SURFACE PRINTED

 

STAMPS and COVERS

 

USED ABROAD

 

HIGH VALUES

 

LILAC and GREEN

 

1d LILAC Issues

 

 

This Section contains a wide range of stamps and covers

 

so do scroll down to the bottom.

 

6d Plate 3 SG 84

  

153669

 

6d SG84 Plate 3 'AA', first stamp on the sheet and in finer condition than in the scan.

 

Grossly displaced watermark made more visible by the stamp printed on THIN paper

 

which is not listed by Gibbons but is on Thick paper.

 

Couple of short perfs; priced by Gibbons at £160.

 

A very unusual, combination of features.

 

Price: £38.00

 

 

4d Plate 17 SG160

153668

 

4d Plate 17, 'KL', fine/very fine used:

 

cancelled by an early type of London Squared circle.

 

For Plate 17, wmk crown, the first official date of usage was December 8th 1880. 

 

The post offices were instructed to always use up old stock before issuing new.

 

In this case the old stock was 4d SG154 and the new 4d SG160.

 

This would explain why early dates of usage of SG160 are rarely found. 

 

The example offered here was used on December 16th 1880 

 

and is the earliest usage we have seen or can trace in our research. 

 

A rare item.

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

4d Large Garter

    

153633

 

A superb vertical wing margin pair with a London SW duplex for February 15th 1859.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £300 as two singles before a premium for so finely used.

 

An attractive multiple and rarely found in this condition.

 

Price: £80.00

 

6d SG68: Glasgow to Hamburg

 

153635

 

6d SG68, very fine wing margined example, neatly tied to a very clean envelope to Hamburg

 

by a Glasgow duplex for March 16th 1860 leaving most of QV's head clear.

 

On the reverse is a complete and very fine

 

'Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society' embossed imprint.

 

This 6d priced on cover by Gibbons at £240 before the premium for so finely used.

 

An attractive display item.

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

SG138 Plate 1 on blued paper

153638

 

2d1/2d SG 138 Plate 1 on blued paper, fine pair 'JA-JB'.

 

Gibbons prices a single at £190 hence £380 pro rata.

 

Virtually a QV's clear profile on each. and a super clean reverse.

 

Difficult to find in a multiple. 

 

Price: £65.00

 

NB: the scan does not do justice to the item.

 

153638a

 

2d1/2d SG138 Plate 1 on blued paper, fine single 'JC'.

 

Gibbons prices a single at £190.

 

Price: £28.00

 

 

2d SG168a and 1/2d SG165: Liverpool to New York

 

153636.

 

2d SG168a and 1/2d SG165, tied to a small clean envelope to New York,

 

by an early type of LIverpool squared circle for July 18th 1881.

 

This 2d is difficult to find on cover reflected in a Gibbons price of £300.

 

On the reverse is a very fine 'New York Paid All' and unusually the year date is clearly visible.

 

A fine and very scarce display item.

 

Price: £45.00

NB: the envelope is finer than the scan suggests and the apparent browning,

 

including around the New York receiver, is a trick of the scanner.

 

 

4d SG154 on envelope to South America: rare franking

 

153582.

 

4d SG154, 'AE',  tied by an early London squared circle for November 9th 1880

 

to an envelope to Buenos Aries, South America.

 

A very rare stamp on cover: Theo Brauers records only 13 examples of which this is not one.

 

Roughly opened as per the scan.

 

The rarity of this item is reflected in the Gibbons price for SG154 on cover at £1,700.

 

This is only the second example we have been able to offer.

 

Price: £385.00

 

NB:

The age marking on the stamp are not as pronounced as the scan suggests.

 

 

4d Plate 18 SG160

 

153583.

 

4d SG160 Plate 18, 'LG-LH'. 

 

Tied to a neat piece by a cancellation usually associated with Book or Parcel Post.

 

Priced by Gibbons as two singles, off cover, at £120

 

before a premium is added for 'LG' with a clear profile.

 

An attractive display item

 

Price: £48.00.

 

 

5d SG169 on envelope to Cairo

 

             

 

153581.

 

5d SG169, fine/very fine, tied to an envelope by a fancy London squared circle for February 10th 1882 clear of most of QV's head. 

 

The stamp has been affixed after the creasing on the front of the envelope and so is not affected by it.

 

On the front is a neatly struck and superb strike of the very scarce 'Forwarded By Baring Brothers & Co London' .

 

On the reverse is a very fine strike of 'Alexandrie Ambulant' date stamp for February 22 .  

 

Gibbons prices this 5d on cover at £325 before a premium is added for the clear QV's head and the other hand strikes. 

 

An attractive and very scarce combination of features.

 

A fine display item. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

NB: the apparent browning on the front of the envelope is a trick of the scanner.

 

 

3 cent US Stationery envelope from Ireland to the USA surcharged

 

153580. 

 

USA 3 cents printed stationery envelope sent from Queenstown to Greenfield, Mass, USA.

 

GB postage of 2d added by a fine pair of 1d SG168 and tied by Queenstown duplexes for July 9th 188? with the last year date plug missing. 

 

On receipt of the item in the USA, a total of 12 cents was charged with a pair of 5 cents and a 2 cent postage dues added. 

 

Also very fine, and neatly applied, handstrikes of 'T', '12 CENTS' and 'US CHARGE TO COLLECT'. 

 

An attractive item which displays well and with the cancellations not overlapping. 

 

Price: £49.00

 

 

nprinted block of Anchor Watermark paper

 

153564.

 

A fine block of four, unprinted watermarked small anchor paper, ungummed.

 

As the bottom on the reverse side is a thin strip of what appears to have been gummed paper.

 

The outline can be seen in the scan.

 

Was this some sort of sample?

 

A scarce item.

 

Price: £35.00

 

 

6d SG68 Inverted Watermark

       

153374

 

6d SG68, fine/very fine used, with Watermark Inverted.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £400.

 

Price: £68.00

 

6d SG68 Reversed Watermark

  

153511

 

6d SG68:

 

fine used with the vaiety Reversed Watermak.

 

Gibbons prices this at £475 which in our experience is under valued. 

 

A very scarce/rare item. 

 

Price: £85.00

 

NB: there is a wide range of Watermark Varieties,

 

in the Section similarly named, with the link on the Home Page

 

6d SG70

 

153528.

 

6d SG70, a good used pair printed on unlisted THIN PAPER:

 

Gibbons only lists the Thick Paper variety.

 

The thinness of the paper can be seen by the cancellation being so visible on the reverse

 

and some of the watermark visible on the front.

 

Priced by Gibbons as two used singles at £240.

 

The cancellation is that of the Chief Office and scarce.

 

Price: £40.00

 

1/- SG73

     

153373

 

1/- SG73, fine used, and printed on unlisted THIN PAPER

 

hence the visibility of the watermark on the front as well as on the back .

 

Gibbons only lists the thick paper variety.

 

SG73 priced by SG at £350. 

 

Price: £50.00

 

4d Plate 4 Inverted Watermark

153482.

 

4d SG82 Plate 4, 'RC':

 

fine used with a cds for July 19th 1864.

 

Some shortish perfs but it has the variety Inverted Watermark

 

priced by Gibbons at £400 before the premium for

 

the cds is added of 125%.

 

We have never seen this stamp with this combination

 

of watermark variety and cds.

 

A very are item.

 

Price: £75.00

 

 

6d Plate 8 strip

 

153553

 

6d SG108. Plate 8, 'OE-OG': fine used with Leeds duplexes.

 

Gibbons prices a single at £190 hence a strip of three at £570 pro rata. 

 

A scarce multiple.

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

1/- Plate 6

153527

 

1/- SG117, 'EC', Plate 6:

 

fine used and cancelled by a number '28' in bars of the

 

South West District Suburban Office of TOOTING.

 

Parmenter gives this a 'H* rarity grading ie recorded on stamp only

 

and priced at £200 on a contemporary 1d value.

 

The example offered here on a 1/- value may well be a unique usage. 

 

An Exhibition item. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

1/- Plate 6, double plate number

 

153556

 

1/- SG117, Plate 6, 'KB'

 

This example shows the listed variety,

 

SG Spec J106a, 'Double plate number at the right'.

 

The cancellation leaves variety clear.

 

A few nibbled perfs at the top but a very collectable example

 

of this variety priced by Gibbons at £400.

 

Price: £58.00

 

4d Plate 15 with a pre-cancel

 

153552

 

4d SG152, Plate 15, 'DA': fine used with a couple of nibbled perfs.

 

Cancelled by a per-canceller, permission granted by the Post Office,

 

to the firm of Henry S King & Co for use on wrappers

 

and in their case for the official Stock Exchange Lists.

 

It was issued to them in 1875.

 

This is a rare usage on a rare stamp and the first as such we have seen.

 

Gibbons prices SG152 at £475 without a premium for the cancellation.

 

A rare/very rare item.

 

Price: £75.00

 

4d Plate 15: rare cancel

 

153557.

 

4d SG152 Plate 15, 'AB':

 

a defective example but cancelled by the rare Newspaper Branch GPO type.

 

Rare on the contemprary 1d and 2d values

 

but have previously not seen it on any surface printed value.

 

Its usage on this stamp is extremely rare and this may unique. 

 

SG152 priced by Gibbons at £475 with an 'ordinary' cancellation. 

 

Price: £40.00

 

 

4d Plate 16 SG153

 

153555

 

4d SG153 Plate 16, 'MC': fine used with fine colour.

 

A part cds of Liverpool Exchange for January 1st, New Years Day, 1878.

 

The first New Years Day usage we can recall seeing on a surface printed issue

 

Priced by Gibbons at £300. 

 

A scare/very scarce combination of features.

 

Price: £55.00

 

4d SG154 Plate 17

 

153554

 

4d SG154, Plate 17, 'RI':

 

fine used with a London upright cds inverted for December 8th 1880.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £500 plus 100% premium for the cds ie £1,000. 

 

On this same date, December 8th 1880, the Plate 17, SG160, watermark crown was issued.

 

Post Offices were told to use up the old stock before using the new issue.

 

It would seem this is what happened in London. 

 

A very rare stamp with a complete and upright cds.

 

Price: £135.00

 

1/- Plate 14

    

153375

 

1/- SG163 Plate 14, 'II-IJ', shortish perfs at the left of 'II'

 

but the pair cancelled mainly by a cds of Leith for May 25th 1884.

 

Priced by Gibbons as two singles at £340. 

 

A difficult stamp to find with a cds.

 

Price: £60.00 SOLD

 

1/- Plate 4

153541

 

1/- SG117, Plate 4, fine /very fine used:

 

with a large part of a 'PD' in red

 

and a small part of another cancellation.

 

Seldom found thus cancelled.

 

An attractive item.

 

Price: £45.00

 

1/- wing margin pair

153484

 

1/- SG72, fine used, although close to or at the deep green shade, SG71:

 

London cancellation '12' on a wingmargin multiple.

 

Gibbons prices a single SG72 at £350 hence at £700 for a pair and £1100 if SG71.

 

A scarce multiple so fine.

 

Price: £85.00

 

 

1/- Plate 13: Edinburgh NPB cds

153481.

 

1/-, SG163, Plate 13, 'AA',very fine used and first of the sheet.

 

Cancelled by an upright and scarce Edinburgh Newspaper Branch date stamp for June 4th 1884.

 

Very unusual to find this 1/- value used with such a cancellation: we cannot recall seeing another.

 

Gibbons prices plate 13 at £170 before the premium of at least 75% is added for this NPB cancel.

 

A rare item.

 

Price: £55.00

 

 

Multiple Mixed franking of 3d and 5d of the lilac and green issue

 

153524

 

3d SG191 and 5d SG193:

 

a mixed franking of a block of 4 and 7 singles of the 3d with three 5d's.

 

All cancelled by a Manchester duplex and tied to a piece a parcel from a Trading Co Ltd.

 

A very unusual franking.

 

Heavy cancellations but priced accordingly.

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

4d SG66 to Paris 1859

 

153513. 

 

4d SG66: fine used, tied to a small clean and uncreased envelope,

 

with original letter written in French, from London to Paris, April 19th 1859. 

 

Affixed in an unusual place on the envelope because of the position of the address.

 

Gibbons prices SG66 on cover at £225.00 

 

An attractive item that would display well.

 

Price: £58.00

 

 

6d SG84 on envelope to Bohn

 

153515.

 

6d SG84, 'SI', crease in the NE corner square:

 

tied to a small thin paper envelope, by a fine London duplex, July 4th 1864 and a

 

very fine Aus England Per Aachen in a crimson ink only used from May to November 1864.

 

Gibbons prices this 6d on cover at £225.

 

An attractive and very scarce item with this cancellation.

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

6d SG83 on a wrapper to Messina

 

153514

 

6d SG83 deep lilac, 'GD':

 

tied to a wrapper to Messina by a superbly struck by a London East duplex for November 21st 1863.

 

This scarcer shade priced by Gibbons on cover at £250.

 

The wrapper has a mark at the top but fainter than the scan suggests.

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

1/- Plate 9 and 1d Plate 168 on a wrapper to Madrid

 

153516.

 

SG 150, 1/- Plate 9, 'BA', and 1d Plate 168, 'EF', both fine used:

 

tied to a wrapper by a London '101' duplex for June 30th 1874. 

 

There is a fine boxed 'LI' in red indicating a Late Fee payment of 1d. 

 

Some creasing of the wrapper as per the scan but otherwise very clean.

 

Gibbons prices 1/- Plate 9 on cover at £250. 

 

An attractive item.

 

Price: £58.00   

 

 

1/- Plate 4 SG101: mint/unused

   

 

153503.

 

1/- Plate 4 SG101' 'TA': a hinge remnant on reverse and part og? 

 

Stamp 'TA' can be found with the error of watermark 'three roses and a shamrock'

 

ie the thistle bit on the printing plate has become detached abd replaced wrongly by an emblem.

 

The SG101 offered here is not the error but the thistle

 

shows evidence of movement and so appears to be loosening.

 

A mint example of SG101 is priced by Gibbons at £2850.

 

The example here is misperfed to a degree we have not seen previously on this issue. 

 

An interesting item. 

 

Price: £275.00

 

 

3d on large dated front: to Exeter

 

153501.

 

3d SG77, 'EE', fine used, Plate 2 State 2:

 

tied to a large dated front, with side flaps, from London to Exeter, January 25th 1865.

 

The 3d is tied by the scarce London twin '45' in diamond and bars.

 

The Exeter date stamp at the top for the following day is the 'Cresswell' type,

 

16mm in diameter rather than 19mm.

 

The Exeter 'Cresswell' type machine ended its usage in September 1857. 

 

Gibbons prices SG77 on stamp alone at £350 and on full cover at £600.

 

An interesting display item. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

 

The next three 1/- items, all from the 'C' vertical row, show blind perfs:

 

a problem that clearly affected all stamps in that column.

 

 

1/- Plate 4: blind perfs

    

 

153485.

 

1/- SG117 Plate 4 'AC':

 

with a Manchester '498' and showing blind perfs in the top and bottom margins. 

 

A fine example which displays well the perforation problem.

 

Price: £35.00

 

 

1/- Plate 4 Blind Perfs

     

153486.

 

1/- SG117 Plate 4, 'DC':

 

a part London duplex showing blind perfs in the top and bottom margins.

 

A fine used example illustrating the perforation problem.

 

Price: £35.00

 

 

1/- Plate 4: Blind Perfs

   

 

153489.

 

1/- SG117,Plate 4, 'NC':

 

a LIverpool '466' numeral allowing the extent of the blind perfs

 

 in the bottom margin to be clearly seen.

 

The perforation problem in the top margin caused

 

perforation damage when the stamp was separated.

 

Price: £30.00

 

NB: these three blind perf examples would make a fine display.

 

They could form the basis of reconstructing the full 'C' column.

 

Broken pin perfs

153512

 

Twopence halfpenny SG141, Plate 4, 'EC':

 

at the top and bottom and the left corners,

 

is evedence of broken pin perfs in the 'C' vertical column.

 

The damage to the NW corner perf was caused by the broken pin perf

 

resulting in the stamp not being easily separated from the one above.

 

In view of the previous three 1/- examples, all with proken perf pin perfs, and in the 'C' column,

 

it would appear that the same perforating machine was used to perforate both of these values.

 

A very scarce item.

 

Price: £25.00

 

 

4d medium garter Edinburgh Roller

 

153490.

 

4d SG64, a pair with fine colour:

 

each tied by the Edinburgh roller cancellation to an uncreased envelope to a Poste Restante, Malaga.

 

The top rear flap is missing and there is a partial Edinburgh date stamp for March 9th (1857). on the back.

 

The left hand stamp of the pair is very fine and the right stamp has a trimmed wing margin.

 

The Calais transit date stamp, applied where the 4d's should have been attached, is for March 11th 1857.

 

Gibbons prices a single of this 4d on cover at £1,000.

 

An attractive and rare item. 

 

Price: £175.00

 

4d medium garter Glasgow Roller

 

 

153491

 

4d SG65, in fine deep rose, pair:

 

tied to a thin envelope to a Poste Restante Malaga by a very fine Glasgow Roller.

 

On the reverse is a fine set of transit marks including a Glasgow cds for March 14th 1857.

 

The left hand stamp of the pair of 4d's has perfs trimmed off;

 

the right hand stamp has some perfs slightly trimmed.

 

Gibbons prices a single on cover at £1,000.

 

McKay notes that this very scarce roller canceller was confined mainly

 

to registered packages which often bore several adhesives.

 

A rare usage of this roller on the example offered here.

 

Price: £120.00  SOLD

 

NB: Both this and Item 153490, would make an interesting pair: sent to the same addressee

 

with similar franking but different Roller Cancellations used within a few days of each other.

 

 

Unrecorded usage of this issue with any dotted circle

 

153498.

 

4d SG79 Plate 'JG': 

 

a fine wing margin example tied to a piece by a very fine

 

Greenock Circle Type 2  for November 14th 1864 and also by the '163' in bars. 

 

The bars from the complete duplex are on top of the '163'

 

which suggests the first strike was incomplete so a second was applied.

 

Arundel does not record this cancellation on this 4d. 

 

nor is any example recorded by him on this 4d stamp

 

with any other type of dotted circle ie Edinburgh and Dundee.

 

Gibbons prices the 4d SG79, with an ordinary cancellation, at £170. 

 

An unusual and rare usage. 

 

Price: £75.00

 

  

Unrecorded usage on any Dotted Circle

 

153499.

 

3d Plate 4 SG92 fine:

 

cancelled unusually by both parts of the Greenock Dotted Circle Type 2 for October 2nd 1866.

 

The pale rose shade allows the cancellations to be clearly seen.

 

This 3d Plate 4 is unrecorded by Arundel on this and any Dotted Circle

 

ie from Greenock, Edinburgh and Dundee. 

 

Gibbons prices SG92 with an 'ordinary' cancellation a £250.

 

A very rare/unique item. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

 

4d SG66a

used in Contantinople

 

153467.

 

4d SG66a, fine/very fine used

 

with the 'C' of Constantinople.

 

A largely clear head and profile.

 

Priced by Gibbons used in the UK at £150.

 

Price: £38.00 

 

4d SG66

used in Constantinople

 

153468

 

A fine pair used in Constantinople,

 

the left stamp with a few short perfs.

 

Priced by Gibbons used in the UK as two singles at £300.

 

An attractine and scarce item.

 

Price: £60.00

 

6d Plate 3 used in Constantinople

 

153469.

 

6d SG84, 'JE-JF', the 'C' of Constantinople.

 

'JF' fine/very fine used, 'JE' with some plate wear and small scuffs.

 

Priced by Gibbons used in GB as a pair at £280.

 

Scarce item.

 

Price: £60.00

 

 

6d Plate 8 used in Alexandria

 

153470.

 

6d SG108 Plate 8, 'QG-QH':

 

fine used in Alexandria, three strikes of 'B01'

 

Priced by Gibbons used in GB as a pair at £390.

 

Scarce item.

 

Price:  £65.00

 

There is another Selection of Used Abroad, including covers,

 

further down this Section.

 

 

1/- Plate 1 ie 2 SG90

 

153472.

 

1/- SG90, some trimmimg of perfs as per the scan.

 

Cancelled by the '308' Roller of Stirling.

 

This is a very scarce cancellation and seldom found

 

on any other value than the contemporary 1d.

 

We have not previously seen it used on this 1/- issue.

 

Gibbons prices SG90 at £300 with an 'ordinary' cancellation.

 

A very rare item.

 

Price: £85.00

 

 

1/- SG117 Plate 4

 

153471 

 

1/- SG117, Plate 4, 'TL':

 

Fine used with the '409' of Jersey (Channel Islands).

 

From measurements of the numeral, it appears to be

 

SG Spec JC31, type J27a.

 

This was used between 1861-64. 

 

The 1/- Plate 4 SG117, was issued on July 13th 1867

 

so this extends the use of this barred cancellation .

 

This numeral was used mainly on continental mail

 

which fits with it appearing on a 1/- value. 

 

Attractive item.

 

Price: £48.00

 

 

The following selection of the dull Green Values from the Lilac and Green series

 

 are on piece of the original item of mail to which they were attached. 

 

Hence the fugitive green ink has been protected by not being soaked off.

 

The green colours are generally very fine and some close to the shade when issued.

 

It is deeper in each item than in the scans.

 

Some are in unusual combinations.

 

 

5d SG 193: pairs on piece

151350. 

 

5d SG193:  

 

two pairs, one vertical, ‘CA-DA’, and one horizontal ‘CC-CB’,

 

tied to a piece of a linen envelope by London EC hooded circles for July 31st 1885.

 

Some wrinkling on ‘CC’ but all have very fine colour. 

 

Gibbons prices a single at £210. 

 

A rare multiple usage.

 

Price:  £135.00

 

NB: the apparent brown marks at the right bottom corner of 'CC' are NOT present.

 

 

5d SG193

 

153462.

 

5d SG193:

 

fine used, shortish perfs at the right, tied to a piece by  a London cds for July 5th 1885? 

 

Being on a piece the green ink has been protected and the shade is very fine. 

 

Gibbons prices a single at £210 to which a premium can be added of 100% for the cds ie £420. 

 

Price: £40.00

NB: the scan does not do justice to the green shade which is deeper than the image.

 

 

5d SG193

 

153463.

 

5d SG193:

 

fine used tied to a small piece by the 'F36' of the Surbiton, Surrey numeral.

 

Very fine colour.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £210.

 

Price:  £30.00

 

 

5d SG193

 

153437.

 

Very fine used pair each tied to a piece by a very fine Glasgow date stamp for June 11th 1885. 

 

The colour is much deeper than the scan suggests.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £210 each stamp and when the 100% premium is added

 

for the date cancellation, prices EACH stamp increases to £420. 

 

A rare item. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

 

Pairs of 5d SG193 and 6d SG194

 

153464

 

5d SG193, a pair, 'AE' is fine and has the dater portion of the duplex,

 

'AF' has some wrinkling but not as noticeable as in the scan.

 

The vertical pair of 6d's SG194, is fine with 'JR' tied by the dater of the Manchester duplex

 

as is the 5d 'AE' both for January 23rd 1885.

 

The colour of both is deeper than in the scan. 

 

A single 5d priced by Gibbons at £210 and a single 6d at £240.

 

This makes a total of £900. 

 

A very scarce/rare combination.

 

Price: £90.00 

 

 

9d SG195:

watermark sideways-inverted

 

151723. 

 

9d SG195, very fine mounted mint,

 

hinge remnant, with strong colour, deeper than in the scan.

 

Overprinted 'Specimen' Type 9.

 

The crown watermark viewed from the reverse side points to the left

 

and therefore is sideways-inverted. 

 

Hence the stamp is SG Spec K25bs. 

 

This watermark variety priced mint by Gibbons at £2,000

 

and with this overprint at £425.

 

Superb stamp combining these two varieties.

 

Price:  £270.00

 

 

9d SG195

 

153465.

 

9d SG195, fine used with strong colour on a piece

 

and tied by a cds for August 29th 1884 and parts of the indistinct duplex. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £480.

 

A difficuly stamp to find in such condition.

 

The key stamp of this series. 

 

Price: £85.00

 

6d SG194 and 1/- SG196.

 

153438.

 

6d SG194 and 1/- SG196: tied to a piece by indistinct cancellation. 

 

The colour of both is fine and better than the scan:

 

the 1/- has a number of perfs cut at the bottom.

 

The 6d is priced by Gibbons at £240 and the 1/- at £325. 

 

Price: £30.00

 

 

6d SG194 and 1/- SG196 1/- on piece

 

153439.

 

6d SG194 and 1/-SG196, both fine used with very strong colour

 

tied to a piece by a London duplex for ? 27th 1884.

 

Gibbons prices the 6d at £240 and the 1/- at £325.

 

A rare combination and with such strong colour. 

 

Price:  £90.00

 

 

1/- SG196

 

153466.

 

aAfine example tied to a small piece by a London duplex for June 19th 1885.  

 

The colour is stronger than in the scan.

 

Gibbons prices the 1/- at £325. 

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

1/- SG196 cds Block of 4

 

151231.

 

1/- SG196, ‘SI-TJ’ – rare BLOCK of 4 with good colour,

 

'ST' with a couple of trimmed perfs and ‘TI’ with small fault at left side.

 

London cds’s for November 22nd 1884. 

 

Priced by Giibbons at £1,500 plus a 100% premium for the cds cancellations.

 

A very collectable block and rarely found with cds's.  

 

Price:  £145.00

 

 

SG187

 

 

151906. 

 

1/2d SG187:

 

fine unmounted mint interpanneau(IP) vertical strip of 4. 

 

Unusual multiple with the IP margin unfolded and rare as such. 

 

The brown marks are very much fainter than the scan suggests. 

 

A mounted mint block of 4 is now priced by Gibbons at £175, no price for unmounted,

 

and this item is scarcer than such a block.

 

An attractive and rare item. 

 

Price: £55.00

 

 

1/2d SG187: mint block of 12

 

151721.  1/2d slate-blue, SG187:

 

very fine/fine mint marginal block of 12, unmounted except for one stamp as per the scan.

 

Some very light gum wrinkling but the stamps with a smooth white gum. 

 

The apparent toning on the perfs of the middle stamp

 

at the left on the reverse side is hardly noticeable: it is an effect of the scanner. 

 

A mounted mint block of 4 now priced by Gibbons at £175. 

 

An attractive and very scarce block in this size and in such fine condition.

 

Price:  £185.00

 

NB: the slate-blue colour of the stamps is excellent which the scan does not show.

 

The writing in the margin 'January 1886' is contemporary and

 

presumably when the stamps were bought.

 

 

3d SG191: deeply coloured pair

 

152473.     

 

1884 3d lilac SG 191: richly coloured pair, superb used

 

with strikes of a London experimental squared circle, 21st Sept 1885 . 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £200 before the 100% premium could be fairly added.

 

The colour is the deepest we have seen.

 

A very fine and attractive multiple.  

 

Price: £50.00

 

 

A remarkable franking/unique?

151357. 

 

1/2d SG187, 3d SG191 and 5d SG193:

 

a remarkable franking including FOURTEEN 3d’s

 

in a block of 8 and two strips of 3 – one 3d defective ‘RD’. 

 

Manchester duplex, heavy in places, for February 6th 1885.  

 

Gibbons prices the 3d’s as two blocks of 4 plus the two strips

 

is £1,750 and £1,970 with the 1/2d and 5d included.  

 

The stamps are still attached to the original letter/package material

 

and so the true colours have been preserved. 

 

The largest franking of the 3d’s we can recall seeing! 

 

A very rare and impressive item. 

 

Price: £185.00

 

 

4d SG62: Very Rare Internal UK Usage.

 

151887. 

 

4d SG62, tied to a neat Sun Life Assurance entire by a London duplex for

 

December 26th 1855, and used locally within London.

 

This is a very rare internal UK usage of this 4d:

 

almost as rare as examples used on its day of issue. 

 

Gibbons prices this, the first surface printed stamp to be issued, at £780 on cover.  

 

A superb rarity. 

 

Price:  £480.00

 

 

4d SG62: very rare internal GB usage

 

 

 

153038.  4d SG62 on an envelope to Liverpool. 

 

On the reverse are date stamps for Birkenhead and another location,

 

both for April 2nd 1856 and a Liverpool receiver for April 3rd 1856.

 

The stamp is tied by an unclear numeral leaving a clear profile.

 

The 4d has a couple of extremely thin surface lines which may

 

have been caused by foreign material on the plate?

 

There is no cracking on the surface as so often is seen with this stamp

 

because of having a highly glazed surface: a couple of short perfs at the right. 

 

This is a very rare internal usage of the first ever surface printed stamp. 

 

We have seen comments, in displays of the surface printed issues,

 

that an internal GB usage of the 4d SG62 is almost as rare as a First Day of Issue!

 

Booth prices a FDI of SG62 at £9,000! 

 

The example offered here is only the second we have been able to offer. 

 

A rarity. 

 

Price: £425.00

 

NB: Gibbons prices this stamp on cover at £780. 

 

In the illustrated publication of the Robert Galland Collection,

 

there is a Registered cover, from Liverpool to Kendal, with two 4d SG62's

 

There is also a single usage of this 4d on a cover from Waterford to Dublin.

 

 

 

4d SG62: very rare internal usage in Scotland

 

152308. 

 

4d SG62: very fine and tied to a wrapper by the '209' of KIRKCUDBRIGHT

 

with a date stamp for April 8th 1856 and a Dumfries receiver for the next day. 

 

An internal UK usage of this 4d is very rare and it has been commented in philatelic publications

t

hat such internal usage is almost as hard to find as examples of SG62 used on its Day of Issue.

 

This is the first example we have seen used within Scotland. 

 

Gibbons prices this stamp on cover at £780. 

 

Filing creases as per the scan but a Scottish rarity. 

 

Price:  £475.00 

 

NB: the 4d has NONE of the usual cracking of the highly glazed surface.

 

 

Rare internal Scottish usage of a SINGLE 4d and with an Experimental Duplex

 

 

153392.

 

4d SG66, a fine SINGLE wing margin example tied to a large wrapperwith a letter inside referring to

 

a Life Assurance policy incorrectly dated July 12th 1838 instead of 1858.

 

The documents would have been enclosed hence the size of the wrapper.

 

What makes this a rare usage is that few examples are known

 

with a 4d from the first Garter series, used SINGLY, on INTERNAL UK mail.

 

We have not however seen any other example SINGLY used internally within Scotland

 

with any type of Experimental Duplex.

 

The Aberdeen Experimental duplex, Type 1, tying the 4d shows damage to the first 'E' of Aberdeen:

 

this damage was caused in March 1856 and not repaired until 1859:  this type is referred to as Type 1a.

 

An example is illustrated, on the contemporary 1d, in 'The Experimental Duplex Cancellations of Scotland' published by the SPHG.

 

A further feature of interest is the perfing on the wing margin.

 

It has some indications of double perfing and appears similar to other values with double perfing

 

including those with a Certificate that we have seen or handled and so it may have this variety.

 

Although the 4d SG62 is listed with this variety, SG 63, 64, 65 and 66 are not.

 

Irrespective of whether or not it is doubly perfed it is an attractive and very rare item and priced for the other features.

Price: £95.00

 

NB: the left hand side of the item could be folded to make it easier to display if so wished

 

and would not affect the Elgin date stamp on the reverse which is also for July 12th 1858.

 

Despite the expected filing creases, this is a very clean wrapper.

 

 

Rare cancellation and rare internal UK SINGLE usage of this 4d

 

 

153395.

 

4d SG66, fine used,

 

tied to an envelope from London to Liverpool by a fine twin numeral '47' of the Inland Office.

 

This is given an 'F' rarity grading ie Rare by Parmenter.

 

The rarity of this item is further enhanced by being an internal GB usage of this 4d.

 

Overall the envelope is in fine/very fine condition and on the reverse

 

is a complete wax seal of 'Lincolns Inn' confirming that the original contents were of a legal nature.  

 

The address on the envelope could be worth reseaching and

 

would add to the interest in this as a Display item. 

 

Price: £75.00 RESERVED

 

NB: We can recall only seeing perhaps two other examples

 

of a single usage of the garter 4d on internal UK mail.

 

 

6d SG70: with marginal inscription

 

 

153425. 

 

6d SG70, a fine example in the pale shade with the top marginal inscription 'per Sheet of 40'.

 

Tied by a double strike of the London South Western District duplex for November 20th 1862

 

and a Calais transit cds to an entire to Stuttgart, Germany.

 

Various transit markings on the reverse as per the scan.

 

Unusually, the letter is written in pencil.

 

We have seen few examples of this 6d on cover with a marginal inscription.

 

Gibbons prices this stamp on cover at £240. 

 

A rare item. 

 

Price: £85.00  SOLD

 

 

3d Plate 11with marginal inscription

 

 

 

153426.

 

3d SG143, Plate 11, 'KA': tied to a clean envelope to Geneva, Switzerland

 

by a London Western Distict duplex for November 22 1874:

 

the year confirmed by the transit date stamps on the reverse.

 

In the the top margin is the marginal inscription 'POST'. 

 

The full inscription of 'POSTAGE' has been completed alongside the first part of the inscription

 

with 'T' of THREEPENCE also visible in the added margin.

 

Gibbons prices this Plate on cover at £120.

 

A scarce item with inscription on cover.

 

Price: £35.00

 

 

1/- on letter to USA on Cunarder 'Africa'

 

 

 

 

153429.

 

1/- SG72, trimmed wing margin, tied on a letter to New York, by the Liverpool '466'.

 

On the reverse is a Liverpool PLO date stamp for January 18th 1862.

 

The letter inside has 'Africa' indicating the name of the ship to carry this item. 

 

On the front of the letter is written: ''Africa'' via Queenstown'.

 

The Cunard Liner 'Africa', sailed from Liverpool on January 18th 1862,

 

arriving in Queenstown on the 19th January and in New York/Boston on January 31st 1862.  

 

Gibbons prices this 1/- on cover at £425. 

 

An attractive item and knowing the ship on which it was carried across the Atlantic.

 

Price:  £65.00

 

 

 

 

153432.

 

3d SG Plate 16, 'FF':

 

interpane marginal example with the interpane inscription '3 Pence per Label'.

 

Fortunately the London duplex dater portion did not strike clearly

 

leaving the inscription virtually untouched.

 

The 3d has a thin in the top right corner above the inscription and a light horizontal crease on the stamp.

 

A rare item despite these especially with the interpane margin virtually uncancelled.

 

This plate priced by Gibbins at £120 on cover. 

 

Price:  £35.00  SOLD

 

 

Plate 23 in a deep shade and full cds

 

 

153385.

 

Two pence halfpenny, SG157 Plate 22, ‘RD’:

 

very fine/fine and tied to a clean wrapper to Lyon

 

 by a Throgmorton Avenue E.C. duplex, September 20th 1883.

 

The stamp is tied by a complete cds of the duplex, is almost upright

 

and printed in a deep shade of blue.

 

On the reverse is a French cds for the following day.

 

Gibbons prices this plate at £120 on cover including the 75% premium for the cancellation.

 

An attractive example of this plate.

 

Price: £55.00 

 

NB: The apparent browning around the stamp is a trick of the scanner.

 

The horizontal filing crease is well clear of the stamp.

 

1/2d SG165

 

153431.

 

1/2d SG165.

 

A superb used pair: cancelled by a Lymington squared circle for May 3rd 1882.

 

The cancellation has been so precisely applied to each stamp

 

that it gives the impression of a double canceller.

 

We have never seen anything like this previously.

 

An interesting and possibly unique item worthy of display. 

 

Price: £27.00

 

Clergy List for Diocese of OXFORD 1883: stamped reply

 

 

 

153440.

 

1/2d's SG164 and 165, the two listed shades:

 

deep green tied by Oxford duplex for November 27th 1883 and the pale green

 

tied by a Thame duplex on the stamped reply for November 29th 1883.

 

An interesting display item. 

 

Price: £30.00

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2 IR Official, Bodmin to Liskeard

 

 

 

153441.

 

SG 03,1d lilac Die 2, o/p I. R .Official, on a clean and uncreased printed

 

O.H.M.S. Private envelope re Income Tax. 

 

1d ted by a Bodmin square circle, January 18th 1898.

 

On the reverse are three partial strikes of the Liskeard cds for this same date.

 

The browning on the back is very faint and much fainter than the scan suggests.

 

A scarce Cornish item. 

 

Price: £28.00

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2: I R Official overprint with a CORK Scroll

 

 

153442.

 

SG 03,1d Lilac Die 2, o/p I R Official, tied to an On Her Majest's Service printed Envelope.

 

The envelope has been roughly opened but this does not affect the 1d stamp. 

 

This is the only such 1d with this overprint, cancelled by the CORK Scroll that we have been able to offer.

 

On the reverse is a Bath cds for March 13th 1892. A rare combination of features.

 

Price: £45.00 

 

NB: There is an area of even browning on the reverse and a fine embossed Coat of Arms: Income Tax Ireland.

 

 

1d Foreign Bill very early usage 1881 for inland mail.

 

 

153448. 1d Foreign Bill printed on white paper.

 

Tied to a clean and uncreased envelope by an Alderley Edge F56 Duplex for September 15th 1881.

 

From June 1st 1881, the use of  all types of Inland Revenue stamps

 

was allowed by the Post Office for paying postage.

 

This is an early example of such usage and the earliest usage we have seen

 

of a 1d Foreign Bill being used in this way.

 

No postal markings as the item was sent locally in Alderley Edge.

 

Price:  £165.00

 

 

1d Foreign Bill on 1884 Envelope

151405. 

 

1d Foreign Bill on azure paper, issued in 1872: 

 

fine/very fine example on clean and uncreased envelope from Ormskirk, September 30th 1884, to Liverpool.  

 

Received in Liverpool on the same day.

 

Rare usage and especially in such fine overall condition. 

 

Price:  £150.00

 

 

 

An interesting franking on this printed envelope

 

 

153394.

 

4d SG161 Plate 18, 'OC' and a 1d SG172 Die 2, both fine,

 

on a very clean and uncreased envelope marked Parliamentary Notice.

 

Sent locally from a Firm of Solicitors in Anstruther with the stamps tied

 

by a fine Anstruther duplex '22' for December 9th 1882.

 

The address would be worth researching as the addressee has Royal Navy connections.

 

The 4d is priced on cover by Gibbons at £120: the 1d may have been added as a late Fee?

 

A fine Display item.

 

Price: £55.00

 

NB: we have seen only a few internal UK usages of this 4d.

 

 

1d lilac Die 2: block of 72 GUERNSEY Parcel Post Cancellation: largest extant

 

 

153372.

 

1d Lilac SG172 Die 2: a remarkable part sheet of 72 being the complete first six rows of the Post Office sheet

 

and with the Jubilee line and complete watermark 'POSTAGE' in the top margin.

 

The stamps have been struck by 18 strikes of the GUERNSEY Pacrcel Post double ring cancellation.

 

The first stamp in the first five vertical rows show what appears to be a

 

light pre printing vertical crease which is also visible in the top margin. 

 

Stamp 12 in row 3, has some surface rubbing. 

 

There appears to be missing perfs at the bottom of stamps in Row 6 stamps 9 and 10:

 

this is a quirk of the scanner as ALL of the perfs are complete.

 

Believed to be the largest used block of this 1d extant.

 

The condition of this item is remarkably very fine considering its size.

 

A stunning item that would make a truly memorable Exhibition page,

 

Price:  £535.00

 

 

Very aarly usage of this 6d Plate 8 going abroad

 

 

153370. 

 

6d SG108 Plate 8, 'KK': a defective example on a flimsy wrapper. from HULL to Berlin.

