Self adhesives actually have two layers of gum, the acrylic is applied over the top of a layer of PVA GUM. This allows collectors to remove the stamps from envelopes by the traditional method of soaking. All mint examples are collected with the backing paper still in place.

The format of the self adhesive has already been dealt with under the Types of gum section, but it should be noted that the Walsall & Enschede horizontal stamps have a different value tablet. Enschede is much larger in height and width. The backing paper that adjoins the per’s was also removed on the Enschede coil stamps (Walsall are complete). Both have simulated kiss and die cut perforations of 14 x 15 with a security ellipse ER (rugby ball.) Walsall stamps are printed in litho and Enschede in gravure.

Vertical format

After the initial trials proved successful the format changed to one of a vertical design , conforming with size of the normal definitives. Enschede printed the coil stamps (now in boxes of 200). Walsall printed them in sheet form. These sheets were folded into five rows, the first (top row) contained 4 stamps set in a horizontal row and the 4 remaining rows had three separate rows of eight stamps on each. This totaled 100 stamps per sheet, both of these issues were printed in gravure.

Coil stamps were withdrawn in the year 2000, and the sheet format changed.

Walsall continued to print the 2nd class stamps and Questa took over the contract to print the 1st class. The sheet format still has five rows , but overall size of the sheet was reduced, the stamps are now closer together. The top of the sheet containing four stamps now bears a vertical block of four. It is suggested that the best way of collecting this issue is to obtain the top part of the sheets containing the actual four stamps in a mini booklet pane or sheet.

For information on  new S.A booklets see News sheet.