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Montserrat

British West Indies - The Besançon Collection (Part I)
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  • Lot# : 4146 Montserrat

    1853 (Dec 10): Entire letter from Montserrat to Basingstoke, England prepaid '1/-' in red manuscript, struck with fine "♚ / PAID / AT / MONTSERRAT" in red, over-watered attempt at strike at right. Reverse with double arc 'Montserrat despatch cds in black (Dec 10) and London and Basingstoke (Jan 5, 1854) datestamps on obverse. A fresh and fine entire with a good strike of this rare marking Gi = £ 4'750.
    Starting bid : 1,750 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,000 CHF

    Lot# : 4147 Montserrat

    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, an unused example on small card ex the De La Rue archives overprinted CANCELLED in red (Samuel Type D7) with manuscript "Change for overprint forme done 1876" in pencil at top and "120 Set" at right in ink. Illustrated in "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP on page 4660. Rare.rnProvenance: RL, Bermuda, 27 Jan 1978, ex lot 1371; Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1393.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 550 CHF

    Lot# : 4148 Montserrat

    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, an unused example overprinted SPECIMEN in black (Samuel Type D11), unused without gum. Extremely rare.rnProvenance: Collection Dr. R.H. Urwick, RL, London, 6 Oct 1964, lot 401; Collection Marcus Samuel.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 250 CHF

    Lot# : 4149 Montserrat

    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, an unused horizontal pair, showing misplaced overprint leaving ANTIGUA clear, especially so on the right hand stamp, fresh and fine, large part og. Scarce.rnProvenance: Collection H. Douglas Bessemer, Harmers, London, 14-15 Feb 1963, lot 223; Collection E. Victor Toeg, RL, London, 6 Sept 1983, lot 411.
    Starting bid : 120 CHF
    Hammer price : 140 CHF

    Lot# : 4150 Montserrat

    1 / 1
    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, a vertically bisected used example on 1883 cover endorsed 'Printed Matter' to Garraway & Co in Roseau, Dominica tied by fine strike of "A08" obliterator. 'Montserrat / Paid' cds at left (June 14) and 'Dominica' cds alongside (June 17), all in black. Slight iron spots in paper away from the adhesive, a rare cover. Cert. RPSL (1980) Gi = £ 1'400.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 850 CHF

    Lot# : 4151 Montserrat

    1 / 1
    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, a vertically bisected example (right half) used on 1883 cover with horizontal pair of un-bisected 1 d. red, tied by fair strikes of the "A08" obliterator and by 'Montserrat / Paid' cds below (Oct 11) and 'Dominica' arrival alongside (Oct 12). Vertical crease and small tear at top, reverse with faint 'Montserrat / Paid' cds. A scarce cover. Cert. BPA (1971) Gi = £ 1'400+.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 700 CHF

    Lot# : 4152 Montserrat

    1 / 2
    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, a vertically bisected example (½d.) and 6 d. green, a vertically trisected example (2d.) used on 1884 cover to C.R. Lauder in Roseau, Dominica and paying the 2½ d. rate, lightly tied by "A08" obliterator and 'Montserrat' cds with further 'Montserrat' cds at left (Feb 26) in black, reverse with 'Dominica' cds of receipt (Feb 27). Mentioned by Robson Lowe in the Encyclopaedia on page 85. The envelope trimmed at left but an entirely unique and extraordinary usage. Certs. BPA (1955), Philatelic Foundation (1983), Friedl (1983).
    Starting bid : 4,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4153 Montserrat

    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 6 d. green, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, an unused block of four of lovely fresh colour and superb large part og. Scarce Gi = £ 300+.
    Starting bid : 120 CHF
    Hammer price : 120 CHF

    Lot# : 4154 Montserrat

    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 6 d. green, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, an unused block of four, positions 75-76 / 87-88, showing variety "(second) Inverted "S" in MONTSERRAT" on top left stamp, with position 87 below showing a blob of colour outside the frame-line above the "N" of ANTIGUA (the 'Malburnin' flaw). Fresh and very fine colour, large part og. with lower pair unmounted og. Superb and very rare Gi = £ 2'125+.rnProvenance: Collection C.G. Alterskye; Collection E. Victor Toeg, RL, London, 6 Sept 1983, lot 436.
    Starting bid : 850 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,200 CHF