 

Stamp tied by a Hull duplex for March 13th 1869. 

 

Various surcharge markings including Insufficiently Prepaid and redirections. 

 

On the reverse is the largest wax seal we have seen and is very unusual on such a small wrapper.

 

The side flaps have been removed for display purposes.

 

Dispite the peripheral and other faults this is a rare item: 6d Plate 8 was issued on March 8th 1869 and

 

the item offered here was sent from Hull on March 13th 1869. 

 

We have not seen an earlier usage of this stamp going abroad on a full cover. 

 

Would make an interesting Display item.

 

Price: £75.00

 

 

 Rare franking, cancellation, destination and addressee:  unique combination?

 

 

153364.

 

6d SG108 Plate 8, 'GJ' and 'FI', and 1/- SG117, 'OE-OF' Plate 4 pair,

 

all tied to a linen envelope from London to KINGSTON, JAMAICA, by four London duplexes for March 4th 1870,

 

Parmenter illustrates this duplex in 'Barred Cancellations of London' and gives it a 'Very Rare' grading.

 

Addressed to Major General C. F. Jackson.

 

There is a photo on the internet of Major General Conrad Feger Jackson.

 

On the reverse is a partial cds for Kingston Jamaica, April 2nd 1870,

 

and a red wax seal imprinted THE AGRA BANK LONDON LIMITED : info on the internet.

 

A very scarce/rare 3/- rate to the West Indies and with this stamp combination. 

 

Gibbons prices SG108 on cover at £275 for a single stamp, and at £190 on a single stamp on its own. 

 

They price the SG117 Plate 4 on cover at £130 for a single stamp at £65.00 for a single stamp on its own.

 

A very scarce franking and rare to this destination.

 

A very rare/unique  combination of franking, cancellations, destination and addressee.

 

Would make an interesting display item when fully written up.

 

Price:  £135. 00

 

NB.  There is a tear at the left but not affecting the reverse side:

 

it was probably caused when the envelope was opened.

 

All the stamps are sound with only a few short perfs on 'OE'.

 

 

8d SG156: a very unusual multiple

   

 

153352

 

8d orange SG156, a very unusual 'block of three', 'RK-SL': used in London September 26th 1879.

 

It may have been a block of four and a single removed? or perhaps a 2/- mail charge on a cover etc?  

 

Multiples in blocks of this stamp are very rare.

 

Galland and Louis record:a reconstructed blockof 9 used in Panama;

 

a reconstructed block of 6 used in Dublin and two blocks of 4, both with London duplex cancellations.

 

Gibbons prices a single SG156 at £350.

 

As seen in the scan the large garter watermark has been shifted upwards

 

resulting in each stamp having portions of a second watermark. 

 

A rare item which would make an interesting display page. 

 

Price: £275.00

 

NB: There are two perforations between the bottom pair that have not  been punched through .

 

 

6d Plate 5: short 'A' row stamp on envelope to Quebec

 

153362.

 

6d SG97, 'AE', fine wing margin example from the 'short stamp 'A' row'.

 

Tied by a very fine London WC duplex, June 21st 1865, to a clean and uncreased envelope.

 

On the reverse is a Quebec receiver for July 5th 1865.

 

The envelope is in very fine condition considering its journey through the mail systems to Canada.

 

Gibbons prices the 6d Plate 5 on cover at £225. 

 

Price:  £75.00

 

NB: the slight browning on the left side of the envelope is much fainter than in the scan.

 

 

The Stock Exchange Forgery

 

152031. 

 

The STOCK EXCHANGE FORGERY:

 

1/- SG115, Plate 5, fine, ‘DH’, tied to small piece by overlapping Stock Exchange cds’s, July 26th 1872.

The double cancellation applied by the perpetrator to hide as much of the forged stamp as possible. 

Offered with a genuine plate 5, ‘DH’, showing the genuine stamp had a wing margin as well as a watermark. 

 Priced by Gibbons at £850.  

A very fine example of this historic forgery which remains an unsolved crime to this day.

 

An attractive display item. 

 

Price:  £595.00

 

 

6d Plate 17: wing margin variety

 

153331. 

 

6d Plate 17, SG147, ‘MD’: very fine used, couple of slightly nibbled perfs, Liverpool cancellation. 

 

The scarcest of the plates 13-17, and with the listed variety Spec J87a and priced at £180.

 

Gibbons notes that interest attaches to wing margin copies matched with the 6d Plate 17, SG161,

 

as this issue is from the modified second state of the plate which has no wing margins. 

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

6d SG147 Plate 17

 

 

152511.  6d SG147a, 'NH':

 

very fine used with wing margin listed variety,

 

with an early London squared circle for October 29th 1880. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £180 plus 100% premium. 

 

Very scarce stamp so fine. 

 

Price: £85.00

 

NB:

Gibbons notes that interest attaches to wing margin copies matched with the 6d Plate 17, SG161,

 

as this issue is from the modified second state of the plate which has no wing margins. 

 

 

6d Plate 17 SG146 with the Wing Margin Variety

 

 

153205. 

 

6d SG146, Plate 17, ‘GE-GF’: very fine/fine used pair.

 

A very clean reverse with a London duplex for July 17th 1880. 

 

It also has the listed wing margin variety for this plate: Spec J87a.

 

A very difficult plate to find in a multiple and in such fresh condition.

 

A single priced by Gibbons at £160.  

 

Price: £58.00

NB:

Gibbons notes that interest attaches to wing margin copies matched with the 6d Plate 17, SG161,

 

as this issue is from the modified second state of the plate which has no wing margins. 

 

 

 

1/- Plate 7: cds of Galashiels

 

153326.

 

1/-  SG115:

 

very fine/superb used example of the scarcest of this series of plates.

 

Very fine GALASHIELS cds for March 4th 1873.

 

Seldom offered in such a superb overall combination of condition and cancellation.

 

Price: £68.00

 

 

1/- Plate 7: Mosley St Manchester

 

153324.

 

1/- Plate 7, SG117:

 

fine used with a Mosley Street Manchester cds for February 6th 1873.

 

A very short perf at the right and a few nibbled perfs at the top.

 

A difficult stamp to find with a virtually complete cds.

 

An early date of usage for this scarce plate.

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

6d Plate 11: Dundee Dotted Circle

 

153327

 

6d Plate 11, SG123, 'GA': couple of missing perfs at NE 'G' square. 

 

Cancelled by a DUNDEE 114, dotted circle, June 21st 1872.

 

An unrecorded usage of Type A1 by Arundel in June 1872 and one of the latest recorded.

 

Arundel does not record ANY of the Dundee dotted circle nine types, on surface printed issues.

 

A rare item and usage.

 

Price:  £55.00

 

 

6d Variety: damage to plate number

 

153329

 

6d Plate 11, SG122/3, very fine/superb used, 'NF', Deep Chestnut:

 

the scan does not do justice to the shade.

 

The SURBITON cds for August 31st 1872 leaves most of the listed variety clear:

 

SG spec J79d 'Figure 11 on left damaged (stamp NF).

 

Gibbons prices this at £400 on the commonest shade hence £800 plus in the scarce deep shade.

 

As is always the case with this variety, there is a small frame break at the outer corner of the nearby 'N' square.

 

A superb display item.

 

Price: £185.00

 

 

The next eight items show rare usages of some of the elusive T.0. series

Their usage was it would seem on Traveling/Temporary Post Offices.

 

In the Line engraved Section, near the top, are examples used on 1d and 2d values

 

including a superb envelope with T.0.5

 

 

T.0.1 on 3d very rare usage

 

153319.

 

3d SG77, 'RA';  canncelled by T.0.1 rated scarce by Parmenter. 

 

This is a very rare combination of cancellation and only the second example

 

of any of the T.0.1 to T.0.6 series on this issue we have seen.

 

The watermark is significantly shifted.

 

SG77 priced by Gibbons at £350. 

 

Price: £70.00

 

 

Very rare combination

 

 

153320.

 

1/- SG90 Plate 1, 'FI':

 

a reperfed wing margin but with a very fine complete strike of T.0.1.

 

The first example we have seen of this cancellation on this issue.

 

A very rare combination of stamp and cancellation.

 

Price: £48.00

 

 

9d SG98 with a T.O.2 Cancellation.

 

  

 

153189. 

 

9d SG98, Plate 4: cancelled by a very fine and almost complete strike

 

of the very scarce/rare ‘T.0.2’ of the Temporary Office series 1-6.

 

The 9d has a small fault at the base, barely visible from the front. 

 

An extremely rare cancellation on this stamp

 

and as such only the second example we have seen or can find from our researches.

 

The second example is offered here as the next Item: 151908.

 

Stamp priced by Gibbons at £600 before a premium for the cancellation. 

 

We have not seen any of the other 1-6 series used on this stamp.

 

Price: £130.00

NB: the line from the centre to almost the bottom margin on the reverse is a pencil line.

The fault is a small nick in the bottom left perf area as visible on the scan.

 

 

 

9d SG98: T.0.2 cancellation

151908. 

 

9d SG98,'QE', fine/very fine used with a superb strike of the

 

very scarce T.0.2 from the Travelling/Temporary Office series, 1-6. 

 

This is the only the second example we have seen with this scarce stamp

 

cancelled by any of the 1-6 T.0. series.

 

The other is offered in this Section : the above item 153189.

 

Gibbons prices SG98 at £600.

 

An extremely rare combination of stamp and cancellation.

 

Exhibition quality.

 

Price:  £185.00

 

 

3d Plate 6 with T.0.2

 

 

153322.

 

6d SG103, Plate 6, 'QC':

 

almost a full and fine strike of T.0.2.

 

Stamp with blunt corner.

 

Very rare combination.

 

Price: £35.00

 

 

 

6d SG123 Plate 11

151888. 

 

SG123 6d plate 11, 'CH', pale buff shade:

 

a fine/very fine example cancelled by a fine/very fine strike of 'T.0.2'

 

from the elusive Travelling/Temporary Office series, 1-6. 

 

A rare strike on this scarce shade and the first such combination we have seen.

 

SG123 priced by Gibbons at £125 without a premium for this cancellation.

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

6d Plate 11 rare pair with 'T.0.2'

152000. 

 

6d SG122a, plate 11, 'GA-GB':

 

rejoined pair with 'T.0.2' cancellations of the elusive

 

Travelling/Temporary Office series, T.0.1-6. 

 

This is the first multiple usage we have seen on any surface printed value.

 

A rare item.

 

Price: £150.00

 

 

1/- Plate 4: T.0.3

 

153321.

 

!/- SG101 Plate 4, 'JI'. 

 

Stamp cut along left side but cancelled by the T.0.3

 

of the 1-6 series of these elusive cancellations.

 

Parmenter grades T.0.3 as very rare.

 

This is the only example we have seen with this cancellation on this issue.

 

An extremely rare item.

 

Price: £38.00

 

 

6d Plate 11

 

 

153306.

 

6d SG123 Chestnut, plate 11, ‘KG-GH’:

 

a very fine used wing marginal inscription pair cancelled

 

by cds’s of Douglas ISLE OF MAN.

 

A rare cancellation on this value and the first in a multiple we have been able to offer.

 

There is an extra line of perforations on ‘KH’ the like of which we have not seen. 

 

A rare, unusual and attractive item. 

 

Price: £135.00

 

 

 

1/- SG150 Plate 13

 

 

153303.

 

1/- SG150, Plate 13, 'GJ':

 

very fine used with an almost complete cds of ARELSFORD for April 17th 1880. 

 

This plate priced by Gibbons at £160 plus 100% for the cds.

 

A very scarce plate with cds. 

 

Price:  £55.00

 

 

3d SG158 Plate 21

 

 

153304

 

3d SG158, Plate 21, 'GG': fine used, part cds.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £100 plus a 75% premium for so lightly cancelled.

 

An attractive item with most of QV's head clear. 

 

Price: £38.00

 

 

3d SG158 Plate 21

 

 

153305

 

3d SG158, Plate 21, 'RG': very fine used,

 

Bridgwater squared circle for February 8th 1883.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £100 plus a 75% premium for so lightly cancelled.

 

Very fine item.

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

6d SG161, Plate 17, 'EJ - EL'

 



 

153302

 

6d SG161, Plate 17, 'EJ-EL: fine strip of three,

 

with 'EJ' cancelled by an upright London cds portion

 

of an EC duplex for November 3rd 1881.

 

'EL' has a clear profile but with faint brown mark at the top. 

 

A single in this plate priced by Gibbons at £75 and

 

'EJ' at £75 plus 75% premium for the cds.

 

Very scarce multiple.

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

4d SG62: a month after issue

 

 

153276:

 

4d SG62 , highly glazed deeply blued paper:  

 

fine used on a commercial entire, in French, to Marseille from London.

 

Lombard Street date stamp on reverse for August 31st 1855.

 

SG62 issued on July 31st 1855, so the example offered here used just one month after issued date. 

 

Gibbons prices this first issued surface printed 4d on cover at £780. 

 

Price: £225.00 

 

 

4d SG63: rare pair on cover, one month after issue

 

153280. 

 

4d SG63, a pair on thick highly glazed paper from London to Basle, Switzerland, tied to a wrapper, March 28th 1856. 

 

SG63 issued on February 25th 1856 so the example here used barely 4 weeks after issue.

 

The cancellation leaves almost clear profiles on both stamps and allows the fine colour to be seen.

 

There are some trimmed perfs at the top of both stamps and this is reflected in the price. 

 

A single priced by Gibbons on cover at £1,100. 

 

A rare franking despite the trimmed perfs and one which displays well.  

 

Price:  £95.00

 

 

4d Plate 3: Scottish usage

 

 

 

153277.

 

4d SG79/80 Plate 3, ‘QA’:

 

fine/very fine tied a clean wrapper, filing crease well away from the stamp.

 

Neatly tied by a Glasgow duplex  for November 19th 1862.  

 

Priced by Gibbons on cover at £300. 

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

4d Plate 8: rare marginal interpane watermark

 

 

153278. 

 

4d SG93 Plate 8, ‘KF’, this stamp was printed in four panes of 60 .

 

The example here is a wing margin with the margin above showing a

 

watermark ‘ge’ of the ‘Postage’ interpane watermark between the top left and bottom left quarter panes of 60.

 

‘KF’ is the sixth stamp in the first row of the bottom left quarter pane. 

 

The top and bottom right panes have an interpane watermark of ‘Stamps’ between them.

 

It is rare to find a used marginal stamp from any of these interpane positions showing part of this watermark

 

but very rare indeed to find an example on cover.

 

This is the only one we have seen or able to offer on or off cover

 

A fine display item.

 

Price: £135.00. 

 

NB this watermark is found between only three stamps on the interpane positions.

 

The stamp is tied by a London double numeral canceller.

 

 

 

Rare usage on internal GB Mail of these issues

 

 

153279. 

 

4d, SG66 and 6SG70, two of the first three surface printed 4d and 6d values, with the 1/- SG71, to be issued.

 

Tied by the LEEDS ‘447’ numeral on a Registered Letter to Liverpool, March 15th 1859. 

 

Both stamps have corner faults but illustrate the rare usage of these values

 

on internal GB mail albeit Registered.  

 

Price: £48.00

 

 

 

6d Plate 8 SG108: used before the official date of issue

 

 

152279. 

 

4d, SG93 plate 11 and 6d SG108 plate 8 'JA', on a piece to Mauritius,

 

London EC duplex for MARCH 5th 1869, and a handstruck '1d' in red. 

 

The 6d plate 8 was issued on MARCH 8th 1869 and so the example here

 

was used 3 days before its official issue date.

 

The handstruck '1d' would be to indicate a Late Fee payment.

 

The piece was posted to MAURITIUS; Messrs.Ireland Fraser and Co who had an Office in Port Louis:

 

the internet has information and photos about this Company. 

 

The second piece almost certainly was sent to the same address in Mauritius

 

with a similar franking, 4d SG93 and 6d plate 8 SG108.

 

10d was the single rate to Mauritius at that time.

 

London EC duplexes for March 18th 1869 and the 6d is lettered 'IA',

 

the position of the stamp on the sheet is directly above 'JA', the latter used on March 5th 1869. 

 

This would suggest that almost certainly both stamps were bought on the same day

 

ie March 5th 1869, 3 days before the official date of release.

 

In 'GB Surface Printed P0stage Stamps 1855-1883' by Galland and Louis,

 

only TWO examples are listed of the pre-issue of any surface printed stamps:

 

6d SG146 plate 13 and a 6d plate 8 SG108,

 

the latter on a small piece, and with the same date of March 5th 1869. as is offered here,

 

but not to Mauritius.

 

A remarkable rarity and an important Exhibition item. 

 

Price:  £1,200.00

 

The next three items are very early usages of 6d plate 8 SG108 which was issued on March 8th 1869. 

 

In our experience, March 1869 usages of this stamp on cover, are very difficult indeed to find.

 

Gibbons prices 6d Plate 8 on cover at £275.

 

 

6d Plate 8: very eary usage

 

 

 

153268. 

 

Very fine used, tied to a clean wrapper from Glasgow, March 15th 1869, to Palermo.

 

On the reverse is a fine set of transit markings.

 

A rare usage only 7 days after issue of Plate 8. 

 

Price:  £120.00 

 

 

6d Plate 8: very early usage

 

153269.   

 

Very fine/fine used, neatly tied to a wrapper from St Helens with a superb duplex for March 19th 1869.

 

On the reverse is a Philadelphia Paid mark for March 30th. 

 

This 6d used only 11 days after issue. 

 

Very scarce/rare. 

 

Price:  £90.00 

 

NB: Quite possibly the earliest usage known of this stamp on mail going to the USA. 

 

6d Plate 8: very early usage.

 

153269. 

 

Fine used tied by a London duplex for March 24th 1869 on a wrapper to Berlin.

 

On the reverse is a partial transit mark for March 26th. 

 

A fine usage of 6d Plate8 only 16 days after issue.

 

Very scarce/rare.   

 

Price: £70.00 

 

NB: the browning on the front of the wrapper is a trick of the scanner:

 

it is as clean as the scan of the reverse.

 

The browning on the reverse left is a lot fainter than the scan suggests. 

 

 

6d SG70: Devonport numeral

 

      

153229.

 

6d SG70, block of six each with a '250' of DEVONPORT.

 

Some faults but very scarce with a

 

Gibbons price in excess of £1,000 pro rata for a block of six. 

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

1/-: a very early usage

 

 

153235

 

1/- SG71, the early printing in Deep Green, corner fault in NE corner:

 

wing margin example tied by an indistinct London cancellation on a clean wrapper to Milan.

 

A 2d SG23, 'AA', has been affixed alongside with a clear profile and showing missperfing.

 

This first surface printed 1/- was issued on November 1st 1856:

 

the example offered her at November 15th 1856, is the Earliest we have handled, or indeed seen, on cover.

 

Gibbons prices SG71 on cover at £650 and the 2d SG23a at £525.

 

A rare item. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

Very early usage of 1d Die 1

153233.

 

1d lilac Die 1: fine used tied to an uncreased envelope used locally in Lobdon,

 

with a fine South Kensington duplex for

 

January 19th 1881 and a Paddington cds on reverse for this same date. 

 

1d lilac Die i was issued on January 12th 1881.

 

The example offered here was used only a week after issue and is one of the earliest we have seen or handled.

 

A Day of Issue example is priced by  Booth at £10,000: from our researches we have not found a FDI example.

 

A rare early usage. 

 

Price: £58.00  SOLD

 

NB: the browning is less pronounced than in the scan.

 

 

1d Die 2: a block from an early printing

153257. 

 

1d lilac Die 2: unmounted on three stamps and a hinge remnant on the fourth.

 

With a full side margin at the left with no Jubilee lines in the margins. T

 

his indicates the stamps are from an early Control period before the marginal lines were introduced to

 

reduce wear to the plate and increase thier lifetime and hence save money for the printers.

 

Also the size of the left margin is a stamp width and the introduction of

 

the Jubilee lines made it more difficult to forge the stamps.

 

An attractive and scarce item the scan of which does not do justice to the shade.

 

Price:  £30.00 

 

 

6d Plate 3: damaged letter and Crimson AEPA

 

 

 

153259. 

 

6d lilac Plate 3, SG84, 'GL', fine: tied to a commercial entire

 

from Bradford to Allenbury by a Bradford duplex for September 19th 1864.

 

The 6d has a malformed/damaged letter 'G' which we have not previously seen.

 

The duplex lis well clear of the variety.

 

On the front is a strike in CRIMSON of the Aus England Per Aachen transit mark for 1 21/9 B. 

 

This shade of ink was only in use from around May 1864 to November 1864,

 

approx 7 months, instead of the usual blue or orange ink.

 

It is thereforedifficult to find on cover. 

 

Gibbons prices 6d Plate 3 in  on cover at £225.

 

An attractive item that displays well. 

 

Price: £85.00  SOLD

 

 

6d SG83 and Crrimson AEPA

 

 

153260.

 

6d SG83 Plate 3, 'DD', fine deep shade with wing margin:

 

tied to an clean and neat envelope from Manchester to Leipzig by a Machester duplex for October 29th 1864.

 

On the reverse is an embossed name of Jacob Behrens.: see below.

 

On the front is a strike in CRIMSON of the Aus England per Aachen for 3 30/10 B.

 

This ink in use for only about 7 months in 1864, May to November 1864 in place of the usual blue or orange,

 

SG83 priced on cover  by Gibbons at approx £250.

 

An attractive and scarce item which would make a very fine display page with info re Jacob Behrens.

 

Price: £75.00

 

NB: Jacob Behrens: Manchester's oldest textile Company.

 

There is a considerable amount of information on the internet about the history of this Company,

 

The founder was Sir Jacob Behrens and there are images of him and his family.

 

 

Unprinted and ungummed watermark Large Anchor

151411. 

 

Unprinted blued paper sample with Large Anchor watermark

 

as used for High Values, 1867-83. 

 

Some creasing but scarce. 

 

Price:  £60.00

 

 

5/- Plate 4: the UNIQUE Missing Design

 

 

152223. 

 

5/- rose plate 4, SG130, 'GE':

 

some slight wrinkling with a Mark Lane London Registered Oval date stamp April 3 1884,

 

The famous and unique example with a large portion of the design missing

 

caused by under-inking of the plate on three sides of the design.

 

This remarkable ‘Dry Plate’ variety was first published in ‘British Postage Stamp Varieties Illustrated’

 

by Alcock and Meredith in 1949 and illustrated on page 14;

 

after more than 70 years it remains the only known example.  

 

It has been featured in various publications over the years a notable one being, with an illustration,

 

in an article by H W Fisher in the Great Britain Philatelic Society’s ‘GB Journal’ in May 1965;

 

a photocopy of this article is provided with the item. 

 

One of the outstanding and unique surface printed rarities. 

 

Rarer and with more visual impact than any of the surface printed abnormals.

 

An opportunity to acquire one of the, if not the, rarest of all surface printed varieties.

 

An Important and memorable Exhibition item. 

 

Price: £5,400.00

 

NB: Offered with a fine copy of   

 

‘British Postage Stamp Varieties Illustrated’

 

by Alcock and Meredith (1949 )

 

 

 

VR Code A scroll on 5/- SG130: Royal Household Mail

                  

151935.

 

5/- plate 4, SG130  on blued paper: a fine used example, very small expertisation mark on the back bottom

left and a very small corner wrinkle but cancelled by a fine strike of the VR London Scroll for July 13 1883.

Very fine centering and perfs.

 

Code A is associated with Royal Household Mail and much scarcer than Codes B and C. 

 

We know of only one other VR Scroll Code A used on the 5/- Plate 4.

 

A rarity with the basic stamp priced at £4,000 and

at £7,000 with the 75% premium for an 'ordinary' cds. 

 

An Exhibition item.

 

Price:  £885.00   

 

 

Rare pair: SG130 Plate 4

 

151936.

 

SG130, 5/- plate 4, 'AB-AC'.

 

Very fine/fine used pair with a Lombard Street L1/LS5 duplex,

 

Dubus Type 6, and Parmenter notes this as an uncommon type.

 

AB with almost clear profile, AC very light corner crease,

 

excellent colour and perfs with good centering. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £8,000 as two singles.  

 

Very rarely found in a used multiple. 

 

Price: £1135.00 

 

 

SG127 Plate 1: Irish usage

 

151937.   

 

5/- SG 127 Plate1 'GH':

 

fine used and fine colour with good perfs,  

 

and shows the centering problem with this stamp issue.

              

Queenstown, Ireland, cds, Feb 21 1872,

 

Priced by Gibbons at  £675.

              

Price:£195.00 

 

NB: The next item Item 151921 is also lettered 'GH',

 

and printed in the other listed shade

 

and off-centred to a similar extent.

 

Would make an interesting display pair and offered at £300.00

 

 

SG126 Plate 1

 

151921. 

 

5/- SG126 Plate 1 'GH':

 

fine used example and off-centre as often found. 

 

Light strike of the very scarce Liverpool roller cancellation.

 

Shortish perfs at the top.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £675.

 

An attractive example with very fine colour. 

 

Price:  £145.00

 

 

5/- SG126 Plate 1

 

 

153234.

 

5/- SG127 Plate 1, 'HF': fine used,

 

some light wrinkling not visible from the front, cancelled by several strikes of the scarce '466' Liverpool Roller.

 

This and the other examples offered in this Section with the Liverpool Roller

 

were put together over many years and part of a display.

 

Stamp 'HF' is adjacent to 'GH' and 'HJ' and possibly off the same sheet

 

in view of the same degree of off centering though 'GH' was used in Ireland!

 

Gibbons prices Plate 1 without a premium for the cancellation at £675. 

 

Price: £160.00

 

 

5/- Plate 1: a unique pair with same lettering

151934. 

 

1867 5/- plate 1 SG126:

 

A remarkable and unique ‘matched pairing’ of two fine used examples.

 

Each has the same lettering ‘HJ’; each has the same off-centre printing

 

and each is cancelled by the very scarce Liverpool ‘466’ roller canceller

 

with this cancellation applied virtually in the same position on the stamp. 

 

Gibbons prices each at £675.

 

This unique and remarkable pair would make a memorable Exhibition item.  

 

Price: £480.00 

 

NB: See the next item with letterings 'HI-HJ', and the same off centering.

 

 

5/- SG127 Plate 1
    

 
15939. 

 

5/- SG127, Plate 1, ‘HI-HJ’, pale rose:

 

a very scarce, very fine pair with a barely discernible minor wrinkling on ‘HJ’,

 

Gresham House cds’s, January 25th 1872 and a very clean back as per scan. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at a minimum of £1,350. 

An attractive multiple off-centre as often found on this issue. 

 

Price:  £375.00

 

 

5/- Plate 1: very rare C88 with Cert

 

151938. 

 

SG126 1867 5/-  plate 1:

 

C88 Cancel of St Jago de Cuba.

 

A fine very well-centred used copy cancelled by

 

the very scarce C88 of St Jago de Cuba. 

 

Gibbons records this cancellation on the 5/- (Z32),

 

but no price is quoted. 

 

A very rare item and offered with a Certificate

 

which comments on a small rub on the reverse.  

 

Price: £645.00

 

NB: This Stamp is seldom found so well centred: a rarity in itself.

 

 

 

5/- SG127 Plate 1: a rare registered used block

 

151670    

 

1867 5/- SG127 plate 1, 'GD-HE':

 

good/fine used block of 4, London Registered barred ovals.

 

Some perf strengthening with hinges on reverse but

 

a RARE block when postally used as is this.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £4,000 as a block of four

 

in the latest Edition of QV Volume 1  

 

Shows the missperfing superbly: a probem on this stamp.

 

Price: £685.00 

 

 

SG127 5/- Plate 2

           

151849. 

 

5/- Plate 2 SG127: a remarkable example in the pale rose shade  

 

with a small part of a Registered datestamp

 

leaving the whole of QV's head clear. 

 

Gibbons prices this scarce plate at £1,500 which with the

 

75% premium for so lightly used rises to £2,625. 

 

We have not seen a lighter used example. 

 

A superb Exhibition rarity. 

 

Price: £550.00

 

 

SG134 5/- Plate 4

          

151850. 

 

5/- Plate 4 SG130 (white paper): a very pale shade of rose

 

cancelled by an unusual crown surrounded by GC and TB. 

 

Can recall only seeing one other example of this type of cancellation. 

 

The basic stamp priced by Gibbons at £3,800. 

 

The only such example of this cancellation we have seen.

 

A very unusual and rare item. 

 

Price: £385.00

 

 

Unprinted and ungummed watermark Large Anchor

151411. 

 

Unprinted blued paper sample with Large Anchor watermark

 

as used for High Values, 1867-83. 

 

Some creasing but scarce. 

 

Price:  £60.00

 

 

Superb example: SG137 £5 Orange 




 
152469. 

 

£5 Orange, SG137: 

 

a very attractive example of this popular high value, superb colour and perfs,

 

cancelled with a finely struck 1896 Edinburgh cds leaving a clear Queen’s profile. 

 

Excellent overall condition with possibly a very minor rub on the reverse in the top left corner. 

 

One of the finest we have seen for some time and the scan does not do it justice. 

 

Gibbons priced at £4,750 without the 75% for superb used!!

 

Price: £1,800.00

 

NB: there is NOT a crease under the cancellation as the scan may be suggesting: it is the watermark.

 

A rare combination

151356.  5/- SG181, fine used with 5d Die 2 SG207a,

the latter with some light wrinkling/creasing.

Tied to piece by the Lombard Street squared circle for October 3rd 1897.

The 5/- is in a superb and very deep shade. 

Very scarce/rare combination.     

Price: £85.00

 

5/- SG181

151282.  5/- SG181 fine used,

Lombard Street cds August 31st 1900. 

Price: £58.00

 

 

 

151281.  5/- SG181 superb used, centrally struck by upright by Waterloo Street, Glasgow,

January 23rd 1893 cds, with excellent centring and perfs except one shortish top left.

Very hard to find so fine.

Price: £110.00

NB: A black cancellation at the left opposite the 'F' square makes it appear two perfs are missing. 

This is NOT the case.

 

SG183: lightly used

151586. 

 

10/- SG183, 'LC': very light Eastern District August 20th 1891 cds

and a blue crayon line top left corner leaving QV's Head almost totally clear. 

A very attractive example with excellent perfs and centring.

Priced by Gibbons at £525 plus 50% premium for so lightly used. 

Price:  £185.00

 

 

5/- SG126 used on piece

151302.  1/- plate 4 SG117, 6d 108 plate 8, 2/- SG118 with

marginal inscription 'Two Shillings per Sheet of 20',

trimmed wing margin and 5/- plate 1 SG 126

tied by a London duplex for December 3rd 1869

to part of a blue original material envelope with some wrinkling from it.

Despite the very heavy cancelling of the 5/- this is a rare and impressive franking

as few examples of this stamp are known on cover or piece.

The combination of stamps totals 8/6d. 

A very rare item.

Price:  £255.00

 

 

2/6 on BLUED PAPER

151300. 

Piece with 4d SG160 plate 18, 6d on 6d 'PG' SG162 and 2/6 SG175 on BLUED PAPER:

all fine/very fine used and neatly tied by London EC scroll cancellations for May 21st 1884. 

A remarkable combination with the 2/6d on blued well centred and with good perfs - an attractive item that displays well.

Gibbons prices SG175 at £1,400 without the premium for well centred and dated cancellation. 

Very rare item. 

Price: £670.00

 

 

2/6 on blued paper: white paper period

151284.  Piece with 1d lilacs Die 2 and 2/6, Deep Lilac

printed on Blued Paper from the white paper period, SG179a,

tied by Gracechurch Registered ovals for 2nd August 1889.

A very rare stamp and priced by Gibbons at £3,600 off over.

Being off centre it allows the blueing in the paper to be more easily seen.

Some creasing at the top left and a few, almost invisible,

very small surface bumps from the paper to which it is affixed.

 A collectable example of a very rare stamp seldom available and

the first we have been able to offer for some considerable time. 

Price:  £525.00

 

 

6d S68a: azure paper 

 

153231. 

 

6d SG68a: fine used example printed on azure paper

 

and on a small original piece.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £950.00.

 

Offered as is. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

 

SG117 1/- Plate 7

 

 

153228.

 

1/- SG117 Plate 7, ‘IH’:

 

very fine and cancelled by a Manchester Stock Exchange cds

 

for February 17th 1873, an early usage.

 

A difficult plate with a cds.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £90 plus a premium of 75%.   

 

Price: £55.00

 

 

4d SG153 Plate 15 cds usage

 

 

153230. 

 

4d SG153 Plate 15, ‘DB’:

 

fine/very fine and cancelled by a London cds for July 31st 1885

 

ie some 8 years after issue in 1877, which is a late usage for this.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £325 before adding the 100% premium for the cds. 

 

Price: £85.00

 

 

4d SG66: very attractive usage

 

 

153232.

 

4d SG66: very fine/superb, one shortish perf at right,

 

tied to a neat and clean entire from London to Paris, October 21st 1861.

 

The cancellation leaves so much of QV’s head clear that

 

it allows the superb colour of the stamp to be seen to advantage. 

 

Such an attractive usage is seldom found.

 

Other transit date stamps on reverse.

 

Gibbons prices this stamp on cover at £225 before adding

 

the 125% premium for so lightly cancelled. 

 

Price: £90.00

 

 

Ireland to Australia: early usage of 6d SG69

 

 

 

153203. 

 

6d SG69, fine pair in a deep shade, tied by partial ‘72’ of BRAY, on an envelope to Melbourne.

 

Each stamp shows some degree of bluing, especially visible in the wing margin,

 

but not in our view sufficient for the stamps to be printed on azure paper.

 

A rather tired envelope but with a London handstruck 1d. 

 

On the reverse is a Bray date stamp for January 7th 1857 and other transit date markings.

 

The 6d was issued on October 21st 1856, so an early example used from Ireland to Australia.

 

A single SG69 on cover priced by Gibbons in this scarcer shade at £350 on cover. 

 

A very scarce usage. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

 

6d SG70: pair of entires to Poste Restant Interlaken

 

  

 

153199. 

 

6d SG70: two fine separated singles used on two clean commercial entires

 

sent to the same addressee at a Poste Restant in INTERLAKEN, Switzerland.

 

Each stamp tied by a superb London Southern District S19 duplex for August 27th 1861

 

and the other similarly cancelled but dated August 28th 1861.

 

On the reverse of each are appropriate transit markings including the Basle Bahn Post date stamp.

 

Gibbons prices this 6d on cover at £240.

 

A most attractive pair that would make a superb display page.

 

Price £125.00 the pair.

 

 

6d Plate 9: superb rich colour

 

 

153201.

 

6d SG109 plate 9, ‘DL’: very fine used with a superb rich colour

 

which must be close to the issued colour at the Post Offices.

 

Tied to a clean wrapper from London to Italy, December 7th 1870.

 

There is a light horizontal filing well clear of the stamp.

 

The duplex leaves the Queen’s profile clear.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £140. 

 

A very attractive item and very scarce as such.  

 

Price: £70.00

NB: the scan does not do justice to the colour of the stamp.

 

 

SG142 Plate 19 with varieties: blind perf and inverted watermark

 

 

153183. 

 

2/12d SG 142, Plate 19: a used pair  both with clear profiles,

 

‘NG’ some ceasing and a small rub.

 

Blind perf opposite QV’s mouth and free of the cancellation.

 

INVERTED watermark variety and priced by Gibbons as two singles at £550.00.

 

A difficult stamp to find with this watermark variety and especially in a multiple;

 

underpriced by Gibbons in our experience. 

 

Price: £75.00

 

 

1d SGF20 with Warrant Number

 

 

153196.

 

1d SGF20, Die 1: fine/very fine unmounted mint with a small brown area at left.  

 

A corner example with the warrant number ‘461’ in the top margin.

 

The contemporary ‘82’ may be the plate number, put to press on 18th August  1874.  

 

An attractive and very scarce item. 

 

Price: £28.00

 

 

6d plate 11 Pale Buff

 

 

153181. 

 

6d SG123, Plate 11: a superb/very fine wing margin cds example,

 

PRESTON-BROOK for December 6th 1872.  

 

Priced by Gibbons at £125 before the 50% premium is added. 

 

An Exhibition-quality item. 

 

Price: £60.00

 

 

Dublin Diamond Spoon Type 4

 

 

153172. 

 

4d SG66, with almost only the dater portion of the Dublin Spoon Type 4.  

 

Arundel notes this cancellation only recorded on the contemporary 1d value.

 

He records the latest date of usage as August 6th 1857: the example here dated August 4th 1857.  

 

We can not recall seeing any Dublin Diamond Spoon on a value other than a 1d

 

and none with so much of the dater portion on the stamp.

 

A rare/unique combination of features. 

 

Price: £60.00

 

 

Carried on the Moravian of the ALLAN Line to Canada

 

 

153156.

 

6d SG95 Plate 5: fine used on commercial entire from DUDLEY to NOVA SCOTIA.

 

Stamp tied by a Dudley duplex for February 24th 1866.

 

On the reverse is a Liverpool maritime date stamp for March 15th 1866

 

and a H and K Packet date stamp for SUNDAY February 25th.

 

Inside is a line engraved heading showing a number of agricultural implements for James Griffin and Son Manufacturers.  

 

This was carried to Canada on the packet MORAVIAN of the ALLAN LINE,

 

leaving Liverpool on March 16th 1866 arriving in Portland on March 29th.

 

An item that has many features that would make it an interesting display page. 

 

Price: £65.00

NB: the item is in finer condition than the scan indicates.

 

 

 

Cupar to Toronto: very interesting links between Scotland and Canada

 

  

 

 

153034. 

 

This item is from a Display Collection.

 

 

On the internet is a lot of information about George Brown, including a photo of him.

 

A print out, from the internet, is provided with this item.

Briefly: He was a journalist and statesman born in Alloa, near Edinburgh, in 1818. 

 

In 1838 he emigrated with his father to the United States.

 

In 1842, the father and son founded, in New York, The British Chronicle but in 1843 moved to Toronto.

 

They started a number of newspapers including The Globe: a political journal.

 

 In 1851, Brown was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Canada. 

 

In 1858, with A A Dorion, formed the short-lived Brown-Dorion Government. 

 

His political career is detailed in the biopic provided. In 1862 he took a long holiday in Britain.

 

In Edinburgh he met the daughter, Anne Nelson, of a family friend and fell deeply in love.

 

They were married on November 27th 1862: he was then 43. 

 

They returned to Canada in late December to a tumultuous mass welcome in Toronto. 

 

Anne Nelson was the daughter of Thomas Nelson the publisher.

 

He died in Toronto on May 9th 1880 from a bullet wound inflicted by a sacked employee.

 

This would make a superb and interesting display item linking Scotland and Canada:

 

a Scot who made it big in Canada! 

 

Price:  £165.00

 

 

6d SG69 double rate to Spain from Bradford Yorks

 

 

153159. 

 

6d, SG69: a fine and possibly separated pair, unusually placed on a wrapper to Madrid

 

and tied by Bradford Yorks duplexes for August 30th 1862.

 

The one top left has a clear profile and affixed very close to the edges. 

 

A single 6d in deep lilac is priced by Gibbons on cover at £285.

 

An attractive and unusual placing of the stamps showiing a double rate to Spain. 

 

Price: £85.00

 

 

6d Plate 18 to Australia from a London Club

 

 

 

153157. 

 

6d SG160 Plate 18, ‘KH’, tied to a mourning envelope

 

 by a superb Charing Cross square circle, June 1882, and posted to Melbourne, Australia.

 

The perimerimeter of the envelope shows wear.

