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The World's First Postage Stamp
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Lot# : 10001 Great Britain
1839, Mercantile Committee, "SPECIMEN OF POSTAL CHARGES IN 1839 / To be Preserved among the Curiosities of any Museum", giant letter-sheet to M.P. Strangeways in London, struck with FREE Crown Circle (5 July, 1839), with contents highlighting anomalies in postage rates of the period, some reinforced folds and prior repairs, as expected with such an item, offered with its companion small envelope, 71mm x 30mm, printed "DOUBLE LETTER / SEVEN GRAINS IN WEIGHT", to D.W. Harvey, M.P., with contents beginning "The delays of the threepenny post are notorious...", an exceptional and rare group illustrating the arguments for postal reform, and demonstrating the lobbying efforts of the business community to bring about change.Starting bid : 1,500 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10002 Great Britain
Uniform Penny Post, First Official Day of Use: wrapper bearing "P1" manuscript notation in purple, indicating prepayment of one penny, further "1d paid" in black at lower left, struck on reverse with "Rugeley" double-arced despatch of 10 January, 1840, London double-lined tombstone in red (11 JA) on front, to London, fresh and fine.Starting bid : 150 CHFHammer price : 220 CHFLot# : 10003 Great Britain
Uniform Penny Post, Second Day of Use: small cover, struck with London octagonal PD datestamp in red (11 January), used by the Chief Office of the Two Penny Post, further partial double-circle PAID marking, sent within London to St. Mary Cray, neatly-struck "Too Late" and red c.d.s. receiver backstamp (13 January), some edge toning, an unusual second day usage.Starting bid : 150 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10004 Great Britain
1839, 1d red and white composite paste-up essay, attributed to James Bogardus, built up from cut-outs in red and white paper with hand-drawn "1" at centre and "1/2 oz / Penny" below, originally discovered among the papers of Rowland Hill, a mere thirteen singles and two blocks of four recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index, fine and rare.rnProvenance: Ex. Mariner Collection, Spink, 17 December 1997, lot 1053.Starting bid : 1,000 CHFHammer price : 4,600 CHFLot# : 10005 Great Britain
Lot# : 10006 Great Britain
Lot# : 10007 Great Britain
1839, Charles Whiting of Beaufort House, composite essay of five in red and black, 105mm x 142mm, printed using the Congreve Method of using separately inked interlocking plates to allow simultaneous printing in two colours, demonstrating how Whiting printed the examples he presented to the Parliamentary Commission, and later used to promote his printing business, the odd trivial tone spot, else a remarkably fresh and scarce essay.Starting bid : 500 CHFHammer price : 1,600 CHFLot# : 10008 Great Britain
Lot# : 10009 Great Britain
Lot# : 10010 Great Britain
Lot# : 10011 Great Britain
Lot# : 10012 Great Britain
1837, London District Post, John Dickinson, 1d. yellow-buff envelope essay, on Dickinson silk thread paper, engine-turned background, designed as a protection against forgery, fresh and fine. Huggins E1arnThese essays were submitted to the Commissioners of the Post Office in 1837, and later re-submitted for the 1839 Treasury Competition.Starting bid : 200 CHFHammer price : 200 CHFLot# : 10013 Great Britain
1837, London District Post, John Dickinson, 2d green letter sheet essay, on Dickinson silk thread paper, engine-turned background, designed as a protection against forgery, fresh and fine. Huggins E1brnrnThese essays were submitted to the Commissioners of the Post Office in 1837, and later re-submitted for the 1839 Treasury Competition.Starting bid : 120 CHFHammer price : 200 CHFLot# : 10014 Great Britain
1840, 1d. black background trials, the so-called "Genesis Plate", plate proof on India on soft white card in black, from an original pull taken in 1825, with ornate engine-turned design by Perkins & Heath, from which the background for both the 1d. Black and 2d Blue was taken, some spotting mostly confined to borders, otherwise a fine example of this rare and important trial. Gi DP9 = £30,000rnrnIn 1822, Perkins & Heath executed a bank note plate in hardened steel, for submission to the Bank of England in hopes of obtaining a printing contract. In 1825, a proof was pulled in black for a book which included potential designs for security bank notes, with the plate being used for subsequent reprints in 1827 and 1838, followed by later colour reprints in 1937.rnStarting bid : 6,000 CHFHammer price : 8,000 CHFLot# : 10015 Great Britain
