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Great Britain

The World's First Postage Stamp
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  • Lot# : 10201 Great Britain

    2d. blue, plate 1, horizontal strip of four, lettered PB-PE, chiefly good margins, touched in places, cancelled with Maltese Crosses in black, light creases but of fine appearance. Gi. DS5 = £4,400+rnrnProvenance:rnRobson Lowe, Bournemouth, 31 October, 1953, lot 375.rnRobston Lowe, 23 September, 1986, lot 252.
    Starting bid : 450 CHF
    Hammer price : 500 CHF

    Lot# : 10202 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 1, block of four, lettered FI-GJ, mostly good to large margins all round, close in places, deep shade, cancelled with neatly-struck Maltese Crosses in red, FI-FJ with crease, some repairs, but a fine-appearing block that presents beautifully. Cert RPSL (2001). Gi. DS5 = £22,000.rnProvenance: Stanley Gibbons auction, 7-9 July 1972, lot 605; H.F. Johnson Stock Collection, Stanley Gibbons, 27-28 May 1982, lot 159.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,200 CHF

    Lot# : 10203 Great Britain

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    2d. (deep dull) blue (2) and 2d pale blue (2), all from plate 1, four margins all around, tied to small piece by black Maltese Crosses, OC showing the shifted transfer, PE with the constant variety, some small imperfections, a most striking quartet, signed Calves. Cert RPSL (2019). Gi. DS5, DS6 = £3,950.rnrnProvenance:rnCorinphila, 11 March, 1980, lot 1951.rnCollection H.O. Fraser, 7 November, 2001, lot 295.
    Starting bid : 650 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 10204 Great Britain

    2d. blue, plate 1, horizontal pair, lettered CC-CD, tied to folded cover by black Maltese Crosses, endorsed "OHMS" and carried from Stranraer to Wigtown, reverse with boxed despatch strike (27 February, 1844) and next-day receiver, portion torn from back from removal of seal, a nice franking paying the 4d rate for one to two ounces and a very rare "O.H.M.S." Official use with only one other 2x 2d franked letter recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index. Gi. DS5.
    Starting bid : 600 CHF
    Hammer price : 600 CHF

    Lot# : 10205 Great Britain

    2d. blue, plate 1, horizontal strip of three, lettered RJ-RL, margins mostly clear to good, tied to folded entire by black Maltese Crosses, reverse with Settle double-arc despatch strike in blue (11 May, 1841), next-day receiver datestamp of the London Chief Office, filing folds, one through RL, a scarce franking. Gi. DS5.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 500 CHF

    Lot# : 10206 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 1, block of five, lettered RJ-RL, SK-SL, chiefly good to large margins, just touching at lower left of SK, tied to folded entire by red Maltese Crosses, paying the 10d for up to 5 ounce rate, from  London, to Edinburgh, reverse with London despatch c.d.s. (16 June, 1840), with Edinburgh receiver (18 June), contents discussing legislation before Parliament, pressed crease through RJ-RL, cover with internal repair, exceptionally rare, believed to be the earliest recorded block of the 2d used on cover. Cert. BPA (2010). (Gi. DS5ua).rnProvenance: H.R. Harmers, London, 6-8 July 1959, lot 282; Collection Dr. Pichai Buranasombati, Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 15 March, 2001, lot 224; Collection "Mayflower" Grand Prix Exhibit (Alan Holyoake, 2015); Collection Forrester.
    Starting bid : 10,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 12,500 CHF

    Lot# : 10207 Great Britain

    2d. blue, plate 2, lettered NK-NL, unused, part original gum, margins touching at left, else large including sheet margin at right, with partial "Back be careful not..." inscription, deep colour, horizontal crease, repairs to NK, but a fine appearing and extremely rare unused marginal pair. Gi. DS8 = £100,000.rnProvenance: (as part of a larger block) Collection G. Mackay block (1898); Puttick & Simpson auction, 29-30 October 1901; Stanley Gibbons auction, 21 May 1975, lot 301; R.J. Cooley Collection, Shreves, 29 September 1995, lot 289.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,600 CHF

    Lot# : 10208 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 2, lettered OJ, four good to large margins, cancelled with Maltese Cross in both black and red, some light staining, thinned, yet a rare cancellation combination. Gi. DS8ug = unpriced.
    Starting bid : 120 CHF
    Hammer price : 220 CHF

