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]