Monday 8 June 2009

Samoa

1886-1900 Palmtrees
Perf 11 2/6d purple vertical strip of 3 from the base of the sheet
Imperforate Between the First Two Units SG 64ba, part o.g.,
undercatalogued at £450+. Similar strip sold
for £747 at auction in 2003]


SOLOMON ISLANDS

1907 Large Canoes
½d to 1/- imperforate plate proof blocks of 4 in the issued
colours on ungummed unwatermarked paper, vibrant colours.
[Absent from John Darnell's collection. Colonel Harrie Evans' two sets
of singles sold for $403 & $426 respectively
£ 1000+ Retail Guide Price




MALAYA

MALAYA - Straits Settlements

1936 Survey Department essays 15c Sailing Vessel on ungummed
unwatermarked paper highly surfaced on both sides comprising singles
with four different KGV portraits (plus one extra) in black, se-tenant
strip of the four designs in carmine & a similar strip in black & dull rose.
Very attractive group. [All have neat pencil notations on the back indicating
they were from Lot 635 in Robson Lowe's auction of November 1950

£ 600+ Retail Guide Price




Sunday 7 June 2009

SOUTH AFRICA

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
1863-64 De La Rue Triangles 4d deep blue SG 19 corner
block of 8 (4x4), margins large to enormous, deep rich colour,
large-part o.g., Cat £1440++. A magnificent exhibition item.
Cat Value under priced in my personal opinion .


£ 2000+ Retail Guide Price


Togo

1914 (Oct) Overprints on German Togo
Narrow Setting (Lines 2mm Apart) & 'Anglo-French' 16mm Long 1mk
red SG H23 (Gibbs #23), well centred, "Harmer Rooke" pencilled on the
reverse, Cat £7000. One of the great rarities of World War I British Occupation Issues.
Gibbs at page 190 states "Approximately 40 were issued. The majority of the recorded examples are used...About 10 unused examples are known, one of which is in the Royal Collection."

£ 7000.00 Retail Guide Price


ZANZIBAR

ZANZIBAR 1936 New Currency 50/- Dhow
1936 New Currency 50/- Dhow imperforate die proof in dull orange
with margins 3-5mm, affixed to a small piece from the De La Rue day book
which is endorsed "26 Oct 1935" & in pencil "Approved" but also with
"This value was never issued". A beautiful item & a "must" for
the serious KGV collector, Superb very rare item .
£ 4500.00 Retail Guide Price CV much Higher





ZANZIBAR 1908-09 Sultan Ali bin Hamoud Essay

1908-09 Sultan Ali bin Hamoud stamp-size essay for a 2a value
comprising the printed frame in bright blue - highlighted with Chinese
white - superimposed over photographic vignette of the Sultan affixed to thin
card (90x114mm), endorsed "C" & dated "July 18th 97" at upper-right,
further endorsed "approved for the anna stamps down to 3:", initialled &
with date h/s '25JUL197' [sic] at lower-right, some very minor/insignificant soiling
that does not affect the stamp. A stunning essay!
Ex De La Rue Archives and Ian Borrie. De La Rue prepared three essays,
this being the approved version. However, the Zanzibar currency changed from
annas to cents in early-1898, requiring amended designs.


£ 750.00 Retail Guide Price CV much Higher






MAURITIUS

MASTER DIE PROOF 1900-05


1900-05 New Colours & Values master die proof for the rupee values with
blank value tablet in black on glazed card reduced to stamp-size & affixed to a
small piece from the De La Rue day book (49x54mm) endorsed "Dec 31/60 leads
& six/extra" & in red "Ap 30 97" showing that the die was prepared five years
before the rupee values were issued.
£ 500.00

Saturday 6 June 2009

Australian 1882 Large Chalons & Proofs

IMPERFORATE PLATE PROOFS ON CARD
10/- blue-green imperforate pair on thick wove paper handstamped 'SPECIMEN.' in rosine across the two units, with a higher faint impression that was probably applied first. [Basset Hull at page 159 refers to a single of the 10/- in blue-green "overprinted [sic] 'SPECIMEN' horizontally in black in large sans-serif capitals, probably extending over three stamps". This may well have been derived from the same sheet as this item & the h/s may be the same, as its length of 27mm is sufficient to appear on 3 units]
AUD$ 1000.00





