Aden 1953-63 Definitives in Detail
Aden's Queen Elizabeth II definitive series issued from 15 June 1953 with multiple script watermark, and reprinted numerous times up to 1963, was first printed by Waterlow and then by De La Rue. Various shades, perf types and plates exists as a result. Here's your essential guide to identifying the different printings. Some of which are particularly elusive.
Certain values were reprinted between 1964 and 1965 with St Edward's Crown watermark, but that's another story...
Details
Printed recess by Waterlow until 19 October 1960 and then by De La Rue from 5 December 1961 on multiple script watermark paper. The 5c to 10s were printed in sheets of 100 (10 x 10) and the 20s in sheets of 50 (5 x 10). Various perf sizes were used including 12 x 12, 12 x 13½, and 13½ x 13 (20s only).
Perf 12 x 12
5c Minaret (1, 4)
10c Camel Transport (1, 3, 9, 11, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22)
15c Crater (1, 16, 20, 22)
25c Mosque (1, 7, 11, 21)
35c Dhow (1)
50c Map (1, 5)
70c Salt Works (1, 2)
1s Dhow Building (1, 9, 11, 13, 17, 23)
2s Protectorate Levy (1)
5s Crater Pass (1)
10s Tribesman (1, 2)
Perf 12 x 13½
5c Minaret (9, 11, 13, 18)
35c Dhow (14, 15, 18)
50c Map (9, 11, 17, 18, 19, 23)
70c (9, 11, 13, 17, 23)
1s25c Colony Badge (10, 20, 23)
2s Protectorate Levy (6, 11, 17)
5s Crater Pass (8, 11, 15, 23)
Perf 13½ x 13
20s Aden in 1572 (1, 12, 13, 24)
Waterlow Printings
(1) 15 June 1953
(2) 20 September 1954
(3) 1 February 1955
(4) 1 June 1955
(5) 1 July 1955
(6) 1 March 1956
(7) 15 March 1956
(8) 11 April 1956
(9) 12 April 1956
(10) 16 July 1956
(11) 11 September 1956
(12) 7 January 1957
(13) 14 May 1958
(14) 15 October 1958
(15) 17 February 1959
(16) 26 April 1959
(17) 15 October 1959
(18) 19 October 1960
De La Rue Printings
(19) 5 December 1961
(20) 16 January 1962
(21) 13 March 1962
(22) 13 November 1962
(23) 11 December 1962
(24) 22 January 1963
5c Minaret
Issued 15 June 1953 perf 12 x 12 in yellowish green. Reprinted 1 June 1955 in bluish green. All printings from 12 April 1956 are perf 12 x 13½ in a slightly paler bluish green shade. The value was only ever printed by Waterlow using plate 1.
• Aden 5c Minaret in yellowish green, bluish green and paler bluish green respectively. The first two perf 12 x 12. The rightmost perf 12 x 13½
10c Camel Transport
Issued 15 June 1953 perf 12 x 12 in orange. All reprints from 1 February 1955 are in vermilion with little to distinguish them. Six of the vermilion shade printings were by Waterlow and a further three, starting 5 December 1961, by De La Rue.
The final De La Rue printing of 13 November 1962 was from plate 2 while all earlier printings, including those from Waterlow, were from plate 1.
• 10c Camel transport plate 1 blocks printed by Waterlow in orange and vermillion respectively 
• 10c Camel Transport plate 1 block in vermilion printed by De La Rue. Note the hollowed plate number
15c Crater
Issued 15 June 1953 in blue-green and reprinted 26 April 1959 in greenish-grey. Both printings being from Waterlow. Reprinted 16 January 1962 by De La Rue in deep greenish grey and again 13 November 1962 in greenish slate. All Waterlow and De La Rue printings are from plate 1. 
• 15c Crater blocks printed by Waterlow (top row) in blue-green and greenish grey and De La Rue (lower row) in deep greenish blue and greenish slate
25c Mosque
Issued 15 June 1953 in carmine-red and reprinted 15 March 1956 and 11 September 1956 in deep rose-red by Waterlow from plate 1. Reprinted for the last time on 13 March 1962 in rose-red by De La Rue from plate 2. The shade differences between the first Waterlow printing and De La Rue printing are subtle. Catalogue shade names of all three do little to help identification.
• 25c Mosque singles in carmine-red, deep rose-red and rose-red respectively. The first two printed by Waterlow and the rightmost by De La Rue
• 25c Mosque block with cracked wall flaw (top left stamp) from column 5, row 1 of plate 1 sheets printed by Waterlow in carmine-red. The flaw exists in progressive states from an emboldened line to a gaping hole. The latter much scarcer and only recorded from sheets sent to the territory
35c Dhow
Issued 15 June 1953 in deep ultramarine with perf 12 x 12. Reprinted 15 October 1958 in deep blue and from 17 February 1959 in violet-blue with perf 12 x 13½. The value was only printed by Waterlow using plate 1.