 

On the reverse flap is a printed address for The National Club, 1, Whitehall Gardens. SW.

 

This was a London Club for Christians of any denomination: more information on the internet.

 

Breaks to the ring of the plate number on the right.

 

The addressee could well be worth researching on the internet as part of the write up for this item.

 

A scarce item. 

 

Price: £45.00

NB: the browning at the right and on the reverse isa trick of the scanner.

 

 

 

Very late usage of this cancellation

 

 

153151.

 

1/- SG115 plate 6, fine/very fine: double strike of the boxed PP12/Paid. This
cancellation was used within the Birmingham Penny Post and is identified used
at the Country Office of Sutton Coldfield, County Cat. BM249. This
cancellation is recorded used between 1815-28. It is possible that this is
an infrequent and very late striking of this old canceller as

we have only seen one other example used during the stamp period.

A very rare item especially a usage on this
marginal value. Price: £95.00  SOLD

 

 

Very scarce used marginal pair

 

153152.

 

 1/- SG150 plate 13, ‘TJ-TK’, fine used pair: London 78 in bars E C duplex,
1878. Illustrated by Parmenter and rated as scarce. Priced by Gibbons as two
‘ordinary’ singles at £320. A very difficult plate to find in a used
inscriptional multiple. Price: £85.00

 

 

1/- Plate 10 with Inscription

 

 

153148. 

 

1/- SG150 plate 10, Portsmouth ‘625’ duplex for Boxing Day 1874.

 

Inscription reads ‘1 Shilling per Label’.

 

Cancellation leaves a largely clear profile.

 

Plate 10 is the scarcest of the Plates 8 to 13

 

and priced by Gibbons at £200. 

 

A very scarce item. 

 

Price: £48.00

NB: there is some browning in the bottom margin

 

but not as much as the scan suggests.

 

 

Miscut margin

 

 

153149. 

 

1/- plate 5 SG117 ‘OJ’.

 

A very fine/superb used with attached lower margin

 

and the inscription ‘One Shilling per Label’.  

 

Cancelled by a complete Edinburgh cds for June 12 1872. 

 

The sheet has been miscut resulting in an additional inscription

 

of ‘One Shilling’ at the bottom.

 

This is the only such example we have seen. 

 

A rarity.  

 

Price £135.00 SOLD

 

 

1d Die 2: ARMY OFFICIAL used block of 12 from Bristol

 

    

 

153146. 

 

SG043: 1d lilac Die 2, block of 12 with ARMY OFFICIAL overprints. 

 

Bristol squared circles for October 15th 1897.

 

A few wrinkles but fine for such a large multiple. 

 

An attractive and a scarce item.

 

Price: £55.00

 

 

9d pair on cover to INDIA

 

 

 

 

153142. 

 

A linen envelope from London to Calcutta, June 27th 1884: it has peripheral wear and some ‘worm’ holes

 

but in fine condition in view of its size and journey to India via Brindisi. 

 

The postage of 1/8 is made up of a 2d lilac SG189 and a vertical pair, ‘AT- BT’, of 9d dull green, SG195 with fine colour. 

 

When the 9d was first sold from August 1st 1883, there was no postal need for this stamp other than on some heavy parcels. 

 

It could be used postally and a small number of examples are known on cover.

 

In his publication: 'Scarce Victorian Postage Stamps of Great Britain on Cover',

 

Theo Brauers, provides details and illustrations of only 8 examples: one of these is on a part front. 

 

The example offered here is NOT listed by him and only one other cover has a multiple 9d franking: a pair,

 

heavily cancelled by a London duplex and on a trimmed envelope to Australia: none are to India.

 

The rarity of this item is further enhanced by the cancellation, W/3 in bars, Western District,

 

which is illustrated by Parmenter in ‘Barred Cancellations of London’, p 82, Dubus Type 11, and rated Very Rare.

 

A reflection of the rarity of this 9d on cover is the Gibbons price of £4,750 which is significantly more: for a pair, its destination and with this cancellation. 

 

Despite the faults this is an extremely rare item and very likely to have a unique combination of features. 

 

Price: £995.00

 

NB: this is only the second example of a 9d on cover we have been able to offer.

 

The other was a single 9d on a registered envelope to Saxony in combination with a 1/2d SG187, both with dumb cancellations.

 

 

6d SG83 Plate 3

 

          

 

153143. 

 

6d Plate 3, SG83, ‘RB’:

 

 very fine, one short perf at right, cancelled only by a PD in RED

 

and a part Aus England per Aachen in CRIMSON. 

 

This latter distinctive colour of ink was only in use for about 6 months in 1864. 

 

An attractive and very rare/unique combination of these two coloured cancellations

 

and the first we have seen. 

 

Exhibition quality. 

 

Price: £135.00

NB: watermark significantly shifted downwards.

 

 

4d SG152: Large '5' in Plate Number variety

 

       

 

153139. 

 

4d Plate 15 SG152, ‘AA’: fine used and  with a BELFAST date stamp.

 

The cds is virtually clear of BOTH plate numbers which show

 

 the catalogued variety ‘Large ‘5’ in the plate number’, SG Spec J62d. 

 

Gibbons prices this at £900 which with the cds premium of 100% is £1800. 

 

We cannot recall seeing another example of this variety with only a cds cancellation. 

 

With a usage in Ireland this combination could represent a unique usage. 

 

The watermark is displaced downwards and shows a frame guide line at the top. 

 

A very rare/unique item. 

 

Price: £495.00

 

 

SG152: Large '5' in Plate Number

 

 

152500.

 

4d SG152, Plate 15, 'TK':

 

fine used except for some light wrinkling at the right.

 

The '620' of Plymouth leaves BOTH plate numbers clearly visible

 

with each showing the variety SG Spec J62d, 'Large 5 in 15'.

 

This variety occurs on only two stamps per sheet of 240.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £900 and under priced in our experience.

 

This variety occurs on two stamps in a sheet of 240: stamps 'AA' and 'TK'. 

 

The first example we have been able to offer or indeed have seen

 

An Exhibition item.

 

Price: £495.00 

 

NB: From our substantial experience, the variety found on 'TK', is much rare than this variety on 'AA'.

 

This item and the next, 153138, would make an extremely rare/unique pairing.

 

 

4d Plate 15 'TK': large '5' in Plate Number' with a very rare London Cancellation:

 

a unique combination.

 

     

 

153138.

 

4d SG153, Plate 15, ‘TK’: fine/very fine used

 

except for a possible very small rub at NW letter square and one short perf at the bottom. 

 

Stamp has the listed variety SG Spec J64(d) 'Large '5' in '15''. 

 

This variety occurs on only one other lettering on a sheet of 240, ie stamp 'AA'.  

 

Although Gibbons prices both ‘AA’ and ‘TK’ the same at £800, in our experience handling

 

surface printed varieties for 45 years,

 

the 'TK' variety is considerably rarer than 'AA'.

 

We have sold probably ten or so examples of the 'AA' variety over the years

 

but this is the First Time we have been able to offer the 'TK' variety on this stamp.

 

We cannot recall seeing another example.

 

The watermark is displaced upwards to a significant extent.

 

The cancellation is the ‘16 in bars’ of the London East Central District. 

 

Parmenter in ‘Barred Numeral Cancellations of London’, gives this a H* rarity:

 

ie extremely rare and known only on stamp.

 

This plate variety and cancellation make it likely that this combination is unique.

 

A superb Exhibition item.

 

Price:  £485.00 

 

Other examples of 4d's SG152 and SG153 with the Large '5'  plate number variety,

 

can be found further down this Section.

 

 

 

The next five items are examples of the CORK Scroll used on a variety of stamps

 

and on a Postcard from Ireland to Wales.

 

 

Cork Scroll: rare usages

 

 

153134a and b

 

 3d on 3d, SG159, ‘MB’, very small corner wrinkle ‘B’ square, fine with a clean back.

 

Cancelled by the scarce/very scarce CORK SCROLL cancel finely struck, dated August 7th 1883.  

 

Gibbons prices SG159 at £160 without the premium for this rare dated scroll:

 

could fairly add, and more, the 75% premium for a dated cancellation. 

 

A rare item and the first such combination we have seen.   

 

Price: £110.00

 

 

153134b. 

 

3d on 6d, SG162, ‘BP’, some light wrinkling and trimmed perfs at the right, clean back.  

 

Cancelled by the scarce/very scarce CORK SCROLL dated January 8th 1884.  

 

Gibbons prices the basic stamp at £150 without a premium for the dated scroll cancel. 

 

Code D is facing the correct way: see the next item.  

 

A rare combination of stamp and cancellation: the first we have seen.  

 

Price: £55.00 

 

NB: the colour of the stamp is much finer and deeper than the scan suggests

and the apparent fading at the top is not present.

 

 

These two overprinted examples would make a remarkable and very rare pairing.

 

 

Cork Scrolls on SG190

 

153135. 

 

Twopence halfpenny, SG190, ‘JS-KS’, fine vertical pair

 

cancelled by the scarce/very scarce CORK SCROLL for January 2nd 1886.

 

Unusually Code D is reversed.

 

Seldom found with a multiple usage.  

 

Price: £38.00

NB: the browning at the top right is much fainter than in the scan. 

 

 

Cork Scrolls on 1/2d SG164 

 

 

153136. 

 

1/2d SG164,

 

fine pair cancelled by the scarce/very scarce CORK SCROLL,

 

for 30th June 1883:  the earliest known usage is in early1883.

 

Scarce multiple usage. 

 

Price: £30.00

 

 

     

153137. 

 

1/2d brown postcard to Canarvon cancelled by a scarce CORK SCROLL  for  October 16th 1890. 

 

Scarce late usage on a postcard from Ireland to Wales. 

 

Price: £35.00 SOLD

 

 

Very rare/unique: perforation error and Inverted Watermark

 

     

 

153133.   

 

3d SG103 Plate 5, ‘GC’.

 

Fine used from the ‘C’ vertical row with the very scarce variety

 

 ‘blind perfs top and bottom’.  

 

It also has the watermark INVERTED.

 

Gibbons prices this watermark variety at £300 without the perforation error.

 

A very rare/unique combination of features that we have not previously seen. 

 

Price: £135.00

 

 

2/- Milky Blue

 

      

 

153104. 

 

2/- SG120b, ‘JD’, a trimmed wing margin example of this rare stamp showing clearly the distinctive shade. 

 

Cancelled by a part of an Edinburgh duplex 131 but with mainly the cds portion for July 11 1878.

 

The date of 1878 fits in with other dated examples we have sold ie the later printings of this issue. 

 

A very collectable example of this shade at a fraction of the Gibbon’s price of £2,000. 

 

Price:  £195.00

NB: the scan does not do justice to this distinctive shade.

 

 

 

London VR scroll cancellations: these are sometimes called the 'Royals'. 

 

These were used on mail from London Royal Residences but also on Royal Mail

 

from other Royal Residences depending on where the Royal Family were in residence.

 

The following items are examples of this distinctive cancellation used on a variety of values.

 

Any usage on a value other than a 1/2d or 1d is seldom found.

 

Each has 'VR' in the design and a Code letter A, B or C:  A is the rarest.

 

 

SG157 VR Scroll Code B

 

 

153086. 

 

A  twopence halfpenny, SG157 Plate 23 cancelled by a large part

 

and almost upright London VR scroll Code B for February 8 1884?.

 

A few short perfs at the bottom.

 

A scarce item. 

 

Price:  £37.00

 

 

3d on 3d VR Scroll Code B

 

 

153083. 

 

3d on 3d, SG159, fine/very fine, small hinge remnant on reverse.

 

Cancelled by the London VR scroll Code B? for 1884.

 

Have only seen two examples of this very scarce cancellation on this stamp

 

and both are offered here: see the next item.

 

The basic stamp priced by Gibbons at £160 before the premium.   

 

A rare item.

 

Price: £60.00

NB: any 'browning' top left near the cancellation is a trick of the scanner.

 

 

3d on 3d  VR Scroll Code B

 

 

153084. 

 

3d on 3d SG159, fine/very fine, very small hinge remnant on reverse.

 

Cancelled by an upright London VR scroll Code B for June 28 1883.  

 

One of only two examples we have seen of this stamp with this scarce cancellation:

 

both are offered here.

 

The basic stamp priced by Gibbons at £160 before the premium.  

 

A rare item. 

 

Price: £75.00

 

 

6d on 6d VR Scroll

 

 

153088. 

 

6d on 6d SG162, very fine, small hinge remnant of reverse.

 

Cancelled by a London VR scroll Code B for 1883.

 

Only the second example we have seen of this cancellation on this stamp.

 

The basic stamp priced by Gibbons at £150 before the premium. 

 

A rare item. 

 

Price: £68.00

 

NB: the 'browning' on the top perfs and right side is far less than the scan suggests.

 

 

1/- Plate 14 VR Scroll rare Code A

 

 

153085. 

 

1/- SG163 Plate 14, fine/very fine except for slightly short perfs on the right as per the scan.

 

Cancelled by an almost complete London VR scroll Code A for 20th March 1883.

 

Only the second example we have seen of this stamp with this cancellation

 

and that was on Plate 13 with Code C. 

 

Code A is considerably rarer.

 

The basic stamp priced by Gibbons at £170 before the premium.

 

A very rare/rare item. 

 

Price: £80.00

 

 

SG167 VR Scroll Code B

 

 

153089. 

 

Threehalfpence, SG167, fine,

 

cancelled by the London VR scroll for April 12th 1883.

 

A very scarce item. 

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

5d VR Scroll rare Code A

 

 

153091. 

 

5d SG169, very fine, cancelled by an almost full upright strike of the London VR scroll

 

for 23 July 1883 with the much rarer Code A. 

 

The basic stamp priced by Gibbons at £175. 

 

Only the second example of this 5d we have seen with Code A.   

 

Price: £70.00

 

 

1/- VR Scroll Code B

 

 

153090. 

 

1/- SG196, a few slightly trimmed perfs at the top, cancelled by a fine strike

 

of the London VR scroll for May or July 23 1884 Code B.

 

The colour is fine for this stamp and better than in the scan.

 

The 'browning' is a trick of the scanner.

 

 A rare/very rare strike on this stamp which has a basic Gibbon’s price of £325. 

 

The first such combination we have been able to offer. 

 

A rare/very rare item.  

 

Price: £85.00

 

 

1d VR Scroll Code B Sideways

 

 

153087. 

 

1d lilac Die 2, trimmed perfs at left.

 

Cancelled by the London VR Scroll for February 1883

 

with the Code B sideways and unusual as such.

 

Scarce item. 

 

Price: £29.00

 

 

 

VR scroll Code A on 5/- SG130

 

                  

151935.

 

5/- plate 4, SG130  on blued paper: a fine used example, very small expertisation mark on the back bottom

 

left and a very small corner wrinkle but cancelled by a fine strike of the VR London Scroll for July 13 1883.

 

Code A is associated with Royal Household mail and much scarcer than similarly used Codes B and C. 

 

We know of only one other VR Scroll Code A, used on the 5/- Plate 4.

 

A rarity with the basic stamp priced at £4,000 and

 

at £7,000 with the 75% premium for an 'ordinary' cds.  

 

An Exhibition item.

 

Price:  £885.00   

 

 

A most unusual address!

 

 

 

153072. 

 

1d lilac Die 2 tied to a small neat envelope to Paignton by a Torquay duplex for December 23rd 1895. 

 

On the reverse are Babbicombe and Paignton cds’s for this same date.

 

What makes this item remarkable and rare is the address:

 

'Cycle shop Right hand of the street 2 or 3 doors from Gerston Hotel going from the station into town Paignton’. 

 

Have never seen anything with such an address. 

 

One hopes it arrived at the cycle shop!  

 

Price: £42.00  SOLD

 

NB: there is a wealth of info on the internet re the bikes of that period including images

 

which could be used to develop this unusual item in to a very interesting display page.

 

There is also info and images of the Gerston Hotel going back to 1907 although the Hotel was built much earlier.

 

 

 

 

INGATESTONE Essex very rare numeral on a pair to same addressee

 

    

 

      

 

153081. 

 

Twopence halfpenny, SG141 Plate 8, ‘BB’, fine used,

 

tied to a fine mourning envelope to Germany by the ‘402’ of INGATESTONE, Essex. 

 

Parmenter records this type used ONLY on November 26th 1878 and gives it a rarity ‘H’ ie very few exist.

 

This example has on the reverse an Ingatestone cds for February 11th 1878. 

 

This is paired with another SG141 Plate 8, ‘JK’, also to Germany but written by a different person,

 

to a different addressee than the earlier example.

 

Also tied by the same type of ‘402’ of INGATESTONE for June 17th 1878 with a rarity ‘H’ as mentioned above.   

 

Both are earlier than the item recorded by Parmenter.

 

On the reverse are attractive transit markings.

 

A remarkable and very rare/unique pairing which would make an excellent Exhibition display page. 

 

Price the pair: £120.00

 

 

A rare multiple on cover

 

 

 

 

153068. 

 

A thin paper envelope from London W to Brooklyn New York, USA on June 27th 1888. 

 

The franking is a horizontal strip of SIX two pence halfpenny SG190, ‘LO-LT’, each cancelled by a London square circle

 

and unusually with an additional strike below the stamps: possibly applied to ensure that the date was clear.

 

On the reverse is another strike of it: perhaps for the same reason.  

 

We cannot recall seeing another horizontal unseparated multiple of this value on an envelope.  

 

There is some light browning at the right side of the envelope, fainter than in the scan,

 

but it is in remarkable condition considering its size and the thin paper used to produce it.

 

The envelope is in a finer condition than the scan suggests.

Price: £95.00

 

 

Registered Front to A Railway Company

 

 

153070. 

 

A registered front, folded at the left, from London to the Bristol and North Somerset Railway Company, BRISTOL,

 

August 20th 1864, and redirected within the City.

 

The 6d registration fee was paid by a 6d SG85, Plate 4, and the two single 4d SG81, Plate 4,

 

are paying the postage fee for up to 4oz. 

 

Please note there is NO browning around, or on, the stamps which are fine: a trick of the scanner.

 

The stamps are tied by the London Inland Branch, Dubus Type 5, ‘16’ in bars, given a ‘G’ rating by Parmenter ie Very Rare.

 

The 4d ‘LD’, has an almost totally clear head and ‘PA’, an almost clear profile.   

 

On the front is a very fine handstruck  Lombard Street Registered Letter  Code B.

 

This exact strike, with Code B, is illustrated by Alcock and Holland, fig 563, in ‘British Postmarks, a Short History and Guide’.

 

 MacKay, ‘Postmarks of England and Wales’, also illustrates this strike, fig 3175 with Code D

 

nd notes that this cancellation can be found with Codes A, B, C and D.

 

On receipt in Bristol, it received a Bristol sideways duplex for August 21st 1864 with an unrecorded code ‘4’, (Parmenter).  

 

Very scarce to find a sideways duplex used as a receiving date stamp and especially on the front rather than on the reverse. 

 

The 6d is priced by Gibbons at £250 on stamp and on cover at £350 and the 4d’s each at £150 on stamp and £300 on cover.  

 

An attractive and rare item which displays well.   

 

Price: £125.00

 

NB:  The colours of the stamps are finer than in the scan.

 

The description could be enhanced with information available on the internet about this Railway Company

 

which received a Royal Assent on July 21st 1863. 

 

The 16 mile line was not opened until 1873 because of various problems detailed on the internet.

 

 

1d SGF22 used on a significant date.

 

 

 

153065. 

 

1d Inland Revenue, SGF22, fine example from the scarce Die 4,

 

‘Oval O in One’, which is clearly visible at the left.

 

Tied to an envelope, roughly opened, to Liverpool by a superb London duplex for JULY 12th 1881.

 

This was the Day of Issue of the 1d lilac Die 1, SG170.

 

It is possible that the Post Office was using up the 1d Inland Revenue stamps before the new 1d lilacs

 

which had become valid for postal use the previous month.

 

This is only the second example of a 1d Revenue stamp used on this significant date

 

that we have been able to offer: we sold the first some time ago. 

 

A very scarce/rare item.

 

Price:  £48.00. SOLD

 

NB: 1d SGF22, Die 4, is priced by Gibbons on cover at £120.

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2: the rare listed 'Double Perforation' Variety

 

 

SOLD

 

 

 

Imperforate 1d lilac Control

with RPS Cert

151381.

 

1d mauve SG174:  the Extremely Rare IMPERFORATE Control E.  

 

Very fine mounted mint with small hinge remains at the top. 

 

The imprimatur sheet of control E is complete and therefore this is a genuine IMPERFORATE stamp. 

 

Imperforates are known for controls L and M but these are with 'Jubilee' lines.

 

Gibbons prices a non-control pair at £7,500 in the mauve shade. 

 

The 'Chartwell Collection', Spinks(2011), had an example of this stamp but

 

with smaller side and bottom margins; it was not certificated. 

 

The example offered here has an RPS Certificate.

 

A superb rarity and one of only a few extant. 

 

An outstanding Exhibition item.

 

Price: £2,500.00

 

NB: Gibbons in a recent on-line Listing had a mounted mint,

 

uncertificated Control L imperforate example, for sale at £7,500. 

 

They described it as 'a wonderful Victorian rarity'.  

 

 

6d Plate 11: P and Q Rows in Blocks and Shades all with CDS cancellations

 

 

151205:

 

A remarkable/unique trio of cds blocks of 4, 6d plate 11, in deep chestnut SG122, chestnut SG122a

 

and pale buff  SG123: all from the P and Q horizontal rows on the Post Office Sheet, ‘PC-PH’, ‘QC-QH’.

 

The Post Office sheet was printed in twelve panes of 20: three across by four down.

 

The three blocks of four offered here are from the following positions on the Post Office sheet:

 

 deep chestnut bottom left pane, chestnut bottom central pane and pale buff bottom central pane.

 

‘PG’ has a pulled perf in the top left corner but this block of 4, printed in the rarer pale buff shade,

 

is one of only a few used blocks known in this distinctive buff shade as detailed by Galland and Louis

 

in their publication: ‘GB Surface Printed Postage Stamps’ page 93/4. 

 

They mention that a used block of 4 is the largest recorded in this shade.

 

A used block of 4 in the chestnut shade is priced by Gibbons in their latest edition, at £425.

 

The scarcer deep chestnut block pro rata is £850 plus and the pale buff similarly priced

 

which is grossly under valued from our experience. 

 

All these prices are without the premium of 50% for the cds’s.  

 

A truly remarkable and unique grouping showing clearly

 

the plate make up on this part of the Post Office sheet. 

 

A superb Exhibition item.  

 

Price: £655.00

 

NB: Galland and Louis record a used block of 4, DA-EB’ in the buff shade with Montrose duplexes which was in the

 

Shaida Collection and they note that in 1987 Macdonnell Whyte, Dublin Auctioneer, auctioned three blocks of 4,

 

‘BE-CF’, ‘DE-EF’ and ‘CG-DH’ which they say are now mostly split. 

 

 

1/- Plate 6: 'P' row on the PO Sheet

 

 

 SOLD

 

 

1/- Plate 6: 'F' Row on the Post Office Sheet

 

 

SOLD

 

 

1/- Plates 5 and 6; matched pairing

 

 

 SOLD

 

 

 

3d SG77 on Wool Sales in LIverpool and World Prices report

 

 

 

153036.  

 

3d SG77, ‘OC’, tied to a detailed and lengthy account of a Public Sales of Wool,

 

dated Liverpool November 7th 1863 from Perkins and Robinson, sent to Leiden, Holland.

 

The second printed page, again dated similarly, is a detailed list of the

 

Prices Current and Imports of Wool at Liverpool.  

 

Many different types of wool are listed under each location across the world. 

 

These include:

 

Sydney; Port Philip; Van Dieman’s Land; United States; New Zealand; Cape of Good Hope;

 

Spain and Portugal; Buenos Ayres; Peruvian and Alpaca; Mediterranean; Iceland;

 

East Indian and Persian; Chinese; Russian; Irish and Scotch.

 

The 3d is tied by a fine Liverpool duplex for November 7th 1863. 

 

Gibbons prices SG77 on cover at £600. 

 

A scarce stamp on cover and especially so on such a printed list. 

 

An interesting  item that would display well. 

 

Price:  £145.00

 

 

4d SG80: a rare internal usage

 

153037.

 

 A fine 4d SG80 tied by a very fine (London) WC in bars with number 3 to a long envelope,

 

folded at both ends for display purposes, from London to Wangford, Suffolk.

 

On one of the folded sides is a red London WC cds for 6th August 1862. 

 

This is a rare internal GB usage of this 4d.

 

We have handled examples of this stamp on registered mail within GB used in combination with other values,

 

but this is the first example we have been able to offer on a non-registered item and with a single franking. 

 

Gibbons prices this stamp on cover at £300. 

 

A fine and rare display item.

 

Price: £50.00

 

NB: the browning is far fainter than in the scan.

 

 

1/- Plate 8: a very early usage

 

 

153035.  1/- SG150 Plate 8:

 

tied to a wrapper to Madrid by a well struck London duplex for September 6th 1873. 

 

This plate was issued on September 1st 1873. 

 

Booth in ‘Collect GB First Day Covers’, prices this plate on its Day of Issue at £5,500.  

 

The example offered here is the earliest usage we have seen. 

 

Plate 8 on cover priced by Gibbons at £240. 

 

A rare item. 

 

Price: £135.00 

 

NB: the filing crease is less pronounced than in the scan

 

as are the brown marks around the duplex.

 

The apparent browning at the bottom and top of the wrapper

 

is a trick of the scanner.

 

 

London duplex with the number 'missing'

 

      

 

 SOLD

 

 

6d Plate 3 SG83 to Geneva

 

 

 

153012. 

 

6d  SG83, Plate 3, ‘DI’:

 

fine/very fine in the scarcer deep lilac from the early printings and tied to a

 

clean entire to Geneva by a SHEFFIELD duplex for February 24th 1864. 

 

A fine array of transit marks on both the front and reverse sides. 

 

The letter is headed: 

 

‘James Dixon and Sons Manufacturer of Silver, best Sheffield Plate, Electro Plate,

 

Nickel Silver, Britannia Metal Goods, Shooting Tackle Etc’. 

 

Gibbons prices SG83 on cover at £260.  

 

An attractive and scarce item. 

 

Price: £70.00

 

NB: there is a considerable amount of information on the internet

 

about this Company, founded in 1806, which would be useful when writing up the item.

 

 

4d medium garter London to France

 

 

 

153013. 

 

4d medium garter, SG65.

 

A fine example except one short perf at the left

 

and a few shortish perfs at the base,

 

tied to an entire from London to France, December 5th 1856. 

 

A variety of transit marks mainly on the reverse.  

 

The cancellation leaves QV’s profile partially clear.

 

Gibbons prices this stamp on cover at £1,000.  

 

Price: £135.00

 

 

1/- Plate 6: Double Plate Number Variety

 

        

 SOLD

 

 

3d on 3d: broken pin perfs

 

 

  SOLD

 

 

     

 

152998. 

 

1/- Plate 4, SG101, ‘TF’:

 

a used example with a small part of a numeral? cancellation leaving the

 

whole of the Queen’s head clear and almost all of the rest of the stamp.

 

There are hinge remnants on the reverse and a small mark below the NW 'F' square.

 

Gibbons prices SG101 at £275 before the 100% premium is added for so lightly cancelled. 

 

A rare stamp in this condition. 

 

Price; £70.00

 

 

 

A scarce combination of high values

 

 

153001. 

 

2/6 SG178 and 5/- SG180, both fine/very fine,

 

tied to a piece by a SWDO? parcel cancellation. 

 

Unusual to find both these high values used together. 

 

The 2/6 has virtually the entire Queen’s head clear

 

and the 5/- has very bright fresh colour.  

 

A scarce item. 

 

Price: £55.00

 

Use of the Hoster machine dater as a backstamp

 

 

 

152987. 

 

1d lilac die 2, tied to an envelope sent locally in London to a manufacturer of printing materials

 

by a very fine London W squared circle for February 21st 1887. 

 

On the reverse is a fine strike of the dater in red from a Hoster E C machine

 

used as a backstamp, for February 21st 1887, Code G. 

 

McKay notes this Hoster date stamp was used sporadically between 1886 and 1893.

 

The example here is the earliest we have seen.

 

The envelope has a light vertical filing fold and some damage to the top left corner

 

This is a very scarce early usage. 

 

Price: £45.00 SOLD

 

NB: On the internet is information about Hopkinson and Cope including pictures of their printing machines.

 

This could be used to advantage in writing up this item for a display page.

 

 

There are other examples of the Hoster machine dater as a backstamp

 

in the Stationery and Stampless Sections.

 

 

 

A rare pen drawn sketch to France 1875.

 

 

152985.

 

3d SG144 Plate 15

 

A finely drawn pen and ink sketch on a front from Brighton to France, January 12th 1875.

 

An unusual theme of a woman gazing at the moon with a dog in resting on her. 

 

Perhaps inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite artists of that time?

 

One wonders if this sketch bears a resemblance to a famous painting?

 

The address is located in the space the artist left below the woman.

 

He also trimmed the stamp to give more space for the drawing.

 

The postal franking at the left have been applied to minimise their effect on the drawing. 

 

We have never seen another example so clearly inflenced by contemorary famous artists.

 

A rare and attractive item which displays well.

 

Price: £95.00  

 

 

 

152973.  1d lilac Die 1,

 

very fine, cancelled by a Birmingham square circle for JULY 16th 1881. 

 

Die 1 was issued on JULY 12th 1881 and this is

 

the second earliest used example we have seen.

 

Booth in ‘Collect GB First Day Covers’, prices a Day of Issue on cover at £10,000. 

 

The example offered here is a very rare early usage. 

 

Price: £47.00 SOLD

 

 

Newport Mons and Newport Docks

 

 

 

152971. 

 

6d SG109 Plate 9, ‘FI’: a fine example on a wrapper to Spain.

 

The stamp is tied by a very fine NEWPORT- MON for July 24th 1871

 

and unusually placed at the bottom right Contrary to Post Office Regulations

 

although if placed correctly on the wrapper it would have covered part of the address.

 

We cannot recall seeing another example with the stamp placed in this position. 

 

On the reverse is a NEWPORT DOCKS cds for July 24th 1871.

 

Gibbons prices 6d Plate 9 on cover at £140. 

 

An attractive and very unusual item.  

 

Price: £85.00

  

 

6d Plate 11: Bute Docks duplex

 

 

152972. 

 

6d SG122b Plate 11, ‘SF’:

 

a fine example tied to a clean and uncreased wrapper to Geneva by

 

a fine BUTE-DOCKS D57 duplex (Swansea), for October 22nd 1872.

 

This duplex variety was, as noted by Parmenter, sent  from the GPO on August 21st 1872.  

 

It has taller figures than the then current one. 

 

Another type was sent in April 1873. 

 

The type offered here had a relatively short period of usage. 

 

This 6d Plate 11 is a difficult stamp to find on a clean cover and is the

 

first example on cover we have been able to offer with a Bute Docks duplex. 

 

Gibbons prices this 6d on cover at £150. 

 

Price: £80.00

 

 

Plate 3 on white paper

 

 

152970. 

 

Twopence halfpenny SG139 Plate 3, ‘PG’ and ‘MJ’ on white paper.   

 

Both fine and tied to an envelope, opened at the left side,

 

 by London ‘94’ duplexes for May 11th 1876.

 

Sent to East New York and on the reverse is a New York receiver in red

 

and Brooklyn receiver in blue both for May 21st. 

 

Plate 3 is the by far the scarcest of the series plates1-3 and

 

Gibbons prices a single Plate 3 on cover at £265.  

 

A very scarce franking. 

 

Price: £135.00

 

 

Glasgow '159' varieties

 

 

152975. 

 

An usual trio, each fine, with the ‘159’ of GLASGOW.

 

The first is a 4d Plate 8, SG94 ‘DK’ with the usual ‘159’ numeral. 

 

The second, 4d Plate 7, SG94, ‘AA’, has a partial doubling of the numeral

 

caused by a bouncing of the duplex when struck.

 

The third is a 1/- Plate 12, SG 150’, AH’ with the

 

 bars and the numerals having a hollow centre.

 

Very unusual effects that we have not seen before and

 

which would make an interesting display page.

 

 A unique trio. 

 

Price:  £55.00

NB: the browning in the wing margin of the 1/-

 

is much fainter than in the scan.

 

 

1/- SG72: perforating error

 

    

 

  SOLD

 

 

Information for the next item. 

 

Letters had adhesive stamps, at the appropriate rate, attached to letters from

 

Officers and Seamen in Her Majesty's Navy abroad. 

 

These were put into the Ship's Bag, with the stamps uncancelled,

 

and dispatched to the UK by packet boat.

 

On arrival at the Foreign Office of the Post Office,

 

they were cancelled by a letter in diamond with bars,

 

B, H, F, P.

 

They which were used only for that purpose.

 

These cancellations are found occasionally used for other

 

reasons and may have been used in error.

 

 

A very rare combination of stamp and cancellation

  

   

 

152961. 

 

9d SG98 Plate 4, ‘TA’:

 

a fine used example, a few nibbled perfs,

 

cancelled by the rare ‘P in diamond and bars’.

 

This is the only example we have seen of this stamp with this cancellation. 

 

Gibbons prices SG98 at £600. 

 

A very rare combination of features. 

 

The stamp is printed on unusually thin paper:

 

the emblem watermark can be seen on the front.

 

Only a thick paper variety is catalogued but perhaps

 

a thin paper variety should be listed as well. 

 

A superb and very rare item. 

 

Price:  £225.00

 

Further down this Section is a large selection of this

 

type of cancellation including rare examples on cover.

 

 

6d Plate 5 SG97

 

 

152964. 

 

6d SG 97 Plate 5, ‘MJ’:

 

a fine example tied to a clean commercial entire from LONDON to Bohmen by a double ’46?’ in bars.

 

The cancellation leaves virtually the whole of the Queen’s head clear and rare as such.

 

On the reverse is a London date stamp for November 3rd 1866 and

 

on the inside is a scripted CHAS F W RUST.  

 

6d Plate 5 is priced by Gibbons on cover at £225 but with the 100% premium this is £450.

 

An attractive and rare item. 

 

Price: £125.00

 

NB: the scan does not do justice to the lilac shade of the stamp

 

 

6d Plate 6 on envelope to Bombay

 

 

 

152963.  6d SG105 Plate 6, ‘NE-OE’:

 

a very fine vertical wing margin pair and a 1d plate 79, neatly tied

 

to a clean envelope to Bombay by very fine LONDON SW duplexes for November 6th 1868.

 

On the reverse is a written note saying the item was received on November 30th at 7:45am. 

 

Gibbons prices a single SG105 at £300 on cover. 

 

An attractive and very scarce item which displays well. 

 

Price: £145.00

 

NB: further research may reveal more about the addressee.

 

 

1/- Plate 8: to the Cape of Good Hope

 

 

 

152965.  1/- SG150 Plate 8, ‘FK’:

 

fine top marginal inscription, tied by a HUNGERFORD duplex for March 3rd 1874, to

 

a clean envelope, top flap missing, to Rondebosch, Cape of Good Hope. 

 

On the front top left, is a cds for Cape Town - Cape Colony, March 30th 1874. 

 

On the reverse is a lightly struck cds for Rondebosch - Cape Colony, March 30th 1874. 

 

Gibbons prices Plate 8 on cover at £240. 

 

An attractive and very scarce item. 

 

Price: £120.00 

 

 

GB USED ABROAD

 

1/- SG72 used in GIBRALTAR

 

   

 

152990. 

 

1/- SG 72: a very fine/superb used example,

 

some hinge remnants on the reverse,

 

 cancelled by a very fine A26 of GIBRALTAR. 

 

Gibbons prices this stamp used in GB at £350. 

 

An attractive and scarce item.

 

Price: £110.00

 

 

1/- SG90: used in Constantinople

 

152214.  1/- SG90, 'HE', superb used:

tied to a small piece by the 'C' in bars of CONSTANTINOPLE lightly applied. 

The cancellation leaves a lot of the Queen's head clear. 

A very attractive example with a scarce usage. 

Price: £75.00

 

 

Alexandria Egypt date stamp

 

used as a cancellation

 

 

152488.   

Twopence halfpenny rosy mauve, SG141 pl 7:

Alexandria CDS, Dec 18 1880;

              several nibbled perfs at the bottom.

This date stamp is usually found as a backstamp

with the stamp franked by 'BO1'.

Rarely is it found cancelling the stamp.

       Price: £55.00

 

 

4d Plate 11 with BLUE B32 of Buenos Ayres

 

 

152617.

 

4d Plate 11, very fine, no premium for watermark inverted,

 

cancelled by the B32 of BUENOS AYRES but in the scarcer

 

blue rather than the usual black ink.

 

An attactive colour combination.

 

A scarce item.

 

Price: £58.00

 

NB: the scan does not do justice to the blue.

 

 

4d Plate 14: used in MALTA

 

      

 

152224. 

 

4d SG94 Plate 14 'QK':

 

fine example tied on a clean envelope to Middlesex by a fine MALTA duplex, December 29th 1875. 

 

On the reverse is a fine strike of McKay fig 3060, used originally as a Late Fee strike when struck in black. 

 

In this example it appears to have been used as a receiver and struck in red, London January 7th 1876. 

 

This is the first time we have seen it struck in red as used in tis way - possibly an isolated strike. 

 

4d plate 14 priced by Gibbons at a minimum of £200 on cover without the premium for usage in Malta. 

 

An attractive and very scarce/rare combination of features. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

 

TF Watermark ERROR: unique usage in MALTA





15050. 

 

6d SG84, Plate 3, ‘TF-TH’:

very fine/superb used strip of three tied to small piece by MALTA A25 duplexes. 

Stamp ‘TF’ has the WATERMARK ERROR, SG84d, and the

cancellation leaves QV’s Head almost completely clear.

This error is priced by Gibbons at £8,000.

'TF' being so lightly cancelled with most of the Queen's head clear

the premium of Gibbon's 125% could be applied.

 

The example offered here is the ONLY ONE KNOWN USED in MALTA

and also believed to be the only used multiple extant with this watermark variety. 

Stamp ‘TG’ is cancelled by the Malta cds and ‘TH’ lightly cancelled. 

 

 

An Exhibition Quality item of significant rarity.  

 

Price:  £2,100

 

NB: Gibbons in a fairly recent on line GB Listings, are offering for sale

a single used example of SG84d, with a Scottish duplex cancellation, for £8,000.

 

 

3d used in Malta

 

 

151912. 

 

3d SG76, 'DC', superb used with an upright 

 

MALTA cds forJuly 11th 1865.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £350 and at £785 with

 

the premium for cds.

 

Price: £185.00

 

 

5/- Plate 1: very rare C88 of

 

St Jago de Cuba.

 

151938. 

 

SG126 1867 5/-  plate 1:

 

C88 Cancel of St Jago de Cuba.

 

A fine well-centred used copy cancelled by

 

the very scarce C88 of St Jago de Cuba. 

 

Gibbons records this cancellation on the 5/- (Z32),

 

but no price is quoted. 

 

A very rare item offered with a Certificate

 

which comments on a small rubbed area on the reverse.  

 

Price: £645.00

 

 

Front from St Thomas Virgin Islands West Indies with 1/- Plate 7

 

 

152926. 

 

1/-  SG115, ‘FE’, Plate 7: a fine example from the scarcest of the plate 4-7 issue. 

 

Tied to a Front by a very fine ST THOMAS PAID C51 duplex for July 28th 1873. 

 

Addressed to London with a fine London EC Paid for August 12th 1873. 

