Ivory Head

An Ivory Head is an interesting variety found on some of the early engraved issues of Great Britain and the British Empire on blued/blue/bluish paper. Due to a chemical reaction, unprinted areas can turn white to varying degrees. Only some stamps on blue paper are affected.

The effect can be best seen by looking at the backs of these stamps. It can result in just a small white area to a nearly fully formed head, the latter range deserving of the "Ivory Head" name.  File:GB ivory head.jpg|Great Britain Penny Red Ivory Head as viewd from back of the stamp 

[[Category:I]]