1840, the First (Later Rejected) Die for the One Penny Stamp, on India paper on soft white card, completed with the addition of "POSTAGE ONE PENNY" in sans-serif letters, hinge remnants on reverse of no importance given the exceptional desirability of this fourth and final stage of the ultimately rejected die, fine and rare, with 2016 P.T.S. Expertising Ltd. certificate. Gi. DP7 = £95,000+rnrnProvenance:rnCollection Colonel Bates, H.R. Harmer, December 3-5, 1934.rnrnIn January, 1840, Charles Heath was commissioned to engrave the Queen`s head onto a security background previously deemed suitable for postage stamps. A number of states of this die were prepared, based on the drawing by Henry Corbould. Ultimately, the die was abandoned as the background was deemed too light, and the Queen`s head too lightly engraved, thus resulting in a poor transfer from the die.Starting bid : 25,000 CHFHammer price : 25,000 CHFLot# : 10016 Great Britain
1840 (January), combination proof in dark blue on wove paper, showing five impressions of the fourth stage of the first (later rejected) die, together with five impressions of the first stage of the accepted die, showing the cleared space prior to the engraving of the Queen`s head, from an experimental plate made for comparison of the two backgrounds, as well as for a trial spacing between impressions, the occasional small and trivial edge flaw at left and right sides, of no consequence to the impressions, a choice example of this exceptionally rare proof. Gi. DP11 = £150,000rnProvenance: Ex. A. Phillips Collection, Stanley Gibbons auction, 17-19 February 1972, lot 493; Ex. The "Yorkshire" Collection.Starting bid : 60,000 CHFHammer price : 70,000 CHFLot# : 10017 Great Britain
1840 (March), 1d. Black, Master Die Proof, on India paper, mounted on soft card, cut to stamp size, showing the addition of the words POSTAGE and ONE PENNY, the four corner squares left blank, cancelled with "London W.C." squared circle, central horizontal crease, yet a die proof of great philatelic significance, one of the few such examples recorded in private hands, illustrating the stage at which final approval could be given to the design that would become the world`s first adhesive postage stamp, this being the unique recorded cancelled example; with 2004 Royal Philatelic Society London certificate. Gi DP17arnrnA mere six examples (cancelled in favour for J.W. Palmer, a London Stamp Dealer at 281 Strand in 1886) of this Master Die Proof are recorded, with even fewer available to collectors. Three are held in instituional collections, with two examples found in the Royal Philatelic Collection, and one in the R.M. Phillips Collection at the Postal Museum (London). A further three are recorded in private hands, two of which, including the example offered here, are in the Beresford-Wylie Collection.rnrnProvenance:rnCollection Shaida, Harmers Auctions SA, Lugano.rnStarting bid : 35,000 CHFHammer price : 35,000 CHFLot# : 10018 Great Britain
1871, 2d Ormond Hill die proof, retouched in sage green on soft card, 59mm x 59mm, showing blank lower corners, stars in upper corners, light abino impression of "NEW DIE" lettering above, some light discoloration and small imperfections to card, but a most rare (just two such die proofs in green recorded in Karl Louis Card Index) and attractive die proof. Gi. DP46 = £18,000.rnProvenance: Chartwell Collection, Spink 12 Dec. 2012, lot 67Starting bid : 4,500 CHFHammer price : 4,500 CHFLot# : 10019 Great Britain
Lot# : 10020 Great Britain
1840, 1d. Rainbow trial, State 2, position 5 and 6 of the sheet, bright pink on white wove paper, clear to large margins on three sides, including sheet margin at left, touched along foot, bright colour, a scarce trial. Gi. DP20(2)c.rnProvenance: Sugden Collection, Robson Lowe, 27 July 1951, lot 46 (then part of a block of eight, positions 1 to 8).Starting bid : 500 CHFHammer price : 1,200 CHFLot# : 10021 Great Britain
Lot# : 10022 Great Britain
1840, 1d. Rainbow trial, sheet of twelve subjects, State 1, reddish-brown on stout wove unwatermarked paper, deep rich colour and immaculate impression, the odd light trivial wrinkle due to previous hinging, small paper tear at lower right corner, in no way detracting from the dramatic visual appeal of this rare sheet. Gi. DP20rnThe Rainbow Trial sheets were prepared in order to test combinations of stamp and cancellation inks. They were printed without corner lettering, and with ragged upper right voided corners, traditionally-believed to be due to the corresponding grooves in the plate having been filled with wax, with more recent research suggesting a harder-filling substance may have been used.rnProvenance: Major K.M. Beaumont Collection, Robson Lowe, 7-8 December 1965, lot 65; Collection "Tes", Robson Lowe, London, 5 October 1995, lot 98.Starting bid : 15,000 CHFHammer price : 15,000 CHFLot# : 10023 Great Britain
