Translucent and Thin papers
Many collectors have mistaken translucent paper as thin paper, and it is easy to be fooled as both are identical in appearance.
King George VI
Translucent paper is not thin paper even though it has the appearance of thin paper. Thin paper has a paper gauge of 0.075mm or less, and thick paper has a paper gauge of 0.083mm to 0.091mm. A micrometer is needed to determine the thickness and identify what is thick and what is thin between these papers.
Queen Elizabeth II
In 1956, a special paper was temporarily introduced; it wasn’t unique as it was introduced during the reign of KGVI, the paper was known as translucent paper, but this time the paper gauge was 0.095mm and 0.105mm.
Even though it is listed as thin, hard transparent paper, it is not in the official category as an actual thin paper which is 0.075mm. It is thinner than the regular translucent paper of 0.105mm, but the stamp is still printed on thick paper.
As no thin paper was ever issued during the reign of QEII; and translucent was a temporary issue, a micrometer s not needed unless the collector is interested in knowing whether the translucent paper is 0.095mm or 0.105mm.
Displayed is both the thin and translucent papers of the 1942 3½d and the transparent papers of the 1956 3½d and 6½d. The 1956 3½d and 6½d are both 0.095mm.