    Lot# : 10209 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 2, three horizontal pairs, lettered CK-CL, DK-DL, and EK-EL, all with four mostly good margins, all cancelled with Maltese Crosses in black, two of the pairs very lightly so, EK-EL with lovely bold strikes, some small imperfections, EK-EL pair with vertical crease, a fine appearing group of multiples with a pleasing range of shades and charming link in plate positions. Cert Philatelic Expertising (Great Britain) for EK-KL (1996). Gi. DS8, DS9 = £7,500rn 
    Starting bid : 800 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 10210 Great Britain

    2d. blue, plate 2, horizontal strip of four, lettered PH-PK, good to large margins, cancelled with Maltese Crosses in black, light crease to PH, else a fine and scarce multiple. Gi. DS8 = £5,000+
    Starting bid : 600 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 10211 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 2, horizontal strip of nine, lettered MA-MI, margins touching in places but chiefly ample to very good, cancelled with multiple crisp strikes of Maltese Cross in black, deep fresh colour, small tear to MG and pinhole in MA, trace of trivial pressed creases, not detracting from this  significant and striking multiple. Cert BPA (2012). Gi. DS8.rnProvenance: Collection "Daisy", Christies, 8 October 1996, lot 452; Collection Dr. Pichai Buranasombati, Shreves Philatelic Galleries,15 March, 2001, lot 243
    Starting bid : 3,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,000 CHF

    Lot# : 10212 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 2, block of ten, lettered IG-JK, chiefly good margins, touched at places, neatly-cancelled with black Maltese Crosses, fresh colour, trivial thin to IK and pressed creases not detracting from the beautiful appearance of this rare showpiece. Cert BPA (1996). Gi. DS8 = £46,500+rnProvenance: Sugden Collection, Harmers, 8-9 January 1951, lot 248; Collection "Daisy", Christies, 8 October 1996, lot 455; Dr. Pichai Buranasombati Collection, Shreves, 15 March 2001, lot 244.
    Starting bid : 7,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 7,600 CHF

    Lot# : 10213 Great Britain

    1d. red-brown, plate 11, lettered IA, four large to very large margins, showing trace of sheet margin inscription at left, tied to piece by choice strike of the Greenock Maltese Cross in black, confirming boxed Greenock datestamp above (22 December, 1841), light vertical crease at right through piece and adhesive, not detracting from this exceptionally attractive example. Gi. AS74uc = £600.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 550 CHF

    Lot# : 10214 Great Britain

    1d. red-brown, plate 10, lettered HL, ample to large margins all around, cancelled with partial strike of distinctive Manchester "Fishtail" Maltese Cross in black, small pinhole, else fine. Gi. AS68uf = £700.
    Starting bid : 120 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 10215 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 1, lettered RJ, good to large margins on three sides, touched at left, deep shade, cancelled with very fine large part strike of the distinctive Whitehaven Maltese Cross in black, the sole example on this issue recorded by Rockoff and Jackson, and in the Karl Louis Card Index, extremely rare and ideal for exhibition. Cert RPSL (2008). Gi. DS5.rnProvenance: Stanley Gibbons auction, 7-8 November 1974, lot 674; Robson Lowe, 27-28 February 1979, lot 506.
    Starting bid : 1,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,600 CHF

    Lot# : 10216 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 1, lettered DD, three very large margins, clear at right, cancelled with distinctive Maltese Cross of Wotton-under-Edge in black, a fresh and superb example of this rare postmark, one of only six singles recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index. Cert RPSL (2011). Gi. DS5vq = £15,000.rn 
    Starting bid : 1,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,700 CHF

    Lot# : 10217 Great Britain

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    1d. black, plate 4, lettered QG, four good to large margins, cancelled with both red and black Maltese Cross, a fine example of this scarce combination with both colours clearly visible. Cert. RPSL (1984). Gi. AS23vk = £1,500.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 500 CHF

    Lot# : 10218 Great Britain

    1d. black, plate 2, lettered SI, margins touching to good, cancelled with bold Maltese Cross in the characteristically fugitive fluid violet ink, thinned at upper left, yet a striking example of this rare cancellation. Gi. AS14vf = £14,000
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 900 CHF

    Lot# : 10219 Great Britain

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    2d. blue, plate 1, lettered DB, good to large margins all around, tied to folded cover by Maltese Cross of Haddington in brown, Haddington despatch cancellation in matching ink (31 October, 1840), to Edinburgh, with same-day c.d.s. on reverse, a remarkably fresh example of this rare coloured cancellation, thought to be the only existing example on cover with this combination. Cert BPA (1994). Gi. AS5uh = £25,000.
    Starting bid : 3,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,800 CHF

    Lot# : 10220 Great Britain

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    1d. red-brown, plate 5, lettered SJ, ample to large margins all around, cancelled with neatly-struck Maltese Cross in red, scarce as such, rich colour, a lovely example, fine. Cert RPSL (1990). Gi. AS29va = £3,750.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 850 CHF