1840, "VR" 1d. black, lettered IH, large margins on two sides, close to clear at left and foot, unused no gum, some uniform toning, else fine. Cert RPSL (1983). Gi. V1 = £20,000rnrnThough prepared in April 1840 for official use, the plan for special stamps for government use was abandoned, but only after 3323 sheets had been delivered. While these were ordered destroyed, 21 sheets are recorded as having survived; 13 were used for distribution with Postmasters Notices, while others were mistakenly allowed through the post, or used by Rowland Hill for cancellation experiments.rnrnProvenance:rnrnRobson Lowe, 25 February, 1948, lot 410.rnRobson Lowe, 6 May, 1959, lot 419rnStarting bid : 2,500 CHFHammer price : 5,000 CHFLot# : 10024 Great Britain
1840, "VR" 1d. black, horizontal pair, lettered OI-OJ, ample to large margins all around, unused no gum, a desirable and fine multiple which may have originated from a Postmaster`s Notice. Cert Royal Philatelic Society London (2001). Gi. V1 = £40,000rnRemarks: Not from the Dublin Find/Crawford sheet. OI-OJ are still incorporated in the Crawford/Hind/Wills block MA-OL.rnThough prepared in April 1840 for official use, the plan for special stamps for government use was abandoned, but only after 3323 sheets had been delivered. While these were ordered destroyed, 21 sheets are recorded as having survived; 13 were used for distribution with Postmasters Notices, while others were mistakenly allowed through the post, or used by Rowland Hill for cancellation experiments.rnProvenance: Spink, 15 December 1999, lot 2280. rnrnStarting bid : 6,000 CHFHammer price : 10,000 CHFLot# : 10025 Great Britain
1840, Paper and Gum Trials, small piece, 26mm x 41mm, endorsed in manuscript "og" [ordinary], "17lbs", and "La Po." [large Post], light thinning largely at right and horizontal crease near top, clear of notations, otherwise a fine and desirable trial. Gi. DP20G = £3,500+.rnRemark: For similar "Specimens of Paper tried during the latter part of 1840 to test the efficiency of the gum on a thinner paper" see; N.P.M. London, Phillips Collection, volume III, pages 22 and 23.Starting bid : 400 CHFHammer price : 850 CHFLot# : 10026 Great Britain
1840, "VR" 1d. black, lettered OJ,with black Maltese Cross trial cancellation, on which an official attempt was made to remove the marking for experimental purposes, large even margins, scarce and fine. Cert Holcombe (1989) and BPA (2015). Gi. V1 = £22,500rnrnThough prepared in April 1840 for official use, the plan for special stamps for government use was abandoned, but only after 3323 sheets had been delivered. While these were ordered destroyed, 21 sheets are recorded as having survived, some of which were used for official experimental attempts at cancellation removal.rnrnProvenance:rnrnCollection Michael Lea, 1978.rnHabsburg, Feldman Auction, Zurich, 1-3 May, 1989, lot 20301rnHarmers of London, 6-7 October, 1998, lot 1959Starting bid : 5,000 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10027 Great Britain
May 6 (First Official Day of Use): 1d. intense black, plate 1a, lettered GI, margins clear to good, tied to large part wrapper by red Maltese Cross, the reverse struck with red "London Chief Office" c.d.s. (C MY - 6 1840), a fine and scarce first day usage. Cert RPSL (1973). Gi. AS1ta = £75,000.rnThe accompanying RPSL certificate notes "the piece is genuine and the stamp may have been used on it, but the proof is lacking through the weakness of the tie." Robson Lowe, in his 1974 sale description of this wrapper, took issue with this opinion noting "with respect, in our opinion the stamp is clearly tied by the indentation of the cancellation and the percolation of the linseed oil (with which the cancelling ink was made) through the paper. We guarantee it to be genuine." In our opinion, Robson Lowe reached the correct conclusion.rnReference: Illustrated in "May Dates", by Michael Jackson, 1999, pages 36 and 37.rnProvenance: Robson Lowe, London, 20 November, 1974, lot 1011.rnrnrnStarting bid : 2,500 CHFHammer price : 4,200 CHFLot# : 10028 Great Britain
