Type 2

This underprint is for S. & J. Watts a firm of Wholesale Drapers.

They had their main warehouse and showroom at:

    35-47 Portland Street,
    Manchester

S. & J. Watts was the largest wholesale drapery business in Manchester and the owner James Watts typical of the city’s new mercantile princes, a self-made man who espoused the free-trade cause.

The S. & J. Watts warehouse (designed by Travis & Mangnall and built between 1851-1856) is now a Grade II Listed building and since 1982 has been the Britannia Hotel.

The above picture shows an engraving of the warehouse during its hayday.

The above pictures show a modern exterior shot of the warehouse (now the Britannia Hotel) as well as an internal view showing the retained elaborate staircase of the warehouse.

An apology.
The above two images I found on the web but could not find either a copyright notice or any photographers name to acknowledge.  If this is your work please let me know and I will either remove or acknowledge the source as appropriate.

This underprint was applied to the stamps of both King Edward VII and King George V.

King Edward VII

1904. Underprint Type 2 in black (18 mm. wide).

a) Vertical underprint, reading upwards.

PP236 1/2d. blue-green.

PP237 1/2d. yellow-green.

PP238 1d. red.

PP238A 1 1/2d. purple and green.

Note.  PP238A is my numbering as this underprint is currently unlisted by Stanley Gibbons.

PP239 2 1/2d. blue.

PP240 3d. purple on yellow.

PP241 3d purple on yellow.

b) As last but underprint only 14 mm. wide.

PP241A 1 1/2d purple and green.

Note.  PP241A is my numbering as this underprint is currently unlisted by Stanley Gibbons.

c) Vertical underprint, reading downwards.

PP242 1d. red.

PP243 3d. purple on yellow.

PP244 3d. purple on yellow.

PP245 5d. purple and blue.

d) As last but underprint only 14 mm. wide.

PP246 1d. red.

PP247 1d. red.

PP248 1d. red.

PP249 3d. purple on yellow.

King George V

1912.  Underprint Type 2 (14 mm. wide).

a) Vertical underprint, reading upwards, simple cypher watermark.

PP251 1d. red.

b) Vertical underprint, reading downwards, simple cypher watermark.

PP252 1d. red.

PP252A 1 1/2d. red-brown.

Note.  PP252A is my numbering as this underprint is currently unlisted by Stanley Gibbons.

PP253 3d. violet.

c) Vertical underprint, reading downwards, block cypher watermark.

PP254 1 1/2d. red-brown.

Note.  PP254 is my numbering as this underprint is currently unlisted by Stanley Gibbons.

PP254A 1d. red.

Note.  PP254A is my numbering as this underprint is currently unlisted by Stanley Gibbons.

d) Commemorative Issues

PP255 2 1/2d blue PUC.

Note.  PP255 is my numbering as this underprint is currently unlisted by Stanley Gibbons.