 8 and 10 (stamps
Nos. 43 - 48 and 55 - 60).
Row 8 below
ROW8.GIF

Spacing 13.5 mm. in horizontal rows 1, 3 and 4 (stamps
Nos. 1 - 6, 13 - 18 and 19 - 24).
Row 1 below
ROW1.GIF

Spacing c. 14.25 mm. in horizontal rows 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9
(stamps Nos. 7 - 12, 25 - 30, 31 - 36,
37 - 42 and 49 - 54).
Row 2
ROW2.GIF
The settings can best be identified by the stamps in the eighth row, Nos. 43-48, and the position of "HALF" in relation to "PENNY". The normal position of the two words is such that an extension of the left edge of the vertical of the "E" of "PENNY" passes through or just to the left or right of the centre of the crossbar of the "H" of "HALF".

  • In Setting I the surcharge on all six stamps is normal.
  • In Setting II the "H" is almost directly over the "E" on Nos. 46, 47, and 48, and the extension of the left edge of the vertical of the "E" passes through the centre of the left vertical of the "H".
  • In Setting III this same variety exists, but on Nos. 43, 44 and 45, while Nos. 46, 47 and 48 are normal.
  • In addition No. 57 in a late state of Setting I and No. 7 in the final state of Setting III both show a similar variety, but
  • IMPRINT.GIF
  • the extension from the "E" passes along, or just misses, the right edge of the left vertical of the "H".
  • In earlier states of Setting III, No. 7 shows the "H" about halfway between the positions on the normal stamps and on the variety. The tightening of the slugs in the formes during and between printings very probably accounted for the "H" over "E" varieties.
Numerous minor varieties, such as damaged or broken or even missing letters may be found, especially in the late states of each setting, but none are of any special significance. Some appear to be due to insufficient inking, others to insufficient pressure and a few possibly to foreign matter adhering to the type. But in many cases the letters broke down and the slugs were often, but not always, replaced.


The stock of 1d. stamps used for surcharging was from several printings, and it is not possible to identify a particular setting by the shade of the stamp. The 1d. rose-red of 1938, many affected by the climate, is found with both Settings I and III, and may also exist with Setting II. Various shades of the Id. in black and red, with and without tinted paper, are most commonly found in all three settings, but the Id. in intense black and scarlet-red on slightly thicker paper has only been seen with Setting III.

The provisionals were withdrawn from sale on January 21st, 1941, upon the arrival of the new supply of regular 1/2d. stamps. It is not known how many, if any, remainders were destroyed.