    Lot# : 4155 Montserrat

    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 6 d. green, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, an unused block of eight (2 x 4), marginal from base of sheet, positions 74-75 / 86-87 / 98-99 / 110-111, showing position 75 variety "(second) Inverted "S" in MONTSERRAT" of fresh colour in a yellowish-green shade, some age spots on large part og. Rare and attractive Gi = £ 2'575+.
    Starting bid : 850 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,400 CHF

    Lot# : 4156 Montserrat

    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 6 d. blue-green, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, an unused example in this rich shade from the first printing, fresh and very fine, part og. A very rare stamp, believed to have been just one sheet printed, possibly as a Colour Trial (see Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia page 85) and abandoned due to the 'Montserrat' not being clearly seen on the blue-green background Gi = £ 1'300.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 4157 Montserrat

    Stamps of Antigua Overprinted 1876/83: 6 d. blue-green, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, an unused block of four, of superb deep colour with usual minor gum bends of absolutely no significance, large part og. with the lower pair superb og. A very rare stamp, believed to have been just one sheet printed, possibly as a Colour Trial (see Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia page 85) and abandoned due to the 'Montserrat' not being clearly seen on the blue-green background. Exceptional with just three multiples recorded Gi = £ 5'200+.rnProvenance: Collection C.G. Alterskye; Collection E. Victor Toeg, RL, London, 6 Sept 1983, lot 440.
    Starting bid : 2,500 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4158 Montserrat

    1880 (Jan): De La Rue Imperforate file example of the 2½ d. red-brown, applied to small card ex the archives, overprinted CANCELLED in black (Samuel Type D7), small imperfection in top margin and minor spot at right but rare, illustrated in "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton on page 4660.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, ex lot 1408.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 340 CHF

    Lot# : 4159 Montserrat

    1880 (Jan): De La Rue 2½ d. red-brown, Imperforate on watermarked Crown CC paper, overprinted SPECIMEN in black (Samuel Type D8), fresh and fine, large part og. Rare.rnProvenance: Collection E. Victor Toeg, RL, London, 6 Sept 1983, lot 444; Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, ex lot 1408.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 480 CHF

    Lot# : 4160 Montserrat

    1880 (Jan): 2½ d. blue, wmk. Crown CC, an unused block of four of good colour, fresh and fine, hinge remnants, part or large part og. A very rare stamp in a multiple, only 1'860 stamps printed Gi = £ 600+.rnProvenance: Collection E. Victor Toeg, RL, London, 6 Sept 1983, lot 452.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4161 Montserrat

    1883 (March): 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 12, an unused block of four of rich vivid colour, fresh and very fine, large part og. with lower pair unmounted og. Scarce Gi = £ 320+.
    Starting bid : 160 CHF
    Hammer price : 160 CHF

    Lot# : 4162 Montserrat

    1883 (March): 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 12, a used horizontal strip of four on 1884 mourning cover to Aberdeen, Scotland tied by two strikes of the "A08" obliterator with 'Montserrat' cds of despatch below (Dec 11) in black. Reverse with Aberdeen arrival cds (Dec 31). Crease at right but exceptional and an extremely rare stamp on commercial cover.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,700 CHF

    Lot# : 4163 Montserrat

    1884/85: 1 d. red, wmk. Crown CA, an Imperforate example, probably of Proof status, marginal from base of sheet, of fresh delicate colour and large part og. Superb and very scarce, believed unique.rnProvenance: Collection E. Victor Toeg, RL, London, 6 Sept 1983, lot 463.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 750 CHF

    Lot# : 4164 Montserrat

    1884/85: 2½ d. red-brown, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused block of four from top of sheet with Plate Number '1' in margin, of superb fresh colour and large part og. An extremely rare stamp in a multiple: probably the finest of the three recorded blocks Gi = £ 1'100+.rn 
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 900 CHF

    Lot# : 4165 Montserrat

    1884/85: 2½ d. ultramarine, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused example of fine colour with margin at left, variety "Watermark Inverted", large part og. Gi = £ 140.
    Starting bid : 80 CHF
    Hammer price : 80 CHF

    Lot# : 4166 Montserrat

    1884/85: 4 d. blue, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused block of four, marginal at left, of fine vibrant colour, hinged for security, large part og. An immensely rare stamp in a multiple (Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia = VVV) with just 3'900 stamps issued Gi = £ 7'200+.rnProvenance: Collection Major T. Charlton Henry, Harmer Rooke, New York, 4-7 April 1961, lot 827.rn                       
    Starting bid : 2,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,000 CHF

