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Lot# 3055 - Auction 234-243

  • Lot# : 3055 Great Britain

    1855: 1 red-brown on blued paper, Die II, Alphabet II, plate 2, wmk. Small Crown, lettered TA-TF, variety "Imperforate", the famous horizontal strip of six used on 1855 cover from Exeter to Melbourne, Victoria, with just touched to large margins all round cancelled by "285" numeral obliterators in black. The stamps in a fine rich shade, TC with vertical contemporary wrinkle, also tied by "1d." credit handstamp in red. Reverse with 'Fore Street' undated circle in blue, Exeter despatch cds (May 1), London cds in red and obverse with faint Melbourne arrival in red and manuscript docketing at left 'Answered October 1855'. A remarkable cover, illustrated in the Robson Lowe encyclopaedia on page 160 where described as "possibly the rarest piece of Line Engraved Great Britain". A wonderful cover of immense importance and rarity Gi 21a = unpriced / Gi C4j = unpriced.rnProvenance: Collection 'Derby', RL, London, 2 Feb 1995, lot 238.rnrnNote: This cover was found at the British Philatelic Exhibition in South Kensington in 1947 by Robson Lowe on Alcock's stand. A full report of the find, described in the British Philatelist, No. 8, Volume XXXVIII of October 1947 appears on pages 61 and 62. A copy of the article is enclosed with the lot.
    Starting bid : 7,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 14,000 CHF