• 35c Dhow plate 1 blocks in different shades perf 12 x 12 and 12 x 13½ respectively
50c Map
Issued 15 June 1953 in dull blue and reprinted 1 July 1955 in deep blue with perf 12 x 12. Reprinted with perf 12 x 13½ between 1 July 1955 and 19 October 1960 by Waterlow and 11 December 1962 by De La Rue. Although curiously ignored by catalogues, the De La Rue printing is a different shade to the Waterlow printings. All printings are from plate 1.
• 50c Map plate 1 blocks printed by Waterlow in dull blue and deep blue. The first two perforated 12 x 12 and the rightmost 12 x 13½
• 50c Map block reprinted by De La Rue in unlisted deep greyish blue shade
70c Salt Works
Issued 15 June 1953 in brown-grey and reprinted 20 September 1954 in black with perf 12 x 12. Reprinted with perf 12 x 13½ between 12 April 1956 and 15 October 1959 by Waterlow and 11 December 1962 by De La Rue. All printings are from plate 1.
• 70c Salt Works plate 1 blocks printed by Waterlow in brown-grey and black respectively. The first two are perf 12 x 12 and the rightmost perf 12 x 13½
1s Dhow Building
Issued 15 June 1953 in sepia and reddish violet and reprinted from 1 July 1955 in black and violet. Printings up to 15 October 1959 were by Waterlow while the final printing of 11 December 1962 was by De La Rue. There is some variance in reproduction of the vignette which ranges from grey-black to black.
All printings are from plate 1–1 with the exception of Waterlow's 11 September 1956 printing which only features frame plate 1. The vignette plate number presumably being left off in error.
• 1s Dhow Building plate blocks in sepia and reddish violet and black and violet respectively. Note the rightmost block with only one plate number in error
1s25c Colony Badge
Printed by Waterlow in blue and black and issued 16 July 1956. Reprinted 16 January 1962 and 11 December 1962 by De La Rue in dull blue and black. The shades as listed are difficult to differentiate. Instead compare the Queen's profile which is lighter on De La Rue printings. Further, the Waterlow printing is perforated through the right margin while the De La Rue printings have a single perf extending into the margin. All printings are plate 1–1 and perforated 12 x 13½.
• 1s25c Colony Badge plate 1–1 block printed by Waterlow
2s Protectorate Levy
Printed by Waterlow in sepia and rose-carmine and issued 15 June 1953 perforated 12 x 12. Reprinted 1 March 1956, 11 September 1956 and 15 October 1959 by Waterlow in black and carmine-red perforated 12 x 13½. Finally reprinted 22 January 1963 by De La Rue in black and carmine-rose also perforated 12 x 13½. All printings are plate 1–1.
The perf 12 x 13½ Waterlow and De La Rue printings are difficult to tell apart. Comparing the Queen's profile is the best way of differentiating between the printings. Shade differences between profiles are more obvious and Waterlow printings have less contrast between face and hair.
• 2s Protectorate Levy singles in sepia and rose-carmine, black and carmine-red, and black and carmine-rose respectively. The rightmost being from De La Rue
5s Crater Pass
Printed by Waterlow in sepia and dull blue and issued 15 June 1953 perforated 12 x 12. Reprinted 11 April 1956, 11 September 1956 and 17 February 1959 by Waterlow in black and deep dull blue perforated 12 x 13½. Finally reprinted 11 December 1962 by De La Rue in black and blue also perforated 12 x 13½. All printings are plate 1–1.
The perf 12 x 13½ Waterlow and De La Rue printings are tricky to distinguish. However, black is generally more intense and the Queen's profile cleaner on the De La Rue printing.
• 5s Crater Pass singles in sepia and deep dull blue, black and deep dull blue, and black and blue respectively. The rightmost printed by De La Rue
10s Tribesman
Issued 15 June 1953 in sepia and olive from plates 1–1 and reprinted 20 September 1954 in black and bronze-green from plates 1–2. Both Waterlow printings are perf 12 x 12.
• 10s Tribesman imprint block in black and olive and plate 1–2 block in black and bronze-green
20s Aden in 1572
Printed by Waterlow in chocolate and reddish lilac and issued 15 June 1953. Reprinted 7 January 1957 by Waterlow and 22 January 1963 by De La Rue in black and deep lilac. Also reprinted 14 May 1958 by Waterlow in deep black and deep lilac. All printings are perf 13½ x 13 using plates 1–1.
• 20s Aden in 1572 singles printed by Waterlow in chocolate and reddish lilac, black and deep lilac, and deep black and deep lilac respectively