    Lot# : 4167 Montserrat

    1884/85: 4 d. mauve, wmk. Crown CA, an Imperforate Imprimatur / Colour Trial on watermarked paper, fine colour and large part og. Scarce.rnProvenance: Collection E. Victor Toeg, RL, London, 6 Sept 1983, lot 481.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 360 CHF

    Lot# : 4168 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof of the 'Device of the Colony' vignette only, printed in black with cleared surrounds on glazed white card, with manuscript date "March 7th" in ink at top. Slightly dusty but scarce.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1424.
    Starting bid : 220 CHF
    Hammer price : 220 CHF

    Lot# : 4169 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof for the 'Device of the Colony' issue, Frame only with ½ d. Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card, endorsed BEFORE / HARDENING in black and dated '9 MAR. 03' in blue. Scarce and very fine.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1427.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 4170 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof for the 'Device of the Colony' issue, Frame only with 1 d. Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card, endorsed AFTER / HARDENING in black and dated '2 APR. 03' in blue. Scarce and very fine.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1430.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 4171 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof for the 'Device of the Colony' issue, Frame only with 2½ d. Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card, endorsed AFTER / HARDENING in black and dated '2 APR. 03' in blue. Scarce and very fine.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1434.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 4172 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof for the 'Device of the Colony' issue, Frame only with 3 d. Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card, endorsed AFTER / HARDENING in black and dated '2 APR. 03' in blue. Scarce and very fine.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1436.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 4173 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof for the 'Device of the Colony' issue, Frame only with 6 d. Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card, endorsed BEFORE / HARDENING in black and dated '9 APR. 03' in blue. Scarce and very fine.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1437.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4174 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof for the 'Device of the Colony' issue, Frame only with 1 s. Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card, endorsed AFTER / HARDENING in black and dated '15 APR. 03' in blue. Scarce and very fine.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1440.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4175 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof for the 'Device of the Colony' issue, Frame only with 2 s. 6 d. Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card, endorsed BEFORE / HARDENING in black and dated '9 APR. 03' in blue. Scarce and very fine.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1443.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 4176 Montserrat

    1903: De La Rue Master Die Proof for the 'Device of the Colony' issue, Frame only for the 5 s. value with Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card. Rare and very fine.rnProvenance: RL, Bermuda, 27 Jan 1978, lot 1382; Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1445.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4177 Montserrat

    1903 (Aug): Device of the Colony issue, the unused set of ten values, wmk. Crown CA (5 s. wmk. Crown CC), fresh and fine, large part og. Gi = £ 225.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4178 Montserrat

    1908/14: Device of the Colony third issue, the unused set of ten values, wmk. Multiple Crown CA, overprinted SPECIMEN in black (Samuel Types D7 and D7a on the 5 s. value), together with additional 3 d. value (white back) SPECIMEN, fresh and fine, large part og. Scarce Gi = £ 305+.
    Starting bid : 140 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4179 Montserrat

    1916: De La Rue Master Die Proof in black without Country legend and Duty Plate, uncleared surrounds and without shading behind "Postage & Revenue", printed in black on glazed white card. Some overall soiling but an extremely rare and early pull from the Plate.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1454.rnrn 
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4180 Montserrat

    1922/29: The definitive set of 21 unused, all overprinted SPECIMEN in black or red (4 d., 1 s., 2 s. 6 d.) or with hooded perforated SPECIMEN (1 d. carmine and 1½ d. red-brown) together with the additional 2½ d. pale bright blue, all fresh and very fine, large part og. A very scarce complete set Gi = £ 417.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4181 Montserrat

    1932: Tercentenary, De La Rue Die Proof for ½ d. value, completed design, engraved in blue on sunken medium wove, unwatermarked, toned paper (86 x 57 mm.). Fine and extremely rare.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1469.rn 
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 400 CHF

    Lot# : 4182 Montserrat

    1932: Tercentenary, De La Rue Colour Trial for the 6 d. value, engraved in bright blue on medium wove, unwatermarked, toned paper (73 x 42 mm.). Superb and very rare.rnProvenance: Collection C. Barwick, Harmers, London, 16 Dec 1997, lot 1473.rn 
    Starting bid : 350 CHF
    Hammer price : 350 CHF

    Lot# : 4183 Montserrat

    1937 (May 12): Coronation, the set of three values, Imperforate, all matching marginal examples from left of sheet, perforated hooded SPECIMEN, fresh and fine, unmounted og. Extraordinarily rare with just six sets produced thus.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,000 CHF
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