Sale 1224 — 2020 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30 June-1 July, 2020
Category — Worldwide: Great Britain thru Natal
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black (1; SG 2). Two singles, Plate 2, lettered P-C and P-G, each with margins a bit close or just touching at a few points, used on 1842 folded cover from Barbados, cancelled upon arrival at Portsmouth and then additionally franked with 1841, 1p Red Brown (SG Spec. BS9h) for forwarding, vertical pair, Plate 20, lettered D-D to E-D, the latter showing the "open top at north east variety", all four stamps tied by black Maltese Cross cancels, cover noted in manuscript at top "Date March 9 Barbados" and later noted below "Recd. in Sloane St. April 8, 1842" when it was received in Chelsea, several backstamps including "Chief Office" straightline (a couple others partially cut away from removal of a bit of one back flap), some soilingFINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY AND PROBABLY UNIQUE COVER WITH THE 1840 ONE-PENNY BLACK USED FROM A FOREIGN POINT OF ORIGIN AND FORWARDED WITHIN GREAT BRITAIN WITH THE 1841 ONE-PENNY RED BROWN. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED PENNY BLACK USED FROM BARBADOS.
Ex Gross. Signed E. Diena. With 1991 B.P.A. certificate.
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 2p Blue (2; SG Specialised DS9). Block of four, Plate 2, lettered P-G to Q-H, large even margins on three sides, fourth margin at right clearing but close, deep rich color, very light and unobtrusive black Maltese Cross cancels, faint bend between top and bottom pairVERY FINE. A RARE USED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1840 2-PENCE BLUE. IN FAR BETTER QUALITY THAN NORMALLY FOUND.
Ex Cooley and Gross. Scott $37,500.00. SG £32,000
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 2p Blue (2; SG 5). Plate 1, lettered O-H, used with 1844 1p Red Brown (3; SG 8), lettered D-E, the former mostly large margins to ample, the latter close to touched in places, used together in an unusual mixed franking on an 1841 (Nov.) folded letter from London to Greenock, stamps tied by two strikes of Maltese Cross cancels, red "London NO 22, 1841" despatch datestamp, Greenock arrival backstampVERY FINE. A SELDOM-SEEN AND RARE MIXED FRANKING OF THE FIRST TWO ISSUES OF GREAT BRITAIN.
Ex Gross. Signed E. Diena.
GREECE, 1933, 50l-50d Air Post Pictorials, Imperforate (C8-C14 var; Karamitsos A8a-A14a). Each in a Mint N.H. pair, tall stamps (5d, 20d, 50d) in horizontal pairs, other four values in vertical pairs, which is the way they were cut from the unique set of sheets, large margins, brilliant colors, 50d has a small scissors-cut between stamps at bottomVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SET AND ONE OF THE VERY FEW THAT EXISTS IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
Only one sheet of 50 of each were printed. Karamitsos value €7,000
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IONIAN ISLANDS, 1844, "Paid at Zante" Crowned Circle Handstamp (A4; SG CC4). Small cover originating in the Ionian Islands from a British soldier serving in the 10th Btn., 6th Brigade, Royal Artillery, with blue Greek style circular datestamp of Zakynoos and with "Paid at Zante" Crowned Circle handstamp, while in transit through Corfu, Great Britain, 1856, 1p Red Brown was applied to pay the special soldier's concessionary rate and affixed slightly over the aforementioned blue cancels, the stamp itself was then cancelled by blue "Paid at Corfu" Crowned Circle handstamp (A3; SG CC3), sent onto Bradford, England, Bradford May 10, 1861 arrival backstampFINE. ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SOLDIER"S LETTERS IN EXISTENCE. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF A BRITISH STAMP ON COVER CANCELLED IN THE IONIAN ISLANDS.
Ex Yates, Hicks, Dr. Kornan and Gross. With 1984 Holcombe certificate.
LOMBARDY-VENETIA, 1858, 45c Blue, Milan Postal Forgery, Type VI (Sassone F13). Large balanced margins all around, neatly tied by perfect "Milan 21.6" circular datestamp on blue 1858 folded letter to Padova, backstamped on arrival the following day, blue oval "Fratelli Barinetti" company cachet, very light and unobtrusive horizontal file fold thru stampVERY FINE. A CHOICE USE OF THE MILAN 45-CENTES BLUE POSTAL FORGERY.
