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Lot# 1858 - Auction 222-226

  • Lot# : 1858 Great Britain

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    Spilsby Maltese Crosses 1840: Covers (2) from Spilsby to "Newton, Chambers & Co., Thorncliffe, an Ironworks near Sheffield", the first with 1 d. black, pl. 4, lettered MH, used example with clear to large margins neatly tied by red Maltese Cross with repeated strike alongside the adhesive at left. Reverse with 'Spilsby' double arc undated circle of despatch; most attractive and scarce - the earliest recorded usage of the 'Double Cross' listed by Rockoff & Jackson, see Volume II, page 251. Cert. Eichele (2011); the second with 1 d. black, pl. 9, lettered IC, a fine used example tied to 1841 entire letter from the ame correspondance, neatly tied by black Maltese Cross with repeated strike alongside the adhesive at left. Reverse with 'Spilsby' double arc datestamp (April 19) in black of despatch. Both a  tad fragile along folds but most attractive and scarce. A sensational pair of covers with both the red and black Crosses. Illustrated in Rockoff & Jackson, Volume II, page 253. Certs. RPSL (1983).rnNote: George Newton, Thomas Chambers along with Henry Longden signed a lease to extract coal and ironstone from the Thorncliffe valley in December 1793. The company founded was "The Thorncliffe Ironworks". By the end of the 19th century the company was not only mining coal and ironstone but building blast furnances, coke ovens and chemical plant. Heavy section iron from the Thorncliffe Ironworks was used in two iconic structures: Tower Bridge, crossing the river Thames in London, and the Eddystone Lighthouse. (Source: Wikipedia)rnProvenance: Collection 'Wills', Harmers, London, Nov 1989, lot 212.rn                   Collection Hassan Shaida, Sale 1, Feb. 1992.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,200 CHF