    Lot# : 10221 Great Britain

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    1d. red-brown, plate 5, State 2, lettered GA, margins clear to very large, cancelled with Maltese Cross in red, repaired tear at foot,negligible thin at top right, but a rare and attractive example of this coloured cancellation. Cert. PTS Expertising Ltd. (2929). Gi. AS32va = £3,750.rnrnKARL - Certificate notes "split" above P - it looks more serious than that to me and I`ve described it as such.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 380 CHF

    Lot# : 10222 Great Britain

    1d. black, plate 4, two singles, lettered AB and AH, good to large margins, each tied to folded cover by red Maltese Cross, black "Middleton Rd / Penny Post" alongside, to Stockton on Tees, with Darlington double-arc c.d.s. on reverse (23 August, 1840), light filing fold crossing AH, else a fine example of this 2d rate for up to one ounce.
    Starting bid : 350 CHF
    Hammer price : 360 CHF

    Lot# : 10223 Great Britain

    1d. grey-black, plate 1a, lettered NC, good to large margins, tied to small piece by neatly-struck Maltese Cross in red, adjacent boxed "Peter - / borough / Penny Post", a fine and delightful stamp. Gi. AS2.rnrnProvenance:rnCollection Chartwell.rn 
    Starting bid : 180 CHF
    Hammer price : 700 CHF

    Lot# : 10224 Great Britain

    1d. red-brown, plate 10, lettered FK, mostly good margins, touching at upper right, cancelled with both black Maltese Cross and partial "Penny Post" in red, rich colour, a fine and scarce combination of postmarks. Gi. AS68ye = £800.
    Starting bid : 140 CHF
    Hammer price : 140 CHF

    Lot# : 10225 Great Britain

    1d. black, plate 6, lettered NK, chiefly good to large margins all around, clear at lower left, tied to folded entire by superbly-struck Maltese Cross in black, equally crisp "Charing Cross" straight-line adjacent, sent within London to Lincoln`s Inn, with red arrival backstamp (12 November, 1840) confirming use within the experimental period in London where blank ink was being used for Maltese Cross cancellations, light horizontal filing fold, a tremendously fresh and attractive entire. Gi. AS41.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 460 CHF

    Lot# : 10226 Great Britain

    1d. red-brown, plate 9, lettered SD, four large margins all around, showing signs of plate wear, cancelled with ideal strike of "2" Maltese Cross, very fine. Gi. AS59wb = £700.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 10227 Great Britain

    1d. red-brown, plate 9, lettered PC, tied to folded entire by neatly-struck "2" Maltese Cross of London, to Wymondh, internally dated 2 June, with next-day double-arc receiver strike on reverse, vertical fold clear of adhesive and light wrinkles, an attractive example of this scarce strike. Gi. AS59wb = £1,600.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 10228 Great Britain

    1d. red-brown, plate 9, lettered KF, four large even margins, tied to small piece by clear strike of "5" Maltese Cross in black, most attractive. Gi. AS59we = £700.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 240 CHF

    Lot# : 10229 Great Britain

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    1d. red-brown, plate 9, lettered PG, ample to very large margins, showing portion of two adjoining stamps, affixed to folded entire and cancelled with clear strike of "7" Maltese Cross of London, with morning duty datestamp (25 May, 1843) on reverse and next-day Petersfield receiver on front, some wrinkles, an ideal strike of this desirable cancellation and extremely rare on a "black plate". Cert. RPSL (2023). Gi. AS59wg = £1,600.rn 
    Starting bid : 350 CHF
    Hammer price : 800 CHF

    Lot# : 10230 Great Britain

    1d. grey-black, plate 1a, lettered GA, three large margins, slightly torn into design at right, tied to small piece by Liverpool experimental machine obliterator (4 DE 58) of the type introduced by G.H. Creswell, a rare late usage, eighteen years after the stamp`s introduction. Gi. AS2 = £375rnrnIn 1862, Creswell was awarded the sum of £400, and the rights to his patented invention were surrendered to the Post Office.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : 500 CHF

    Lot# : 10231 Great Britain

    2d. pale blue, plate 1, lettered PK, four good even margins, neatly-canceled with large part Scottish town handstamp, scarce and fine. Gi. DS6xc = £2,000.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 380 CHF