 

The stamp affixed Contrary to GPO Regulations at the top left.

 

 An attractive and very scarce combination of features.  

 

Price: £120.00

 

 

St Thomas: Plate 13

 

 

152944.  

 

4d SG94 Plate 13, ‘CL’: fine, a pulled perf and a few nibbled at the bottom,

 

cancelled by a St Thomas Paid Code A cds for June 28th 1875. 

 

Priced by Gibbons in GB at £75 plus premium of 100%.  

 

An attractive item. 

 

Price: £58.00.

 

 

Rare Code B

 

 

152945. 

 

4d SG94 Plate 14, ‘LE’:

 

fine, upright St Thomas Paid Code B cds for June 28th 1875. 

 

 Parmenter notes in ‘GB Used Abroad: Cancellations and Postal Markings’,

 

that only Codes A and B were used. 

 

Code A is by far the most frequently seen.

 

He comments that Code B is RARE: the example offered here is Code B. 

 

Gibbons price Plate 14 in GB at £110 plus 100% premium. 

 

A rare item. 

 

£95.00

 

 

C51 on Plate 9

 

 

152942.

 

4d SG94 Plate 9, ‘JG-JI’: fine/very fine strip of three.

 

The pair, ‘JH-JI’, cancelled by a single C51 of St Thomas,

 

Contrary to PO Regulations, and ‘JG’ by another strike.

 

Gibbons prices a single Plate 9 in GB at £70. 

 

An attractive and scarce multiple usage. 

 

Price: £100.00

 

 

C51 rarer Plate 7

 

 

152943.

 

4d SG93 Plate 7, GF’: fine, couple of short perfs,

 

cancelled by an almost complete C51 of St Thomas.

 

 Plate 7 is the second rarest of the 4d Plates 7-14

 

and priced by Gibbons in GB at £130. 

 

A scarce usage. 

 

Price: £60.00

 

 

 

St Thomas 1/- Plate 12

 

 

152946.  

 

1/- SG150 Plate 12, ‘TL’: fine, slightly trimmed perfs top left,

 

and a small brown mark at right.

 

Cancelled by a cds of St Thomas, Code A,  August 28th 1876.  

 

Gibbons Plate 12  priced in GB at £160 plus 100%.

 

A very scarce item. 

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

C51 Plate 9 Deep Green

 

 

152949. 

 

1/- SG148 Plate 9, ‘KJ’:

 

fine, in the scarce Deep Green shade

 

and with the ‘C51’ of the St Thomas Paid duplex.

 

A couple of shortish/nibbled perfs at the bottom.

 

Gibbons prices this shade in GB at £225

 

for a cheaper plate than plate 9.

 

Scarce item.

 

Price: £50.00

 

 

St Thomas duplex: on a rare plate variety

 

 

152956. 

 

4d SG153 Plate 15, ‘AA-BA’: a vertical pair,

 

tied to a piece by the St Thomas C51 Code A duplex for May 2nd 1877.

 

Stamp ‘BA’ has a faulty top left corner and a few short perfs.

 

On stamp ‘AA’ there is rubbing in the bottom left corner letter square. 

 

It has the listed variety SG Spec J64d  ‘Large 5 in ’15’ (AA and TK)’. 

 

The cancellation leaves BOTH plate numbers clearly visible allowing

 

the variety on each plate number to be seen.

 

The plate numbers on ‘BA’ are also visible allowing the comparison with ‘AA’ also to be seen. 

 

The large 5 in the Plate Number variety is priced by Gibbons used in GB at £800.  

 

This is the only example of this variety used abroad that we have seen and the first in a multiple. 

 

A rarity and possibly a unique usage which would make a superb display page. 

 

Price: £575.00 SOLD

 

 

St Juan Porto Rico rare usage

 

 

152955. 

 

10d SG112, ‘PB’:  

 

superb and cancelled by a very fine/superb

 

C61 of St Juan Porto Rico.

 

The stamp also has part of a red P? in oval. 

 

This 10d priced by Gibbons in the GB at £400.  

 

An exceptional item.  

 

Price: £175.00

 

 

The following eight items are used multiples in horizontal strips of four and larger.

 

 

The stamps were released to the Post Offices in sheets of 240 consisting of 12 panes of 20. 

 

Each pane was four stamps across by five down.

 

The twelve panes were arranged in three panes across and four down

 

with the stamps lettered from 'AA' to 'TL'. 

 

The letterings and the wing margins allow the pane,

 

from which the stamp emanated, to be identified.

 

Drawings of these Post Office sheets are to be found in

 

'History of British Adhesive Stamps' by Wright and Creeke. 

 

Some images of the pane arrangements are also in

 

'Great Britain Surface Printed Postage Stamps' by Galland and Louis.

 

 

3d SG92 Plate 4

 

 

 

152698. 

 

3d SG92 Plate 4, 'NI-NL': good/fine used strip of four with a Manchester '498' duplex. 

 

The wing margin at the left indicates its the position on the Post Office sheet

 

from which it came ie from the right side third pane down.

 

Gibbons prices a single SG92 at £250: hence £1,000 plus pro rata.

 

A rare multiple usage. 

 

Price: £110.00

 

 

1/- SG101: Manchester Roller and INDIAN Numeral

 

 

152017. 

 

1/- plate 4, SG101, 'PA-PD': fine strip of four, 'PD' trimmed wing margin,

 

with the very scarce MANCHESTER ROLLER canceller across three of the stamps. 

 

On the fourth is the INDIAN numeral, '117', of Mandvi/Mandvee, West India.

 

This was possibly applied on the item of mail on receipt in Mandvi as the roller canceller had not fully cancelled 'PA'. 

 

Kirkwood of Edinburgh supplied their patent revolving stamp to several English provincial offices in the late 1850's,

 

namely to Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester and examples of them are all scarce. 

 

A combination of a scarce English roller cancellation and an INDIAN numeral that we have not previously seen. 

 

Gibbons prices a SINGLE SG101 at £275.

 

Very rare/unique usage of cancellations on a surface printed multiple. 

 

An item of Display Quality.  

 

Price: £225.00

 

NB: the strip is from the first row of the left hand bottom pane

 

 

A Rare used Pane of 3d Plate 8

 

 

151204.

 

3d plate 8 SG102: a complete Pane of 20 with bottom inscriptional margin, ‘FA-JD’,

 

two rejoined horizontal blocks of EIGHT and a bottom marginal inscriptional strip of FOUR.

 

A corner fault on ‘HA’ and each stamp is pen cancelled and clearly all were attached to the same item. 

 

No gum with some ink markings on the reverse from the surface to which it was originally affixed. 

 

 Galland and Louis in their reference publication: ‘GB Surface Printed Postage Stamps’,

 

record the largest used block of 3d plate 8 to be one of 8 – two are known. 

 

For some other surface printed values they quote rejoined blocks as the largest known.   

 

This is the largest such multiple we have seen of this 3d value; we cannot recall seeing even a block of 4 pen cancelled.

 

A block of 4  in this plate is priced by Gibbons at £425.

 

Very fine colour and more than likely to be the largest pen cancelled multiple extant of any surface printed issue.

 

  A remarkable and significant rarity of Exhibition Quality and Importance.  

 

Price:  £685.00

 

NB: this pane is from the second one down on the left hand side of the Post Office sheet.

 

 

1/- SG90

 

 

152935. 

 

1/- SG90, ‘DI-DL’, wing marginal (trimmed) strip of four tied to a piece

 

by the twin 46 in diamond and bars of the London Inland Office. 

 

Parmenter gives this a 'very rare ' grading.

 

This strip is from the top right pane of 20 on a Post Office sheet of 240.

 

The latter was made up of three panes across and four panes down ie 12 panes of 20. 

 

Stamp ‘DL’ did not have a wing margin whereas ‘DI’ did.

 

Gibbons prices a single SG90 at £300.   

 

A rare/very rare multiple. 

 

Price: £175.00

 

 

1/- SG90

 

 

152936. 

 

1/- SG90, ‘CE-CH’, fine strip of four with a wing margin at each end

 

indicating it is from the top central pane of 20 on a Post Office sheet of 240.  

 

Cancelled by the twin 46 in diamond and bars of the London Inland Office. 

 

Parmenter gives this a 'very rare' grading.

 

Gibbons prices a single SG90 at £300. 

 

A very rare multiple.

 

Price: £230.00

 

NB: the next Item, 152937, is from the same position on the sheet.

 

 

6d SG97

 

 

152937

 

6d SG97 Plate 5, ‘CE-CH’, fine/very fine strip of four with a wing margin at each end. 

 

Hence it is from the top central pane of 20 on a Post Office sheet of 240.

 

Lightly cancelled by GLASGOW 159 duplexes for September 5th 1865. 

 

Gibbons prices a single 6d Plate 5 at £140. 

 

A rare item. 

 

Price: £160.00

 

NB: The previous,152936, is from the same position on the sheet.

 

The item is in a finer condition than the scan suggests.

 

 

6d SG105

 

 

152938. 

 

6d SG105 Plate 6, ‘FE-FH’, strip of four with a wing margin at each end therefore from

 

 the top row of the second central pane of 20 on a Post Office sheet of 240. 

 

The stamps are cancelled by LIVERPOOL 466 duplexes for July 10th 1868.  

 

Gibbons prices a single SG105 at  £175. 

 

A rare multiple.   

 

Price: £95.00

 

NB: there is some light browning in the right wing margin and

 

 some at the top left wing margin but neither is as pronounced as the scan suggests. 

 

The strip is in a finer condition than the image.

 

 

6d SG123: pale buff shade

 

 

152939. 

 

1/- SG123 Plate 11, ‘HE-HH’, fine except for ‘HH’ which has  corner creases. 

 

The strip has a wing margin at both ends indicating it is from the

 

second central pane on a Post Office sheet of 240.

 

The stamps are well cancelled by LONDON SW/50 duplexes for April 12th 1873. 

 

Gibbons prices a single in this scarce pale buff shade at £125. 

 

This shade is very difficult to find in this size of multiple. 

 

A rare item.

 

Price:  £145.00

 

 

4d SG93: a separated block of 6

 

 

152940. 

 

4d SG93 Plate 8: a block of 6 separated in to two horizontal strips, ‘KJ-JL’ and ‘LJ-LL’.

 

Attached to a piece of the original package, the stamps are cancelled by a

 

LONDON 100 in diamond and bars duplex for March 30th 1869. 

 

Gibbons prices a single 4d Plate 8 at £90.

 

Two of the stamps, 'KL' and 'LK', are almost cds examples.

 

A most unusual multiple usage. 

 

Price: £100.00

 

 

9d SG87: Leith duplex and other cancellations. 

 

 

152889.

 

9d SG87 ‘RL’, cancelled by a partial ‘221, and cds of LEITH.

 

There is also a small part of the blue Aus England transit date stamp

 

and portion of a red PD in oval?

 

There are a few short perfs at the bottom.

 

Gibbons prices this stamp at £475.

 

Unusual to have portions of so many different cancellations

 

and a rare item as such.

 

Price: £85.00 

 

 

Paddington Station date stamps: 3d Plate 7

 

 

  SOLD

 

 

8d SG156 mourning envelope to Mhow Barracks

 

 

 

 

152888.

 

8d SG156, fine/very fine, ‘QD’, tied to a mourning envelope to

 

India by a very fine LEAMINGTON duplex for June 21st 1878.  

 

Addressed to a Hugh Martin Short, 17th Regiment, Mhow. 

 

On the reverse, part of the top flap missing, are various transit datestamps including a Mhow receiver.

 

A small portion of the top right corner of the envelope is missing but this does not affect the 8d stamp.

 

Gibbons prices SG156 on cover at £625.

 

A rare item which would pay more internet research of the

 

military background of the recipient and his Regiment. 

 

Price: £275.00. 

 

NB: the image of the Mhow Barracks is on the internet. 

 

It may be that a game of cricket was in progress but stopped for the photo?

 

 

 

6d Plate 8: very early usage

 

 

152858. 

 

6d Plate 8, SG108: a fine vertical wing margin pair tied to a piece

 

by LONDON SW/32 duplex for MARCH 12th 1869. 

 

This stamp was issued on March 8th 1869. 

 

This is the earliest used multiple of this stamp, not only that we have seen

 

but from our researches, we cannot trace an earlier multiple usage.  

 

A single is priced by Gibbons at £190.

 

A rare item.   

 

Price: £140.00

 

NB: there is no browning in the wing margin or perfs: a trick of the scanner.

 

The stamps have been affixed over a prexisting light fold in the watermarked paper.

 

 

 

Boy Messengers Printed Envelope with a 1d lilac from an early Vending Machine

 

 

 

  SOLD

 

 

 

Inverted X: rare perforated margin

 

 

152863. 

 

1d lilac Die 2: very fine corner mint, no gum, Control block of 4 with ‘X’ inverted. 

 

Gibbons lists X inverted with imperf margin at £200 plus 50% for a corner pair, Spec KC53a.

 

They note the existence of this variety with perforated margin but no price is quoted. 

 

A very fresh block with this rare variety which displays well. 

 

Price: £100.00

 

 

Christmas Day 1882

 

 

152837. 

 

1d lilac Die 2, fine, tied to a clean and uncreased envelope from London to Heytesbury, Bath.

 

The London E/28 duplex is for CHRISTMAS DAY 1882 and very scarce as such. 

 

On the reverse are Heytesbury and Bath cds’s for December 26th 1882.   

 

An attractive and very scarce Christmas Day item. 

 

Price: £48.00.  SOLD

 

NB: the printing of the 1d lilac is close to, or in, the bluish lilac shade.

 

 

 

6d Plate 11: SG122a

 

 

43.    

 

6d chestnut, SG 122a, pl 11, PI-PJ:

 

a fine CDS used pair, Altringham Sept 19 1872,

              

Nibbled perfs at the bottom.

              

Price: £50.00 

 

 

 

6d Plate 16: marginal inscription

 

 

154.    

 

6d grey, SG 147 pl 16.

 

A used in London pair, KG-KH, KH wing margin,

 

March 1878

             

with a top marginal inscription of 'SIX PENCE'.

 

A very scarce multiple.

 

Price: £85.00

          

 

 

2/6 SG178: exceptional

 

   

 

152828. 

 

2/6 SG178, 'HA': an outstanding cds example

 

with a perfectly placed central upright HAWARDEN 'steel' date stamp for October 3rd 1888.

 

Although not clear from the scan of the reverse, there are areas of pale blueing.

 

In our opinion this is not sufficient indicate a printing on blued paper.

 

 An item of truly superb appearance. 

 

One of the most attractive examples we have seen. 

 

Price:  £125.00

 

NB: the scan does not do justice to the quality of this stamp.

 

 

 

2d SG168 and 3d SG158

 

 

152822. 

 

A clean commercial entire from LIVERPOOL to Paris.

 

The postage has been paid by a very fine 2d SG168 and an equally fine 3d SG158 Plate 21. 

 

Each has been cancelled and tied by superb/very fine strike of a Liverpool squared circle for October 18th 1882.  

 

On the reverse is an oval cachet in purple for Mahler and Rayner Liverpool. 

 

The 2d is priced by Gibbons on cover at £300 and the 3d at £175:

 

in both cases this is before the 75% premium is added so finely used.

 

A superb, rare and attractive item of display quality. 

 

Price: £185.00

 

NB: We have not previously seen such a fine franking combination to France. 

 

 

Rideout Number TWO Machine: a rare usage

 

 

152425. 

 

4d SG66, fine/very fine except for a small area of light creasing at the right,

 

tied by an exceptional Charles Rideout number 2 trial machine on a wrapper to ORLEANS, France, April 11th 1859.

 

On the reverse are three other French transit marks via Paris.

 

A rare usage of this cancellation as seldom found on other than the contemporary 1d value

 

and the first example we have been able to offer of the first surface printed value on cover.

 

Gibbons prices SG66 at £225 on cover with an 'ordinary' cancellation.

 

Exhibition quality.

 

Price: £220.00 

 

NB: the wrapper in a finer condition than the scan suggests. 

 

 

 

Rideout Number 2 Machine

 

 

152210.

 

6d 70 very fine used with the Number 2 Machine numeral.

 

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

 

A very scarce/rare item.

 

Price: £48.50

 

 

 

Rideout Number Two Machine: a rare usage

 

 

152426. 

 

1/- SG72, a fine wing margin example on a Front to NEW ORLEANS, USA.

 

The stamp is tied by a superb/very fine Rideout number 2 machine, November 24th 1859. 

 

The letter was posted in London and paid at the 1/- (24c):

 

on receipt in the USA the US postal service was credited with 5c for the inland postage.

 

On the front is a Liverpool receiver for November 25th, a type used for maritime mail. 

 

As per the m/s at the top, this item was carried on the Cunarder RMS 'PERSIA'. 

 

She sailed from Liverpool on November 26th 1859 arriving in New York on December 8th 1859

 

and New Orleans on December 14th 1859. 

 

This is a rare item: Rideout machine cancellations are seldom found on values other than the contempoary1d

 

and this is the first example of the first surface printed value, other than on a stamp only, we have been able to offer. 

 

The transit marks are all nicely placed for display and do not overlap. 

 

SG72 is priced by Gibbons at £350 on stamp alone with an 'ordinary' cancellation.

 

Price: £150.00

 

NB: the item is in a finer condition than the scan suggests: the areas of browning are a lot fainter.

 

Item 152425 is to the original ORLEANS in France and Item 142426 to NEW ORLEANS in America. 

 

 

These two items would make a superb display and with the 6d Item 152210 above,

 

an exceptional and very rare/unique trio.

 

 

4d SG64

 

 

250.   

 

1856 4d medium garter SG64:

 

good/fine used pair, top corner wrinkle on right stamp.

 

London diamond in bars. 

 

A very scarce multiple.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £1,000 as two singles. 

 

Price: £120.00 

 

 

 4d SG66

 

     

228. 

 

1857 4d SG 66:

 

a used marginal example with '545'

 

of a Newcastle sideways duplex. 

 

Rarely found in a used marginal example.  

 

Price: £35.00

 

 

6d SG70 used Block of 4 

151229:  

 

6d SG70: good/fine used Block of 4 and priced by Gibbons at £700.

 

London WC/15 of the West Central District

 

Very clean reverse, one pulled perf and a few nibbled perfs on bottom right stamp

 

but a very scarce multiple     

 

Price: £160.00

 

 

6d Plate 11: damaged plate number variety

 

in the chestnut shade

 

 

152802.

 

6d Plate 11, SG122a,  chestnut shade, ‘NF’: 

 

a fine mint, no gum example with the listed variety ‘Figure ‘11’ on left damaged’. 

 

There are a couple of  short perfs near the ‘N’ square.  

 

A used stamp with this variety is priced by Gibbons at £400

 

but no price is quoted for a mint example. 

 

A mounted mint stamp in this shade is priced at £800 and used at £65.  

 

A very rare unused example and this and the next item 152803

 

are the only unused examples with this variety we have seen.

 

Price: £220.00

 

 

 

6d Plate 11: damaged plate number variety

 

in the pale chestnut shade

 

 

152803.

 

6d Plate 11, SG122b, pale chestnut, ‘NF’:

 

a fine/very fine mint no gum example showing the listed variety ‘Figure ‘11’ on left damaged’. 

 

A used stamp with this variety is priced by Gibbons at £400

 

but no price is quoted for a mint example. 

 

A mounted mint stamp in this shade is priced at £700 and used at £65. 

 

A very rare unused example and this and the previous item 152802

 

are the only unused examples with this variety we have seen.  

 

Price: £255.00

 

 

SG70: very fine cds

 

 

152804.

 

6d SG70: a rare cds example with a neatly applied,

 

and virtually upright, Newcastle on Tyne date stamp for July 9th 1861. 

 

There are a number of short perfs at the bottom on the right side.

 

But this stamp is rarely found with such a complete and upright cds. 

 

Price: £80.00

 

 

6d SG84 inscriptional

 

 

 SOLD

 

 

1/- SG72: rare with Scots local

 

 

152806.

 

1/- SG72: a fine/very fine example, one short perf at right,

 

tied by a large part strike of ANDERSTON, Scots local type V111. 

 

Any Scots local on a surface printed stamp is rare

 

but on a 1/- value is even more so. 

 

Price: £95.00 

 

NB:

 

This 1/- value was used invariably on overseas mail,

 

especially to the USA, at that time.

 

 

 

 

6d SG83: INVERTED watermark

 

 

152808. 

 

6d SG84 Plate 3, ‘BL’:

 

fine used and with the variety ‘watermark inverted’. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £450 and very scarce so fine. 

                                                                                                                                                                      

Price: £75.00

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                               

4d Plate 16 on 1d stationery envelope

 

 

151299. 

 

One penny pink envelope uprated with a fine 4d SG153 Plate 16, 'EB'. 

 

Posted in Kensington London, September 21st 1880, to a POSTE RESTANTE, BERLIN address. 

 

We cannot recall seeing the 5d postage rate to Germany made up with a 4d sage green in this way.

 

This stamp on cover is priced by Gibbons at £600. 

 

A very scarce item. 

 

Price: £175.00

 

        

 

1d Lilac Die 2: envelope with a letter written by a famous portraitist

 

 

       

 

 

RMS Etruria

 

152781. 

 

A fine 1d lilac Die 2, tied to an envelope with original contents by a QUEENSTOWN date stamp for Sunday September 15th 1901. 

 

The envelope is addressed to General Edward O’Brien at the Carlton Hotel, London and on the reverse is a London receiver for the following day. 

 

On the top flap of the envelope is an embossed crested lion in a circle with ‘The Cunard Steamship Company Limited’. 

 

The envelope has been roughly opened at the bottom. 

 

Inside is a three page letter on headed notepaper with a coloured printed image of Cunard’s steamship, RMS ‘ETRURIA’ steaming in Mid Atlantic.

 

The letter, clearly signed and dated, September 14th 1901, was written on board and posted in Queenstown before it continued on its journey to New York. 

 

It was written by Carl J Blenner, a well known and celebrated American artist.

 

He was in high demand as a portraitist of the wealthy, titled and famous: particularly women.

 

His subjects included Lady Hamilton, granddaughter of the Duke of Cambridge. 

 

His male portraits included such personalities as the Duke of Cambridge:

 

Prince George was a soldier and a cousin of Queen Victoria; his statue is in Whitehall.

 

He painted many other aristocrats and famous individuals. 

 

In his letter to General O’Brien, he mentions he has finished the portrait of the Duke of Cambridge who was ‘much pleased with it’

 

and he is to do another larger one next year. ‘His Royal Highness gave me two photos of himself which he signed’.  

 

In the letter Blenner also mentions two women’s portraits for which he was paid £100 and £60: considerable sums at that time.

 

The letter has been reinforced along the fold with hinges but a rare and unexpected survivor in view of to whom it was sent and its contents. 

 

A very rare/unique item that would make a superb Exhibition/Display page. 

 

Price:  £190.00 

 

NB: There is a wealth of information on the internet about RMS ‘Etruria’.

 

Briefly: she and sister ship ‘Umbria’, were among the largest and fastest liners in service and were the last two Cunarders to be fitted with auxiliary sails. 

 

In the year this letter was written, ‘Etruria’ was fitted with wireless communication putting her at the forefront of the new technology. 

 

She carried many famous passengers including Winston Churchill who just a few years earlier had travelled to New York

 

and walked for the first time on American soil: the homeland of his mother.

 

This item is provided with a photograph of the artist in his studio circa1895 and printed biopics of him, all taken from the internet.

 

Blenner’s paintings are in many American Museums and Public Collections.

 

 

Control X Inverted: imperf margin

 

 

152812. 

 

1d lilac die 2: Control ‘X’ INVERTED in a corner block of 6. 

 

Top three stamps creased but the bottom three, including the control stamp, are unmounted. 

 

A few light gum wrinkles but the bottom three are fine. 

 

Gibbons lists this Control as Spec KC53a and priced as mounted mint at £200

 

with Imperf margin and at £300 as a marginal pair

 

A very scarce multiple with this variety. 

 

Price: £120.00. 

 

NB: This item is priced as a Control strip of three in view of the creasing on the top strip.

 

 

1d lilac die 2: Inverted and Upright Control X

 

 

152778. 

 

Two fine/very fine 1d lilacs die 2, each cancelled by a cds: one for Littlemoor, December 10th 1901,

 

and the other by likely a Stourbridge, March 30th 1902.  

 

The latter has an imperf bottom margin and the former a perforated one. 

 

Both are Control X but the perforated marginal example has the variety ‘INVERTED X’:

 

the imperf margin example has the Control X upright. 

 

Gibbons prices a mounted mint Control X with the X Inverted and a bottom imperf margin, at £200. 

 

It is listed as Spec KC53a: no price is quoted for this variety with perforated margin.

 

We have seen, and handled, only one mint example of Control X inverted with a perforated bottom margin.

 

We have neither previously seen, nor can trace, a used example

 

with Control X Inverted and a perforated bottom margin.  

 

An extremely rare item. 

 

Price: £120.00

 

NB: The Inverted X example has paper adherence on the reverse.

 

It is in a finer condition than the scan suggests with no browning. 

 

 

 

Inverted X: rare perforated margin

 

 

152863. 

 

1d lilac Die 2: very fine corner mint, no gum, Control block of 4 with ‘X’ inverted. 

 

Gibbons lists X inverted with imperf margin at £200 plus 50% for a corner pair, Spec KC53a.

 

They note the existence of this variety with perforated margin but no price is quoted. 

 

A very fresh block with this rare variety which displays well. 

 

Price: £85.00

 

 

 

1d lilac Control X Inverted: imperfed bottom margin

 

 

151896. 

 

1d lilacSG172, very fine block of 20:

 

16 stamps unmounted mint including the control, and three stamps with light gum creases. 

 

This is the variety 'Control X Inverted with imperf margin', Spec KC53a. 

 

In the latest, 2011 Edition of QV Volume 1,

 

Gibbons prices this variety at £200, mounted mint,

 

plus a 50% premium for a marginal corner PAIR. 

 

An attractive and very scarce block in such a size showing this variety. 

 

Price:  £275.00

 

 

 

1d lilac Control X Inverted: rare perf margin variety

 

 

  SOLD

 

  

 

1d lilac Control V: the addressee became a distinguished soldier

 

 

         

 

152780. 

 

1d lilac Control V perforated bottom margin, fault NE corner, tied to a very clean and uncreased envelope to

 

Portsmouth by a Maidenhead squared circle for June 7th 1898: no other postal markings. 

 

The addressee is a Captain Herbert Uniacke at the Clarence Barracks in Portsmouth. 

 

The then Clarence Barracks housed six garrison battalions of the Royal Artillery and was formerly the site of the Royal Marines. 

 

The history of the site is on the internet.

 

Capt Uniacke, then 34, was to have a very distinguished military career being knighted for services to his country. 

 

An item that would when described with the additional information from the internet, make a very interesting display page.   

 

Price: £55.00

 

NB: the photo of the Clarence Barracks was taken in 1899 and almost certainly Capt.Uniacke

 

would have been there when the letter, 1898, was sent to him.  

 

This photo is available on the internet together with many more of the barracks.

 

There is further information about Sir Herbert Uniacke on the internet.

 

As a Major General, he took part in World War I where he was in charge of

 

5 Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery British Expeditionary Force in France, 1914-1915. 

 

There is a photograph of him in the National Portrait Gallery and others on the internet including the one above.

 

A 1d lilac Control used on the letter to him, suggests that Capt Uniacke might have been a stamp collector himself at that time. 

 

His hobbies are not listed on the internet.

 

 

1d Lilac Die 1 Block of 4

 

 

151898.  

 

1881 1d lilac 14 dots SG 170:

 

fine/good used block of 4 tied to a piece

 

with a London WC duplex.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £175. 

 

Very scarce in a used block

 

Price£50.00  SOLD

 

 

An Early Usage of 1d Lilac Die 2: very rare Christmas Day cancellation on reverse

 

152771.  

 

A fine 1d lilac Die 2, on a clean envelope from Stoke Newington  to Long Melford. 

 

Tied by a Stoke Newington duplex for Christmas Eve 1881

 

with a Christmas Day Long Melford cds on the reverse.   

 

1d Lilac Die 2 was issued on December 13th 1881.

 

the item offered here is only 11 days after its issue.

 

It is one of the earliest examples we have been able to offer.

 

The stamp shows some characteristics of the bluish lilac shade

 

which is usually associated with the very early printings of this stamp.

 

 

The rarity of this item is enhanced by the fact that between 1840 and 1901,

there were only nine Christmas Days  that fell on a SUNDAY including December 25th 1881.

We have not previously seen a 1d lilac on an item which also has a Sunday Christmas Day cancellation. 

 

A remarkable combination of features and an item that would make a very fine display page

 

with additional information of Captain Bence. 

 

Price:  £70.00  SOLD

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2: two Coumbia Machines and Control X

 

 

 

152770. 

 

A fine 1d lilac Die 2, Control X with imperforated bottom margin.

 

Sent originally to a local address in London and franked by a London SE Columbia machine for May 24th 1907.

 

On being redirected from London WC to Bournemouth, it again received a Columbia London machine cancellation,

 

this time for WC, and May 25th 1907 at 11:15am  being received in Bournemouth on the same day, May 25th 1907, at 5:15pm.

 

The two different Columbia machine cancellations fortunately are slightly displaced allowing the dates and locations to be seen. 

 

A superb and unique/rare combination of features that would make an interesting display page.

 

 Price:  £55.00  SOLD

 

NB: the colour of the front of the envelope is the same as the reverse and not as the scan suggests.

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2: Bradford Hotel envelope and contents

 

 

 

 

152773. 

 

Envelope with contents from the Great Northern Victoria Hotel, Bradford to New York.

 

The postage paid by a pair of 1d lilacs Die 2 and a ‘Jubilee’ 1/2d SG 213

 

each tied by a Bradford date stamp for November 25th 1901. 

 

The original letter is well written and from a John Leith who seems to have given Sunday speeches

 

in various locations including Birmingham, Leicester and Bradford.

 

The letter has a fine printed heading of the Bradford Station Hotel and other Station Hotels in the same group. 

 

An interesting and fine item. 

 

Price:  £50.00

 

NB: The telephone number of the Hotel was only No. 82 in 1901.

 

Its number today is: 01274  728706.

 

This fine Hotel is still in operation and its history is available on the internet.

 

 

Steamer Columba

 

 

 SOLD

 

 

 

The Royal Route: a David MacBrayne envelope

 

 

 

 SOLD

 

 

Very early usage: 1d lilac Die 1

 

 

SOLD

 

 

1d Inland Revenue Die 4: used on day the 1d Lilac was issued

 

     

SOLD

 

     

An Extremely early usage: 1d Lilac Die 1

 

      

 

152748. 

 

1d lilac Die 1: tied to a small piece by a fine early type of BRISTOL squared circle

 

for JULY 14th 1881. 

 

  The 1d lilac was issued on JULY 12th 1881. 

 

This example here is the EARLIEST we have seen

 

in more than 40 years as specialist dealers in QV items. 

 

Despite the brown staining, this is an extremely rare item.

 

The 1d lilac used on cover on the Day of Issue is priced by Booth at £10,000. 

 

Price:  £95.00  SOLD

 

NB: very seldom do we offer items with staining unless the rarity is such that it supersedes the fault.

 

This is the case with the rarity of the item offered here.

 

 

 

Advertising Envelope to America

 

 

POTTSVILLE in 1854

 

 

152722.  6d SG104, Plate 6, ‘BD’:

 

Overall a fine used example with a small nick on the wing margin and a London Western District duplex for June 15th 1868.

 

Tied to a fine/very fine printed Advertising Envelope for the Waverley Temperance Hotels in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.  

 

Addressed to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill (County) and with a New York receiving date stamp on the front. 

 

There are no postal markings on the reverse. 

 

This item would have been carried on the ‘City of London’ Packet of the Inman Line

 

which left Liverpool for New York on June 17th 1868. 

 

6d SG104 is priced on cover by Gibbons at £250.

 

This is a very scarce example, and early usage, of this envelope and is rare sent to America. 

 

A superb and attractive item which would display well with further information available on the internet about these Hotels. 

 

Price:  £175.00 

 

NB: The line engraved view of Pottsville in 1854 is on the internet.

 

 

9d SG98: rare combination of cancellations

 

 

  SOLD

 

 

4d SG62: rare cancellation

 

 

152725.  

 

4d SG62a, paper very slightly blued, very fine colour and several short perfs.  

 

The stamp is cancelled by a superbly crisp strike of the

 

rare LEITH Experimental Duplex for November 9th 1855. 

 

The SPHG record its earliest known date of usage as October 29th 1855.

 

It is also rated 13/18 in rarity of the 18 Types of Scottish Experimental duplexes.

 

Not only is it one of the earliest usages we have seen

 

but rarely is this Type found on any other value than the contemporary 1d. 

 

For the example offered here to be on the first issue of the 4d surface printed stamp,

 

and with such an early usage, is remarkable and the only one we have seen.

 

The wing margin allows the year to be clearly visible.  

 

An extremely rare item with, very likely, a unique combination of stamp and cancellation. 

 

Price:  £175.00   

 

NB: Gibbons prices the basic stamp at £450.

 

 

 

1/- SG101: vertical pair with variety

 

                   

 

152728. 

 

1/- SG101, Plate 4, fine/very fine used vertical pair, ‘DI-EI’, and cancelled

 

by a DUNDEE duplex ‘114’ for May 16th 1867.

 

The top frame line of ‘DI’ is thinned with several breaks

 

and, as a pair, can be conveniently compared with ‘EI’.

 

On the front and reverse can be seen in the wing margin

 

the watermark sheet position lines. 

 

An attractive multiple priced by Gibbons at £550 as two singles.

 

Price: £80.00

NB: the brown marks in the wing margin of 'DI' is a trick of the scanner.

 

 

The next items are two of the four known examples of Irish Scroll Cancellations.

 

Only Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Londonderry used such cancellers.

 

Cork was the first which it used from early 1883. 

 

McKay correctly comments that all are elusive.

 

In our experience, Cork is the more frequently seen.

 

Waterford Scroll

152727.  Two pence halfpenny, SG157 Plate 22, ‘JL’:

 

very fine and cancelled by an almost complete WATERFORD scroll and rare as such.  

 

Duty code C and stamper’s number 2. 

 

A vertical watermark guide line is visible on the reverse. 

 

A very scarce/rare cancellation especially on a surface printed issue. 

 

Superb item. 

 

Price: £58.00 SOLD

 

 

Limerick Scroll


152726. 

Two pence halfpenny, SG157 Plate 22, ‘HB’:

fine, part LIMERICK scroll for July 25
th 1883, duty code H and stamper’s  number 2.  

McKay in ‘Irish Postmarks since 1840’, illustrates this cancellation

but it does not have a stamper’s code or duty code. 

He also comments that it has only two lines above and below the date

whereas Waterford and Cork have three.


The Limerick example offered here has three
lines. 

This poses the question: did Limerick have two types of scroll canceller? 

A rare usage on a surface printed issue. 

Price
£47.00  SOLD

NB: the item is in a finer condition than the scan suggests.

 

 

 

4d SG66: displaced watermark

 

 

 

152717.  4d SG66 large garter watermark: a fine used strip of three.

 

The watermarks are displaced to an extent that is rarely seen on this issue.

 

Gibbons prices this item at £450 as three singles.

 

An attractive and very scarce item.

 

Price: £75.00

 

 

4d SG66 INVERTED WATERMARK on Cover

 

152189. 

 

4d SG66, fine wing margin example on an envelope to Paris, November 1859. 

 

Tied by a London 16 in diamond and bars and with the variety: INVERTED WATERMARK. 

 

Gibbons prices a used SG66 with inverted watermark at £400 which means an estimated price on cover of £600.

 

In our experience this is underpriced as this is the first example on cover we have been able to offer. 

 

A rare item. 

 

Price: £135.00 

 

NB: the brown marks on the front are less pronounced than in the scan.

 

 

6d SG68

 

 

 

152700.

 

6d SG70, strip of three, wing margin with several nibbled perfs, PORTSMOUTH May 15th 1860 duplex.

 

The right hand end stamp with a Portsmouth cds and very scarce as such. 

 

Gibbons prices this at £360 before adding the premium for the cds stamp.

 

A very scarce multiple

 

Price: £65.00

 

 

6d SG70: REVERSED Watermark

 

    

 

152696. 

 

6d SG70, a trimmed wing margin, and faded mint no gum example, with REVERSED watermark. 

 

The fading allows the watermark to be seen from the front of the stamp. 

 

Gibbons prices the used reversed watermark at £475

 

but NO price is quoted for a mint example.

 

A very unusual item which despite the faults is very rare.

 

Displays well.

 

Price: £70.00

 

 

6d with INVERTED watermark

 

 

 

152708. 

 

6d SG70, fine/very fine, except for a few bluntish perfs at the top.

 

Tied by a London cancellation with a London date stamp on reverse for July 19th 1858.

 

This neat and clean envelope is addressed to Sir James Colvile in Calcutta

 

with a Calcutta GPO date stamp on reverse in red.

 

The 6d has an INVERTED watermark. 

 

Gibbons prices this variety on a stamp alone at £400 which indicates a price on cover of £800. 

 

On the reverse is an embossed Head surrounded by ‘The Athenaeum’.

 

On the internet are details of the famous Athenaeum Club.  

 

A rare and very fine item which would make an interesting display page

 

with a description enhanced by information from the internet.

 

Price: £120.00

 

NB: On the internet is a biopic of Sir James Colvile. 

 

Briefly: he was a lawyer and practised at Lincoln's Inn for ten years before

 

being appointed Advocate General to the East India Company in 1845.

 

He went to Calcutta and was appointed Puisne Judge to the Supreme Court of Bengal in 1848.

 

In 1855 he became Chief Justice of Bengal

 

He was the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta from 1857 to 1859

 

and was in this position when he received the item offered here.  

 

 

1/- with INVERTED watermark

 

 

 

152697. 

 

1/- SG72, a trimmed wing margin example, blunt NW corner, tied to a mourning envelope from London to New York.

 

On the reverse is a London date stamp for February 4th 1858 and a superb strike of the Islington C.O in Blue.

 

This strike recorded in blue to 1855 so this example extends the period of use: perhaps an isolated strike?

 

On the front is a Liverpool receiver for February 5th. 

 

This item would have been carried on the Cunarder, ‘Africa’, which left Liverpool on February 6th 1858

 

arriving in New York on February 21st 1858.

 

The 1/- clearly shows that the emblems watermark is INVERTED. 

 

This is the only example we have seen, in more than 40 years of specialising in the surface printed issues,

 

where the watermark variety can be seen from the front when on an envelope: an ideal display item!

 

Gibbons prices this watermark variety on stamp alone at £700: no price is quoted on cover.

 

A very interesting, unusual and rare item which would make a fine and memorable display page.

 

Price: £130.00

 

ITEMS 152189, 152708 and 152697 would make an impressive, and very rare, display trio.

 

 

 

 

2/- Dull Blue 

 

 

 SOLD

 

 

2/- Pale Blue

 

   

 

SOLD

 

 

6d SG123:

damaged plate number variety

 

 

152695. 

 

6d SG123, pale buff shade, 'NF': fine used with the '425' of TANDAGEREE, Armagh. 

 

The stamp 'NF' shows the listed variety Spec J79d 'Figure '11' on left damaged'.

 

The cancellation leaves the variety clear.

 

A Gibbons price in this shade is £800. 

 

A rare usage in Ireland and the first we have seen.  

 

Price:  £145.00

 

NB: As usual with this variety, there is a frame break in the corner of the 'N' square.