May 7 (Second Official Day of Use): 1d grey-black, plate 1a, lettered NB-NC, good to large margins on three sides, shaved at top, tied to folded cover to Carlisle by red-brown Maltese Cross, unusually made from a portion of a map of Fleetwood on Wyre, reverse with London Chief Office evening duty date-stamp (7 May), slight staining to upper right of NC, a rare double-rate usage, one of only three recorded on this early May date. Gi. AS2tb.rnrnProvenance:rnrnChristies Robson Lowe, 13 March, 1990, lot 1130rnChristies Robson Lowe, 5 June, 1992, lot 3846rnrnLiterature:rnIllustrated in "May Dates", by Michael Jackson, 1999.rnStarting bid : 3,000 CHFHammer price : 7,500 CHFLot# : 10029 Great Britain
May 10 (First Sunday Usage): 1d grey black, plate 1a, lettered NF, clear to good margins on three sides, somewhat roughly shaved at left, tied to folded cover to London by red Maltese Cross, postmarked on reverse with red "High Wycombe" despatch (May 10, 1840) and same-day London Chief Office circular morning duty date-stamp, an extremely rare usage, one of only thirteen of this date recorded by Jackson. Gi. AS2te = £35,000.rnrnProvenance:rnRobson Lowe, 19 March 1942, lot 71rnEx. "A Continental Philatelist" Collection, Stanley Gibbons, 16 November, 1972, lot 300rnPhillips, 25 November, 1982, lot 147rnCollection Nigel Howard, Christies Robson Lowe, 14 June, 1995, lot 704rnrnLiterature:rnIllustrated in "May Dates", by Michael Jackson, 1999.rnrnStarting bid : 5,000 CHFHammer price : 5,000 CHFLot# : 10030 Great Britain
12 May: 1d grey-black, plate 1a, lettered OL, margins just touching at lower corners to good at top, tied to folded entire to Ballymoney by bright orange Maltese Cross, postmarked on reverse with "Liverpool" double-arc c.d.s. (May 12), next-day Dublin diamond date-stamp, filing folds well clear of adhesive, a desirable early usage to Ireland. Gi. AS2tf = £3,250.rnStarting bid : 500 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10031 Great Britain
May 15: 1d black, plate 1a, lettered LD, large margins on three sides, clear at foot, tied to wrapper to London by red Maltese Cross, reverse with black Coventry circular despatch strike and adjacent London circular receiver (15 May, 1840) in red, heavy vertical filing fold, else a fine early May example. Gi. AS2tf = £3,250.Starting bid : 350 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10032 Great Britain
May 16: 1d. grey-black, plate 1a, two singles, lettered IB and IC, margins chiefly good though close in places, tied to large piece by bold red Maltese Cross, with London octagonal PD datestamp (May 16), some staining to adhesives, but a scarce May date. Gi. AS2tf.Starting bid : 300 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10033 Great Britain
Lot# : 10034 Great Britain
May 20: 1d. intense black, plate 1a, lettered RF, large balanced margins on all sides, tied by red Maltese Cross to folded entire from London to Gloucester, internally dated 20 May, partial Lombard Street despatch marking on reverse, light horizontal filing fold clear of adhesive, a charming cover. Gi. AS1th = £2,500.Starting bid : 450 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10035 Great Britain
24 May (Third Sunday of Use): 1d. grey-black, plate 1a, lettered NE, tied to folded cover from Glasgow to Edinburgh by red Maltese Cross, reverse with Glasgow heptag despatch strike (23 May, 1840) and next-day Edinburgh morning duty c.d.s. receiver "May 24 1840", traces of toning spots, a few on adhesive, filing folds clear of stamp, else a fine and scarce May usage sent within Scotland. Gi AS2tj = £6,000.Starting bid : 800 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10036 Great Britain
Lot# : 10037 Great Britain
1d. grey-black, plate 1a, lettered GB, large margins all around, a late example showing heavy plate wear, neatly cancelled with orange-red Maltese Cross, barest trace of thin near top, not detracting from this otherwise lovely stamp. Gi. AS3 = £525Starting bid : 120 CHFHammer price : 160 CHFLot# : 10038 Great Britain
Lot# : 10039 Great Britain
Lot# : 10040 Great Britain
1d black, plate 1a, four used examples, lettered HB, HD, OA, and PB, all but OA being four-margin examples, varying degrees of little to moderate plate wear, each cancelled by red or black Maltese Cross and showing the original re-entries, OA tied to small piece and additionally cancelled in manuscript, a chiefly fine group, difficult to assemble. Cert Philatelic Expertising (Great Britain) Ltd for OA (1993). Gi. AS1b/AS2b = £2,200.rnStarting bid : 350 CHFHammer price : 400 CHFLot# : 10041 Great Britain