    Lot# : 10232 Great Britain

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    1d. black, plate 2, lettered HJ, four large even margins, affixed to folded cover and cancelled by red Maltese Cross, posted from London (7 June, 1840), to Falkland, Fifeshire, received and re-addressed to Edinburgh, struck with FALKLAND straight-line in red, 1d forwarding fee prepaid, indicated by boxed "1" handstamp, formerly used as a receiving house marking, boxed Kettle (June 9) datestamp on front, a scarce usage, with the use of this handstamp as a prepayment mark recorded on only three days. Cert. RPSL (2023). Gi. AS14.rn 
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 700 CHF

    Lot# : 10233 Great Britain

    1d. black, plate 9, lettered RI, three large margins, close at right, tied to piece with black Maltese Cross, additional strike alongside, typically associated with Spilsby, double-circle "More to Pay" and manuscript "2" beside, fine. Gi. AS57 = £750+
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 220 CHF

    Lot# : 10234 Great Britain

    1850, 1d. Prince Consort Essay, by Henry Archer, the finished design in red-brown, four large margins, two light creases and small natural inclusion, a scarce essay. Gi. DP71(2) = £2,000.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 500 CHF

    Lot# : 10235 Great Britain

    1850, 1d Prince Consort Essay, by Henry Archer, the finished design in black, imperforate. four good to large margins, paper slighly toned, else a fine example of this desirable essay. Gi. DP71(2) = £3,000.
    Starting bid : 800 CHF
    Hammer price : 950 CHF

    Lot# : 10236 Great Britain

    1867, 1d. black, Paris Exhibition Proof, on soft white card, horizontal pair, lettered MG-MH, three good to large margins, shaved at left, small imperfections and slight staining as often seen, a scarce multiple of this proof. Gi. DP38(a) = £4,500.rnOn occasion of this Exhibition, proof sheets in black and rose were printed from Plate 103, one sheet for each colour, and blocks of twenty were displayed. The formerly adjoining pair MI-MJ is in the collection of His Majesty King Charles III.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,300 CHF

    Lot# : 10237 Great Britain

    1867, 2d. black, Paris Exhibition Proof, on soft white card, lettered JC, good even margins, small thin, otherwise fine. Gi. DP49 = £3,000rnrn 
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 400 CHF

    Lot# : 10238 Great Britain

    1872, 1d. black, South Kensington Exhibition Proof lettered ND, imperforate, on thick white card, four even margins all around, uniform toning, but quite attractive and scarce. Gi. DP36 = £2,000.rnrnOn occasion of this exhibition, Perkins, Bacon printed proofs from Die II, Plate 27, in black. This sheet was afterwards retained by the printers, and sold upon the firm`s dissolution in 1935.
    Starting bid : 350 CHF
    Hammer price : 350 CHF

    Lot# : 10239 Great Britain

    1840, Mulready, 2d. blue envelope, stereo a208, a late usage to J.W. Palmer at 281 Strand, struck with London squared circle (11 March, 1886), originally not accepted and struck with "2" charge mark, crossed-out and endorsed in manuscript "Charged in error. The stamp envelope being genuine. F.H. Postmaster W.C. District", reverse with two London W.C. c.d.s. (11 March), quite fresh, a rare and charming usage.rnrnTwo letter sheets with similar usages, one 1d. back and one 2d. blue, reside in the R.M. Phillips Collection of the Postal Museum.(Vol. II, Page 29). The addressee, Joseph W. Palmer, was a London stamp dealer, famed for his "Chamber of Philatelic Horrors", the walls of an entire room being papered with forgeries.
    Starting bid : 600 CHF
    Hammer price : 600 CHF

    Lot# : 10240 Great Britain

    1840, Mulready, 1d. black letter sheet, stereo A26, a late usage to J.W. Palmer at 281 Strand, struck with London squared circle (11 March, 1886), originally not accepted and struck with "2" charge mark, crossed-out and endorsed in manuscript "Charged in error. The stamp envelope being genuine. F.H. Postmaster W.C. District", reverse with two London W.C. c.d.s. (11 March), the odd toning spot, a rare and most appealing usage.rnrnTwo comparable letter sheets, one 1d. back and one 2d. blue, reside in the R.M. Phillips Collection of the Postal Museum.(Vol. II, Page 29). The addressee, Joseph W. Palmer, was a London stamp dealer, famed for his "Chamber of Philatelic Horrors", the walls of an entire room being papered with forgeries.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 800 CHF

    Lot# : 10241 Great Britain

    Alfred Bennett Bamford was a prolific watercolour painter, most known for his pictures of Essex.rnrnThree watercolours in grey, depicting the shop fronts that were once home to London stamp dealers, depicting No. 38 Hollywell Street (S. White), No. 281 Strand
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : 100 CHF
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