 

 

8d SG156: a rare cds example

 

 

152718. 8d SG156. 

 

This stamp is rarely found with a cds. 

 

The example here has the most precisely applied cds we have ever seen. 

 

The stamp has a pulled perf at the top and a small thinned area to the left of the perf irregularity.

 

Ordinarily we do not offer stamps with this type of fault

 

unless the item has a considerable rarity and is attractive: this 8d fulfils both criteria. 

 

This example is priced by Gibbons at £700 including the premium for the cds. 

 

A remarkable and very attractive item priced accordingly.

 

Price: £80.00

 

 

 

Board of Trade perfin: rare usage

 

        

 

152714. 

 

4d SG160, Plate 18. 

 

A used example with the BOARD of TRADE perfin.

 

Very difficult to find this perfin on this value. 

 

Price:  £58.00  SOLD

 

 

6d on 6d SG 162: EKD?

 

 

152716. 

 

6d on 6d SG162, very fine/superb used with a Lower Thames Street, E C. cds. 

 

This stamp was issued on January 1st 1883 and the example here at

 

January 6th 1883 is believed to be the earliest known.

 

We have not been able to trace an earlier usage. 

 

A superb and rare item. 

 

Price:  £145.00

 

NB: the scan gives a false impression of a missing perf at the bottom:

 

it has part of the black cancellation.

 

There appears to be a reddish tinge to the area around the overprint:

 

this is a trick of the scanner.

 

Scroll down to see another 6d on 6d rarity: item 152658.

 

 

6d on 6d SG162 pair

 

 

152715. 

 

A fine/very fine used vertical pair with LONDON cds's for September 22nd 1883.

 

A difficult stamp to find in used multiples especially vertical ones.

 

Priced by Gibbons in excess of £500 with the cds premium.

 

An attractive and very scarce item.

Price: £115.00 

1/- SG72: clear profile 

 

152979.

1/- SG72, very fine/superb used with the ‘620’? numeral

leaving a large portion of QV’s head clear. 

Gibbons prices SG72 at £350 to which could be added the premium for so finely used. 

A very attractive item. 

Price: £60.00

 

 

The next eight items show some rare usages of the letters in diamond and bars.

 

Letters had adhesive stamps, at the appropriate rate, attached to letters from

 

Officers and Seamen in Her Majesty's Navy abroad. 

 

These were put into the Ship's Bag, with the stamps uncancelled,

 

and dispatched to the UK by packet boat.

 

On arrival at the Foreign Office of the Post Office,

 

they were cancelled by the letters in diamond with bars

 

which were used only for that purpose.

 

These cancellations are found occasionally used for other than these reasons

 

and may have been used in error.

 

 

A very rare combination of stamp and cancellation

  

   

 

152961. 

 

9d SG98 Plate 4, ‘TA’:

 

a fine/very fine used example, a few nibbled perfs.

 

Cancelled by the rare ‘P in diamond and bars’

 

leaving QV's profile, and a large part of the head, clear.

 

This is the only example we have seen of this stamp with this cancellation. 

 

Gibbons prices SG98 at £600. 

 

A very rare combination of features. 

 

The stamp is printed on unusually thin paper:

 

the emblem watermark can be seen on the front.

 

Only a thick paper variety is catalogued but perhaps

 

a thin paper variety should be listed as well. 

 

A superb and very rare item. 

 

Price:  £225.00

 

 

A Rare Combination

 

 

152915.

 

 6d Plate 6, SG105, ‘AL’ with the B in diamond and bars.

 

The stamp shows the printing variety ‘short A row’. 

 

The 6d has a number of toned perf but this is

 

a rare/very rare combination of cancellation and stamp.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £175. 

 

Price:  £45.00

 

 

A Rare Combination

 

 

152914. 

 

1/- SG117, the scarcer Plate 4, ‘QB’,

 

B in diamond and bars

 

The stamp has a blunted SE corner.

 

 Affixed to a thin card for display purposes. 

 

A rare usage. 

 

Price:  £30.00

 

 

Rare usage of B in diamond and bars on the 6d Plate 12

 

 

152916.

 

6d Plate 12, SG125:

 

fine used and fixed to a card with a fine pair of 1d’s Plate 145.

 

The stamps have been affixed to a card for display purposes.

 

A rare usage on the 6d value and scarce on a multiple of the 1d’s.

 

Gibbons prices the 6d at £300.  

 

Price: £60.00

 

 

Rare usages of P in diamond and bars

 

 

152920.

 

4d Plate 9 SG94, 'GA':  

 

fine and a rare usage. 

 

Price: £40.00

 

152921.

 

4d Plate 9 SG 95, 'KL':  

 

fine and a rare usage. 

 

Price: £40.00

 

 

A Very Rare Combination

 

 

152919.

 

5/- Plate 1, SG126: a defective example but with the B in bars.

 

The only example of this high value that we have been able to offer or have seen. 

 

Indeed we have not seen any other example of a high value denomination

 

with any of these types of cancellations.

 

Gibbons prices 5/- Plate 1 at £675.

 

Despite the faults this is a very rare item.   

 

Price: £70.00

 

 

Very rare cancellation: unique usage

 

 

152692.  1/- SG101 Plate 4:

 

a generally fine pair on a clean envelope from VALPARAISO to Stourport, Worcestershire. 

 

The stamps are franked by the Foreign Branch ‘F’ in diamond and bars. 

 

There are two types of this cancellation, Dubus Type D and Dubus Type G1:

 

both are illustrated by Parmenter in ‘Barred Numeral Cancellations of London’.

 

Type D is rated ‘Rare’ and the second is ‘Recorded on stamp only’ with a H* rarity.

 

The one offered here is the rarer of the two ie Type G1.

 

On the reverse is a partial strike of the Valparaiso date stamp for January 2 1866

 

and a partial Stourport cds for February 13th 1866.  

 

On the front is a fine London E C Paid cds for February 12th 1866. 

 

There are some perf irregularities at the top margins. 

 

Gibbons prices a single on cover at £450.

 

An extremely rare example of this cancellation:

 

we have only previously seen it on a single 1d stamp which was not on cover. 

 

An Exhibition item. 

 

Price:  £320.00

 

NB:

 

In the '1d red Line-engraved' Section are examples of

 

the Foreign Branch 'B' and 'P' on multiple1d plate numbers.

 

 

 

Rare cancellation and usage

 

 

152703. 

 

1/- SG101, fine pair Plate 4, ‘OC-OD’, perfs on the wing margin are all evenly short.

 

The stamps are tied to a clean thin paper envelope to Chile, by the ‘P’ in diamond and bars:

 

Parmenter rarity ‘G’ ie very rare.  Lombard Street London Paid cds in red for November 16th 1865. 

 

Also on the front is a Panama date stamp for December 10th 1865. 

 

There are no postal markings on the reverse.  Gibbons prices a single SG101 on cover at £450.

 

The ‘P’ in diamond and bars, together with the letter types ‘B’, ‘F’ and ‘H’,

 

were issued to the Foreign Office on September 2oth 1865.

 

The example here at November 16th 1865 is the earliest we have seen

 

and the earliest example on cover we can trace.

 

All four of these letter types are rare to find on cover

 

and especially so on surface printed values.

 

An Exhibition item. 

 

Price: £265.00

 

 

Please note:

 

In the '1d red Line-engraved' Section are examples of

the Foreign Branch 'B' and 'P' on multiple 1d plate numbers.

 

 

 

4d SG65 pair on cover

 

 

 

152677. 

 

4d SG65, white paper, fine, but with short top corner perfs

 

and a couple at the bottom of the left hand stamp. 

 

Stamps are tied by the ‘145’ of FORRES, to Frankfurt.  

 

On the reverse is a Forres date stamp in green for January 21st 1857. 

 

A difficult stamp to find on cover in pairs; Gibbons prices a single on cover at £1,000. 

 

A rare multiple usage. 

 

Price: £160.00 

 

NB: 4d SG66, was issued in January 1857 so the usage of this pair

 

may have been the Post Office in Forres using up the old stock before the new issue.

 

 

Dundee Experimental Duplex: rare overseas usage

 

152678. 

 

1/- SG72 but close to or in the scarcer deep green shade, SW corner fault,

 

tied to a fine and clean mourning envelope to the USA by a

 

fine/very fine DUNDEE Experimental Duplex for August 3rd 1857. 

 

The dater portion shows damage to the lower arc of the date circle which occurred between April and June 1856.

 

In September 1856 the top bar of the ‘114’ numeral became shortened at the right and this is clearly seen.

 

On the reverse is a Broughty Ferry date stamp for August 3rd 1857.

 

These Experimental Duplex cancellations are rarely found on overseas mail

 

and on values other than the contemporary 1d’s.   

 

An attractive and rare item.

 

 Price: £115.00

 

NB: Broughty Ferry was a popular seaside destination even in Victorian times.

 

 

Envelope to ALEXANDRIA

 

 

 

152676. 

 

4d SG94, Plate 13, a fine vertical pair: one stamp with a cds of the HAMPSTEAD duplex

 

for December 26th 1873 and tied to a clean envelope to ALEXANDRIA, Egypt. 

 

On the reverse is a superb Alexandria date stamp for New Years Day 1874.

 

A single 4d plate 13 is priced by Gibbons on cover at £140.

 

The 100% premium for the cds can be applied.

 

An attractive and scarce item. 

 

Price: £65.00

 

Scarce shade used in Ireland

 

 

152679. 

 

6d SG123, Plate 11, the scarce Pale Buff shade.

 

A fine example, very small light corner crease in the NE letter square,

 

 tied by a fine DUBLIN duplex for July 25th 1873, to a clean envelope to Dieppe

 

with an interesting addressee.

 

Gibbons prices this shade on cover at £250. 

 

A very scarce Irish usage of this scarce shade. 

 

Price: £70.00

 

 

Piece to Mauritius with a rare franking combination

 

 SOLD

 

 

 

1d lilac Die 2: unusual combination of cancellations

 

 

 

152681. 

 

1d lilac die 2 on an envelope to Mr Bateman, Birmingham from London. 

 

Stamp tied by a London squared circle for February 21st 1900. 

 

On the front is a single ring Birmingham receiver cds for February 22nd 1900. 

 

Also on the front is a handstruck boxed 'Insufficiently addressed/75' in RED of Birmingham.

 

This is the first such example we have been able to offer.

 

A purpley-red line has been drawn across it and initialled. 

 

A further Birmingham date stamp, doubled ringed, has been struck over the

 

 'Insufficiently addressed/75' cachet for February 22nd but, very unusual and rare, there are no year plugs.

 

The envelope has been readdressed to London with the addressee crossed out.

 

On the front is a boxed purple cachet giving the reason why the item was not delivered. 

 

On the reverse is an embossed detail of the sender and ringed by a post office official:

 

Cooperative Wholesalers Society Limited, Leman Street London. 

 

On the reverse is a London.E date stamp for February 22nd 1900 with the time 4:15pm.

 

The Birmingham date stamp on the front is for this same date but the time is 10:55am.

 

When the top flap is raised a perfinned date of 23 00 2 is clearly seen

 

ie the date of receipt 23rd of February 1900 and displays well.

 

A very unusual item that would make an interesting display page.

 

Price: £55.00

 

NB: there is a small filing spike hole at the left and a vertical fold.

 

 

6d on 6d SG162:

 

an unrecorded major variety

 

            

 

      

 

152658. 

 

6d on 6d 'MC', SG162, a fine/very fine fiscally used example. 

 

The only printing varieties recorded and listed on this stamp

 

refer to the dots beneath the red 6d overprint. 

 

However, the example offered here has in the NE letter square printing damage/flaw

 

with almost all of the central portion of the letter 'M' missing.

 

Also in that area is further plate damage:

 

there is a gap in the top bar of the 'E' of POSTAGE

and a large portion of the foot of this same letter is missing.

 

At the SE corner of the damaged letter square is a small unprinted area.

 

The fiscal writing is well clear of the varieties.

 

Important new varieties undiscovered for almost 140 years.

 

The enlarged black and white photograph is with the item.

 

 

It is offered with another example of this stamp,

with the same lettering 'MC'.

 

Very fine used in a light shade, with a Registered W C D O cds

 

for January 12th 1883. 

 

It was issued on January 1st 1883 and this is

 

the second earliest usage we have seen. 

 

This stamp does NOT show any of the plate damage

 

and is from the very early printings.

 

The plate damaged stamp must have occurred at a later printing.

 

A superb Exhibition pairing.

 

Price: £245.00

 

NB: the apparent browning on the stamps is NOT present;

 

they are tricks of the scanner.

 

 

6d Plate 12: doubled Plate Number

 

 

152664.

 

6d Plate 12, SG123, pale buff, 'DF': fine/very fine used with the

 

 left hand plate number showing the variety Spec J80d, ' Figure '12' on left doubled'. 

 

Gibbons prices this at £550, the same as the 6d SG125 showing a similar variety.

 

In our experience the 6d Plate 12 in pale buff is much rarer and this is

 

one of only two examples we have been able to offer. 

 

This relative rarity is reflected in the printing numbers.

 

Only 5,000 sheets of Plate 12 in pale buff were printed.

 

 But 29,995 sheets of Plate 12 in grey ie virtually SIX times more. 

 

An excellent example with the cancellation clear of the variety.

 

Rarely offered.

 

Price:  £385.00  SOLD

 

 

SG125: variety Double Plate Number

 

 

151419. 

 

6d SG125, Plate 12, 'DF':

 

fine used, pulled perf at the top.

 

The London cancellation leaves the left hand plate number completely clear

 

showing the listed variety, SG Spec J81d, 'Figure 12 on left doubled'. 

 

Gibbons price for this variety is £550. 

 

Very scarce stamp with this variety so clearly visible.  

 

Price: £145.00

 

 

Aus England Per Aachen Franco in Bright Crimson

 

 

152663.

 

6d Plate 3, SG 84, 'OJ', fine except light NE corner crease,

 

on a wrapper from London to Luebeck, Germany, May 14th 1864: small peripheral fault at the centre top. 

 

On the front is a superb Deep Crimson Aus England Per Aachen Franco date stamp for the following day. 

 

This very striking colour was in use only during a 6/7 month period, approx April/October 1864.

 

The usual colours of ink for this handstamp were orange or blue.

 

Gibbons prices SG84 on cover at £300.

 

An attractive item which displays well. 

 

Price:  £95.00

 

 

 

1/2d SG187: Block of 12

 

 

 

152670. 

 

1/2d SG187, unmounted mint block of 12 with white gum but with some creasing and gum wrinkles.

 

 There appears to be an offset on one stamp as per the scan.   

 

Gibbons prices a mounted mint block of four at £50: no price is quoted for unmounted.

 

An attractive and fresh multiple despite the gum wrinkles etc.

 

 Price: £60.00  SOLD

 

 

Glasgow to New York with USA Postage Dues

 

 

152662. 

 

1d lilac die 2, tied to a very fine envelope from GLASGOW to New York, January 25th 1897. 

 

Received New York on February 4th 1897 with a 'Due 6 Cents' handstamp. 

 

On the reverse is a fine pair of two red 3 cents USA Postage Dues applied on arrival

 

and tied by New York datestamps for February 5th 1897.

 

 A very attractive and scarce item.

 

Price: £75.00

 

NB; the envelope is finer than the scan suggests.

 

 

 

6d S69 with CORK Spoon

 

         

 

152659. 

 

6d SG69, fine used: the brown marks are a lot fainter than in the scan. 

 

The stamp has the dater portion of the CORK, English Type a: the date of December 15th 1856

 

confirms this Type: the Irish Type was not introduced until March 1857. 

 

The date is also an early usage of SG69.

 

This is a scarce spoon and not recorded by Arundel other than on the contemporary 1d.

 

However, we understand that an updated version of Arundel's 'Irish Spoons'

 

is in the process of being prepared for publication in a few years time.

 

6d SG69 is rarely found with a cds and this is the

 

 first we have been able to offer with the dater portion of an Irish spoon.

 

Gibbons prices SG69, allowing for a date stamp cancellation, at almost £400.

 

A very rare item. 

 

Price: £95.00

 

NB: The watermark guide lines indicate a corner position on the Mill Sheet.

 

 

 

4d SG79 and 80

 

 

152654.

 

4d SG79 and two fine 4d SG80 examples on a commercial entire, in Italian, to Turin.

 

The 4d SG79 is defective, with some very light creasing, at the left BUT it has the watermark INVERTED.

 

The central 4d has a couple of shortish perfs. 

 

The stamps are tied by a NEWCASTLE duplex for May 1st 1865, and

 

the central stamp is cancelled only by an almost complete and upright Newcastle cds.

 

Rare to find this stamp on cover with a cds and to find both listed shades of this stamp on cover. 

 

The 4d SG79 with inverted watermark is priced by Gibbons, on a stamp not on cover, at £375.

 

The 4d SG80 is priced on cover at £300 but at £675 with the premium for the cds.

 

A very rare and remarkable combination of features which display well.

 

Price: £175.00

 

 

 

4d SG66: RED 'PD in oval' cancellations

 

      

 

152616. 

 

4d SG66, fine, cancelled only by a double strike of the red 'PD in oval' applied in transit

 

as the stamp had missed being cancelled by a numeral or duplex.

 

The stamp also has the variety 'Short 'A' row' and this is confirmed by the top horizontal line in the watermark.

 

A rare and attractive example of a 'Red on Red' combination.

 

A superb display item.

 

Price:  £220.00

 

 

6d INVERTED watermark

 

 

152619. 

 

6d SG68, fine, cancelled by an early type of London duplex.

 

The watermark is INVERTED and priced by Gibbons at £400.

 

A difficult stamp to find so fine with this variety.

 

Price:  £75.00

 

 

1/- Plate 6: rare cancellation

 

 

152617. 

 

1/- SG 117, Plate 6, fine, cancelled by a 'Travelling Office? Special.......'.

 

Unsure as to the purpose of this cancellation and have difficulty

 

in recalling seeing another example.

 

Price:  £48.00  SOLD

 

 

4d SG80 Plate 3: states of the defective letter 'K' on 'CK' variety.

 

    

 

State 2.

 

 

 

   

State 3.

 

 

 

  

State 4.

 

 SOLD

 

 

 

4d SG79 Plate 3: defective letter 'K' on 'CK'

 

 

152596. 

 

4d SG79 Plate 3, 'CJ-CK': fine pair with the '466' of LIVERPOOL.

 

'CK' has a some short/very short perfs at the top and light wrinkling in the NE corner area.

 

 Stamp 'CK' has the variety Spec J52d, 'Defective letter K (stamp CK).' 

 

The cancellation is clear of all the letters allowing the defective 'K' to be seen and compared.

 

The variety is in State 3: 'No longer recognisable as a 'K' with further filling of the central part.'

 

See item 152595 above for details of the different States.

 

This is the only pair with this variety that we have seen.

 

Gibbons prices the variety at £550 in the cheaper shade, SG80.

 

A superb and rare item.

 

Price: £320.00

 

 

Passage West Co. Cork to New Zealand

 

 

 

 

152599. 

 

6d SG70, fine, tied to a clean and uncreased envelope, by a light inverted strike of the '372'

 

of  PASSAGE WEST, Co. Cork. and  addressed to Dunedin, New Zealand.

 

On the reverse is a Passage West date stamp for June 18th 1862; a Cork cds for the same date

 

and a partial London transit date stamp.

 

On the front is a fine Dunedin, Otago receiving date stamp for August 21st 1862.

 

6d SG70 priced by Gibbons at £240 on cover.

 

A rare item from this location to New Zealand.

 

Price: £95.00 

 

NB: There is a lot of information on the internet re the history of Passage West

 

which could be used to enhance the description of this rare item.

 

 

One of the earliest usages of any Railway Letter stamp

 

 

152609. 

 

1d lilac Die 2, with a Railway Letter 2d stamp of the BELFAST AND NORTHERN/ COUNTIES RAILWAY:

 

each with a BELFAST duplex for February 3rd 1891, and pen cancellation, and tied to a large piece. 

 

Capt. Jackson in 'The Railway and Airway Letter Stamps of the British Isles 1891-1971',

 

notes these railway stamps came into use in February 1891.

 

He lists the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway stamps

 

as received from the printers on January 27th 1891:

 

he notes only one used example of this issue known at that time.

 

It was replaced by the next issue in April 1891.

 

 One of the earliest known examples of any Railway Letter Stamp. 

 

An item of Exhibition importance. 

 

Price: £175.00

 

NB: The Railway Letter Service was the only real express letter service,

 

a service which the Post Office, in spite of its monopoly, could not provide.

 

Capt.Jackson's Book was the result of over 20 years study

 

of more than 80,000 of these stamps including 4,000 covers.

 

 

 

Early usage 1d lilac Die 1.

 

152581.

   

1d SG171 Die 1, fine, tied to a fine Registered Envelope by a 'dumb' cancellation

 

but the embossed 'Registration Two Pence' remained uncancelled.

 

Very fine London W.C.D.O. registered oval for July 27th 1881

 

An attractive and very scarce item. 

 

price: £78.00 SOLD

 

 

1d Lilac Die 1: early usage to an overseas destination.

 

152582. 

 

1d SG170, Die 1, two singles, and a 1/2d SG165: the 1d on the right appears to

 

have been placed over an existing very light crease in the envelope. 

 

Tied to a clean envelope to the USA by CHESTER duplexes for July 27th 1881

 

The addressee is a famous American Chemist: Professor James Curtis Booth. 

 

There is a full biopic of him on the internet.

 

The 1d lilac was issued on July 12th 1881 and this is the earliest usage we have seen going to North America. 

 

A very fine and rare item that would display well when fully written up using information from the internet. 

 

Price:  £95.00 SOLD

 

 

 

4d SG62 small garter: Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company

 

 

 

152579.

 

4d SG62, two singles, very fine colour, slightly overlapping in places,

 

tied to a clean envelope to Wiesbaden, by London numerals in bars. 

 

On reverse is a Lombard Street (LS) date stamp for February 7th 1856. 

 

One of the 4d's is tied by the Aus England Per Aachen in orange for the following day.

 

The left hand 4d has irregular perfs towards the top left.

 

On the reverse is a very fine printed 'Geelong & Melbourne Railway Co.' 

 

The internet has information about this Australian Railway Company; a small extract follows:

 

Work began at the Geelong end in 1854 but progress was slow due to a labour shortage caused by the Victorian gold rush,

 

so the Victorian government hired out 100 prisoners to the company at a daily rate of five shillings each.

 

They were housed in prison hulks moored in Corio Bay.

 

On 25th June 1857, the company opened the line from Geelong to a temporary terminus called Greenwich

 

on the Yarra River at Newport, where passengers had to transfer to a Steam Ferry for connection to Melbourne. 

 

A single 4d SG62 on cover is priced by Gibbons at £780.

 

A very scarce item that would make an interesting display page particularly

 

when the description was expanded by information on the internet.

 

Price: £235.00

 

NB: the addressee is a Major Arthur Ogle 9th Regt, and family information is on the internet.

 

 

 

1d SG166: very fine used block

 

       

 

152543. 

 

1d Venetian Red, SG166, a very fine used block of 4 with London duplexes for January 17th 1881. 

 

A few perfs reinforced by a hinge as per the scan; each stamp has some of the original gum. 

 

Gibbons prices a used block of four at £85, without the premium of 75% for the cds example. 

 

In our experience this figure significantly undervalues this stamp in a block. 

 

An atractive and very scarce item especially in such fresh condition. 

 

Price:  £75.00

 

 

 

1d SG166 with a very scarce cancellation.

 

        

 

152544.

 

1d SG166 Venetian Red, fine used block each stamp with a fine/superb

 

EDINBURGH Newspaper Branch date stamp for May 11th 1880: McKay Fig 1207.

 

A few trimmed perfs top right on 'SC' but a rare block with this cancellation:

 

the first we have been able to offer. 

 

An attractive and rare block with these cancellations.

 

Price: £55.00

 

 

SG166: Glasgow NPB date stamps

 

151552.   

SG166, fine and attractive used, and very scarce, block of 6:

'QL' light diagonal crease at the right corner area. 

 

Cancelled by very fine strikes of the 'Union Jack type' of the scarce

Glasgow News Paper Branch date stamp for September 9th 1880.

 

Very difficult to find used blocks of this stamp and especially a block larger than four. 

 

Very much underpriced by Gibbons at £85 for a used block of 4. 

 

We have not previously seen this stamp in a used block with this cancellation.

 

Price: £95.00

 

 

1d SG166 lightly used block

 

         

 

152546. 

 

1d SG166, Venetian Red, very lightly used block with some light wrinkles visible on the clean back. 

 

The lightly applied cancellations, possibly dumb cancels,

 

 leaves the Queen's Heads remarkable clear as seen in the scan. 

 

Very scarce to find this stamp in a used block but rare so lightly cancelled. 

 

A very attractive item.

 

Price: £50.00

 

 

1d SG166 Newspaper Branch Cancellations

 

 

152545.

 

1d SG166, fine used block each stamp with a

 

Newspaper Branch variety: NPB/R.

 

Perfs strengthening by hinges on the top and bottom pairs.

 

An attractive and scarce item.

 

Price:  £38.00

 

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2: blocks of 12 and 8

 

 

152561. 

 

1d lilac Die 2 in a blocks of 12 and 8 tied to  part of the original package

 

by LEICESTER B O ring cancellations. 

 

A few with small faults not surprising with such a large multiple usage.

 

An usual item.

 

Price: £40.00

 

 

 

4d Large Garter: very rare block of 4 on a wrapper to Italy

 

 

 

152569.  4d SG66 and 2d SG SG45, 'KB', Plate 8:

 

wing marginal block of 4, a single 4d and the 2d tied by to a wrapper to Bologna, Italy

 

by  NOTTINGHAM duplexes for February 27th 1860. 

 

The 4ds, except the bottom left one with CDS, have some faults.

 

The top left 4d cds single has been placed over the wing margin of the 4d and the 2d has one short SW corner perf.

 

A block of this 4d on cover is extremely rare. 

 

Galland and Louis, 'GB Surface Printed Postage Stamps 1855-1883', page 37, record ONLY TWO other covers.

 

One is to Madeira, December 1858 franked by a block of 4 and a single SG66 with a 2d blue; the other is 

 

a block of 4 on a registered cover from Minehead to London, June 1860 with another single 4d and three 2d blues plate 8. 

 

Hence the item offered here is a new discovery. 

 

As a guide: Gibbons prices a SINGLE SG66 with cds premium on cover at £500 plus and a block of 4 on cover at in excess of £1400.

 

Despite the faults this is only the THIRD example known of this 4d on cover in a block of 4. 

 

A surface printed rarity that would make a memorable display item. 

 

Price: £275.00  

 

NB: the wrapper is of a small neat size bearing in mind the franking.

 

It has NOT been refolded.

 

 

 

Oxford Error of Duplex 613: both varieties

 

    

 

152548.  3d SG103 Plates 6 and 9: both tied to pieces from mourning envelopes.

 

The Plate 6 is tied by an Oxford error '613' duplex with a round top '3', August 28th 1871. 

 

The outer ring of the dater is breaking up giving an appearance of a 'dotted circle'.

 

The Plate 9 is tied by the Oxford error '613' with a flat top '3', January 17th 1873.

 

This error is seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

 

A very scarce/rare pairing showing the variety 'round and flat top' to the '3'.

 

Price:  £60.00

 

NB: The correct number for Oxford was '603', '613' being that of Petersfield in Hampshire.

 

Petersfield used its correct '613' duplex throughout the period that Oxford was using the same but incorrect one.

 

For examples of the Oxford Error on 1d plates see Items 152446 and 152447

 

in the Line Engraved Section.

 

 

 

A much travelled and rdirected item

 

 

152518. 

1d lilac, Die 2, on an envelope originally from the USA and redirected a number of times within Scotland and London. 

 

The date stamps etc include: a Hotel Office-Returned Unclaimed and Not Called For;

 

a Glagow Sorting Tender cds for July 3rd 1897, Wilson Figure 719/720:

 

he comments that this was sometimes struck by a sort of machine with a self-inking ribbon giving rise to

 

the so called' Cloth' stamps with the circle and letterings in fine lines instead of solid ink;

 

a Returned Letter Office London cds and various other Edinburgh and London date stamps. 

 

It would when written up fully make a very interesting display page. 

 

A very scarce/rare combination of features.

 

One hopes it did eventually reach the addressee.

 

Price:  £75.00  SOLD

 

 

 

New route to Australia via the Suez Canal

 

152522.  Envelope from STOCKPORT to Australia, March 24th 1880. 

 

A 4d SG153 plate 16, faded, and a 1d SG166, each tied by the Stockport '733' duplex

 

BUT unusually one has Code Q and the other Code R but the same date. 

 

This was an underpayment for the postage hence the handstruck 'Deficient Postage 6d; Fine 6d; 1/-'.  

 

This is illustrated by R I Johnson, Fig H4, and indicated as rare and important enough to be in a serious collection of underpaid mail.  

 

The '1/-' total has been erased and a '7d More to Pay' in oval applied neatly ie Deficient Postage 1d and a Fine of 6d'. 

 

On March 2nd 1880, the Rate was reduced to 6d via Brindisi and the Suez Canal.

 

McKay illustrates a handstruck 'Deficient Postage 1d; Fine 6d; 7d' but perhaps it was not ready in time for the new route.

 

Hence the use of a More to Pay in oval and a hand inserted '7d'.

 

This example using the new route is dated March 24th 1880 and is the earliest example we have seen of this new rate. 

 

A rare item which would make an interesting display.

 

Price:  £95.00  SOLD

 

NB: The top flap of the envelope is missing but the transit marks are present:

 

Melbourne and Tarnagull receiving date stamps on the reverse.

 

The envelope is in a cleaner condition than the scan suggests.

 

 

 

 

9d SG87: cancelled by a red oval PD

 

    

 

152515. 

 

9d SG87, 'PK', fine/very fine cancelled only by a lightly struck RED PD in Oval.

 

This would normally be applied only to the outside of an item of mail.

 

It was used in this example to cancel the stamp because it had not been franked at the place of origin.

 

From our researches we can trace only a couple of examples of a red PD cancellation on this 9d stamp.

 

In May 2001 an example was sold by Spinks: it was creased and had a pinhole.

 

It realised an inclusive figure of almost £450.

 

In 2007 another leading GB dealer offered one at £1250.

 

A used 9d SG87 is priced by Gibbons at £475.

 

A very rare item.

 

Price:  £320.00

 

NB: the apparent mark at the bottom left near 'NINE' is the thistle watermark:

 

it appears that this 'bit' of the emblem watermark was standing unusually proud from the Fourdrinier

 

or thicker than normal, and hence impressed the paper more than was usual.

 

There is a very small wrinkle on the front of the stamp in that area caused by this pronounced 'bit'.

 

 

4d SG66:

 

RED and BLACK PD cancellations

 

 

1044. 

 

4d SG66 very fine and cancelled only by PD in circle.

 

Rare with just this cancellation but this example is

 

exceedingly rare as it has both RED and BLACK PD in circle. 

 

The first such combined usage we have seen. 

 

A remarkable item and possibly a unique usage worthy of display.    

 

Price: £265.00

 

 

 

4d SG94 Plate 12: full cds

 

 

152509.  4d SG94 Plate 12, 'IB': very fine, a couple of surface wrinkles,

 

cancelled by an exceptional complete LOUGHBOROUGH cds for December 23rd 1872. 

 

Very attractive and a scarce stamp so fine.

 

Price: £45.00

 

 

3d on 3d SG159

 

 

152507.  3d on 3d SG159, fine used

 

with BIRMINGHAM squared circle cancellations for March 28th 1884. 

 

Unusually the code number '32' is inverted.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £160.00.     

 

Price: £38.00

 

 

3d on 3d SG159: Dalmellington cds

 

 

152506. 

 

3d on 3d SG159, fine used with a DALMELLINGTON cds for June 3rd 1884. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £160 plus premium of 75%.

 

Price:  £55.00

 

 

6d on 6d SG162 with cds

 

 

152508.  6d on 6d SG162, 'DD':

 

very fine used with a complete and upright cds of

 

HEMEL-HEMPSTEAD for May 23rd 1883.

 

Very scarce/rare with such a cds.

 

Priced by Gibbons at  £150 plus premium of 75%.

 

An excellent display example.

 

Price:  £95.00

 

 

 

6d Plate 8: three singles one with a cds

 

 

152523. 

 

6d SG108 Plate 8: three singles, 'DL' with a wing margin trimmed

 

possibly to be clear of the address, on a wrapper from London to Trieste.

 

The other two are fine with the central stamp tied by a London cds for October 2nd 1869

 

which leaves most of the Queen's head clear.

 

Gibbons prices a single on cover at £275 and the cds single at £480.

 

There are a few overlapping perfs.

 

Rarely is this 6d found on cover with a cds.

 

Very scarce item.

 

Price: £95.00

 

 

Lafayette Photographers: Dublin to Scotland 1891 

 

 

 

 

152533. 

 

Separated cardboard strengtheners, front and back (enlarged image), which originally

 

would have contained photographs from LAFAYETTE, Artistic Photographers,

 

sent from DUBLIN to Glasgow, May 7th 1891.

 

Franked by three 1d lilacs Die 2 and a 1/2d SG197 making an unusual rate!

 

There is a considerable amount of information about these famous photographers on the internet. 

 

Briefly:

 

Lafayette Photography has one of the oldest histories of any photographic business in the world,

 

having been founded in Dublin in 1880 by James Stack Lauder, the eldest son of Edmund Lauder,

 

a pioneering and successful photographer who had opened a daguerreotype studio in Dublin in 1853.

 

In adopting the name 'Lafayette', James created a new image for the family business,

 

seeking to prosper from the cachet of a French name

 

(Paris was then the centre of the art world and of avant-garde photography in particular).

 

By 1885 the firm was registering some of its best work for copyright, and had attracted the attention of the Royal family

 

with its best-selling portraits of Princess Alexandra, taken to mark the Royal visit to Ireland of that year.

 

In 1887 James Lafayette was invited to Windsor to photograph Queen Victoria

 

and was granted a Royal Warrant as 'Her Majesty's Photographer in Dublin'.

 

This Royal Warrant, which was subsequently renewed by King Edward VII and George V,

 

conferred enormous prestige and brought with it the title of 'Photographer Royal'.

 

This item could make a very interesting display when information about Lafayette was expanded and included.

 

A rare survivor and the first we have seen.

 

Price:  £75.00

 

 

New Year's Day Cancellations 

 

152496. 

 

1d lilac Die 2, tied by a Berwick on Tweed duplex, on an envelope to Reston with Eyemouth and Reston cds's both for December 29th 1882.

 

The item was delivered on December 30th with Eyemouth and Reston date stamps for  this date.

 

It was then readdressed to Edinburgh and another 1d lilac die 2, corner fault. added but placed tete beche to the first 1d.

 

December 31st 1882 was a SUNDAY so the letter was held back at the Post Office until the following day, New Years Day. 

 

It was then struck by a numeral '423' of Reston and a Reston cds applied to the front for January 1st 1883.

 

The number '1' in the day date was not placed correctly:

 

perhaps the postmaster/mistress was still recovering from the Hogmany celebrations of the previous evening!  

 

On the front is a '363' numeral of Liberton: a suburb of Edinburgh. 

 

The item was received in Edinburgh later the same day and a January 1st 1883 cds applied.

 

An extremely unusual item not least having TWO NEW YEARS DAY cds's:

 

New Year Day usages are rarely seen in Scotland for obvious reasons. 

 

This is the first example we have seen of two different Scottish locations with a New Year date. 

 

A superb and very rare item with unique features that would make a very interesting and attractive display page.

 

Price:  £78.50  SOLD

 

 

 

Sketch from an actor RESTING

152498. 

 

1d lilac Die 2 on an envelope from Hull to London, August 27th 1888. 

 

Addressed to the JUNIOR GARRICK CLUB, Adelphi, London. 

 

On the front is a graphic sketch with near the bottom RESTING. 

 

Clearly representing an actor who was not presently employed hence the comment 'RESTING'

 

and perhaps a reflection of how hard he/she was finding it obtaining another part.

 

On the reverse are some smaller hand sketches. 

 

A tired envelope but a very rare example from an actor at a time when

 

theatres were becoming increasingly popular in London but perhaps not in Hull?   

 

Would make a fascinating display item when enhanced by information from the internet

 

about the Junior Garrick Club as well as the Garrick Club itself. 

 

A dramatic item.

 

Price:  £60.00  SOLD

 

 

 

The first three surface printed values

 

 152467.   

 

1856 4d SG66, 6d SG70 and 1/- SG72:

 

the first three values on the introduction of surface printed stamps

            

tied to piece by Inland Office ‘29’ in diamond of bars.

 

Rated Very Rare by Parmenter in the ‘Barred Numeral Cancellations of London’. 

 

Colourful and attractive franking and a rare combination of stamps and cancellation.  

 

Each stamp with small faults.  

 

Price:  £85.00  SOLD

 

 

 

Used IP pair:

 

SG103 Plate 7

 

 

152161. 

 

3d SG102 Plate 7, 'EL' defective as in the scan:

 

a remarkable interpanneau (IP) vertical pair, and the IP with the inscription '10 Shillings per Sheet of 40'.  

 

The IP is unfolded, rare as such, but this item is exceedingly rare, possibly unique as a used IP pair.

 

We have not seen any other USED surface printed IP pairs. . 

 

An item worthy of being Exhibited in view of its considerable rarity.

 

Price:  £165.00  SOLD

 

 

 

Scots Local Pitt Street Type X: 4d SG64 pair with 2d SG34

152159. 

 

2d SG34,(light vertical crease), and a fine pair of 4d SG64 tied to a front and part back to Dunoon

 

by a number of strikes of 'PITT STREET' Scots Local Type X. 

 

This is the only Scots Local of Type X and is rare on other than the contemporary 1d.

 

On the reverse is a Dunood circular date stamp for April 30th 1857. 

 

The part back is affixed to a printed thicker piece of paper referring to War Bonds, probably WW1. 

 

In the Robson Lowe Meredith Sale of Scots Local Cancellations held in 1971,

 

only FIVE of more than 200 examples were on surface printed issues, none on the 4d medium garter. 

 

The 4d SG64 is priced by Gibbons at £500 for a single example on stamp alone and £1000 for a single on cover.

 

A rare item made even rarer by the 4d's being used on internal UK mail.

 

Price: £110.00

 

 

 

Blued paper Plate 1
 

15042. 

 

2 1/2d SG138, Plate 1, ‘BK’, BLUED paper:

 

very fine, one short perf at left, tied to an envelope, with slight

 

creasing, to France by a London duplex, June 29th 1876.

 

Stamp placed top left Contrary to PO Regulations and the cancellation

 

leaves the WHOLE of QV’s Head clear thus showing the blued paper to advantage. 

Rare so fine and priced by Gibbons at £250 without the premium.  

 

Price:  £95.00

 

Mixed surface printed and earlier line engraved

15173. 

2d, SG 45 plate 9 and 3d SG103, plate 5:

 

an attractive colour combination of line engraved and surface printed stamps.

 Tied to a wrapper to Italy from Newcastle on Tyne, August 23rd 1870. 

Underpaid postage with an Inspector’s erasure mark applied over a red PD,

‘Insufficiently Stamped’ strike and a pair, faults with 60 Centisime postage dues added. 

An attractive item and an early example of postage dues added at an overseas destination.

 

A very scarce/rare combination of features which would make an interesting display.