1d. intense black, plate 1a, group of six used singles and one pair, lettered FL, HF, NI, NL, QB, GE, and LK-LL, each a four-margin example with chiefly very good margins, and being early printings showing little plate wear, chiefly cancelled with red Maltese Cross, some small imperfections or close margins, the pair with crudely-repaired lower right corner, else a pleasing assemly with many fine stamps. Gi. AS1 = £5,400.Starting bid : 600 CHFHammer price : 600 CHFLot# : 10042 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1a, group of eight used singles, lettered FD, FK, GE, HH, LI, JL, SI, and TE, each a four-margin example cancelled by red Maltese Cross and showing moderate plate wear, the odd small fault or close margin, HH and JL show some uniform toning, a mostly fine assembly. Gi. AS2Starting bid : 500 CHFHammer price : 700 CHFLot# : 10043 Great Britain
1d. intense black, plate 1a, horizontal strip of four, lettered OA - OD, chiefly good to large margins, close in places at foot, an early impression beginning to show traces of plate wear, all showing the 10 o`clock and 5 o`clock ray flaws, cancelled with multiples strikes of red Maltese Cross, horizontal crease in margin between OB and OC, small thin to OC, otherwise fine and scarce multiple. Gi. AS1 = £3,600.rnProvenance: Christies, 10 July 1984, lot 2093; Spink, 17 December 1997, lot 1400; FC.Moldenhauer AS Bergen, Norway, 24-25 November 2000, lot 269.Starting bid : 400 CHFHammer price : 750 CHFLot# : 10044 Great Britain
1d. grey-black, plate 1a, reconstructed block of four, made up from two vertical pairs NA-OA and NB-OB, lettered NA-OB, chiefly ample to very good margins, showing moderate plate wear, position OA with characteristic re-entry, imperfections and repairs but still an attractive item with a good visual appeal, rare multiple. Gi. AS2 = £24,000.rnProvenance: (as a reconstructed block of six NA-OC): Ex. Sugden Collection, Harmer, London, 8-9 January 1951, lot 38; Stanley Gibbons, 23-24 May 1996, lot 1385.Starting bid : 300 CHFHammer price : 750 CHFLot# : 10045 Great Britain
Lot# : 10046 Great Britain
Lot# : 10047 Great Britain
Lot# : 10048 Great Britain
Lot# : 10049 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1b, lettered OL, four large margins, showing partial sheet inscription at right, lightly-struck Maltese Cross in red, a few trivial thins in sheet margin, not detracting from the desirability of this otherwise very fine stamp. Gi. AS5 = £375Starting bid : 150 CHFHammer price : 180 CHFLot# : 10050 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1b, eight used singles, lettered AJ, CE, FD, IF, OI, PE, SB, and SF, all with four-margins and struck with red Maltese Cross cancels, the stamps showing varying clarity of impression, the odd close margin or imperfection, several fine examples. Gi. AS5.Starting bid : 500 CHFHammer price : 650 CHFLot# : 10051 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1b, seven singles, lettered GH, HK (2), GC, JC, MK, and QL, each with four mostly good margins, close in places, cancelled with Maltese Cross in red or black, each with the non-coincident re-enty showing portions of the original impression, the occasional minor flaw not detracting from this challenging group. Gi. AS5b.Starting bid : 800 CHFHammer price : 800 CHFLot# : 10052 Great Britain
1d. black (4) lettered BF, CF, FL, and NA, and 1d. red (2), lettered FD and NC, plate 1b, six singles, each cancelled with black Maltese Cross, the black stamps each with four chiefly fair to good margins, the red examples with at least one close margin, NA with small central pinhole, else a fine group. Gi. AS5.Starting bid : 500 CHFHammer price : 500 CHFLot# : 10053 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1b, vertical strip of three, lettered BE-DE, margins good to large all around, cancelled with three strikes of red Maltese Cross, fresh appearance, a very fine and beautiful multiple. Gi. AS5 = £1,025 as singles.rnProvenance: Ex. J.B. Seymour Collection, Robson Lowe, 7 November 1951, lot 59 (DE small defect).Starting bid : 400 CHFHammer price : 1,500 CHFLot# : 10054 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1b, horizontal strip of four, lettered CI-CL, margins chiefly good to large, clear at lower left, neatly-cancelled with red Maltese Crosses, CL showing re-entries in NW and SE squares and through value, a fine and scarce strip of great beauty. Gi. AS5 = £2,500+Starting bid : 450 CHFHammer price : 1,200 CHFLot# : 10055 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1b, block of four, lettered SG-TH, margins chiefly fair to good though touching in places, affixed to piece and cancelled by red Maltese Cross, Arundel double-arc c.d.s. (Aug 13) struck at left, positions SG-SH showing thinner than usual top frame lines, a scarce block. Gi. AS5 = £18,000.rnProvenance: Ex. J. B. Seymour Collection, Robson Lowe, 30 April 1952, lot 91; Robson Lowe, 12-13 April 1978, lot 199; Habsburg, Feldman, 27 November to 1 December 1989, lot 30058; Zev Barak Collection, exhibited London International Exhibition, 2000.Starting