IMPERFORATE PLATE PROOFS ON CARD


10/- blue-green complete imperforate sheet of 30 (5x6) with 'BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS &c. LONDON' imprint below units 2-4 on the bottom row, "on yellowish wove paper of medium thickness" (Basset Hull's terminology) & affixed to a piece of thin board. An exceptional exhibition item that fits neatly on a standard page. It appears that the imprints were burnished-off the plates before the main print-runs commenced in Brisbane. Apart from the imperforate proofs, only a few perforated stamps handstamped 'SPECIMEN' are recorded with part-imprint.One of the most outstanding items from the Bradbury Wilkinson Archives and the only such sheet in the sale: sold for £5175 at auction in 2000. The Robson Lowe "Encyclopaedia" states "Plate proof sheets of the 2/- 5/- 10/- & £1 appear also to have been included in the consignment forwarding the steel plates." Clearly, this particular sheet was retained by the printers & may have been the only such sheet kept for their archives. Very few other complete proof sheets have survived: Sir Gawaine Baillie's set of sheets were all defective.


AUD$ 12500.00












2/- die proof in black on thin card

reduced to stamp-size with margins good to large.
[Basset Hull recorded the 10/- only but states
"Similar die proofs may exist for the other values"]

AUD$ 5000.00







DIE PROOFS

Master die proof with blank value tablets below the Queen's portrait
& in the four corners, in black on thin card (55x60mm) recessed behind a
larger piece of grey card (120x114mm) to which is attached a printed
'ENGRAVED BY BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO. LTD.' label, a few insignificant
tonespots on the Queen's neck otherwise very fine.

A dramatic item of the highest level of importance. Ex Bradbury Wilkinson Archives.
[This most beautiful of all Australian Colonial designs was engraved by Herbert Bourne]

Superb Very Rare aprox value AUD$ 15000.00






Australian Essays & Proofs

APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS
6d Die II imperforate marginal block of 6 (2x3) in
bright yellow-green on thin card, margins good to huge.




APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

4d Die II imperforate marginal block of 12 (4x3) from the
lower-right of the sheet in yellow-orange on thin card, margins close to large.
Ex Wm Knight, JH Chapman & Colonel Harrie Evans: sold for $2688.
Multiples of this size - and quality - are rare.



APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

2d Die II imperforate marginal block of 4 from the base of the sheet on crudely gummed watermarked paper, margins close to huge, endorsed "[E]lectrotyp[e]" in red pencil in the margin, minor stain & small scissor-cuts between the units at top & right. Ex Wm Knight, JT Chapman & Colonel Harrie Evans: sold for $784.







APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

2d imperforate pair in bright ultramarine on thick wove paper,
margins good to large. Rare colour.








APPROVED DESIGN PLATE PROOFS

2d imperforate block of 4 in dull blue on thin card,
good even margins. Ex Slade-Slade.






Australian Essays & Proofs

WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS
1880 essay for a ½d+½d reply postal card with two impressions of Bell's ½d essay Type C (with void background and corrected 'Q') both on the face, the divided address panel endorsed 'NAME & ADDRESS OF PERSON TO WHOM SENT' at left & 'NAME & ADDRESS OF SENDER' at right and also 'Before reposting please obliterate this address' at lower-left & "Over" at lower-right, the reverse also divided & headed 'MESSAGE TO BE SENT' at left & 'REPLY' at right and also 'When no reply is required both Spaces may be occupied' at lower-left & 'The Card must not be cut' at lower-right, manuscript "Essay 1880" in the upper margin, a couple of insignificant blemishes on the reverse in no way detract from this extraordinary item. Ex Ron Butler: sold for £3525 at auction in 2005. Almost certainly modeled on a private essay for a British ½d+½d reply postal card on which both stamp impressions were also on the face. Neither of these innovative, but confusing, ideas was adopted.




WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1877 Void Background with Corrected 'Q'
(Type C) ½d imperforate plate proof in carmine-pink
on ungummed watermarked paper, margins close to large,
'SPECIMEN' handstamp diagonally in blue.
[The only colour recorded by Robson Lowe,
who also recorded the h/s in violet only]





WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1877 Void Background/Vertically-Lined Background
both with Reversed 'Q' (Types B/A) ½d imperforate
plate proof se-tenant pair in blue on ungummed watermarked paper,
margins close to large. [This colour unrecorded by Robson Lowe]







WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1877 Void Background/Vertically-Lined Background
both with Reversed 'Q' (Types B/A) ½d imperforate
plate proof se-tenant pair in plum on ungummed watermarked paper,
margins close to large except at upper-right where a little cut-into.
[Such pairs were unrecorded by Robson Lowe,
and he also had not noted the Reversed 'Q' on Types A & B]





WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1880 Vertically-Lined Background
with Reversed 'Q' (Type A) ½d imperforate plate proof
in orange on ungummed watermarked paper
(unusually with the Watermark Upright),
marginal example from the top of the sheet,
margins large to humungous. [Unrecorded by Robson Lowe]






WILLIAM BELL ESSAY

1880 Vertically-Lined Background with
Reversed 'Q' ½d imperforate plate proof in plum
on ungummed watermarked paper,
large even margins.
[Robson Lowe recorded Type A proofs in black & purple only]







WILLIAM BELL ESSAYS

1880 Vertically-Lined Background with
Reversed 'Q' (Type A) ½d imperforate plate proof in black
on thick wove paper, margins good to large.





WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS SAMPLES

1878 2d plate proofs in pale turquoise
or purple-brown on white wove paper, close even margins,
both affixed to small pieces of thin card.
The first is Ex Sir Gawaine Baillie






WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS SAMPLES


1878 2d plate proofs in black-brown on buff
or in dark blue on blue wove paper, close even margins.
[Coloured papers not recorded by Robson Lowe]






WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS SAMPLES

1878 2d plate proof in black on white wove paper,
Very Unusual proof.







WATERLOW & SONS PRINTERS SAMPLES

1878 2d die proof in a delicate shade of grey-purple on thin wove paper (30x32mm). Ex Sir Gawaine Baillie . [This colour is unrecorded by Robson Lowe]













Sunday 17 May 2009

Newfoundland 1865 24c SG no. 30 imperf. plate proof

Newfoundland 1865 24c SG no. 30 imperf. plate proof
in dark blue on India paper in a bottom-marginal horizontal strip of
three showing the A.B.N. Co, New York imprint below the centre stamp
and mounted on card, with good and well balanced margins on the other
three sides and displaying extremely sharp impression, in absolutely
perfect quality, delightfully fresh and truly beautiful, all in all
an exquisite and rare item,
very seldom seen.



Monaco 1891-94 second issue imperforated proof without the figure
of value in the value tablet and printed in black on light buff cardboard
of medium thickness and of a rather silky texture, of obviously very high
quality for that period, ungummed and with good and equal margins all
around, creating a wonderful aspect which is enhanced by the outstanding
quality as well, without any faults or defects whatsoever and truly pristine
in all respects, the sharpness of the impression is absolutely remarkable,
much better than that of the issued stamps and of impressive finesse, from
the aesthetic perspective, this proof is a true work of art in itself, and from
the philatelic point of view it is indeed a very rare item which very rarely
surfaces the market, a great item destined for a knowledgeable philatelist
with an eye for wise investments.
Monegasque philately, although fascinating valuable and most decorative,
is a very straightforward one, with a very limited number of spectacular
varieties or variations from the basic, issued stamps, even during its classic
period. Hence, the undenominated proofs for the second and first issues of
Monaco are most probably amongst the most interesting
(if not “the” most interesting) Monegasque items available, and the vast
majority of the already extremely few existing proofs for the second issue
are printed on normal paper. Those on cardboard, like this one is, are virtually
non-existent and constitute the supreme refinement as far as distinguished
classics of Monaco are cconcerned, and also such proofs are missing from
most collections.
Another such proof for the second issue of Monaco is being currently offered
by the French auctioneers Behr (http://www.behr.fr) in their Net Price Sales
no. 87 for €800 (~ $ 1,040) – lot no. 3075 –
but that is inferior as it is on normal paper.