 

Price:  £120.00

 

 

SG157 Plate 22
 
15175.  Twopence halfpenny, SG 157 plate 22: perfinned example on clean envelope

from Falmouth to Gothenburg  with letter written in Swedish. 

 

Stamp placed in a position Contrary to PO Regulations.

Tied by a cds of the Falmouth duplex for October 3rd 1882 with an additional duplex strike at right. 

Market –Strand Falmouth cds and a Majorna receiving cds on reverse. 

 

Attractive item with a number of interesting features.

 

Price: £54.50  SOLD 

 

 

4d SG66: INVERTED Watermark

WM3. 4d rose SG66.

 

A fresh lightly mounted mint example with superb colour.

 

Horizontal crease but with INVERTED watermark.  

 

Priced by Gibbons at £4,800.00.

 

A very rare item and the only example we have been able to offer. 

 

Price:   £385.00

 

 

 

2/6 with a very scarce cancellation

 

152452. 

 

2/6 SG178:

fine/very fine used with a superb upright strike of the very scarce

 'Paid Liverpool BR Packet August 26th 1893 7-B'. 

The first example we have been able to offer and

the only one we have seen cancelling this high value. 

 

An item with a rare combination of features.

 

Price:  £125.00 SOLD

 

 

 

1d lilac Die 1

151720. 

 

1d lilac Die 1, SG170, a superb mint marginal pair with the

 

top stamp very lightly mounted and the bottom stamp unmounted. 

 

In the margin is a contemporary note:

 

 'First issue of the new Postage and Inland (Revenue stamp) July 18 1881'.

 

This will be the day the stamps were purchased; it was issued on July 12th 1881.

 

A superb and rare item of display quality

 

Price:  £290.00  SOLD

 

 

 

1d Die 2 pair: Marseille CDS's

152421. 

1d lilac Die 2: tied to an envelope to Stratford, Essex by Marseille cds's for March 27th 1902. 

Envelope carried by 'Paquetbot'. 

The right hand 1d lilac has a rounded bottom right corner

and some light browning of a few to perfs but not as brown as in the scan. 

A scarce/very scarce set of features. 

Price:  £38.50  SOLD

 

 

 

1d Die 2 INVERTED Watermark

151261.  1d SG172, possibly very small hinge traces on top two stamps, bottom two unmounted mint.

Very small tone mark on top left stamp near the perfs as per the image. 

Very fine otherwise and with INVERTED Watermarks. 

The watermark is shifted resulting in

parts of the letters 'E' and 'G' of the 'POSTAGE' marginal watermark on two stamps.

This is the first time we can recall seeing this effect on this issue with inverted watermark.

Very scarce item. 

Price: £148.00  SOLD

 

 

 

The rare London Scroll

152453. 

2/6 SG178: fine/very fine used with a fine strike of

the rare London EC Scroll for July 27th 1888.

Rare to find this cancellation on a high value.

Price: £76.50 SOLD

 

 

 

The rare London Scroll

 

152403.  1d UPU postcard, very fine, to Germany with a 1d lilac Die 2,

cancelled by the rare London E C scroll for February 11th 1889. 

A very difficult cancellation to find on a postcard or cover

and especially so with a multiple strike.

The first example we have been able to offer for some considerable time.

An attractive and very scarce/rare item.

Price: £78.00  SOLD

NB: the card is in a finer condition than the scan suggests.

 

 

 

The rare London Scroll: EKD

 

152404.  A stampless clean front, light horizontal filing crease, from London to Manchester. 

 

Where a stamp should have been affixed, is a superb strike of the rare first type of hooded/scroll London E C date stamp.

 

The superb handstruck '2' in black was applied in Manchester: Mckay figure 340 in 'Surcharge Mail of the British Isles'.

 

Scroll cancellations were introduced in 1882 and the example offered here is not only the earliest of any type we have seen

 

but is believed to be the Earliest Known Date for this rare London type: July 22nd 1882. 

 

The clarity of the strike is as good as a 'Proof''.

 

A superb and very rare item of Exhibition quality. 

 

Price:  £145.00  SOLD

 

NB: the significance of the letters and numerals in the centre is not understood.

 

 

 

1/- 'K' in Circle SG90a

152410.

1/- SG90a, 'KD', used example from AYR:

reperforated at the right and a few other irregular perfs,

lower left corner letter 'K' in a circle variety, SG90a. 

Although the stamp is centred downwards,

the upper half of the circle around 'K' can be clearly seen.

Priced by Gibbons in 2019 at £2,750. 

A rarely offered variety and this a very collectable example

offered at a fraction of the Gibbons price. 

Price: £250.00

NB: This variety was first shown at a meeting of the Brighton Philatelic Society in 1892.

It is not present on the imprimatur sheet and must represent a replacement

of a damaged letter by cutting it out and inserting a plug with a fresh letter.

The scan does not do justice to the variety.

 

 

 

1/- SG90ab: 'K' normal

 

152407. 

 

1/- SG90ab 'KD', very fine used but for a trimmed wing margin. 

This stamp 'KD' has the normal 'K' as shown on the imprimatur sheet.

Galland and Louis, comment in 'Great Britain Surface Printed Postage Stamps, 1885-1883',

that the variety SG90a, is a replacement of a damaged letter by a plug repair

and that the normal letter 'K' is the RARER. 

Gibbons prices, in 2019, do not reflect this as a used SG90ab is priced at £2,200

whereas SG90a is given a figure of £2,750: Item 152407 above.

Cancelled by a light '159' of GLASGOW and a small part of the dater

which leaves a mainly clear QV profile.

 

A very attractive example and of Display Quality for such a fine rarity.

 

Price: £375.00  SOLD

 

NB: the scan does not do justice to the freshness and colour of this stamp.

 

 

 

1/-SG90ab: 'K' normal

152408.  1/-SG90ab 'KD', complete wing margin:

fine used for this rarity except for a few very short perfs at top.

Cancelled by an almost complete '583' of NOTTINGHAM which leaves the 'K' square clear.

This stamp 'KD' has the normal 'K' as shown on the imprimatur sheet.

Galland and Louis, comment in 'Great Britain Surface Printed Postage Stamps, 1885-1883',

that the variety SG90a, is a replacement of a damaged letter by a plug repair

and that the normal letter 'K' is the RARER. 

Gibbons prices, in 2019, do not reflect this as a used SG90ab is priced at £2,200

whereas SG90a is given a figure of £2,750: Item 152407 above.

A rare stamp in this condition as so many of the surviving examples

often have serious faults or the wing margin cut down.

Price:  £390.00

NB: a finer item than the scan suggests.

 

 

 

1/- SG71: the scarce DEEP GREEN shade

S7. 1/- SG71 - the scarcer deep green shade. 

Letter of credit from Edinburgh to Kingston, Canada West, October 1 1863 with  

 Superb and neatly tied leaving at least 90% of the Queen’s head and profile clear. 

Priced by Gibbons on cover in this scarcer shade at £675

before adding the premium for the light cancellation.

Very scarce item.

Price:  £280.00  

 

 

 

1/- SG72 displaced watermark

 

152487. 

 

1/- SG72: used, some pulled perfs,

 

but with an extremely DISPLACED watermark with the

           

four emblems in the centre of the stamp.

 

The watermark is displaced just about as far as it is possible to be. 

           

A rare variety which displays well.              

             

Price: £65.00                  

 

 

Large Garter Watermark


 
15038. 

 

Large garter un-printed and un-gummed strip of FIVE

 

showing the vertical interpane gutter margin at left. 

Creasing but very scarce/rare. 

 

It would make a fine introduction in a collection to the large garter series.   

 

Price:  £75.00

 

 

 

4d SG62: Queens Street Scots Local

 

151309. 

 

4d small garter, SG62:

 

a fine pair tied to piece by the Queen Street (Glasgow) Scots Local Type XV111. 

 

The Meredith Sale of Scots Locals had NO examples of any type on the 4d SG62.

 

Gibbons prices Scots Locals only on the contemporary 1d value.

 

Their price for two single SG62's is £900. 

 

A very rare item. 

 

Price:  £275.00 

 

 

 

4d small garter printed on white paper

 

152186. 

 

4d SG62e: a pair printed on white paper.

 

Newcastle - on - Tyne sideways duplex for October 1855. 

 

The left stamp has a pulled perf and a small top corner wrinkle;

t

he right hand stamp one short perf at the top and a clear QV profile.

 

The white paper variety was caused by the paper manufactures, Turners,

 

not adding sufficient 'prussiate of potash' to the pulp. 

 

A rare variety, priced by Gibbons at £1100 for a single example. 

 

Neither the 'Chartwell Collection' nor the Douglas Latto Collection had an example

 

and from our researches we cannot trace another pair. 

 

Printed on highly glazed paper and in a Deep Bright Carmine shade.

 

A very rare multiple the scan of which does not do it justice. 

 

Price: £625.00

 

 

 

4d SG66: cancelled Contrary to Post Office Regulations

        

152231.  4d SG66, a very fine pair:

cancelled Contrary to Post Office Regulations by a single '530' of MILNTHORPE, Westmorland.

The stamps show evidence of a dry printing.

An attractive and very scarce item.

Price; £55.00

 

 

 

4d used BLOCK SG66


15036.  4d SG66 large garter:

 

exceptional block in a superb colour close to or in the deep shade variety

 

 and cancelled by neat Chatham sideways duplex for Jan 4th 1859. 

 

Total or partially clear QV heads on most stamps. 

Bottom left stamp damaged but the rest are very fine/fine to superb especially so in a block. 

Latest QV Volume 1, 2011, a block of 4 catalogued at £775

 

but one could fairly add the premium of 125% as per SG to this item. 

Despite the damage to one stamp, this is one of the finest blocks we have been able to offer.  

 

Priced as a block of 4 one stamp with a cds:  £535.00

 

4d SG66a: Rose Carmine with RPS Certificate

 

 

152032.   4d Large Garter, SG 66a, Rose shade:

 

superb used block of 6 with ‘620’ numerals of Plymouth.

 

Large part of original gum and four stamps with a clear Queen’s profile.

 

A block of four is priced by Gibbons at £775 in the latest, 2011 QV Volume 1: 

 

a block of six pro rata at £1,160.

 

When the 125% premium added for the light cancellations this rises to £2,600.

 

This is one of the finest used blocks we have seen and

 

the finest we have been able to offer. 

 

A very rare and attractive multiple with a clean RPS Certificate.  

 

Price:  £670.00.

 

 

 

4d SG66: INVERTED watermark

                

 

151562.  4d SG66: superb used pair with Inverted Watermark. 

 

One stamp with a London cds for July 12th 1859. 

 

A rare multiple so fine with this watermark variety. 

 

Gibbons, SG66aWi, prices a single at £400

 

without the 125% premium for the cds example. 

 

Hence Gibbons price for this item is in excess of £1,000. 

 

Superb item and the finest we have seen.

 

Price:  £300.00

 

 

 

1/- SG72: rare used marginal inscriptional pair.

1045.  SG 72: fine used 1861 marginal pair,

 

with inscription 'PRICE 1 Shilling per label'.

 

A rare multiple and priced by Gibbons at

 

£700 as two non-marginal singles.  

 

Displays well.

 

Price: £200.00 

 

NB: even in 1857 stamps were called 'labels'.

 

 

 

Glasgow to BEYROUT 1858

 
15037.  1/- SG72: strip of THREE on entire to Beyrout, Syria from Glasgow November 24th 1858. 

The postal rate to Syria at that time was 6d, 1/4oz and 1/-, 1/2oz. 

 

Hence a rate of 3/- is very scarce.

 

The right hand stamp in the strip has a small fault at the top but the left hand stamp is fine/very fine and the

 

central stamp is very fine with a complete and almost upright cds of Glasgow. 

 

Very rare to find SG72 cancelled solely by a cds on cover. 

 

A single SG72 priced by Gibbons on cover at £425.

 

The cds example on a cover with premium prices at approx £1,000. 

A remarkable Exhibition item with a rare franking and destination. 

 

Price:  £680.00

 

 

 

Unissued 3d with Spandrels

            

152207. 

 

3d Plate 2, State 1, with shaded spandrels, not issued, o/p SPECIMEN Type 2:

 

a very fine/fine lightly mounted mint wing margin example with superb colour

 

and the watermark emblems displaced.

 

The Specimen overprint when applied has caused a very light partial crease beneath it. 

 

Gibbons Spec J25a(s), priced at £800.

 

an interesting example of this attractive unissued design. 

 

Price:  £375.00

 

 

 

4d Imprimatur Plate 3

151305. 

 

4d SG79/80 Plate 3 fine mint IMPRIMATUR 'TC', 3-margined:

 

in the Latto Sale of October 1992, Lot 54, and in the Chartwell Sale Volume 3, Lot 130, October 2011,

 

the adjacent stamp 'TB', with Plate Number attached to the bottom margin, was sold.

 

The size of the right hand margin of 'TB' explains why 'TC' is 3-margined. 

 

In the 'GB Surface Printed Postage Stamps' by Galland and Louis, they note that only 25 examples

 

have been removed from the Imprimatur Sheet and of these 'AK-AL' with Plate Number is in the Royal Philatelic Collection.

 

Gibbons prices an Imprimatur in this Plate at £4,000

 

With only a maximum number of 23 examples that could be in private hands,

 

in our view and experience, this rarity is significantly underpriced by Gibbons..  

 

Price:  £750.00 

 

 

 

6d SG85 Irish CDS

 

 

151344. 

 

6d Plate 4 'DK', hairlines, SG85:

 

very fine/fine, centred low but cancelled by a superb BALLYMENA upright cds for April 29th 1865.

 

At the base is a small part of a PANAMA? name cancellation.

 

A few nibbled perfs at the right but the scan does NOT do justice to its fine colour. 

 

A rare stamp thus cancelled and one of the finest we have seen:

 

cannot recall seeing a finer example used in Ireland

 

Priced by Gibbons at £225 but with the 125% for the cds this rises to £500. 

 

Price: £135.00

 

 

 

Vice Admiral Sir Robert Smart

15191. 

 

 6d plate 4, SG85, ‘EL’:

 

fine example with superb colour, a couple of short perfs, tied to an envelope by the Durham

 

duplex for April 6th 1865 leaving most of QV’s head clear:

 

priced by Gibbons at £350 on cover but before adding the premium of 125%.

 

Envelope addressed to Vice Admiral Sir Robert Smart, Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, MALTA. 

 

Smart at this time was on the Flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, ‘Victoria’, based in Malta.  

 

He was promoted to Vice Admiral in December 1863 and was required to assess the damage

 

caused by volcanic disturbances in the neighbourhood of Santorini in Spring 1866

 

before handing over his command in April 1866.

 

He was promoted to full Admiral in 1869.  

 

More information re Smart and the Flagship ‘Victoria’ is available on the internet.

 

A  rare and attractive item which would make a fine Display page. 

 

Price:  £145.00  SOLD

  

                    

Mixed values

152485.

 

4d vermilion, SG 95 pl 12 and 1/2d SG 48 pl 3,

 

tied to small piece by superb Bristol CDS for  Dec 13 1871,

            

A few minor faults.

           

Price: £35.00

 

 

Registered usage in the Channel Islands
 
15174.  1d, SG43 plate 153 and 4d SG 93 plate 13:

used on a neat Registered Envelope from Jersey to Hampstead. 

Stamps tied by the Jersey ‘409’ duplex, December 30th 1873.  

Two London Registered date marks for New Years Day 1874.

A very scarce/rare registered item from the Channel Islands. 

 

Would display well when fully written up.

 

Price:  £145.00  SOLD

 

 

1/- SG101: break in frame variety

 

 

152484. 1865 1/- plate 4 SG 101: used strip of 4

with stamps 'FK' and 'FL' showing damage to the top frame.  

Unusual variety especially in a multiple. 

Each stamp has mainly a clear profile. 

Priced by Gibbons at £1000+ as singles. 

 Price: £138.00  SOLD

 

 

 

3d SG103 Plate 7

 

152483.   

 

3d rose SG 103 pl 7, a fine used Block of 4, 'IK-JL'.  

 

Cancelled February 3rd 1872 and Contrary to Regulations by only two Tralee CDS's.

             

Several nibbled perfs and priced by Gibbons as a block of 4 at £500.  

 

The cancellations leave each stamp with a large portion of the Queen's head clear. 

 

A very scarce block with an attractive combination of features.  

            

Price:  £130.00 

 

NB: the scan does not do justice to the very fine colour.          

 

 

 

Hand Inserted Date

151305. 

3d SG102 Plate 8, superb used vertical wing margin pair:

each cancelled by the 1872 date stamp of CLONTARF -

meaning "meadow of the bull" - a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin.

The Month and Day of 'SE 10' has in each case been HAND INSERTED.

Clearly for whatever reason the month and day slugs were missing

and then corrected by hand directly on the stamps.

Very unusual. 

Price: £76.00 SOLD

 

 

 

A Rare used Pane of 3d Plate 8

 

151204.

 

3d plate 8 SG102: a complete Pane of 20 with bottom inscriptional margin, ‘FA-JD’,

 

two rejoined horizontal blocks of EIGHT and a bottom marginal inscriptional strip of FOUR.

 

A corner fault on ‘HA’ and each stamp is pen cancelled and clearly all were attached to the same item. 

 

No gum with some ink markings on the reverse from the surface to which it was originally affixed. 

 

 Galland and Louis in their reference publication: ‘GB Surface Printed Postage Stamps’,

 

record the largest used block of 3d plate 8 to be one of 8 – two are known. 

 

For some other surface printed values they quote rejoined blocks as the largest known.   

 

This is the largest such multiple we have seen of this 3d value; we cannot recall seeing even a block of 4 pen cancelled.

 

A block of 4  in this plate is priced by Gibbons at £425.

 

Very fine colour and more than likely to be the largest pen cancelled multiple extant of any surface printed issue.

 

  A remarkable and significant rarity of Exhibition Quality and Importance.  

 

Price:  £685.00

 

 

 

6d SG109: Station Cancellation

152482.  

 

6d mauve, SG 109 pl 9,

 

superb station CDS for Feb 26 1872,

            

extremely deep/rich shade of purple.

 

An attractive example.

               

                    Price: £65.00                    

 

SG109: used Block of 4

151230:

 

6d SG109, plate 9, ‘SG-TH’:a fine used BLOCK of 4, Little Tower BO London, 1872. 

 

Printed in an unusually deep shade for this plate with a light corner crease to ‘SG’.

 

Attractive block and priced by Gibbons at £575.      

 

Price:  £175.00

 

 

 

9d SG110: SUNDAY usage

 152481. 

 

1867 9d plate 4 SG 110 superb used pair:

Liverpool cds’s for 27 October 1872

which was a SUNDAY usage.               

 

A rare combination of features. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £1,000 plus including premium. 

 

An Exhibition quality item.  

                

               Price: £265.00                   

 

 

 

10d SG113

15039. 

 

10d SG113, pale red brown, ‘TE-TF’:

 

attractive bottom marginal inscriptional pair, unusually misperfed,

 

a few nibbled perf at top of ‘TE’,

 

cancelled by Mark Lane B.O London cds’s, March 1872. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £800 as two singles.    

 

Price: £320.00

 

 

 

10d SG113 CDS Block of 4

 

151316. 

 

10d SG113, very fine used BLOCK OF 4, 'HG-IH':

 

Mark Lane cds's February 24th 1872:

'

HH' with small corner crease/wrinkling in the wing margin.

 

Gibbons prices this block, without adding the 75% premium for cds cancellations, at £2,400. 

 

Excellent colour and a very attractive and very scarce multiple in such fine condition. 

 

Price:  £690.00

 

 

 

1/- Plate 6 Double Plate Number used in Ireland

151387. 

 

1/- SG115, Deep Green,'KB':

 

an exceptional example tied to small piece by a superb

 

DROWMORE Co. Down cds for Octber 31st 1872.

 

Stamp 'KB' has the listed variety, Spec J106a, 'Double Plate Number at Right'. 

 

The scan does not show the superb deep green shade. 

 

This is arguably one of the, if not the, finest example extant of this variety.

 

Gibbons prices it at £400 and rises to £700 when the 75% premium is added.

 

A very rare item of Exhibition quality

 

Price:  £245.00

 

 

6d Plate 11 Damaged Plate Number Variety

 

152479. 

 

1872 6d deep chestnut SG122 and pale buff SG 123 plate 11:

 

two fine/very fine used examples, both lettered ‘NF’

           

and showing the catalogued variety ‘damage to figure ‘11’ on the left’, SG spec J79d. 

 

A rare matched pairing: this variety is especially difficult to find in the pale buff printing. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £400 in the commonest shade and

 

at £800 in pale buff and £900 in Deep Chestnut.   

 

Price: £225.00 

 

 

6d Plate 11: Damaged Plate Number Variety

 

 

151345. 

 

6d Plate 11 SG122a, 'NF', Deep Chestnut: very fine/superb used example,

 

BRADFORD-YORKS cds for June 22nd 1872.

 

The cancellation leaves the left hand plate number clear

 

allowing the listed variety SpecJ79d, 'Figure 11 on left damaged' to be seen clearly.

 

There is a small frame break at the bottom corner of the 'N' square

 

which is always seen on stamp 'NF' but not listed by Gibbons.

 

Priced by Gibbons in the cheapest shade at £400 but in the

 

much scarcer deep chestnut shade at £900 before the cds premium added.

 

The cds leaves the Queen's head with an almost clear profile.

 

The last time we saw this variety in this scarce shade was at a London Auction in 2005:

 

the variety was partially obscured by the cancellation and it was slightly creased.

 

It realised £180 plus Buyers Premium - a final figure of £210.

 

The example offered here is the finest we have seen.

 

Exhibition quality plus plus plus!  

 

Price:  £290.00 SOLD

 

 

 

6d SG123 Pale Buff Shade

 

152480. 

 

1872 6d SG123 pale buff plate 11: 

 

an attactive used pair in this scarce shade

             

with finely applied cds cancels of Garlieston March 27 1873 .

 

'CF' with a perfect cds'; 'CE' with a couple of short perfs. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £250 as two singles

 

and at £375 with the  premium for CDS cancels.

               

Very scarce/rare multiple so fine. 

    

Price: £135.00

 

 

SG125: Rare used interpane

 

marginal inscription example

 

 

152342. 

 

6d SG125, 'HF': fine used with a part LIVERPOOL duplex.

The top interpane (IP) margin reads '1 Pound per Sheet of 40'.

Six panes of 40 made up the Post Office sheet of 240.

A rare item with a full IP margin attached.

Gibbons prices the basic stamp at £300.

Price: £75.00

NB: the browning in the IP margin is not there: a trick of the scanner.

We have seen very few examples of this stamp used

with a full IP marginal inscription.

 

 

 

SG125: Bradford, Yorks cds

 

152501.

 

SG125, 6d, 'EK':

very fine/superb example with a partial Bradford, Yorkshire cds

and a clean white back. 

A marginal inscription at the bottom.

Rarely found in such fine used condition.

Gibbons price £300 before adding the 50% premium

for the cds cancellation.

A rare stamp with these features.

Price: £140.00  SOLD

 

 

 

SG125:  

variety double plate number

 

151419. 

 

6d SG125, Plate 12, 'DF':

fine used, pulled perf at the top.

The London cancellation leaves the left hand plate number completely clear

showing the listed variety, SG Spec J81d, 'Figure 12 on left doubled'. 

Gibbons price for this variety is £550. 

Very scarce stamp with this variety so clearly visible.  

Price: £125.00

 

 

 

SG141 Plate 12

151303. 

 

2 1/2d SG141 Plate 12:

 

fine used 'AL', Shipston (Worc) '706' numeral with

 

the denomination printed in the top margin. 

 

This series was printed in sheets of 192 stamps, two panes of 96. 

 

ONLY FOUR stamps per sheet of 192 had the

 

denomination printed in the above or below margin. 

 

A considerable rarity and the first used example we have seen.

 

Exhibition item.

 

Price: £145.00

 

 

1/- SG150 Plate 12

152478. 

          1873 1/- green plate 12 SG 150:            

                    a very fine used example with a                 

              Glasgow cds for Sep 16 1875 .               

             Scarce stamp with a cds.               

                   Price: £48.00                         

 

 

 

SG152 4d Plate 15
 
15044. 

 

4d SG152, Plate 15, ‘NK’:

 

fine, shortish perf at the top, on clean wrapper from Leeds to Naples,

 

April 6th 1876 – barely one month after issue.  

 

Tied by a superb Leeds duplex and very scarce to find such a

 

fine example on an equally fine cover.

 

Priced by Gibbons on cover at £1,100.

 

An attractive item which displays well.

 

Price:  £340.00

 

 

4d SG152 split pair on piece

151915. 

 

4d SG152 Plate 15, 'Hl' and 'IL', a fine split vetical pair:

 

tied to a piece by the BOOTLE Liverpool duplex, April 12th 1877.

 

A single priced by Gibbons at £525.

 

A very scarce/rare multiple franking. 

 

Price: £210.00 

 

 

 

4d SG152 cds example

 

151933.   

 

1876 4d SG 152 plate 15, 'PH', superb used 

 

with a fine partial cds, Saltburn by the Sea, November 1876.   

 

Priced by Gibbons at almost £1,000 with the premium for cds.

 

Exceptional colour. 

 

A superb item.

 

Price: £285.00 

 

 

The next items, 4d SG152  Plate 15, show the variety

 

'Large 5 in both Plate Numbers', SG Spec J62d. 

 

This rare variety occurs only on two stamps per sheet of 240: stamps 'AA' and 'TK'.

 

Stamp 'TK' is by far the rarer in our experience with it would seem fewer surviving.

 

This may be because stamp 'AA'  is the first off the sheet and are popular with collectors.

 

The variety occurs similarly on 4d sage green, SG153, Pate 15 and an example of 'AA' is offered below.

 

We have sold a small number of examples of the variety on 'AA' but have seen only one of the 'TK' variety

 

and that is the one offered here below ie item 153138.

 

 

4d SG152: Large '5' in Plate Number variety

 

       

 

153139. 

 

4d Plate 15 SG152, ‘AA’: fine used and  with a BELFAST date stamp.

 

The cds is virtually clear of BOTH plate numbers which show

 

 the catalogued variety ‘Large ‘5’ in the plate number’, SG Spec J62d. 

 

Gibbons prices this at £900 which with the cds premium of 100% is £1800. 

 

We cannot recall seeing another example of this variety with only a cds cancellation. 

 

With a usage in Ireland this combination could represent a unique usage. 

 

The watermark is displaced downwards and shows a frame guide line at the top. 

 

A very rare/unique item. 

 

Price: £495.00

 

 

SG152: Large '5' in Plate Number.

 

 

151464. 

 

4d SG152, Plate 15, 'AA':

 

very fine used with the cancellation clear of BOTH plate numbers

 

with each showing the variety SG Spec J62d, ' Large 5 in 15'.

 

This variety occurs on only two stamps per sheet of 240.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £900,

 

Exhibition quality 

 

Price:  £440.00

 

 

SG152: Large '5' in Plate Number

 

 

152500.

 

4d SG152, Plate 15, 'TK':

 

fine used except for some light wrinkling at the right.

 

The '620' of Plymouth leaves BOTH plate numbers clearly visible

 

with each showing the variety SG Spec J62d, 'Large 5 in 15'.

 

This variety occurs on only two stamps per sheet of 240.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £900 and under priced in our experience.

 

This variety occurs on two stamps in a sheet of 240: stamps 'AA' and 'TK'

 

this is only the first example we have been able to offer or indeed have seen.

 

An Exhibition item.

 

Price: £495.00 

 

NB: do read the introductory comment about 'TK' being the rarer.

 

This item and 153139 below would make an extremely rare/unique pairing.

 

 

 

4d Plate 15 'TK': large '5' in Plate Number' with a very rare London Cancellation:

 

a unique combination.

 

     

 

153138.

 

4d SG153, Plate 15, ‘TK’: fine/very fine used

 

except for a possible very small rub at NW letter square and one short perf at the bottom. 

 

Stamp has the listed variety SG Spec J64d 'Large '5' in '15''. 

 

This variety occurs on only one other lettering on a sheet of 240, ie stamp 'AA'.  

 

Although Gibbons prices both ‘AA’ and ‘TK’ the same at £800, in our experience handling

 

surface printed varieties for 45 years,

 

the 'TK' variety is considerably rarer than 'AA'.

 

We have sold probably ten or so examples of the 'AA' variety over the years

 

but this is the First Time we have been able to offer the 'TK' variety on this stamp.

 

We cannot recall seeing another example.

 

The watermark is displaced upwards to a significant extent.

 

The cancellation is the ‘16 in bars’ of the London East Central District. 

 

Parmenter in ‘Barred Numeral Cancellations of London’, gives this a H* rarity:

 

ie extremely rare and known only on stamp.

 

This plate variety and cancellation make it likely that this combination is unique.

 

A superb Exhibition item.  

 

Price:  £485.00

 

 

SG153: Large '5' in Plate Number.

 

 

151463. 

 

4d SG153, Plate 15, 'AA', fine cds example,

 

London November 26th 1877, slightly rounded corner bottom right. 

 

The cds is clear of BOTH plate numbers

 

with each showing the variety SG Spec J64d, 'Large 5 in 15'.

 

This variety occurs on only two stamps per sheet of 240, 'AA' and 'TK'.

 

One of the finest cds example we have seen with this variety.

 

Priced by Gibbons at £800 without the 75% cds premium.

 

Price: £270.00

 

 

St Thomas duplex: on a rare plate variety

 

 

152956. 

 

4d SG153 Plate 15, ‘AA-BA’: a vertical pair,

 

tied to a piece by the St Thomas C51 Code A duplex for May 2nd 1877.

 

Stamp ‘BA’ has a faulty top left corner and a few short perfs.

 

On stamp ‘AA’ there is rubbing in the bottom left corner letter square. 

 

It has the listed variety SG Spec J64d  ‘Large 5 in ‘’15’’ (AA and TK)’. 

 

The cancellation leaves BOTH plate numbers clearly visible allowing

 

the variety on each plate number to be seen.

 

The plate numbers on ‘BA’ are also visible allowing the comparison with ‘AA’ also to be seen. 

 

The large 5 in the Plate Number variety is priced by Gibbons used in GB at £800 

 

This is the only example of this variety used abroad that we have seen and the first in a multiple. 

 

A rarity and possibly a unique usage which would make a superb display page. 

 

Price: £575.00 SOLD

 

 

 

4d SG153 Plate 16

 

 

152477. 

 

1877 4d plate 16 SG 153: fine used

and unusually cancelled by a blue numeral.

Gibbons prices the basic stamp at £300.

 

Price: £40.00 

 

 

4d SG153 Plate 16

 

            

     

152476. 

 

1877 4d sage green plate 16 SG 153:

              very fine cds copy Chester July 13 1883. 

             Priced by Gibbons at £600 including cds premium.

          A scarce item.      

    

Price: £85.00

 

 

4d SG154

                      

151564.  4d SG154, very fine used example of this difficult stamp.

 Lightly cancelled by a London squared circle for May 9th 1881.

 Priced by Gibbons at £550 without the premium for the dated cancellation.

 Price:  £185.00

NB: finer than the scanned image.

 

 

4d SG154

 

151346.  4d plate 17, 'ML', SG154:

a fine used example of this difficult stamp.

A few slightly trimmed perfs at the bottom but lightly cancelled

by a Dover squared circle for December 9th 1880. 

Priced by Gibbons at £550 without the premium for the dated cancellation.

Very hard to find so fine. 

Price: £110.00

 

 

 

4d SG154 : a very rare usage on 1880 wrapper.

151407. 

 

4d SG154 plate 17, 'II':

 

tied to wrapper to San Domingo by a very fine Manchester duplex, October 1st 1880 with in m/s 'per RMS TAGUS'. 

 

Theo Brauers in his book ' Scarce Victorian Postage Stamps of GB on Cover',

 

lists and illustrates ONLY 13 examples of SG154 on cover.

 

This example is not listed and is EARLIER than any of the examples in his book.

 

We can not trace an earlier example on cover.

 

Although on a slightly tired wrapper and the stamp affected at the far right by a light vertical filing crease,

 

this is a RARITY as reflected in Gibbons price on cover at £1,700 and underpriced in our experience. 

 

The first example we have been able to offer.

 

Price:  £485.00

 

NB:

 

Gibbons in their 'Postal History Summer 2021' illustrated booklet,

 

Item 132, are offering an example on a cover to India.

 

The stamp is tied by a cds of the Paignton Duplex for October 28th 1880. 

 

The price is £2,000.

 

 

  

3d on 3d Plate 21      

                    

152474.   1883 3d on 3d SG 159: very fine used pair.

             Priced by Gibbons at £320 as two singles without the premium.

        An attractive item with very fine colour. 

      Price: £100.00  

 

 

 

Manchester Station Late Box

152221.  3d on 3d SG159, 'PJ', fine used: cancelled by

 the MANCHESTER STATION LATE BOX scroll for December 9th 1883. 

Parmenter, 'London Late Fee and Too Late Mail',

notes that this canceller was sent from the London Office on June 14th 1883.

However, he records it used from January 2nd 1886 to March 4th 1898. 

We have not seen this cancellation used on this 3d issue and cannot trace another example.

The stamp is a pale shade which enables the cancellation to be more clearly seen.

 

Likely to be the earliest known usage of this rare cancellation.

 

A very rare item.

 

Price:  £120.00  SOLD

 

 

 

3d on 3d SG159

                

151724.  SG159, 3d on 3d, fine fiscally used pair:

with fine colour that the scan does not show. 

Extremely clean reverse and priced by Gibbons as a postally used pair at £320. 

Attractive and an unusual usage: the first we have seen. 

Price:  £50.00

 

 

6d on 6d SG162   

152475.  6d on 6d SG162:

very fine/superb used with almost full upright cds

 of Piccadilly Circus, October 29 1883. 

Priced by Gibbons at £225 including the CDS premium.

    Price: £85.00   

 

 

 

1/- SG 163 Plate 13

152217.  1/- SG163 plate 13, 'PI', very fine:

with a very fine CDS of St Andrews, BRADFORD YORKS,

and centrally applied, for October 24th 1883. 

Rarely found with such a complete cds.

Price: £95.00

 

Please SCROLL DOWN for more CDS surface printed examples.

 

 

 

1d and 2d Surcharge markings

152468.  

1881 1d SG166 on a neat and uncreased envelope from

London to Newcastle on Tyne then redirected to Rochdale and finally to Manchester

Handstruck 1d and 2d both in black on the front and full wax seal on reverse. 

Very attractive and unusual and scarce with such combined surcharges. 

                The majority of the action is on the front of the envelope.  

An item that would display well.

Price: £58.00  SOLD

 

 

 

1d SG166: Offset with different letterings

              

152268. 

 

1d SG166: with an exceptional offset, no gum. 

 

The stamp is lettered 'QA' BUT the offset stamp is lettered 'KA'. 

 

This stamp is rarely found with an an offset BUT this is the

 

ONLY example we have seen or can find from our researches,

 

with the offset having different letterings to the original printed stamp. 

 

A unique item?

 

An Exhibition item that would display well. 

 

Price:  £185.00

 

 

 

1d SG166 INVERTED Watermark

        

152376.  1d SG166, 'CG', with INVERTED watermark. 

Lightly cancelled with a light diagonal crease as per the scan. 

This variety is rarely found and Gibbons price of £350 is in our experience significantly underpriced. 

In the Grosvenor Auction, October 2019, a used example with

short/trimmed perfs along the entire top of the stamp,

sold for an inclusive figure of just short of £100. 

The example offered here is one of the few examples we have been able to offer. 

Price:  £70.00

 

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2: Inverted Watermark

152273.   

1d lilac Die 2 SG172: very fine used with

a '130' cds of ECCLEFECHAN, February 7th 1891,

 and an Inverted Watermark

A very scarce variety and grossly underpriced by Gibbons. 

One of the finest examples we have been able to offer.

 

Price:  £58.00 SOLD

 

 

 

Superb example: SG137 £5 Orange 




 
152469. 

 

£5 Orange, SG137: 

 

a very attractive example of this popular high value, superb colour and perfs,

cancelled with a finely struck 1896 Edinburgh cds leaving a clear Queen’s profile. 

Excellent overall condition with possibly a very minor rub on the reverse in the top left corner. 

One of the finest we have seen for some time and the scan does not do it justice. 

Gibbons priced at £4,750 without the 75% for superb used!!

 

Price: £1,800.00

 

NB: there is NOT a crease under the cancellation as the scan may be suggesting: it is the watermark.

 

 

 

Stamps lost in transit and surcharged

152279. 

 

Neat envelope, finer condition than in the scan, sent to London, March 14th 1871.

On the front is a fine strike of the scarce INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID handstruck London mark. 

The symbol in the centre varies and indicates the worker who used it: next to it in m/s is a hand written '6d'.

The surcharge was applied because the envelope was unfranked or at least it was by the time it reached London.

The scan shows that two stamps were originally affixed at the top right corner but had come off in transit to the Capital. 

On the reverse is a boxed London E.C for March 14th 1871 which was used to indicate a LATE FEE:

this which may explain two stamps being originally affixed. 

It overstrikes an illegible cds which is for this same date and it appears likely

that this envelope was sent locally to London. 

A fascinating and scarce item which could make an interesting display page. 

 

Price:  £65.00  SOLD

 

NB: this is the first time we have been able to offer this surcharge mark on cover. 

 

 

 

4d Medium Garter SG64: INVERTED WATERMARK





152470.  4d SG64, Medium Garter, fine PAIR except for small perf fault at top

on wing margin stamp tied by Newport Mons sideways duplex,

 JY 5 1856 on envelope to Hamburg – part of rear flap missing. 

 

The only multiple of this stamp we have seen with INVERTED WATERMARK on cover. 

 

A single stamp priced by Gibbons OFF COVER at £1,200. 

 

A very rare item.  

 

Price:  £425.00

 

 

 

4d SG153 carried to South Africa by the Donald Currie Company: the Castle Line.

 

152360.

 

The brown marking on the front is NOT present; a trick of the scanner.

4d SG153, a fine plate 16, tied to an envelope to Capetown by a Gensing-Station Road, Hastings F37 duplex for December 10th 1878.

On the front is a MOWBRAY Cape Colony cds for January 6th 1879: unusually this cds was also struck on top of the Gensing-Station Road cds.

The 4d sage green is priced by Gibbons on cover at £600 and plate 16 was put to press on October 23rd 1877

so the example offered here is a very early usage.

 

The envelope is marked at the top 'By Donald Currie Co':

and is the first example we have seen of mail carried by the Castle Line.

Donald Currie was a remarkable man: steamship owner, polician and philanthropist.

 

On the internet, Wikipedia, is a large and detailed biopic showing his development from

being one of ten children, born in 1825, to become an influential man in the fields of shipping and politics.

 

To illustrate his activities around the time, this envelope was sent to South Africa, a small section of his biopic is as follows:

'His knowledge of South African affairs often proved of advantage to the British government.

 

In 1875 Lord Carnarvon, the colonial secretary, entrusted him with the conduct of negotiations with President Brand of the Orange Free State

and President Burgers of the Transvaal Republic regarding the occupation of the Kimberley diamond fields.

 

Currie defined the boundaries, and arranged the terms of agreement.

Currie supplied the home government with the first news of the disaster of Isandhlwana during the ZULU WAR in January 1879.

 

There was at that time no telegraphic connection between the United Kingdom and South Africa;

the despatch announcing the calamity was sent from Cape Town by one of his Castle liners to St. Vincent,

and thence telegraphed to Currie in London.

Within forty-eight hours, one of the his Castle liners started for South Africa with reinforcements'.