bid : 1,000 CHFHammer price : 1,800 CHFLot# : 10056 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1b, horizontal strip of six, lettered LG-LL, margins chiefly fair to good, touching in places, tied to folded entire letter to Edinburgh by black Maltese Crosses, reverse with boxed Prestonkirk despatch strike (4 Mar), same-day circular Edinburgh receiver, LH crossed by vertical filing fold, a rare franking, paying the 6d. rate for up to three ounces. Cert BPA (2010). Gi. AS5.rnProvenance: Robson Lowe, 6 March 1963, lot 366; Robson Lowe Christies, 7 May 1992, lot 1089; Ex. Cooley Collection, Shreves, 23 September 1995, lot 203; Ex Alan Holyoake Collection (2013).Starting bid : 2,500 CHFHammer price : 3,800 CHFLot# : 10057 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1b, lettered CE, margins large at top and bottom, clear to into at sides, and 1d red, plate 11, lettered LL, tied to mourning cover to Lansdowne by two Maltese Cross strikes in black, red London Inland Office morning duty despatch on reverse (26 Mar), cover with tear at left, and uncommon rate for such a small envelope, paying for a weight greater than 1/2oz, scarce as such, with Simpson and Louis listing only ten such usages, this example being unrecorded. Cert. Mike Jackson (2022). Gi. AS5 / AS74. rnrnrnStarting bid : 450 CHFHammer price : 3,800 CHFLot# : 10058 Great Britain
Lot# : 10059 Great Britain
1d. red brown, plate 1b, lettered PB, margins good to large, centrally-struck with bold Maltese Cross in black, very fine. Gi. AS7 = £375rnrnrnKARL - Simon noted this as showing the original plate 1a re-entry but I admit I cannot see it, please double-check.Starting bid : 120 CHFHammer price : 160 CHFLot# : 10060 Great Britain
1d. red brown, plate 1b, four singles, lettered EL, DB, DC, and QK, most with four good margins, EL touching at lower left but showing portion of sheet inscription at right, each cancelled with black Maltese Cross, DB and DC showing the roller flaw in left star, QK ex-Wheeler, the odd small flaw, an otherwise fine group. Gi. AS7, AS7g, AS7k = £1,575Starting bid : 200 CHFHammer price : 220 CHFLot# : 10061 Great Britain
1841, 1d. red-brown, block of six, lettered MB-ND, stamps MD and ND being plate 1c, the remaining place 1b, very good to large margins all around, cancelled with neatly-struck Maltese Crosses in black, trivial scissor cut at left in margin only, pleasing rich colour, an exceptional and important block, the largest recorded used block from this plate in private hands. Cert. BPA (2010). Gi. AS7/AS8rnrnProvenance:rnCollection "Mayflower"rnCollection Alan Holyoake, National Grand-Prix, London International Stamp Exhibition, 2015.Starting bid : 4,000 CHFHammer price : 5,500 CHFLot# : 10062 Great Britain
1d. red-brown, plate 1c, lettered TC, margins chiefly good to large, showing non-coincident re-entry of this position, cancelled with centrally-struck Maltese Cross in black, leaving many of the distinguishing re-entry characteristics clear, some light uniform paper toning, else a fine and scarce stamp. Gi. AS8a = £800Starting bid : 180 CHFHammer price : 300 CHFLot# : 10063 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 1a and plate 1b., each lettered NL and struck with black Maltese Cross, margins mostly good to large, with State A close but clear at lower right, together with 1d. red brown, plate 1b, lettered NL, with slight central winkle and spots on reverse, otherwise a fine matched trio. Gi. AS2, AS5, AS7 = £1,125.Starting bid : 200 CHFHammer price : 340 CHFLot# : 10064 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 2, lettered SG, imprimatur from the first registration sheet, ungummed on white wove paper, good even margins all around, fine and rare. Cert RPSL (1994). Gi. = £15,000rnrnProvenance:rnCollection Trivett, Plumridge & Co, 6-7 November, 1924, lot 83.rnHarmer, Rooke, 19-20 February, 1959, lot 7rnCollection Chartwell, Spink London, 16 February, 2012, lot 69rnCollection J.E. Safra, Spink London, 5 May, 2014, lot 1031rnStarting bid : 4,000 CHFHammer price : not soldLot# : 10065 Great Britain
Lot# : 10066 Great Britain
Lot# : 10067 Great Britain
Lot# : 10068 Great Britain
Lot# : 10069 Great Britain
Lot# : 10070 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 2, five used singles, lettered AC, FL, HD, LB and NL, almost all with good to large margins, AC close at foot though showing portion of adjoining stamp at top, each cancelled with red Maltese Cross, the occasional trivial flaw, an overall fine and pleasing group. Gi. AS14 = £1,875.Starting bid : 400 CHFHammer price : 400 CHFLot# : 10071 Great Britain