Monaco 1885 first issue imperforated proof without figures of value in the
value tablets, printed in black on buff cardboard of medium thickness
ungummed and displaying large and well balanced margins all around, the
quality and sharpness of the impression are absolutely outstanding and
to describe this wonderful and immensely rare proof as “perfect” would
probably be an under-statement, not only it has no defects whatsoever
displays vibrant colour and superb freshness as well, a fantastic item,
Monegasque philately, although fascinating valuable and most
decorative, is a very straightforward one, with a very limited number
of spectacular varieties or variations from the basic, issued stamps,
even during its classic period. Hence, the undenominated proofs for
the first and second issues of Monaco are most probably amongst the
most interesting (if not “the” most interesting) Monegasque items
available, and the vast majority of the already extremely few existing
proofs for the first issue are printed on normal paper. Those on cardboard,
like this one is, are virtually non-existent and constitute the supreme
refinement as far as distinguished classics of Monaco are cconcerned, and also
such proofs are missing from most collections.
As reference, the French auctioneers Behr (http://www.behr.fr) are offering
a similar yet inferior proof (as it is on normal paper) in their current Net Price Sale
no. 87 for €4,000 (~ $ 5,200) – lot no. 3047.




Monaco 1885 first issue 1c block of twelve (4 x 3) with complete
gutter margin attached at right and with eight stamps
MNH rarely offered in general and almost never
available this fine, no. 1 in any catalogue, Yvert cat. value as
two blocks of four and four singles,
all hinged, is already €440 (~ $ 575), but this mostly unmounted
block must certainly deserve a huge premium over that value.




GOLD COAST 1904-6 2/6 OPT.
SPECIMEN MINT, SG 57s.





India 25 Rupee Victorian Telegraph Stamp








QV 1879 Perkins Bacon Essay

Ridgway designed 'Perkins, bacon & Co' essay. Imperforate example,
in grey-brown with gum. The 'W' check letter is the initial of the
designer W. Ridgway. Eventual contract was
awarded to de-La-Rue. Scarce item.









Saturday 16 May 2009

India Proofs

HYDERABAD STATE INDIA 1908 PROOFS



Plate Proofs Unwatermarked on wove paper

scarse item












Friday 15 May 2009

King Geaorge V Imperfs


SG 441var 1934 rare Photo 1½d
Colour Trial in Bright Magenta marginal imperf example
on unwatermarked paper



SG 429 1/- bistre-brown
overprinted SPECIMEN, Type 23,
imperf, Spec N45t, Cat £110





SG 428 SPEC N44t 10d TURQUOISE
IMPERF OVPT SPECIMEN TYPE 2





IMPERF TRIAL WITH APPROVED HEAD
1d IN ROYAL-BLUE top marginal
(On ungummed paper)
Very Scarce




1934-36 King George V, Photogravure,
1 1/2d grey-green. imperforate
colour trial on watermarked paper
1d SG 357 IMPERF OVPT CANCELLED TYPE 24
BLOCK OF FOUR bottom gutter marginal
with pillar bars





5/-. SG 401
IMPERF PLATE PROOF IN ISSUED COLOUR
(dramatically underinked),
Very Unusual



SG 357 1d scarlet, imperf block of 4
overprinted SPECIMEN,
Type 26, Spec N16u, Cat £280+, scarce multiple.




KGV Royal Cypher 1/2d green
Specimen


KGV Royal Cypher 1d scarlet
Specimen overprint



SG 372 2½d blue
imperf "CANCELLED" example Spec N21v
Cv £160.00



1912 King George V, Downey head 1d carmine die 2 paper trial.
Imperf copy on John Dickinson
very white paper. S.G. Trial




GB KG5 1934 PHOTOGRAVURE 1½d IMPERF COLOUR TRIAL BLUE
1½d photogravure colour trial in ultramarine

imperforate on watermarked paper .