Ex Perera and Gross. With 1993 Raybaudi certificate. Sassone €30,000
PARMA, 1852, 10c Black (2; Sassone 2). Used with 1854, 5c Orange Yellow (6; Sassone 6), choice singles of each, both with four full margins, tied by two strikes of "P.D." handstamps of Bagnone on pretty 1855 folded cover to Seravezza, matching double-circle datestamp dated Sept. 25 to right, Seravezza arrival backstamp, two neat disinfection slits well away from stamps and all markingsEXTREMELY FINE. A LOVELY AND RARE MIXED-ISSUE PARMA FRANKING IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION.
Ex Perera and Gross. With 1993 Raybaudi certificate.
ITALY, ALLIED MILITARY GOVERNMENT, Complete Unexploded "Specimen" Booklet. Nine different booklet panes of ten, 15c, 25c, 30c, 50c, 60c, 1l, 2l, 5l, and 10l (Scott 1N1-1N9), each pane with large continuous "SPECIMEN" block letters overprint in purple, the cover is imprinted "SPECIMENS OF ALLIED MILITARY POSTAGE STAMPS", panes lightly stuck to interleaving, front cover with ink manuscript at topVERY FINE. THE ONLY COMPLETE EXAMPLE WE HAVE SEEN OF THE ITALIAN ALLIED MILITARY SPECIMEN BOOKLET.
An article by Joe Schirmer in U.S. Possessions (Volume 3, No. 1, 1980) discusses these booklets, and illustrates four (Austria, France, Germany and Italy). We have sold the German (offered in lot 325) and French, but this is the first Italian booklet we have offered. We are aware of a partly intact Italian booklet, but have never seen another complete booklet.
KENYA & UGANDA, 1922-27, £5 Blue and Black (41; SG 99). Lightly hinged, beautiful rich colors on bright paperVERY FINE. A HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE 5-POUND KING GEORGE V ISSUE.
Scott $5,500.00. SG £3,250
KENYA & UGANDA, 1922-27, £20-£100 King George V, "Specimen" Overprint (41BS-41FS; SG 101s-105s). Lightly hinged except £50 with traces of original gum, bold colors, £25 with slight overall toningFINE-VERY FINE. A WONDERFUL SET OF THE KING GEORGE V HIGH VALUES WITH "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT. SELDOM OFFERED AS A SET.
£100 signed Sorani. Scott $11,950.00. SG £15,650
KIAUCHAU, 1900, 5pf on 10pf Carmine, Diagonal "China" Overprint at 45 Degree Angle, Michel Type 1 Surcharge, Double "5Pf." Surcharge (5a; Michel 2DD). Strongly displaced double surcharge, well-centered, rich color, tied by "Tsingtau, Kiautshcau 28.7.00" circular datestamp on picture postcard to Uelzen, Germany, addressed to Mr. F. Lange, an uncle of the well-known German expert, Uelzen arrival backstampVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING USE OF THE 5-PFENNIG DOUBLE SURCHARGE. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF KIAUCHAU AND CHINA.
Ex Gross. Signed Lange twice (in different sizes) and Jakubek. With 1995 Jakubek opinion. Scott $32,500.00. Michel €38,000
MALAYA, Pahang, 1889, 8c Orange (2; SG 2). Horizontal pair, bright color, perfectly struck "Pahang P.O." circular datestampsVERY FINE. A VERY RARE AND HANDSOME USED PAIR OF THE 1889 8-CENT ORANGE FIRST ISSUE. FEW MULTIPLES OF ANY SIZE ARE THOUGHT TO EXIST.
Ex Dr. Wood. With 1975 R.P.S. certificate. Catalogued as singles. Scott $4,000.00. SG £3,600
NATAL, 1902-03, £10 Orange & Green (99; SG 145). Minor h.r., wonderfully well-centered, bright and bold colorsEXTREMELY FINE AND REMARKBLE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-POUND KING EDWARD VII HIGH-VALUE. RARELY OFFERED IN SOUND AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
This is the first example we have offered since keeping computerized records. A major British Africa rarity missing from even the most advanced collections.
With 1966 B.P.A. certificate. Scott $14,000.00. SG £14,000
NATAL, 1908, £1 10sh Violet & Orange Brown on Chalky Paper (109; SG 162). Lightly hinged, bright and fresh colors, Very Fine and scarce original-gum example, Scott $1,900.00, SG £1,800