Lot# : 10072 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 2, thirteen used singles, lettered KA, CA, OJ, AL, BE, CA, DJ, EI, HB, LB, QF, RF, and TL, almost all with four good or superior margins all around, each struck in red with Maltese Cross, the odd small flaw, but an overall fine or better group, nicer than often seen. Gi. AS14.Starting bid : 1,000 CHFHammer price : 1,300 CHFLot# : 10073 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 2, three used singles, one pair, and one strip of three, lettered TF, CE, GI, IK-IL, and ND-NF, margins mostly ample to good, selected for postmark interest, with TE struck with Maltese Crosses in red and black, CE with Scottish numeral 139 of Falkirk, GI with red Maltese Cross and manuscript mark, the strip with bold Maltese Crosses in red and Totness double-arc, three tied to piece, some small faults, the pair with corner crease, an unusual group. Gi. AS14 = £4,000+rnProvenance: (CE with Scottish numeral 139 of Falkirk): Martin Townsend, December 2002 (£325).Starting bid : 400 CHFHammer price : 750 CHFLot# : 10074 Great Britain
Lot# : 10075 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 2, horizontal strip of eight, lettered BE-BL, mostly clear to good margins all around, touching at lower right, creases, vertical on BF and BK and in the corners of BE and BL, yet a very rare strip of great appeal; the second largest used strip recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index. Cert. RPSL (2023). Gi. AS14 = £5,000+rnProvenance: Collection Sugden, Harmers of London, 8-9 September, 1951, lot 83; Robson Lowe, 13 October, 1959, lot 332.rnStarting bid : 1,000 CHFHammer price : 1,800 CHFLot# : 10076 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 2, block of eight, lettered EE-FH, clear to large margins all around, multiple strikes of red Maltese Cross, EE-EF and EG-FG with crease, the former partially rebacked, EH with small tear at top, EE with stain at top, other small faults, nevertheless a rare multiple with great visual appeal. Cert RPSL (1984) and BPA (2001), Gi. AS14.rnrnProvenance:rnCollection "Magnificent", Harmers of London, 24-5 April, 1950, lot 27rnCollection H.O. Fraser, Spink London, 7 November 2001, lot 131Starting bid : 4,000 CHFHammer price : 7,500 CHFLot# : 10077 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 2, lettered DK, margins ample to large, tied to folded cover by red Maltese Cross, Ipswich despatch backstamp in black (16 December, 1840) and next-day London c.d.s. receiver, adhesive with slight discoloration at foot, else a fine and fresh cover. Gi. AS14 = £750Starting bid : 120 CHFHammer price : 160 CHFLot# : 10078 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 2, block of four, lettered AG-BH, margins cut into at top, otherwise clear to ample, tied to folded entire by red Maltese Cross cancellations, posted locally within Coleraine, with two double-arc datestamps (23 June, 1840) struck on front, heavy vertical filing fold resulting in splitting which has been reinforced internally, a rare franking and internal (local!!) Irish usage. Gi. AS14.rnProvenance: Collection Litchfield, Robson Lowe, 26 March, 1947; Collection W. Knox, Edgar Mohrmann & Co, 18-21 October, 1977, lot 2131.rnrnStarting bid : 2,000 CHFHammer price : 2,800 CHFLot# : 10079 Great Britain
Lot# : 10080 Great Britain
Lot# : 10081 Great Britain
1d. red-brown, plate 2, horizontal pair, lettered EG-EH, four good to large margins all around, showing the 7 o`clock ray flaw only, left well clear by black Maltese Cross cancellations, very fine, an attractive and scarce multiple. Gi. AS17 = £800.Starting bid : 250 CHFHammer price : 250 CHFLot# : 10082 Great Britain
1d. red-brown, horizontal strip of four, lettered TB-TE, chiefly good margins on all sides, touching at lower right, cancelled with strikes of Maltese Cross in black, TC, TE being from State 2, showing stronger engraving on face and burr lines in margins, ironed out creases, but a scarce multiple. Cert. RPSL (2023). Gi. AS17, AS17b = £1,750+rnrnStarting bid : 160 CHFHammer price : 260 CHFLot# : 10083 Great Britain
1d. black and 1d. red-brown, each plate 2 and with four good to large margins, showing distinguishing re-entry marks in letter squares and corner sqaures, cancelled with Maltese Crosses in red or black, a scarce and attractive matched pair. Gi. AS14a, AS17a = £1,100Starting bid : 250 CHFHammer price : 280 CHFLot# : 10084 Great Britain
Lot# : 10085 Great Britain
