384. Auction

1846 (8 Jan.), letter sheet from Sydney to London and re-addressed to Bonn (Prussia), marked "p. William Metcalfe", rated "3" in red and "8" and showing "PAID SHIP LETTER/SYDNEY". Upon arrival in London, forwarded by Coutts & Co (cachet at left), marked "via Ostende" and re-rated "20" (decimes) and "5½" (groschen). This is the second earliest recorded cover from the Australian Colonies to Germany. 
 

1855, Queen Victoria 6d. deep blue, horizontal pair with wide margins all around and four adjoining neighbours, fresh colours, used, extremely fine

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Ham Printings, 3d. blue, unused, without gum, well-centered within four balanced margins, delicate pale shade, small thins not detracting from the fine and fresh appearance of this extremely scarce unused stamp.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Ham Printing, 1d. dull rose, vertical pair, showing frameline at top, cut into on other sides, without gum, crease through lower stamp, yet with good colour, and a rare multiple, one of only a small number recorded.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, 1d. bright pinky red, Ham Printing, unused, with part original gum, showing cut transfer at foot, repaired tear at top and other small faults as often seen, but a presentable example of this scarce variety.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, 1d. bright pinky red, Ham Printing, three unused examples, displaying slight shade variances, two without gum, each showing the so-called “white veils” characteristic of this printing, margins close to into design in places as typical, small flaws and/or repairs, but a fine-appearing trio.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, 1d. bright pinky red, Ham Printing, unused, without gum, portion of frameline at top and bottom, and clearly showing the so-called “white veils” distinctive of this printing, touching or into design at left and right, fresh colour, a pleasing example.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Ham Printing, 1d. pale drab, unused, without gum, heavy hinge remnant, margins good to slightly into design in places, small faults, surface abraison at lower left, light crease near hinge, despite its flaws, of good colour, and a presentable example of this difficult stamp.

1855, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Campbell & Fergusson printings, 1d. pink, unused, without gum, good margins on three sides, barely touching at left, trivial small thins, yet of pleasing deep colour and fine appearance. 

1854-7, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Campbell & Fergusson printings, three 1d. singles, unused, without gum, in shades of pink to rose, one a particularly deep shade,  one showing short transfer most noticeable at lower left, each with some degree of fault, rose shade with corner crease, but a useful reference group of chiefly fine appearance, showing the characteristic poorer quality impressions of this printing.

1856-8, Queen Victoria on Throne, 1d. yellow green, block of four, large part original gum, clear to good margins all around, the upper left stamp with traces of extraneous red ink, vertical folded through centre margin, small spots of gum toning, but a scarce multiple; handstamped Gilbert.

1856/58, Queen Victoria on Throne, 1d. yellow green, imperforate, two singles with part original gum, chiefly clear to good margins and fresh colour, and 6d. bright blue, rouletted, three unused singles, one with part original gum, typical centering, some small flaws, chiefly fine.

1898, 2-1/2d rose, lower right corner block of thirty six, hinged in places, leaving the majority of stamps never hinged, three stamps showing the “damaged N” to first N of PENNY variety, bright colour, a fresh and desirable positional block.

1899, 2s. turquoise-green, watermark “Crown Over Q”, Type II, perforated 13, left margin block of eighteen on Cowan paper, showing the “flaw on ball of lower 2” variety, and left margin strip of seven on whiter De La Rue paper, most examples on the Cowan paper block never hinged, a fine comparison of these two paper types.

1897-8, 1d. vermilion, upper left sheet corner block of thirty six, showing the  zigzag roulette, with perforation 13 superimposed, watermark Crown Over Q (Type II), hinged in places, leaving most stamps never hinged, bright fresh colour, an impressive multiple of this experimental perforation.

1913, 5s. grey and yellow, Die II, hinge remnant, a superbly-centered stamp with fresh bright colour, Senf handstamp signature, very fine. 

1913, 10s. grey and pink, Die II, hinge remnant, bright colour, centered slightly to foot, Senf handstamp signature, fine.

1913, £1 brown & ultramarine, Die II, lightly cancelled to order, a few slightly shorter perfs at foot, else a fine example of this scarce stamp..

1913, £2 black & rose, Die II, cancelled-to-order with partial Melbourne/VIC c.d.s., typical corner cancel due to these CTOs being centrally-cancelled in blocks of four for U.P.U. distribution, nicely-centered and with good colour, one shorter perf at foot mentioned for strict accuracy, else fine-very fine.

1d. on 5 pfg., setting 4, position 5, with variety “d inverted”,  fresh color and good perforation, small paper inclusion at upper right, neatly tied by part of cds. “STEPHANSORT”, very fine and rare, signed Champion and Scheller with certificate (2023)

1914, Surcharge on Marshall Islands 2 s. on 2 m., spacing 5 mm, unused with original gum, light overall toning, still very fine, certificate RPSL (2024)

1915, G.R.I. and value 3½ mm apart: 5 s. on 5 m., very fresh, unused without gum. A rare stamp, Certificate RPSL (2024)

1948, Olympic Games 2½ a. on 2½ d. with variety "surcharge double", unused with original gum and light hinge mark, very fine and rare

1956/57, Elizabeth II. 1 r. with overprint double, lightly used, very fine and rare, certificate BPA (1976), SG 5000£

196, Definitives Salman bin Hamed al Chalifa 40 f. , typo die proof in Royal Mail sunken frame, unique