Trinidad u. Tobago

1847 (April 16): Lady McLeod (5 c.) blue, imperforate, a superb used example with huge margins on three sides and imperceptibly shaved in top margin but not cut into, used on 12th August 1847 entire letter from San Fernando to Port of Spain, cancelled by manuscript pen cross in ink. The letter mentions an enclosure (a bank transfer) and the addressee's name has been removed and professionally replaced (the cover was probably addressed to Barnet & Best Co.), the entire being one of just two known that does not emanate from the Taylor Graham correspondence. Census number C18, illustrated in 'Trinidad - A Philatelic History' on page 276. Rare and attractive. Cert. Friedl (1977) Gi = £ 24'000.rnProvenance: H.R.Harmer, London, 16-24 March 1936, lot 817; H.R.Harmer, New York, 15 Dec 1977, lot 1073; Robert A. Siegel, New York, 3 Oct 1992, lot 951.rnNote: This is the first stamp issued to prepay postage in the British Commonwealth and, except for the printing process (evidently by lithography from an original engraving) is in exactly the same size and format as the 1840 1 d. black.rnNote: It is possible that 500, maybe 1'000 examples were printed. At the present time students of the issue have recorded 90 stamps in varying condition either on or off cover.

1847 (April 16): Lady McLeod (5 c.) blue, imperforate, a superb used example with huge margins on all four sides with some brownish glue showing from the left margin, used on 1 June 1847 entire letter from San Fernando to Port of Spain, Taylor Graham correpondence, cancelled by manuscript pen cross in ink. The entire with typical staining and file fold at left well away from the wonderful adhesive. Census number C10, illustrated in 'Trinidad - A Philatelic History' on page 269. Rare and most attractive. Signed Calves, Williame. Cert. RPSL (1987) Gi = £ 24'000.rnProvenance: Luder Edelman (Corinphila), sale XII, the 'Ferrari' auction, Zurich, 15-April 1929, lot 4284; Harmer Rooke, London, 11-12 Oct 1929, lot 956; H.R.Harmer, New York, 6-8 June 1955, lot 650; Cherrystone, New York, 27-28 July 1988.rnNote: This cover was illustrated in 'Goddens Gazette' of February 1940 on page 24 in an article by L. Snowden and on the front cover of the March 1940 issue of the 'Stamp Lover', covering the sale of David Bernhard's collection. See article written by Gregory Frantz on the Lady McLeod issued in the British Caribbean Philatelic Study Group. Read more....