 

An item which would, when written up fully, make a superb Exhibition display page(s).

 

Price:  £325.00

 

NB: The apparent browning on the front of the envelope is a trick of the scaaner - it is NOT there.

There are no postal marking on the reverse and for a flimsy envelope it is in fine/very fine condition.

 

He was knighted in 1881.

 

The cartoon image, also available on the internet, is entitled:


"the Knight of the Cruise of Mr Gladstone".


Currie was caricatured by Ape
(Carlo Pellegrini) in Vanity Fair, June 1884

 

 

6d SG125 

152471.  6d plate 12, SG125, (RG):  

a very fine example on a neat, clean wrapper to Palermo from London, 24th February 1874.

As the stamp was just tied by part of the London '12' duplex,

the post office official no doubt cancelled it by the RED PD in circle and then struck another

 below the 6d on the front of the envelope so it could be more easily seen than on the stamp. 

Attractive and rare example on cover of the 'PD' cancelling a stamp. 

An item that displays well.

Price:  £320.00 SOLD 

 

 

SG141 plate 8: Bute Docks duplex and a clear Queen's profile.

152350.  SG141 plate 8, 'JE': fine/very fine, small central indentation, tied to a clean envelope

 to Germany by a lightly struck BUTE-DOCKS D57 Cardiff duplex for April 24th 1878. 

The cancellation leaves almost all of QV's head clear. 

Priced by Gibbons at £125 before the 100% premium for so lightly cancelled is added. 

An attractive item. 

Price:  £40.00 

NB: the apparent browning on the envelope is far fainter than the scan suggests or not present at all

and the item is in finer condition than in the scanned image.

 

 

 

An ABNORMAL on cover with RPS Certificate

152030.   

 

6d plate 12 SG124a, PALE CHESTNUT: 

 

a fine/very fine example of this ABNORMAL on clean entire to

 

Messina from London, January 9th 1873, with a clear RPS certificate. 

 

Used in conjunction with a 1d plate 154 (very small fault).

 

Priced by Gibbons at £3,500 on stamp alone:

 

no price is quoted for this abnormal on cover

 

but an estimated Gibbons price is in excess of £8,000

 

Only a few examples are known on full cover.

 

A considerable surface printed rarity and an important Exhibition item.

 

Price:  £3,285.00

 

 

 

1/- SG72 : pair with INVERTED Watermark.

      

152472. 1/-SG72 pair and 4d SG66 pair:

tied to entire to Canada by Edinburgh duplexes, April 13th 1859

with an additional strike clear of the stamps.

The right hand stamp of the 4d pair has a small fault at the right side

 

but the 1/- pair is very fine with one stamp having the Edinburgh cds. 

 

The 1/- pair have INVERTED WATERMARK and this is the first example we have been able

 offer of this 1/- with a cds and watermark inverted even on a stamp not on cover.

 

Gibbons price for a single 1/- with inverted watermark is £700 and the CDS single at £875. 

 

Allowing for just these 1/-'s being on cover, Gibbons price increases to well in excess of £2,000.

 

An attractive and very rare Scottish entire.

 

An impressive Exhibition item.

 

Price:  £635.00

 

 

 

2/- Milky Blue: extremely rare block of four

152345. 

 

2/- SG120b, Milky Blue, used block of four, 'CK-RL':

an extremely rare used block of four cancelled by LONDON duplexes for August 6th 1878. 

The scan does NOT do justice to the colour and the browning on 'QK' at the top is FAINT

as is the browning on 'RK' and 'RL' including the perfs;

there is some light wrinkling on 'RL' and a small area of very light wrinkling on 'RK'; 'QL' is clearly defective. 

The light application of the London duplexes allow the distinctive milky blue colour to be clearly seen. 

 

The extreme rarity of this item can be highlighted as follows:

 

Galland and Louis in 'GB Surface Printed Postage Stamps 1855-1883' note,

on page 112, that the known used multiples of the 2/- milky blue shade are:

 

a block of 6, 'KF-MG' cancelled by 'E53' of Port - au - Prince, Haiti in the 1981 Gibbons auction sale of the Griffith Collection;

a block of four, 'RA-SB' cancelled by  the 'C59' of Jacmel, Haiti in the Manzi auction sale and

a used pair 'OE-OF', with a Lombard Street, London duplex in the Shaida Collection. 

 

Neither the Mairi Bury nor the Chartwell Coolection had a used multiple of SG120b and neither did the Latto Collection. 

 

From our researches we cannot find another used block and the block offered here

is believed to be the ONLY known block used in the UK and not in an overseas location. 

 

Gibbons prices a single SG120b at £2,000 and allowing for a block of four, the price is £14,000. 

 

A block of considerable rarity and likely to be a unique usage in the UK.

 

Price:  £580.00  SOLD

 

NB: as mentioned above the item is in a better condition, and the colour finer, than the scan suggests

 

 

 

2/- SG 120a Cobalt Shade:

 

INVERTED watermark with Certificate

WM 7.  

 

2/- SG120a.

 

A very fine used example in the rare COBALT shade

 

with a clear Certificate signed by Robson Lowe.

 

Small paper adherence and hinge remnant on the reverse

 

nd the light cancel leaves both the Queen’s profile and most of the Head clear

 

thus allowing this distinctive shade to be seen to advantage. 

 

A very rare stamp so fine, priced by Gibbons at £3,000 with watermark upright, but

 

exceedingly rare with INVERTED watermark. 

 

Gibbons price allowing for the inverted watermark variety

 

is in excess of £12,500. 

 

First example we have seen in this shade with inverted watermark.  

 

A significant surface printed rarity and an important Exhibition item.

 

Price:  £2,450.00   

 

 

 

4d SG153 Plate 16 Block of 4

151928. 

 

4d SG153 Plate 16, 'AD-BE':

 

a VERY RARE used block of 4, London Registration Branch, Holborn Hill, cancellations.

Cancelled Contrary to PO Regulations by only two strikes R/20. 

This cancellation in use from March 13th 1868.

 

The block is still attached to a large part of the original registered envelope/package to which it was affixed.

'BE' is damaged toward the bottom but this is a truly rare block. 

 

Gibbons in QV Volume 1, does not price a used block in either Plate 15 or 16:

 this is only the second used block we have been able to offer in several decades. 

 

Priced by Gibbons at £1,200 as four singles; a remarkable item despite the damage to 'BE'.

 

Very few collections will ever contain a used block. 

 

Price:  £420.00

 

 

6d SG85: cds used

152368.  6d SG85 Plate 4 hair lines, 'JI':

an attractive wing margin example with a Glasgow cds for December 1864

and only a small part of the duplex bars. 

Gibbons price is £250 without the premium for the cancellation.

A couple of shortish perfs on the wing margin and a superb clean reverse.

A difficult stamp to find in such fine condition. 

Price:  £58.00  SOLD

NB: the cds leaves a large portion of QV's face/head clear.

 

 

 

A rare used marginal inscription example

152341. Fine/very fine 8d, Sg156, 'JI', couple of short perfs,

cancelled by the '022' numeral of the RIPLEY, Yorks, duplex. 

The bottom attached margin reads' 8 Pence per Label'. 

Rarely is this value found in used condition with a marginal inscription still attached.

This particular inscription occurred at the top and bottom of each pane of 60,

The Post Office sheet of 240 consisted of four panes of 60. 

The '022' is the numeral part of a Ripley duplex, a type illustrated by Parmenter

with a latest recorded usage of 27th February 1876.

As the 8d was issued in in September 1876, this extends its period of use. 

It is given a 'G' rarity rating ie Very Rare.

There is a part hinge on the reverse and the stamp has a large part original gum. 

Gibbons prices the basic stamp at £350. 

An attractive and very rare item. 

Price:  £185.00

 

NB: there is a hinge remnant on the reverse at the top  

which gives an impression of short perfs: all are complete.

 

 

Three value franking

 

152340. 6d SG194, 1d SG172 and 1/2d SG187 tied by a single Retford duplex for July 7th 1884. 

The 6d has a strong colour and better than in the scan.

The dater of the duplex leaves almost all of the Queen's head clear and this value is rarely found on cover in such fine condition.

The envelope was sent to France and there are various transit markings as a result of its redirection:

It has been folded at the left for display purposes. 

The 6d on cover in such fine condition is priced by Gibbons at £380 plus 100% premium: £760.  

An attractive and very scarce item which displays well. 

Price:  £185.00  SOLD

 

 

 

3d SG191: deeply coloured pair

152473.     

1884 3d lilac SG 191: richly coloured pair, superb used

with strikes of a London experimental squared circle, 21st Sept 1885 . 

 Priced by Gibbons at £400 including premium.

The colour is the deepest we have seen.

A very fine and attractive multiple.  

Price: £55.00

 

 

 

1d Lilac Die1 added as a Late Fee to South Africa

 

152323.  1d lilac Die 1, SG170 and 6d SG161Plate 17, tied to a clean envelope with contents

to CAPE TOWN, South Africa by a London squared circle for August 4th 1881.

The 1d was added as a LATE FEE and is just tied by a small 'L' in red. 

This is the East Central District late fee cancellation and rated RARE

in 'London Late Fee and Too Late Mail' by Parmenter'.

On the reverse is a Cape Town cds for August 25th 1881 and an embossed address of the sender:

Duff, Last & Co 42 Cannon St London EC.

Available on the internet is an image, as above, of the Company's advert for their Catalogue of Products.

This is the earliest usage we have seen of the1d Die1 used to pay a late fee on mail going overseas:

Die1 was issued on July 12th 1881.

An attractive and rare combination of features.

Price: £75.00  SOLD

 

 

2d rose SG168: very rare single usage

 

152329.  2d rose SG168, fine/very fine, tied by a London EC squared circle

for February 14th 1883, to a letter from Union Bank of London to Walton le Dale, nr Preston. 

The letter refers to the account of the GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY Co.

A single usage of this 2d is very rare and less than 10 examples are known:

Gibbons prices this stamp at £300 on cover before a premium for its single usage. 

A very rare item which displays well because of its small size.

Price: £225.00 

 

NB: In the Grosvenor Sale, October 2019, an internal UK single usage

on an envelope sold for £385 inclusive of the Buyers Premium.

 

The browning on the front is far less pronounced than in the scan.

 

This is only the second example of its single usage we have been able to offer:

 

the first was on a very large letter.

 

 

6d SG16 Plate 18:

unrecorded usage of VR Scroll

with Board of Trade Perfin

152302.

4d SG160 plate 18 with an almost complete and upright strike,

of the VR scroll cancel for September 1884,

used on Royalty Mail and some State Departments.

The stamp has some clipped perfs on the left but is

perfinned Crown/BT of the Board of Trade. 

A rare/unique combination of cancel and perfinning. 

The stamp is offered with Certification.   

Price:  £225.00 SOLD

 

6d on 6d SG162:

unrecorded usage of VR Scroll

with Board of Trade Perfin

 

152303.

SG162 1883 very fine 6d on 6d:

  tied to small piece by the VR  London Scroll for July 1884, 

used on Royalty Mail and some State Departments. 

Stamp also perfinned by the  Crown B/T of the Board of Trade. 

A  very rare combination of cancellation and Official Perfin

and very likely to be unique on this stamp

Price  £290.00  SOLD

 

 

 

Unrecorded Plate Damage with Certificate

152304.


SG123 6d FA: a Certificated Unrecorded Variety.
 

Very fine copy of 6d SG123 plate 11: with plate damage to a number of areas

including the base of the Queen’s head and the inner frame line above Six Pence.


The cancellation allows the variety to be clearly seen.


The item has an
RPS certificate


A significant unrecorded variety and a Display item.
 

Price:  £165.00


NB: the scan does not do justice to the plate damage.

 

 

 

4d SG153: variety 'large 5' in the plate number

 

151569. 

 

Very fine Registered Envelope from Leith to Prussia, September 3rd 1879. 

Leith duplex on the reverse cancelling the embossed ' Registered Two Pence' die. 

The unusual franking is made up of a bantam 1/2d and a 4d SG153, Plate 15, lettered 'AA'. 

The very fine 4d sage green - superb colour - shows the listed variety, Spec J64d: Stamp 'AA', 'Large '5' in '15'.

The cancellation leaves both plate numbers almost totally clear.

This variety priced by Gibbons in the latest, 2011, Edition of QV Volume 1 at £800 on a stamp not on cover. 

Although we have handled several used examples of this variety,

from our researches we can find NO other example of this variety on cover.

A very rare Exhibition quality item

and likely to be a unique survivor with this variety on a registered envelope.

Price:  £850.00  SOLD

NB: the browning around the stamps and on the front of the envelope is NOT present

and neither is it present on the reverse side: tricks of the scanner.

 

 

The rare Plate 17

152291.  21/2d SG141 Plate 17.

A fine/very fine example on a clean wrapper from London to Lille, February 4th 1880:

the day before the change of colour to the 21/2d blue, SG142. 

The SG141 was issued in 1880 and the example offered here at February 4th 1880

is the earliest usage we have seen

Priced by Gibbons at £550 on cover and is undervalued in our experience. 

The duplex leaves the plate number clearly visible. 

A rare item. 

Price:  £295.00 SOLD

 

 

 

6d SG147 Dotted Circle to New Zealand: rare combination

 

152292.  6d Plate 15 SG147: very fine/fine tied to a

flimsy envelope from Edinburgh to Mount Ida, NEW ZEALAND

by an Edinburgh Type A9 dotted circle, January 4th 1877, codes 14 Y.

The envelope has peripheral faults and a part missing of the front at the right. 

Arundel does not record Edinburgh, Dundee or Greenock Type 1 with any dotted circle cancellation on a 6d value

and only Greenock Type 2 is recorded on a 6d SG147 and that on a letter to Portugal.

The superb handstruck deficient postage, with a fine and surcharge of 1/-, is illustrated by

Johnson in 'Unpaid and Underpaid Mail of England and Wales', number H4. 

This London mark he rates as rare or important enough to be in any serious collection of the subject. 

A superb and rare Exhibition item with a likely unique combination of features. 

Price:  £220.00 SOLD

 

 

6d SG84: Error of Watermark

     

152243.   6d SG84d, Plate 3, 'TF', Error of Watermark, 3 roses and a thistle. 

A defective example, closed tear at the left, but a very collectable example

of this rare variety with the London cancellation leaving a full clear profile.  

Priced by Gibbons at £5500 and offered at a very small percentage of this figure.

The rose emblem replacing in error the shamrock can be clearly seen on the reverse.

Price: £345.00

 

 

6d SG84: Error of Watermark

   

152241.  6d SG84d, Plate 3, 'TF', Error of Watermark, 3 roses and a thistle.

A very fine/superb used example, very minor crease/wrinkle at the bottom,

lightly cancelled by the upright '159' numeral of GLASGOW. 

Priced by Gibbons at £5500; this is arguably one of the, if not the,

finest example extant of this rarity. 

Exhibition quality. 

Price: £2,125.00

 

 

6d SG84: Watermark Error Shamrock MISSING

       

152245.  6d SG84c, Plate 3, 'TF', Watermark Error, shamrock emblem missing;

this error can be clearly seen on the reverse side. 

There are only two other examples known of this rarity. 

One has a London Chief Office numeral and the other appeared in a Grosvenor Auction in November 2002.

It was illustrated, Lot 2070, and fully described with its faults:

a vertical crease at the left; tone spots on some perfs and a few very short perfs almost trimmed.

It was cancelled by a Liverpool '466' and sold for £4,750 inclusive of the Buyers' Premium. 

The example offered here is very fine except for a light horizontal crease below 'Postage'.

 Cancelled by the '114' of DUNDEE, it is a far finer example than that sold at auction 17 years ago!  

An exceptional surface printed rarity and a wonderful display item.

Price: £3,250.00 

Gibbons prices this variety at £3,000: grossly underpriced in view of only two other examples known.

Try asking them for an example at their price!

NB: a precursor to the error: the missing shamrock replaced by a rose, SG84d.

This and the next item, SG85 with a similar error variety,

would make a truly remarkable and unique pair and a memorable Exhibition item.

 

 

 

6d SG85: Watermark Error Missing Shamrock

  

152246. 

 

6d SG85, Plate 4, 'TF', Watermark Error, MISSING SHAMROCK. 

The error is clear on the reverse side. 

This is the ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE and unlisted by Gibbons.

It is cancelled by a '46' in diamond and bars and is fine used: the colour is better than in the scan.

There is one example known of the missing shamrock replaced by a rose emblem

which is listed by Gibbons as SG 85d but unpriced. 

An outstanding surface printed rarity and a wonderful display item.

Price: £3,500

NB: a precursor to the error: the missing shamrock replaced by a rose, SG85d. 

This item and the previous one, SG84c with a similar error variety,

would make a truly remarkable and unique pair.

 

 

4d SG66: cancelled by the Calais transit cds

152232.  4d SG66 very fine/fine pair: 

unfranked in London, date stamp April 27th 1857 on reverse,

hence each stamp cancelled by the AMB CALAIS date stamp, April 28th 1857.  

A clean small envelope addressed to Poste Restant, Lisbon.

Very rare to find a French date stamp having to be used in this way. 

An Exhibition item.

Price:  £295.00

 

 

Glasgow Experimental Duplex, 'Madeleine Smith', on Transatlantic Envelope

        

152239.  1/- SG71, DEEP GREEN, tied to a clean envelope from GLASGOW to New York by a fine strike of

the Glasgow EXPERIMENTAL DUPLEX, February 6th 1857:

there are no postal markings on reverse but an embossed 'The Queens Hotel Glasgow'. 

In m/s red is 'over 1/2oz' with a red signature alongside and in black '38 cents' and '48' charges. 

This item would have been carried on the Cunarder 'ASIA' which sailed from

Liverpool on February 7th 1857 arriving in New York on February 22nd.

Very unusual not to have postal marking in Liverpool and no cancellation on arrival.

The 1/- has some very short perf at the top right but is from the early printings of the much scarcer deep green shade. 

This shade is priced by Gibbons on stamp alone at £550. 

Examples of any Scottish Experimental Duplex on cover with other than the contemporary 1d values are rarely found. 

An attractive and rare item

Price: £145.00 SOLD

 

NB: see the next item, 152240.

 

 

Greenock Experimental Duplex on Transatlantic Mail        

 

152240. 

1/- SG72, fine, tied to an ENTIRE to New York by the GREENOCK Type 2, EXPERIMENTAL DUPLEX for April 29th 1858. 

At the top on the front in m/s is 'per packet of 1 May': this letter would have been carried on the Cunarder 'PERSIA'

which left Liverpool on May 1st 1858 and arrived in New York/Boston on May 11th 1858.

Examples of any Scottish Experimental Duplex on cover with other than the contemporary 1d values are rarely found. 

The interesting family letter, rather fragile, is easy to read.

An attractive and rare item. 

Price: £125.00  SOLD

 

NB: see the above item, 152239.

 

 

 

2/6 SG178 on Envelope to USA      

152229. 

A fine 2/6d SG178:  tied to an envelope from London to Chicago by a large single ring LONDON cds for August 4th 1899.

The cancellation centrally applied and upright upright ties the 2/6d at left and right sides over the perfs.

The postage paid by a very rare SINGLE usage of this high value indicating a letter weight of more than 5.5oz or 156g. 

 This was at a period when many postal administrations were members of the UPU and high value stamps were only needed in exceptional circumstances. 

Brauers in ‘Scarce Victorian Postage Stamps of Great Britain on Cover’, records only ONE OTHER commercial single usage of this 2/6d value

and that is on a printed Registered Envelope but the stamp is damaged. 

The reverse side of the envelope is partially toned but the front is clean with only the one vertical filing fold.

On the reverse is a CHICAGO receiving cds for August 18th 1899.  

The description could be easily expanded with further information about the addressee available on the internet.

A rarity which displays well. 

Price:  £785.00 SOLD

NB: The envelope is addressed to Melville E(lijah) Stone. Briefly from his biopic on the internet:

Stone's parents were Reverend Elijah Stone, a Methodist minister, and Sophia Creighton.

In 1876, Stone, who started out as a reporter, founded the first Chicago penny paper, the Chicago Daily News.

In 1881 he established the Chicago Morning News (renamed the Chicago Record).

He became general manager of the reorganized Associated Press in 1893 which

under his direction became one of the great news agencies.

There is a photo of him on the internet.

 

 

 

6d SG96 Plate 6

152225. 

 

6d SG96 Plate 6, 'RJ' and 'RL':

 

two fine examples in a deep shade tied to a clean entire

 

to Cadiz by a Liverpool duplex, May 16th 1867. 

 

A difficult stamp to find with multiple usage on cover

 

and Gibbons prices a SINGLE on cover at a minimum of £400. 

 

An attractive and scarce item. 

 

Price:  £110.00

 

 

Printed Decorated Envelope 1879

152226.  SG141 Plate 14 'GF', fine used:

tied to a small neat envelope from BELFAST to Brooklyn, New York by a partial and lightly struck

Belfast duplex for May 1879 leaving virtually the whole of the Queen's head clear. 

The envelope has a delicate printed decoration in lime green of flower motifs on branches/stems. 

Very unusual and an early example of a coloured printed illustrated envelope. 

Price:  £75.00

NB: the item is finer than the scan suggests.

 

 

Parcel Post Cancellations

 

152227. 6d dull green SG 194, 'LM':

fine colour and tied to a part 'Per Parcel Post Stationery' printed label 'Under 3 Pounds' with the date December 15th 1886. 

The 6d postage paid by a fine example of SG194 and tied by a very fine strike of the GPO Depot in bars, McKay Fig 3543.

This item has with it its Parcel Post label for St. Martin's-le-Grand, London which has been cancelled by

a SUPERB G.P.O- London Parcel Post Depot Scroll for this same date 15 December 1886, McKay Fig 3638.

This scroll cancellation is rarely found and this is the first example we have been able to offer on the original Parcel Post label. 

A rare pairing which would make a very interesting display page.

 

Price: £125.00  SOLD

 

NB: It is hard to see how a finer example of this rare scroll could be found.

Some wrinkling and creasing as per the scan.

See the next item: 152219

 

 

Rare Scroll Cancellation

152219. 

6d dull green, SG194, 'LH':  the green is stronger than in the scan. 

Cancelled by a part strike of the rare GPO London

Parcel Post Depot scroll for May 20th 1885. 

A rare item. 

 

Price:  £48.50  SOLD

 

This would go well with item 152227 above.

 

 

 

6d Plate 5: very late usage

152216.  6d SG97 plate 5, 'TD':

tied to piece by FINSBURY PARK Sorting Office duplex, MAY 5th 1883. 

This stamp issued on March 7th 1865 and between then and May 1883 the following 6d values were issued:

SG104; SG108; SG122; SG123; SG125; SG146; SG161 and SG162.

This emphasises the late usage of this stamp: the latest usage we have seen or can trace. 

The stamp is fine except for some toning on the perfs below the 'D' square

which is NOT as pronounced as the scan suggests. 

A rare item. 

Price: £55.00

 

 

6d SG107: Dotted Circle Cancellation

 

152218.  6d SG107 plate 6: fine/very fine used

with an EDINBURGH Dotted Circle Type B2, January 20th 1868.

This cancellation unrecorded (Arundel) on any surface printed issue.

An attractive and rare item.

Price: £47.50  SOLD

 

  

4d SG154: Dotted Circle Cancellation

 

152220.  4d SG 154, plate 17:

cancelled by an EDINBURGH dotted circle, Type C, October 7th 1880.

Short perfs bottom left and a defect NW corner BUT

this stamp has NOT previously been recorded (Arundel) with ANY Dotted Circle from ANY location.

The watermark, large garter, has been shifted upwards and it has additional marginal watermark letters.

A remarkable item that deserves to be displayed.

Price:  £88.50  SOLD

 

 

 

Rideout Number 1 Machine

152208.  The first Surface Printed values issued:

4d SG66 (7bars), 6d SG70 (8bars) and 1/- SG72 (7bars) with the Rideout Number 1 Machine.

The 4d and 6d are very fine and the 1/- has toned perfs but very rare with this cancellation.

The 4d and 6d values are seldom found with any of these cancellations.

The 1/- is the only example we have seen with this cancellation:

it is also shows the perforation variety ‘short ‘A’ row’.  

A superb and rare trio which displays well.  

Price: £120.00

 

Rideout Number 2 Machine on 4d

152209.

4d SG66, very fine used with Rideout Number 2 Machine cancellation.  

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

A very scarce item.

Price: £40.00

 

 

 

Rideout Number 2 Machine

152211. 

4d SG66 very fine used cancelled by the Number 2 Machine

numeral and dater with code CR for May 30th 1859.

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

A very scarce item.

Price: £48.00

 

 

Number 2 Machine on 6d

152210.

6d 70 very fine used with the Number 2 Machine numeral.

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

A very scarce/rare item.

Price: £40.00

 

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2 Control U Pair

 

152147.  1d lilac die 2, fine corner Control U pair with imperf margin and a 1/2d SG197:

the side margin of the pair overlaps on to the back of the envelope. 

Tied to a clean, small and uncreased envelope to Bremen, Germany,

by EALING cds's for December 18th 1896. 

No postal markings on the reverse and the marginal rule with some damage/wear.

A scarce and attractive item in superb condition which would Display well.

Price: £58.50 SOLD

 

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2 Control U Pair

152148.  1d lilac Die 2, a fine Control U pair,

side margin overlaps onto the reverse side, and with a 1/2d SG197.

Tied to a piece by EALING squared circles for December 11th 1896. 

A scarce item.

Price: £30.00

NB: Items 152147/8 are dated only a week apart and show that

at Ealing, two types of cancellers were being used.

The next item shows a third type.

 

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2 Control V Pair

152146. 1d lilac Die 2 fine Control V pair, perforated margin: the side margin overlaps on to the reverse. 

Cancelled by EALING double ring date stamps for July 29th 1898. 

On a clean and uncreased envelope to Colchester with no postal markings on the reverse. 

Very scarce item. 

Price: £48.50  SOLD

NB: the apparent browning is not present - a trick of the scanner.

This item and the previous two, 152147/8, would make a very fine Display page

and also illustrates different types of Ealing cancellers.

 

 

 

6d SG69: a very rare pre-printing crease and carried on the 'AMERICA' of the Cunard Line

      

152205. 

 

6d SG 69, deep lilac:

 

a scarce pair in a scarce shade on a small envelope to the USA and tied by a STAINES duplex for January 24th 1859. 

 

The top perfs on the right hand stamp have been worn by being so close to the edge of the envelope. 

 

The left hand stamp has a pre- printing paper crease that touches part of the Queen's head and face. 

 

On the inside flap unusually is printed 'The Song of the Redeemed' and a signed handwritten message. 

 

This is the first example of a pre-printing paper crease on this stamp we have seen

 

and cannot recall one on any other surface printed stamp on cover.

 

An attractive and unusual item that would make an interesting Display. 

 

Price: £225.00  

 

NB: An estimated Gibbons price for a SINGLE SG69 on cover is £380. 

This envelope would have been carried on the 'AMERICA' of the Cunard Line

which left Liverpool on January 29th 1859 and arrived in Boston on February 16th 1859.

On the front of the envelope is a Liverpool receiving date for January 25th

being a type used on transatlantic mail.

The letter would have been retained until the next sailing to the USA

which was by the 'America'.

 

 

4d SG62

      

152202. 

4d SG62, pale carmine shade, toning on a few perfs and pulled perfs at the left,

otherwise a fine lightly cancelled example of this shade on lightly blued paper.

Priced by Gibbons at £450.

Price: £49.00

 

 

 

 

4d SG66 INVERTED WATERMARK on Cover

152189.  4d SG66, fine wing margin example on an envelope to Paris, November 1859. 

Tied by a London 16 in diamond and bars and with the variety: INVERTED WATERMARK. 

Gibbons prices a used SG66 with inverted watermark at £400 which means an estimated price on cover of £600.

In our experience this is underpriced as this is the first example on cover we have been able to offer. 

A rare item. 

Price: £135.00 

NB: the brown marks on the front are less pronounced than in the scan.

 

 

Rare usage of the Cresswell Machine on 4d SG66

152188. 

Large part front to France with a fine 4d SG66 tied by a fine/very fine '72' Cresswell Machine duplex for November 16th 1857. 

The LPHG records this cancellation in use in November and December 1857: Code 10 is unrecorded by them.

The use of this stamping machine ceased on December 31st 1857.

This duplex is rarely found cancelling a value other than the contemporary 1d.

This example and Item 152047 are the only ones we can recall with a contemporary surface printed value. 

A rare item which displays well.

Price:  £58.00

NB: the staining around the dater portion of the duplex is nowhere near as pronounced as in the scan.

 

 

 

Pair 4d SG66: very rare cancelled by Cresswell Stamping Machine

 

152047.  4d SG66, fine/very fine pair tied to a clean envelope to Germany,

by the London CRESSWELL stamping machine impressions for Code 5 December 8th 1857. 

The envelope has on the front and back various non-overlapping transit marks. 

The Cresswell duplex is numeral '72' with the small,16mm, dater. 

This numeral duplex is only recorded in use only in November and December 1857 and Code 5 is unrecorded. 

The use of this stamping machine ceased on December 31st 1857.

The Cresswell duplexes are usually found on the contemporary 1d on cover.

This example and Item 152188 are the only ones we can recall with a contemporary surface printed value. 

A multiple usage of such a value makes this a superb and attractive item.

 Very rare and of Exhibition quality.

Price:  £230.00  SOLD

NB: the envelope is in much finer condition than the scan suggests.

 

 

 

6d and 4d on Registered letter within UK

152144.  6d SG70 and 4d SG79 on a clean and fine commercial Registered Letter from London to Macclesfield. 

LOMBARD STREET Registered Letter strike Mckay fig 2191: a unique Lombard Street variety used in the 1860's.

There is also on the front a London Registered oval for April 26th 1862.

The 6d paid the registration and on the reverse is a Macclesfield cds for Sunday April 27th 1862. 

Some perfs of the 4d overlap with the 6d but no damage. 

Gibbons prices the 6d on cover at £240 and the 4d on cover at £300. 

A rare internal UK usage of both stamps. 

Price:  £135.00  

 

 

Pair 6d SG96 Plate 6

152145.

 

6d SG96 plate 6, 'SA-SB'.

 

Fine used PAIR, in the scarcer deep lilac shade: on a wrapper from MANCHESTER to Barcelona, March 11th 1867. 

 

London and Spanish transit marks on reverse. 

 

'SB' has an unusual inclusion/adherence to the plate, present before printing, below the bottom of QV's head. 

 

Gibbons prices a SINGLE 6d SG96 in this scarcer plate on cover at £400:

 

difficult stamp to fine in multiples especially on cover.

 

Price:  £120.00 

 

 

6d Plate 9 with Late Fee 2 X 1d

152137.  Two fine 6d SG108 Plate 9 on wrapper to GENOA from London, June 23rd 1871. 

A LATE FEE 2d, Boxed L2 in red, has been paid by two 1d's from different plates.

'SL' is plate 139, virtually a totally clear QV head with 'DC' from plate 143: both are from scarce plates. 

Unusually the two 6d's have been affixed in a 'tete beche' orientation.

Gibbons prices a SINGLE 6d plate 9 on cover at £140. 

A very fine item with an attractive and scarce combination of features . 

Price:  £140.00  SOLD

 

 

 

Pearson Hill Second Trial:

very rare usage

152090.  A very fine used 4d SG66 cancelled by a superb strike of the Pearson Hill Second Trial Machine. 

Code A was Afternoon Duty and the date at October 5th 1857 is an early usage as the EKD is September 21st 1857. 

This cancellation is usually found on the contemorary 1d and is rare on any other value. 

This is only the second example we have seen used on this 4d:

the other was on a cover, December 1857, and offered by a specialist dealer at £4,000 in 2011. 

On this stamp alone, it is extremely rare and the example offered here is of Exhibition quality and importance. 

An exceptional item.

Price:  £375.00  SOLD

NB: More examples of Trial Machine Cancellations in that Section on the Homepage.

 

 

 

Multiple Inspector Marks

152091.  4d SG160 plate 18:

a fine used example cancelled only by FOUR Inspector marks. 

This is the most such marks we have seen on a single stamp. 

Rare item. 

Price: £88.00  SOLD

 

 

 

Damage to the Plate Number Variety

152092.  6d SG122 plate 11 'NF', pale chestnut:

good/fine used example, some light corner creasing,

cancelled possibly by the '114' of Dundee

and clear of the left hand plate number showing the listed variety:

Spec J79d 'Figure 11 on left damaged (stamp NF)' which Gibbons prices at £400. 

A very collectable example. 

The scan does not do justice to the variety. 

Price:  £45.00 

 

 

 

Invalid usage of 1d lilacs.  

152096. Two 1d lilacs Die 2, tied to an envelope to Oxford by a Paddington

wavy line machine cancel for April 20th 1922: no postal markings on reverse. 

The 1d lilac had been demonitised by in July1915 so the these stamps were invalid to pay postage. 

There is no surcharge so this item got through the postal system unchallenged. 

Very scarce and unusual. 

Price:  £43.00  SOLD

 

 

 

QV UPU card: invalid usage

152097.  1d UPU card sent from ALFRETON Derby to Shrewsbury

and cancelled by an Alfreton machine for August 31st 1963. 

No postal markings on reverse but an interesting dated message for August 30th 1963

with what appears to be the initials of the sender or the recipient. 

This postcard was demonitised in 1915 and should have been surcharged but it was not. 

This is the LATEST invalid usage of any Victorian stamps or postcards,

which got through the system without a surcharge, that we have seen. 

A rare item which would display well.

Price: £58.50  SOLD

 

 

The next two items are examples of very early receipt stamps postally used.

They have been taken off receipts and fraudulently used for postage and 

 are the only examples used in this way that we have seen.

 

 

 

Fraudulent usage of a 1d Receipt Stamp

152082. 

 1d SG F3, pale tourquoise-blue printed on grey paper tied to a clean, neat envelope to Penkridge by a fine Stafford duplex for March 7th 1898. 

This stamp was originally issued in December 1853 for usage on receipts but mint examples became postally valid in June 1881. 

This example has been used on a receipt in 1855 and the original pen cancellation can be seen under the postal franking.

Hence this stamp has been reused and as such is postally invalid but it got through the system without a surcharge. 

The envelope has a peripheral tear at the right on the front only which affects the stamp.

Despite the fault, this is a very rare rare fraudulent usage of this stamp which Gibbons prices on cover at £350 for a valid use.

Likely a unique usage of this stamp.

Price: £110.00 

NB: the browning around the stamp is hardly visible, a trick of the scanner and the other

peripheral age marks are also fainter than the scan suggests.

There are no postal markings on the reverse of the envelope.

 

 

Fraudaulent use of a 1d Receipt Stamp

152083.

 Very fine 1d SG F4, light blue printed on blue paper.

Tied to a neat envelope used locally in Wimbledon by a very fine Wimbledon duplex for February 25th 1888.

This stamp was originally issued in December 1853 for usage on receipts but mint examples became valid for postal use in June 1881. 

This example has been used on a receipt and the original pen cancellation can be seen under the postal franking.

Hence this stamp has been reused and as such is postally invalid but got through the system without a surcharge:

date stamp on the reverse for February 26th 1888.

A very rare fraudulent usage of this stamp that Gibbons prices on cover, for valid postal usage, at £550.00

A superb item and likely to be a unique usage of this stamp

Price:  £180.00

NB: the brown area near the bottom of the address is a trick of the scanner.

This item and 152082 would make an excellent display pairing.

 

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2: an extremely early usage         

                                                                                                                                               

152064.  1d lilac, Die 2: very fine, tied to a clean entire from the Somertshire Bank Taunton

 by a very fine TAUNTON  squared circle for DECEMBER 15th 1881 with a Stogumber receiving cds for the following day on the reverse. 

1d lilac Die 2 was issued on December 13th 1881 and the example offered here is used on the THIRD day of usage after issue. 

This is the earliest usage we have seen, or can find from our researches, either on stamp alone or on cover. 

The 1d lilac Die 1 is priced by Booth in the latest, 2017 Edition of 'Collect First Day Covers' 

used on cover on its day of issue, July 12th 1881, at £10,000. 

NO example for the day of issue of Die 2 is recorded by him. 

The example offered here used on only the third day after issue, is a rarity and would make a very fine Exhibition item. 

Price: £225.00  SOLD

 

 

Multiple franking of the 1d lilac in the scarce bluish shade with Cert 

151948.  Clean, uncreased, envelope to Germany with a 2 X 21/2d SG157 plate 22

and a 'block of three', 1d bluish lilac, SG172a. 

Tied by a Rotherham duplex for June 28th 1882 and a receiving date stamp

on the reverse for Nordhausen, June 30th 1882.

The shade of the 1d lilac confirmed by a 1994 Certificate.

A single 1d lilac in this shade priced by Gibbons at £140 on a stamp alone: no cover price is quoted.

A rare franking of this difficult stamp. 

Price:  £225.00  SOLD

NB: the browning at the envelope edges is very much fainter than the scan.

The scan does not do justice to the shade of the 1d lilac.

 

 

 

Addressed to a Bavarian Aristocrat    

152057.  SG141 Plate 16 and 1d Plate 196 tied by a Charing Cross Duplex, January 10th 1880, to a superb mourning envelope to Stuttgart. 

Addressed to The Count of Tauffkirchen: he was a Bavarian Diplomat and more information is available on the internet. 

On the reverse is a wax seal with a Crowned Eagle and this may have originated from a German Embassy. 

The 1d has been added as a Late Fee and on the front is a fine strike of the boxed L 1 in red;

this is illustrated by Parmenter in 'London Late Fee and Too Late Mail'. 

This strike used in the West Central Charing Cross Branch Office:

rated Very Rare and recorded in use from 26 January 1874 to 22 July 1878. 

However the example offered here is dated January 10th 1880,

about 18 months later, so it may be an isolated strike. 

A rare and attractive item of Exhibition quality. 

Price:  £175.00  SOLD

 

 

 

4d SG62: very rare usage with this type of London Duplex on cover

152046.  4d SG62, trimmed at base and some perfs at the bottom left, but tied to a clean entire to TARARE

by the London '38' duplex with indented sides, Code W, September 18th 1855. 

This distinctive duplex is generally thought to be associated with a late fee payment but

Parmenter in 'London Late Fee and Too Late Mail' casts some doubt on this usage.

In the example offered here, 4d was the correct single rate to France at that time and as

there is no indication of a late fee payment on the letter, its usage supports Parmenter's comment.

On the reverse is a paper seal: 'THIVEL MICHON A TARARE'. 

This cancellation is rarely found on cover with a value other than the contemporary 1d.

It is the ONLY example we have seen used on cover with a 4d value and

with the first 4d surface printed value is an extremely rare item. 

Price:  £285.00

NB: Gibbons prices SG62 on cover at £750 with an 'ordinary' cancellation.

 

 

Rideout Trial:  the extremely rare Reversed Code

152051.  4d SG66, fine/very fine used, cancelled by a large part cds and part bars of the RIDEOUT first trial, Number 1 Machine. 

From the date, April 16th 1859, this has seven bars at the top: recorded in use from Feb 4th 1858 to 14th Oct 1859.

The code normally used in this period was 'HS' but this example has the code REVERSED ie 'SH'. 

This reversed code has been reported used only on APRIL 16th 1859, by both the London Postal History Group (LPHG),

and by Parmenter in  'Early Experimental and Inland Branch Duplex Cancellations'. 

LPHG reported a pair of 2d plate 7 SG 45 with the reversed code 'SH' again used on April 16th 1859

 and that is the one in Parmenter's publication.