Lot# : 10086 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 3, six used singles, lettered DJ, GA, GC, HG, EJ, and SF, each with chiefly four good to large margins, cancelled with red Maltese Cross, the occasional example with subtle fault but an overall fine and desirable group, superior to what is often in encountered. Gi. AS20 = £3,000.Starting bid : 600 CHFHammer price : 600 CHFLot# : 10087 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 3, seventeen used singles, lettered AC, AJ, CJ, EA, EL, (2), HC, HG, HI, KE, NA, OD, OJ, OK, PC, SC, and TK, all with four chiefly fair to good margins and cancelled with red Maltese Cross, HK and KE affixed on piece and jointly cancelled in manuscript, with partial Houghton-Le-Spring straight-line below, a few examples showing signs of plate wear, the occasional stamp with small imperfection, but chiefly fine and useful lot for further study. Gi. AS20, AS21 = £8,500Starting bid : 1,000 CHFHammer price : 1,500 CHFLot# : 10088 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 3, horizontal strip of three, lettered QA-QC, three very large margins including sheet margin at elft and showing portion of adjoining stamp at right, lower margin close in places, cancelled with neatly-struck Maltese Crosses in red, QB with light crease, a scarce multiple with tremendous appeal. Gi. AS20 = £2,200+rnrnProvenance:rnThis strip appeared in each of the following sales as a strip of four, from which position QD was later removed.rnrnH.R. Harmer, 7-8 April, 1941, lot 496.rnRobson Lowe, 26 February, 1969, lot 1046rnCollection "Daisy", Christies Robson Lowe, 8 October, 1996, lot 211rnCollection Sayeed, Spink London, March 2022, lot 2171rnStarting bid : 500 CHFHammer price : 600 CHFLot# : 10089 Great Britain
Lot# : 10090 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 3, lettered KC, three large margins, close but clear at right, cancelled with red Maltese Cross, on folded cover to Dunbarton, with boxed receiver datestamp (14 July, 1840) on reverse, tears from removal of sale, adhesive with some light stains, else a fine use to Scotland. Gi. AS20 = £1,000Starting bid : 120 CHFHammer price : 200 CHFLot# : 10091 Great Britain
1d. intense black, plate 4, lettered TD, unused, part gum heavily hinged, three good to large margins, touching at right, showing small portion of sheet margin inscription at foot, small thins, soiled lower left, despite its flaws a scarce unused example. Cert. RPSL (2023). Gi. AS22 = £18,000rnrnStarting bid : 800 CHFHammer price : 1,000 CHFLot# : 10092 Great Britain
Lot# : 10093 Great Britain
Lot# : 10094 Great Britain
Lot# : 10095 Great Britain
Lot# : 10096 Great Britain
1d. black, plate four, horizontal strip of four, lettered CG-CJ, mostly good to large margins all around, just clear at lower left, cancelled with multiple strikes of Maltese Cross in red, light surface abraision crossing CG-CH, yet a scarce and pleasing multiple. Gi. AS23 = £2,500+rnrnProvenance:rnrnRobson Lowe, 8-9 July, 1975, lot 114rnCollection Jack Clark, Cavendish, 13 June, 1997, lot 28rnStarting bid : 300 CHFHammer price : 1,600 CHFLot# : 10097 Great Britain
Lot# : 10098 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 4, block from two rejoined pairs, lettered PG-QH, mostly good to large margins, shaved at right, cancelled with cleanly-struck Maltese Crosses, QG thinned at lower right and with vertical crease, scissor cut between top pair, a fine-appearing multiple. Gi. AS23 = £2,500+rnrnProvenance:rnRobson Lowe, Harmers, 1 March, 1983, Lot 106rnrnStarting bid : 800 CHFHammer price : 900 CHFLot# : 10099 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 4, lettered CC, margins fair to large, tied to folded cover to Cheltenham, cancelled with red Maltese Cross, ideal Bromyard double-arc despatch c.d.s. on front (30 May, 1840), equally-clear next-day Bromyard receiver further tying adhesive, light filing folds of no importance, a lovely and very early use of this plate, the first example recorded being a week prior to this cover, and a rare Sunday cancellation. Gi. AS23 = £850+rnrnProvenance:rnStanley Gibbons, 8-9 November, 1973, lot 319rnCollection Chartwell, Spink London, 29 June 2011, lot 1112.Starting bid : 700 CHFHammer price : 700 CHFLot# : 10100 Great Britain
1d. black, plate 4, lettered HI, four ample to large margins, tied to folded entire to Warrington by red Maltese Cross and Hull double-arc datestamp (30 May, 1840), some light wrinkling to cover mentioned for strict accuracy, an impressive entire with adhesive tied by town cancel, postmarked on the final Saturday of May, and little more than one week after the earlies recorded usage of this plate. Cert. RPSL (1992). Gi. AS23tj = £2,000+rnrnProvenance:rnCollection Michael Lea (1978)rnCollection Shaida, Harmers of Switzerland, 13 February, 1992, lot 182.Starting bid : 600 CHFHammer price : 900 CHF
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