From our researches it would appear that the example offered here

is the only known reversed code on a surface printed value.

A considerable rarity. 

Price:  £225.00

NB: the Number 1 Machine with 8 bars at the top is known used with the 'SH' code but only on April 21st 1858.

 

Please see Item 152052 in the 'Early Machine and Trial Cancellations' Section:

a front and part back with an unrecorded date of usage, October 1859, of the reversed 'SH' code.

 

 

6d with 1PH2 on a rare usage to France.

 

152048. 

6d SG70, fine, tied to a clean wrapper to France by a superb strike of the

1PH2 Die A, Pearson Hill Trial cancellation for February 23rd 1861 and two transit date stamps

for SUNDAY September 24th 1861.

This cancellation in use from October 3rd 1860.

Rarely found on values other than the contemporary 1d and the

first we have seen on this 6d value. 

Very scarce item.

Price:  £125.00 

NB:Gibbons prices SG70 on cover at £240.

 

More examples of surface printed values on cover with Pearson Hill Trial cancellations

 

can be found in the 'Early Machines and Trial Cancellations' Section with a link on the Home Page

 

 

3d on 3d SG159:  Royal Envelope with Gold Initials on Reverse 

 

152034.  3d on 3d SG 159 Plate 21:

fine used, short SE corner perf, tied to a clean and uncreased envelope to Munich by a

superb and rare early type of London EC squared circle for May 18th 1883. 

The edgings of the envelope are in GOLD as are the CROWNED initials M O which indicates,

as with our own Royal Family's letters, that the personal letter was sent from a member of a Royal Family. 

Gibbons prices SG159 at £450 on cover before 100% is added for the dated cancellation. 

A rare and attractive item with a unique combination of features.

Price:  £320.00  SOLD

NB: the envelope is far cleaner than the scan suggests.

We have not seen this early experimental cancellation used on this stamp alone or on cover.

 

 

 

Rare usage: St Malo cds on a wrapper

 

15192.  2d plate 22, SG157: fine used on a wrapper from London to St Malo, France, June 1882. 

The cover bears no UK postmark and the stamp is cancelled by a St Malo CDS for June 6th 1882

with a similar date stamp on the reverse top flap as an arrival date stamp. 

Quite likely that the cover was posted on board the boat from Portsmouth to St Malo,

via the Channel Islands, and cancelled on arrival in St Malo.  

Although we have handled a number of single stamps, not on cover, also cancelled by a

St Malo cds, this is the first we have been able to offer on cover. 

 A rare usage.   

Price:  £280.00  SOLD

NB: the wrapper is complete and NOT trimmed at the right as the scan suggests.

 

 

9d SG195 on cover: few are known

151572.  1/2d slate blue, SG187 and fine 9d dull green, SG195:

used on a registered letter to Reichenbach, Saxony from Bradford, Yorkshire, August 11th 1885. 

The stamps are cancelled by a dumb canceller and there is a Reichenbach receiving cds on the reverse. 

The 9d, printed in highly fugitive ink, is very sensitive to moisture and light: the example here is in a fine green shade. 

When the 9d was first sold from August 1st 1883, there was no postal need for this stamp other than on some heavy parcels. 

It could be used postally and a small number of examples are known.

In his publication: 'Scarce Victorian Postage Stamps of Great Britain on Cover', Theo Brauers,

provides details and illustrations of only 8 examples, one of these is only a part front. 

The example offered here is not one listed by him.

Moreover, only one of these has the 9d and a 1/2d stamp - on a registered cover to the USA, a correct rate. 

The example offered here would appear to be underpaid as 10d was the rate to Saxony

for a letter weighing between 1.5 and 2 ounces with 2d registration fee: no surcharge markings so it got through! 

Some minor wrinkling to the NE corner and this item is unrecorded by Brauers.  

The price by Gibbons, in the 2019 GB Concise Catalogue, is £4,750 for the 9d on cover and reflects its rarity.

Hence this is a very rare item and the first we have been able to offer.  

Price: £1,490.00 SOLD

NB: the envelope is cleaner than the scanned image.

 

The first three monetary surface printed stamps: 4d, 6d and 1/-   

152033. 1/- SG72, 6d SG 70 and 4d SG66 on a clean wrapper to Naples from London:

the first three monetary values of the surface printed era used together: 

a total of 1/10d being the double rate by French packet via Marseilles

All are in fine condition with the 1/- overlapping the wing margined 6d. 

This example is the best with this combination of stamps we have been able to offer.

In the March 2018 Edition of the GB Journal, a detailed listing is given of the 39 covers known with this rare combination. 

Of these only 19 are franked with just the three first surface printed values including the example offered here.

A rare and fine item.

Price:  £675.00  SOLD

 

 

Very rare 3d Plate 2 with Warrant Number

 

15190.   3d rose plate 2, State 1 with shaded spandrels, ‘AA’, October 1861, Spec J25a:

a very rare corner mint marginal example, small gum thin and fault top right corner,

full deckle edge, overprinted ‘SPECIMEN’, with full original gum and appears unmounted.

Very fine with the wmk emblems significantly displaced downwards and to the left.

This has resulted in the guide line, and most of a rose emblem watermark, in the margin. 

Even on the issued 3d we cannot recall seeing part of the emblem watermark in the margin.

Warrant number 208 in the top margin and the ONLY such example we have seen. 

Priced by Gibbons in the latest, 2011, QV Specialised Catalogue, at £800

and much underpriced for the example offered here.  

Extremely rare/unique item.    

Price:  £675.00  SOLD

 

 

 

Advertising Envelope the 'Roth Mago' or 'The Magic Watch' Performance

1053.  1880 Advertising Envelope, London to Vienna , January 6 1880.

Rare printed envelope from The Royal Alhambra Theatre London advertising ‘Rotho Mago,

The Magic Watch’ with a golden pocket watch showing the time of the performance.

Rothomago or The Magic Watch was a grand Christmas Musical

fairy spectacular in 4 acts and 17 tableaux by H B Farnie. 

It opened on December 22 1879. 

The 3d rate to Austria has been paid by a 3d plate 15 SG143. 

A superb and very rare item - probably one of few survivors especially to an overseas destination.

An Exhibition quality item.

Price: £295.00 SOLD

 

 

Salsbury Trial Cancellation

152018.  3d Plate 6, SG 103, 'AL':

fine used, cancelled by the SALISBURY, '683', Official Trial Cancellation. 

Initially this type of trial cancellation had four central pins that pierced the stamp as well as cancelling it. 

The later trial had the pins removed and the item offered here has the pins removed.

A very scarce and fine example: the trial was abandoned.

Price: £110.00

 

 

 

1/- 'K' in Circle SG90a

152410.

1/- SG90a, 'KD': used example from AYR, reperforated at the right and a

few other irregular perfs, lower left corner letter 'K' in a circle variety. 

Although the stamp is centred downwards,

the upper half of the circle around 'K' can be clearly seen.

Priced by Gibbons in 2019 at £2,750. 

A rarely offered variety and this a very collectable example

offered at a fraction of the Gibbons price. 

Price: £250.00

NB: The scan does not do justice to the variety.

 

 

Piece sent from Jersey with a very scarce/rare franking

151992.  Dated piece from JERSEY (Channel Islands) via/to London. 

A postage of 1/9d made up of: 1d SG29, defective at right; a fine pair of 4d SG66 and a

1/- SG72, fine/very fine with clear profile except for a slightly trimmed bottom left perf. 

The four stamps are cancelled, contrary to PO regulations, by only three  '409', First Type, numerals of JERSEY. 

On the top flap is a superb Jersey date stamp for May 21st 1857 and a London receiver for May 28th 1857. 

Parmenter records this first type of Jersey numeral to January 7th 1857, hence this example extends its usage. 

A replacement '409' numeral, in a smaller size with smaller numerals, was sent to Jersey

from the GPO on June 23rd 1857 and has been recorded in use from July 1857.

Hence the first type examples offered here are believed to be the latest known before the replacement came into use. 

A rare and attractive item. 

Price:  £175.00

 

 

6d SG108 Plate 8 to Madrid

151946.  6d SG108 plate 8, fine, tied to an envelope from London to Madrid, December 28th 1869. 

An interesting address: Her Excellency, Ambasadress, Madrid. 

The red 'PD' has been overstruck with the B in bars of the Foreign Office,

and a handstruck ' Insufficiently Stamped', with m/s initials, applied below the B in bars.

The B in bars is given a RARE grading by Parmenter in 'Barred Numeral Cancellations of London'.

An unusual and rare/unique combination of features. 

Price:  £135.00

NB: the envelope is in a finer condition than the scan suggests.

 

 

 

4d SG66 entire to France

151943.  4d SG66, fine, tied to an entire by a London SW/L7 duplex, January 20th 1860. 

Stamp placed contrary to regulations at the top left resulting in a very scarce additional strike of the duplex.

This duplex is NOT LISTED by Parmenter in 'The Barred Numeral Cancellations of London'

and one we cannot recall previously seeing. 

The letter is written in French, some hinge remnants on reverse, to a Professor at Caen University. 

4d priced by Gibbons at £225 on cover.   

Price:  £75.00 

NB; The apparent browning across the envelope is NOT present. 

The effect is caused by the bright light of the scanner.

 

 

 

A pair to the same addressee in Switzerland: incorrect and correct postage

151944. 

4d SG 80, a few light wrinkles top right corner, tied to an entire, vertical filing crease, by a BIRMINGHAM duplex, January 23rd 1866. 

Sent to Switzerland, the single rate postage at that time for a letter was 6d; hence it was under franked. 

Originally it cancelled with the red 'PD', but the under payment was noticed by an Inspector. 

The 'PD' was overstruck with the '50' in diamond and bars and the letter struck with 'Insufficiently Prepaid. 

The '50' is listed and illustrated by Parmenter in 'Barred Numeral Cancellations of London', fig 50H and rated Very Rare.

This letter is paired with another entire to the same addressee, again in Switzerland, from Birmingham, but the letter has the correct franking of 6d.

The 6d postage has been paid by a 6d SG96 plate 5.

The right hand side appears to have been double perforated (rouletted); this variety is not listed by Gibbons on this stamp.

The letter has a line engraved heading inside for 'W Ehrhardt, Chronometer and Watch Manufacturers'. 

Both letters are in French. 

A very scarce/rare pairing that would make a fine display page. 

Price:  £125.00 SOLD

 

 

 

Redirected mail within Ceylon 1869

151945.  6d SG104 Plate 6, fine used, tied by a PLYMOUTH duplex for April 23rd 1869, to an envelope to CEYLON.

Addressed to a Major Reece? 73rd Regiment, Galle then redirected to TRINCOMALIE with a Colombo Unpaid cds for June 1st 1869.

On the front is a m/s 1d for the redirection fee and on the reverse a Trincomalie Unpaid cds for June 3rd 1869.

Very scarce example of redirected mail within Ceylon. 

Price:  £175.00

 

 

 

4d SG63: misperfed pair

            

151911.  4d SG63, very scarce pair with excellent colour, cancelled by the '280' of PERTH.

Right hand stamp with a small fault in centre bottom margin

but with partial clear profile; both have a few short perfs.

Very unusual to find this stamp with such a degree of misperfing. 

Priced by Gibbons at £1,150 as two singles.

An attractive and very scarce item. 

Price: £110.00

 

 

6d SG70wj: REVERSED Watermark

151920.  6d SG70wj: fine/very fine used with REVERSED watermark.

Theres is a very tiny 'rub' in the area below the 'S' but this may be on the plate itself. 

The 'X' of SIX has a printed DOT between the upper lines

and is a variety we have not previously seen. 

Gibbons prices the reversed watermark variety at £475:

little more than the inverted watermark variety. 

In our experience, this variety is much scarcer than the inverted watermark

and their figure is far too low.

A rare stamp especially so with an unrecorded variety.

Price:  £220.00

 

 

6d SG70a: AZURE Paper

151910.  6d SG70a, printed on azure paper: an attractive example

which having the wing margin and so lightly cancelled,

allows the paper variety to be seen to advantage. 

Several short/nibbled perfs at the top but a very clean reverse which

shows the characteristic mottled effect for this paper variety. 

Gibbons prices this at £950 without a premium for so lightly cancelled. 

Price:  £190.00  

NB: the scan does not do justice to the superb blueing.   

 

 

SG72 London scroll

151931.  1/- SG72:

cancelled by an upright London scroll for January 18th 1862.

 Priced by Gibbons at £350 before the premium for the scroll. 

Light horizontal crease hence the

Price: £47.00

 

 

 

1/- SG73 cds example: Dry Plate

151930.  1/- SG73: one short perf bottom left corner

 but cancelled by an upright cds of ABERDEEN for June 24th 1863. 

Rare to find this stamp with a cds but this stamp

shows the most extensive printing from a dry plate that we have seen on this issue. 

Gibbons prices this stamp at £350 but at £780 with the cds premium.  

Price:  £165.00

 

 

4d SG82 Plate 4 cds

151925.  4d SG82 Plate 4:

fine upright WALSALL cds for December 30th 1864. 

Very fine except for a pulled perf at the base. 

Priced by Gibbons at £150 before premium for cds.

Price:  £45.00 

 

 

4d SG82 Plate 4 with cds

151929.  4d SG82 Plate 4:

very fine GLASGOW cds for August 11th 1864. 

Small wrinkle at the left side. 

Priced by Gibbons at £150 before premium for cds. 

Price:  £65.00

 

 

1/- SG90: Irish cds

151917.  1/- SG90, EG:

cds of Mullingar? September 21st 1863, bluntish SE corner. 

A rare cds example used in Ireland. 

Priced by Gibbons at £300 and at £675 with a cds premium. 

A very scarce/rare item.

Price: £120.00

 

 

 

6d Plate 6 SG104: used in MALTA

151913.  6d Plate 6, 'PJ', SG104,

very fine used but with some short perfs. 

Cancelled by an upright MALTA cds for February 20th 1869.

Priced by Gibbons at £260 including cds premium.

Price:  £55.00  SOLD

 

 

SG141 Plate 9 on printed embossed envelope from Ireland to USA

 

151907.  SG141 two pence hafpenny Plate 9: from LETTERKENNY to the USA. 

Stamp tied by a superb '302' of Letterkenny but the date portion of the duplex unclear.

A very considerate sub postmaster/mistress may have deliberately lightly impressed

this portion of the duplex to avoid spoiling the embossed design on the envelope. 

A date of '26' is visible and as it was received in New York on January 6th,

 the letter was more than likely sent on December 26th.

The front of this delicately and attractively embossed/embroidered envelope

is in a remarkable and very fine condition except for a very small portion of the top right flower. 

A very rare, and superb example, and especially so from Ireland. 

Exhibition quality.

Price:  £135.00  SOLD

NB: SG141 plate 9 was put to press on September 14th 1877.

Envelope in cleaner condition than the scan suggests

 

 

 

London to Constantinople: attractive and scarce combination franking

151889.  A front from London to Constantinople with:

SG45 2d plate 9; 3d SG76; 6d SG85 plate 4 and 1d SG43 plate 72. 

Each cancelled by the London numeral '1' of the Inland Branch and

rated Rare by Parmenter in 'Barred Numeral Cancellations of London.

The 1d and 6d values are also tied by a fair strike of the

Aus England Per Aachen cds for September 1864 in crimson. 

This cancellation was only struck in this distinctive colour

for about 6 months in 1864 - May to November.  

An attractive and very scarce franking. 

Price: £63.50  SOLD

 

 

10/- SG183

151900. 

10/- ultramarine, SG 183, BK, very fine/fine used,

                  part of two Continental Night Mail CDS's,

well centred and very good perfs.

 The Queen's head is totally clear.

     Gibbons priced at £525 and at £780 with cds premium.     

    Very scarce usage.

Price: £165.00 

 

 

9d SG110: Plate Number 4.


 
15171. SG111, 9d ‘TB’, plate 4:

fine example, light NW corner NW, London EC cds, July 9th 1875. 

In the bottom margin is the PLATE NUMBER 4.

Only two stamps per sheet of 240 had the plate number printed in the margin. 

The only used plate number example we have seen.  

A very rare item.

Price:  £285.00   SOLD

 

 

 

SG101: Warrant Number 236

151854. SG101 1/- Plate 4: fine used with excellent colour

and the WARRANT Number 236 in the bottom margin. 

Only two stamps per sheet of 240 have this number in the margin.

 The emblems watermark is displaced significantly upwards. 

We know of only two used examples including this one.

Price:  £250.00  SOLD

 

 

 

SG117 Plate 5: Warrant Number 256

151855.  SG117 Plate 5: a superb cds with the WARRANT number 256.

Some light diagonal creasing but only two stamps per sheet of 240

have this number in the margin.

A rare item. 

Price:  £125.00  SOLD

 

 

SG117 Plate 6: Warrant Number 330

151856.  SG115 1/- Plate 6: superb/very fine used,

one short perf, with the WARRANT number 330.

Cancelled by a very light London cds leaving almost the entire Queen's head clear. 

Only two stamps per sheet of 240 have this number in the margin.

A rare item. 

Price:  £180.00 SOLD

 

 

 

Large Anchor watermark unprinted paper

151924.  Very fine unprinted large Anchor paper sample

with a portion of 'revenue' in side margin. 

Price: £55.00

 

 

 

6d SG108 Plate 8: third day after issue

151803.  6d SG108 Plate 8, 'IB': very fine tied to a clean uncreased wrapper from London to Cadiz. 

Stamp tied by a superb London duplex for March 10th 1869. 

This stamp was issued on March 8th 1869 so this is only the third day after official issue

and the earliest we have been able to offer. 

Booth in the latest, 2017, Edition of 'Collect GB First Day Covers',

prices a first day of issue example for this 6d at £3,500.

We can recall seeing only two examples used on the day of issue. 

A superb and rare item. 

Price:  £285.00

 

 

 

3d SG75: TO6 cancellation

151914.  3d SG77, 'FL': 

fine used except for small corner wrinkling.

Cancelled by a light strike of the rare T.O.6

from the Travelling/TemporaryOffice series 1-6. 

SG77 priced by Gibbons at £350. 

We have not seen any of the 'T.0.' series used on this stamp.

A rare/very rare combination of features.

Price: £78.00  SOLD

 

 

4d SG94 Plate 12

151808.  4d SG94 Plate 12, 'LB':

fine used cancelled by a fine/good strike of the

elusive 'T.0.2' Travelling/Temporary Office series, 1-6. 

Price:  £32.50  SOLD

 

 

3d SG103 Plate 9

151807.  3d SG103 Plate 9, 'GD':

fine used cancelled by a superb/very fine 'T.0.2'

of the elusive Travelling/Temporary Office series, 1-6. 

Rarely found so well struck and very scarce on any surface printed issue. 

Price:  £49.50  SOLD

 

 

3d SG77 vertical pair

151804.  3d SG77, pale carmine-rose, 'PK-QK', fine verical pair:

on a clean thin envelope from London to Milan, November 23rd 1863, with a fine printed address. 

Seldom found as a multiple on cover; the 6d values were currently available. 

A single on cover priced by Gibbons at £600.

The browning along the top of the envelope is a trick of the scanner. 

A very scarce item.

Price: £150.00

 

 

 

6d SG69

151794.  6d SG69, block of 6, deep lilac, used in London:

fine used except for a blunt corner on the bottom left stamp.

The brown areas on the reverse side are a trick of the scanner:

they are either not present or very faint. 

A block of 4 in this scarcer shade priced by Gibbons at £890

and prorata for a block of 6 at £1,300. 

Attractive and very scarce item. 

Price as a block of four:  £320.00

 

 

 

SG102 Plate 6

151795.  3d SG102, Plate 6, used block of 6, 'GJ-HL': some creasing on

top three stamps and a very small closed tears at the top of 'HK' and 'GJ'. 

For any of this series, used blocks larger than four are very difficult to find. 

Priced by Gibbons prorata for a block of 6 at £630. 

Price: £65.00

 

 

 

SG141 Plate 11

 151796.  SG102 Plate 11, 'OG-PI': good/fine used block of 6

 cancelled by the Western District, W/34, rated Rare by Parmenter in

'Barred Numeral Cancellations of London'.

Some short perfs as per the scan but a

very scarce/rare combination of the size of the block and cancellation. 

Priced by Gibbons, prorata as a block of 6, at £785.  

Price: £110.00

 

 

 

1/- SG163 Plate 13

       

151806.  1/- SG163 Plate 13, 'AB-BC': a sound used block of 4

cancelled by the Western District, W/27,

rated Very Rare in 'Barred Numeral Cancellations of London' by Parmenter.

Gibbons, in the latest, 2011, Edition of QV Volume 1, at £850 as a block of four. 

Seldom found in a block and rare with this cancellation. 

Price: £125.00

 

 

 

SG163 Plate 13

151797. 1/- SG163 Plate 13, 'ME-NG':

block of 6 with HASTINGS duplexes for September 21st 1882.

Corner fault on 'ME' and a blunt corner on 'NG'.

A very scarce/rare block, priced by Gibbons as a

 block of 4 at £850 and £1,275 pro rata as a block of 6. 

Very fine colour and a clean reverse. 

Price: £170.00

 

 

 

4d SG66 wrapper from Manchester

151754.  4d SG66, very fine, centred high, with excellent perfs, superbly fresh and tied to a clean wrapper to

Paris by a lightly applied Manchester duplex for November 15th 1858. 

Paris receiver on reverse for November 17th 1858.

An attractive item in wonderful condition and

one of the finest examples overall of this 4d on cover we have seen.

Priced by Gibbons at £225 on cover without the premium.

The scan does not do it justice.

Price:  £130.00

 

 

4d SG66 from London

151755.  4d SG66, very fine/fine rich shade, couple of short perfs at right,

neatly tied by a London duplex, February 15th 1860. 

On a clean wrapper to Lyon with a variety of transit marks on the reverse.  

Attractive and very scarce in such fine overall condition.

Priced by Gibbons at £225 on cover. 

Price:  £95.00

 

 

3d SG76 on envelope

151752.  3d SG76, 'CK', very fine, tied to a small, neat envelope with a blue printed monogram on the reverse.

London date stamp on the reverse, November 10th 1864, and addressed to Amsterdam. 

A couple of short perfs at the right and two perfs with possibly very small tone spots at the top. 

Remarkably, the cancellation leaves the whole of the Queen's head clear.

Gibbons prices this stamp on cover at £600.

In view of the light cancellation, the Gibbons premium of 125%

could fairly be added giving a figure of £1,325. 

An attractive and very rare item of Exhibition quality.   

Price: £275.00

NB: the few tone spots on the front are far fainter than in the scan.

 

 

 

Kirkwall Type VI Scots Local

151325.  4d SG66, fine/very fine, tied to a small piece by a superb strike

of the unique Kirkwall Scots Local Type V1. 

This type is illustrated by Alcock, on a 1d star, in 'Scots Local Cancellations Illustrated'

but the strike is a poorish one in comparison with that offered here.

In the 1971 Meridith sale of Scots Local Cancellations, Lot 200, a 2d perf and an example of

this 4d with this cancellation, on two separate small pieces realised, in modern money, approx £600. 

This is the first example we have been able to offer for some considerable time

and the first on a value other than the contemporary 1d.  

An attractive and rare item.

Price: £145.00 SOLD

 

 

3d on 3d SG159

151724.  SG159, 3d on 3d, fine fiscally used pair:

with fine colour that the scan does not show. 

Extremely clean reverse and priced by Gibbons

as a postally used pair at £320. 

Attractive and scarce. 

Price:  £50.00

 

 

1d SG166 Unmounted mint block

 

1052.  1d SG166: superb unmounted mint side marginal block of 12.

Attractive and scarce

Price: £175.00  SOLD

 

 

HOUSE of COMMONS duplex

 

151719.  1d lilac SG172 tied to an envelope by the very rare HOUSE of COMMONS duplex for February 24th 1891. 

On the reverse is the embossed insignia of the House of Commons Library. 

Sent to Paisley, there are two Paisley date stamps on the reverse for February 25th 1891. 

This duplex has the time in code, 'ZI'.

The London Postal History Group in their publications suggest that the rarity of this duplex

and code book entries, are indicative of a 'too late' usage which explains why it is a very rare cancellation.

LPHG record this duplex with time code having a short period of use ie between December 1888 and June 1890. 

The example offered here significantly extends the period of use. 

There is damage to the rear top flap as in the scan and some horizontal creasing but the front of the envelope is very clean. 

The first example we have been able to offer: a rare item.

Price:  £85.00  SOLD

 

 

V.R. Scroll 1883

     

151664.  1d lilac, SG172 and 1/2 green, SG 164: 

tied to an envelope to a Foundry in Sheffield by two superb, and not overlapping,

London V.R. Code B Scroll date stamps for August 6th 1883.

Envelope has overall toning with age marks across its length, but

not as pronounced as in the scan, and a peripheral tear at the centre left side. 

Despite these, this is a very scarce cancellation on cover. 

              Price:  £ 110.00  SOLD                          

 

 

1d Lilac Die 2: rare interpane block

151659.  1d SG172, Die 2: a fine/very fine unmounted mint interpane Block of 24, some creasing to three/four stamps top left. 

No marginal rules or interpane pillars hence from one of the earlier printings. 

A rare positional block and rarer still with uncreased/unfolded interpane margins.

The largest interpane multiple we have seen without marginal rules.

An attractive and impressive item. 

Price:  £245.00  SOLD

 

 

Cracked Plate Variety

151304.  2 1/2d SG 141 Plate 7: fine used 'EA', Manchester 498?,

VERTICAL CRACKED plate across approx 80% of the stamp and going thru QV's face/head.

NB: full perfs at the right side side, cancellation makes it appear some are missing. 

A very rare item with such extensive plate damage affecting Victoria's profile. 

Price:  £110.00

 

 

An Unprinted Area.

151617.  2 1/2d SG157, 'AL', Plate 17:

the London cancellation leaves QV's head and profile clear. 

The cancellation is also clear of a large UNPRINTED AREA

affecting the back of QV's hair and some of the stamp's design.

A couple of short perfs at bottom left corner but

a fine example of damage to the printing plate.  

Price:  £85.00

 

Unprinted areas.

151618.  2 1/2d SG157, 'AA', Plate 19: 

a London cancellation clear of a large UNPRINTED AREA

at the top of the stamp and another similar area at the right. 

Short/trimmed perfs at the top right and bottom corner. 

Fine example of damage to the printing plate. 

Price:  £75.00

NB: as both the above examples are from the TOP ROW of the sheet,

perhaps the plate was less protected against possible damage.

 

 

Frame damage.

151619.  2/- SG118, 'CL', Plate 1:

very lightly used and with much stronger blue than the scan suggests. 

The cancellation leaves the right hand side clear so that significant damage

 to the frame and part of the design can be seen to advantage.

The item has a RPS Certificate which states 'transient variety affecting frame line'.

We can not recall seeing such extensive damage on this value. 

Price:  £190.00

 

 

 

SG183: lightly used

151586.  10/- SG183, 'LC': very light Eastern District August 20th 1891 cds

and a blue crayon line top left corner leaving QV's Head almost totally clear. 

A very attractive example with excellent perfs and centring.

Priced by Gibbons at £525 plus 50% premium for so lightly used. 

Price:  £185.00

 

 

5d SG169 from Glasgow to the US

151560.  5d Indigo, SG169:

fine/very fine example on envelope to Chicago from Glasgow, May 17th 1884. 

Chicago cds on the reverse for May 27th 1884. 

Gibbons prices this 5d on cover at £325. 

Price:  £65.00

 

 

 

6d SG70: letter carried on RMS Cunard's 'Asia'

 

151553.  6d SG70, two singles with overlapping perfs:

tied to a small neat envelope by a London duplex, July 19th 1860

with an additional strike away from the stamps - contrary to PO reg's at that time.

Possibly struck twice as there were two stamps but only one strike on the stamps.

Liverpool date stamp for July 20th indicates that this letter

was carried by the Cunard's paddle steamer 'Asia'.

She left Liverpool on july 21st 1860 and arrived in New York August 2nd 1860. 

Pleasingly ALL the postal markings are on the front of the envelope. 

Very scarce/rare to find this 6d value on cover with a cds cancellation. 

Allowing for the cds, Gibbons price for this single stamp on cover is £540 plus.

 An attractive and scarce item. 

Price:  £138.00  SOLD

NB: the envelope is much cleaner than the scan suggests.

 

 

Plate 17 on cover.

151551.  2 1/2d, SG141, Plate 17: fine/very fine example, a couple of slightly short perfs at the top,

tied by a London EC duplex for April 10th 1880, on an uncreased envelope to New York:

a fine set of transit marks on the reverse. 

Plate 17 is the rarest of the plates 1-17 on white paper and

priced by Gibbons at £550 on cover in the latest, 2011, Edition of QV Volume 1. 

The duplex leaves the plate number at the right totally clear. 

A very difficult stamp to find on cover and in our experience underpriced by Gibbons. 

Price: £245.00 

NB: the envelope is cleaner than in the scan - the front of it is close in colour to that of the reverse.

 

 

9d SG110: redirected letter within India

 

151546.   An entire from London to a Major A Cory, originally sent to Rawal Pindee

then redirected to Muree with fine transit markings on the reverse.

The 9d rate paid by a fine SG110.

Part of the printed senders address at the top of the letter is missing but it reads:

East India Army and General........., 10 Kings Arms Yard, Moor(gate).

SG110 on cover priced by Gibbons at £525.

Price:  £220.00  SOLD

NB: Item in a finer condition than the scan.

 

 

Rare internal use of 3d SG76: Notice of Objection.

151459.  3d SG76, 'MF', fine:

tied to a printed Notice of Objection for a name on a List of Voters for Gisboro' in the North Riding of the County of York.

Sent from Yarm to Gisboro', the 3d cancelled by the '926' of Yarm and rated RARE by Parmenter, August 18th 1865. 

A rare internal UK usage of this 3d which was introduced to pay the letter rate to Belgium and Switzerland. 

Priced by Gibbons for usage on overseas letters at £600.

Rare item.

Price:  £285.00

 

 

4d SG66: rare internal UK usage.

151413.  4d SG66:

very fine example tied to an entire by Edinburgh duplex, June 18th 1859, to Falkirk. 

The two page letter refers to document/Registry Searches carried out re: Fushie Bridge and for the name Wilson.  

4d SG66 priced by Gibbons on cover at £225 without the premium for internal UK usage. 

We have seen very few such internal usages of this stamp other than on registered mail.

In a cleaner condition than the scanned image.

Price:  £75.00

 

 

1/- SG72: rare usage to Ceylon.

151414. SG72, 1/-, wing margin example:

tied to a small neat envelope to HAPPOOTELLE, Ceylon from Linlithgow, March 9th 1861. 

Various transit markings on the front and reverse including Colombo Post Paid in red.

The 1/- has a vertical bump in the wing margin caused by the pressure on the original contents. 

SG72 priced by Gibbons on cover at £425. 

Envelope in much better condition than the scan suggests: there is no browning. 

A rare destination. 

Price: £180.00

 

 

On June 1st 1881, all types of Revenue/Fiscal Stamps,

previously used only on receipts or other official documents,

were allowed to be used for paying the postage on letters. 

 

The next two envelopes illustrate this change in usage.

 

 

1d Bankruptcy on 1883 Envelope.

151404.  1d Bankruptcy used on envelope: light vertical filing crease at the left,

peripheral faults and hinge remnants on reverse - from Hereford to Leominster, July 10th 1883. 

Leominster receiver on reverse for the same day.

Possibly a very small cut in the top right corner of the stamp.

Rare usage of this revenue stamp on ordinary mail and

the first we have been able to offer.  

Price: £130.00

 

 

1d Foreign Bill on 1884 Envelope

151405.  1d Foreign Bill on azure paper, issued in 1872: 

fine/very fine example on clean and uncreased envelope from Ormskirk, September 30th 1884, to Liverpool.  

Received in Liverpool on the same day.

Rare usage and especially in such fine overall condition. 

Price:  £150.00

 

NB: These two items, 151404 and this one, are offered as a pair at a discounted figure of £260.00

 

 

Used IMPRIMATUR 1d SG F9

151392.  1d SG F9, Spec L109, wmk Cabled Anchor:

a 3-margined IMPRIMATUR tied to a piece by a London duplex for July 21st 1881. 

An Imprimatur, SGF15, Spec L115, is known used similarly on the same day,

 has a RPS Cert and appeared on the open market in 2008.

The example offered here is the only used example of Spec L109 of which we are aware.

A rare and unusual item and an opportunity to obtain a USED Imprimatur. 

Price:  £210.00

 

 

Romsey Duplex in BLUE

151391. SG167 and SG160 plate 17:

both fine/very fine and tied to piece by a ROMSEY '653' duplex in BLUE for December 12th 1881.

An unrecorded duplex in any shade other than black by Parmenter. 

A rare combination of stamps made extremely rare by the coloured cancellation. 

Price:  £170.00

 

 

Rare Marginal Strip 1/- Deep Green

 

151363.  1/- Plate 2 SG89 and 4d Plate 4 SG82:

Envelope to Melbourne from Whitehaven, October 24th 1864,

Melbourne cds on reverse for December 11th 1864.

A 3/4d franking made up of a fine vertical marginal strip of three of

the 1/- in the scarce DEEP GREEN and a 4d, small surface rub.

The 1/- SG89 priced on cover as a single stamp by Gibbons at £750. 

A rare multiple in this shade and especially so on cover. 

Price: £275.00  SOLD

 

 

 

LATE USAGE of QV Stamps

151330.   August 4th 1911:

piece with various QV stamps and a cut out tied by Anerley Road - Crystal Palace cds’s for this date.  

The stamps are: the bantam 1/2d Plate 19, issued  1878: 1/2d SG164 and 1d SG166 both issued 1880;  

1/2d SG187 issued 1884 and a 3d rose cut out from an embossed envelope.  

All were legal tender at that time, except 1d SG166 - demonitized on June 1st 1901. 

When this item was posted in the Crystal Palace area, the Festival of Empire Imperial Exhibition

was being held at Crystal Palace – May 12th to October 27th 1911. 

Perhaps the person posting it expected the item to be cancelled with the Exhibition Flag Duplex? 

A remarkable and rare usage of QV stamps between 27 and 33 years after they were issued.   

Price:  £85.00 SOLD

 

 

Remarkable block: 3d Foreign Bill

 

151338. 

 

Remakable Block of 20,

 

Three Pence Foreign Bill stamps cancelled by the 'French Government in London'. 

 

No perf strengthening and the browning effects are much less than the scanner suggests. 

 

This 3d Foreign Bill was issued in 1870.

 

An impressive multiple and very unusual. 

 

Price: £30.00

 

151315.  5d SG207a Die 2: a superb used side marginal BLOCK OF 12,

perf strengthened between the top two stamps.

Part of the 'POSTAGE' watermark in the side margin.

Cancelled by the Guernsey parcel post double ring in black.

Gibbons prices a used block of 4 at £65. 

An attractive and very scarce/rare multiple used in the Channel Islands.  

SOLD

 

1d Lilac Die 2: OFFSET

151329.  1d lilac Die 2:

unmounted mint, light horizontal crease at the base of QV's head,

but with an exceptional offset.  

The best we have handled for many years. 

SOLD

NB: the scan does not do justice to the colour.

 

 

Progressive Frame Break:  Listed Variety 

151313.  1d lilac Die 2 listed variety SG Spec K8k 'Frame break, right side broken': 

a remarkable and fine trio showing the initial frame break 'a',and the

progressive retouching to repair the printing plate, 'b' and 'c'.

In each case there is a frame break at the right top and bottom corners

which was not repaired when the outer frame break damage was attended to.

The damage suggests that the right hand frame is coming away and is very similar to the variety: Spec K8j,

'Frame broken at the bottom' - see Item 151314 - and would make a superb pair. 

The dated cancellations, 1897 and 1901, leave the varieties clear.

Gibbons prices this variety at £150 in the QV Specialised Volume 1 (2011) Edition. 

Superb display item and likely to be unique as a trio with the variety clear. 

Price: £190.00

 

Listed FRAME BREAK 

 

151314.  1d lilac Die 2 listed variety SG Spec K8j, 'Frame broken at bottom, (R.1/2) Sheet Control S, upper pane',

cancelled '131' of Limber(Lincs): the bottom frame appears to be coming away from the rest of the design.

A very scarce/rare variety seldom offered and which Gibbons priced at £350 in the QV Volume 1 (2011) Edition.

NB: the slight toning at the left corners and side has been exaggerated by the scanner.

This would pair up well with 151313 as these are the only two listed frame break varieties by Gibbons for this stamp.

Price: £125.00

A rare opportunity to acquire both of these varieties: Items 151313 and 151314 as a pair at £340.00

 

In the next four 2/6d items with hooded circles, reference is made to Parmenter ie:

 'London Late Fee and Too Late Mail 1840 to 1930'

This grouping would make an excellent basis for a Collection of these interesting cancellations.

 

 

LATE BOX

 

151348. 

2/6d SG178: fine perfs except bottom left where some are missing.

We normally do not publish on the Website damaged stamps unless there is an overiding rarity. This IS the case here.

The 2/6d has been cancelled by the very scarce LIVERPOOL LATE BOX hooded circle date stamp, October 16th 1896, Parmenter Die 2.

These cancellations were used in London on mail posted at four provincial railway stations in late boxes

for mail trains that would connect with the continental night trains and are usually found cancelling a 1/2d value.

The fee for this service was only 1/2d.  

SEE  ITEM 151339 in the Stationey Section.

This is the FIRST EXAMPLE we have seen with this type of cancellation used on a high value

from any of these four provincial stations: Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.

A considerable rarity despite the fault. 

Price: £66.50 SOLD

 

 

LATE FEE

 

151347.  2/6d SG178 fine used:

cancelled by the London Chief Office number 1 machine; the machines were numbered 1 to 10.

The collection times were almost always L1 7pm, L2 7.15 or 7.30pm and code L3 7.30pm.

This L 3d is rated RARE by Parmenter. 

Fine strike for a 7.30 collection time on 19th February 1897. 

Price: £49.00 SOLD

 

 

LATE FEE

 

151349. 

2/6d SG178 light creasing and one missing perf but a LATE USAGE, 27th January 1905,

cancelled by a very fine Chief Office machine number 2, L2, 7.15pm.

Not a rare cancellation but unusual to find it on a high value. 

Price: £40.00 SOLD

 

 

LATE FEE

 

151354.  2/6d SG178: Chief Office machine number 1 25th June 1897.

Stamp with creasing and a very tiny thin near the top.

This particular cancellation with the time code 7.15 from this machine is especially rare 

with Parmenter giving it a rarity 'H' ie 'very few are known to exist'.

Price: £44.50 SOLD

See Item 151244 in the Stationery Section for this very rare cancellation on an embossed cover.

  

 

1/- Plate 6: used Warrant Number 330
15172.  1/-, SG115/7, SK-TL’, plate 6: block of 4,

107 Fleet Street EC cds, SP 30th 1872.
‘SL’ has a small closed tear at the right but in the bottom margin is the ‘330’ Warrant Number.

Very few used examples with this Warrant Number are known and

this is the first example we have seen in a used block. 

Rare item.  

Price: £160.00  SOLD

 

1043. 1856 6d SG70 very fine used, Malta cds November 30 1861, watermark displaced and

INVERTED and REVERSED.  Unpriced by Gibbons. 

£225.00  SOLD

 

 

133.  1/- SG 71, deep green, very scarce used Block of 4 in this scarcer shade, well centred, some

             wrinkling/creasing to bottom pair, London diamond cancels. Cat £1500++ in this shade.

    £250.00 SOLD 

 

       

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