386th Auction

1890, 1d. proof impression of the 1840, 1d. black, die I, with additional (inked) reversed engraving ‚1‘ and ‚OLD ORIGINAL‘ below the impression, slightly reduced in size, the design showing no signs of wear, minor corner imperfections in the margins where the die proof was originally affixed, but still fine and fresh. (S.G. Cat. GBP 12.500)

1860/71, 1d. proof impression of the 1840, 1d. black, die I, with additional (albino) reversed engravings ‚1‘ and ‚OLD ORIGINAL‘ below the impression, a later impression showing signs of wear, a few tiny marginal thins clear of design and usual faint bends, still attractive and very fresh, B.P.A. certificate (2001). (S.G. Cat. GBP 12.500)

1840, 1d. black, plate 1, TD, two singles cut from the First and Second Imprimatur sheets („Before Hardening“ and „After Hardening“) with large to very large margins all round, the Imprimatur from the First imprimatur sheet dated 15 April showing the sharp impression of the earliest state of the (unhardened) printing plate 1, the latter from the Second Imprimatur sheet dated 27 April showing the contrasting worn impression. A magnificent Matched Pair from the first printing of the world’s first postage stamp! For the other imprimatur (first printing of the world's first “never issued” postage stamp) registered on 15 April 1840, see lot 320). BPA certificates  for each (2009) (S.G.Cat.: GBP 30‘000)

1d. black, plate 1A, TD, earliest impression showing practically no plate wear, unused with large part original gum, a very rare and exceptional early printing from plate 1A, B.P.A. certificate (1989) (S.G.Cat.: 24‘000)

1d. grey-black, Plate 1A, EH, a late printing from the very worn printing plate 1, large regular margins all round and centrally cancelled with a red Maltese Cross. (S.G.Cat.: GBP 525)

1d. grey-black, plate 1A, OD, a „latest“ printing from the extremely worn plate 1, large to very large margins all round and tied by a neat strike of a bright red Maltese Cross to local London entire, red „T.P. /Edgeware Rd“ Receiving House handstamp on front and „MY 28 1840“ datestamp on reverse. An extremely fine May-Date cover showing the rapid plate wear of the unhardened plate 1 shortly before being withdrawn, extensively re-engraved by re-entering and hardened to continue life as plate 1B. (S.G.Cat. GBP 1.000)

1d. grey-black, Plate 1A, GD, a late printing from the very worn printing plate 1, very large and regular margins all round, tied with a red Maltese Cross to envelope, „RUNCORN“ receiving house handstamp on front and „PRESTON BROOK  AU 3 1840“ c.d.s. on reverse for dispatch, addressed to Bakewell, a highly attractive late usage of the very worn plate 1A, Dr. Enzo Diena certificate (1998) (S.G. Cat.: GBP 1000)

1d. black, plate 1B, HH, unused with large part original gum, large to very large margins with a small part of HG on the left, very fresh, B.P.A. certificate (1978) (S.G. Cat.: GBP 12‘500)

1d. black, plate 2, TI, Imprimatur from the  Second Registration sheet, large to very large margins all round, very fine and rare. R.P.S.L. certificate 1983 (S.G. Cat.: GBP 15.000)

1d. black, plate 3, TF, Imprimatur with large to very large margins all round, very rare, only one Imprimatur sheet taken with just 23 singles removed, many of which are in institutional collections! R.P.S.L. certificate (1969) (S.G. Cat.: GBP 18‘000)

1d. black, plate 4, AH, variety „defective check letter ‚H‘ in lower right corner“, large margins all round, tied by red „CAMELFORD undated town obliteration in addition to red pen cancellation to piece. A very rare obliteration, just ten items with the red CAMELFORD obliteration recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index, of which this with a full strike is certainly among the finest existing. RPSL certificate (1965) (S.G.Cat. GBP 20.000)

1d. black, plate 5, TL, Imprimatur from the First Registration sheet (before hardening) with corner sheet margins, inscription and plate number „5“, very large margins on the other sides, tiny pin hole under Queen‘s chignon not detracting from the magnificent appearance. A highly important imprimatur. R.P.S.L. certificate (1981)

1d. black, plate 5, LL, large regular margins all round, tied by a black Maltese Cross to entire dated „Frampton April 6th. 1841“, „BOSTON AP 7 1841“ and „FOLKINGHAM AP 8 1841“ c.d.s. on front, addressed to Threekingham nr. Folkingham, extremely fine and fresh. (S.G.Cat.: GBP 775.-)

1d. black, plate 6, LH, very large and regular margins all round, tied by red  Maltese Cross to decorative printed entire of the „Law Life-Assurance Society“ (‚Notice of Renewal‘ inside), „PREPAID“ sender’s handstamp on front, London datestamp „OC 17  1840“ for dispatch on reverse, addressed to Bewdley. Exceptional and of finest possible quality! Dr. Enzo Diena certificate (1991) (S.G.Cat. GBP 775)

1d. black, plate 6, DH, large and regular margins all round, tied by red Maltese Cross to entire, „Fore Street Hill / Penny Post“ and  red „EXETER / NO 2 / PY. POST“ handstamps for dispatch on front, „BRISTOL NO 3 1840“ cds for arrival on reverse. (S.G.Cat.: GBP 775)

1d. black, plate 8, TH, Imprimatur with large to very large margins all round, light horizontal crease in the margin at the top not touching design, very rare, only one Imprimatur sheet taken with just 23 singles removed, many of which are in institutional collections, the formerly adjoining 1d, TG, resides in the Tapling Collection (British Library). (S.G.Cat.: GBP 18.000)

1d. black, plate 8, a superb pair, IK-IL, with good to large margins all round, tied by red Maltese Crosses to entire (written on black edged mourning paper inside), endorsed „Paid“ on front at upper left, London „4 JA 1841“ for dispatch and „BRIGHTON JA 5 1841“ (for arrival) handstamps on reverse. A striking cover! Silvano Sorani certificate (1991) (S.G. Cat. approx. GBP 2.500)

1d.black and 1d. red-brown, plate 11, two horizontal pairs  lettered DC-DD, variety  „left corner letter D shows slight doubling on DD“, both pairs with good to large margins all round, each showing trace of adjoining stamp at right, cancelled with black Maltese Crosses. The black pair with insignificant vertical crease through DD, an incredible and unique matched pair, the only such „Matched Pair of Pairs“ recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index. (S.G. Cat. GBP 12.300)

Official Stamp (Never issued): 1840, VR 1d. black, NL, Imprimatur from the First Registration sheet (before hardening), large margins all round showing small part sheet margin on the right,  R.P.S.L. certificate (2010) wrongly stating ‚after hardening‘ (= Second Registration sheet) because the VR 1d. black Imprimatur lettered NL is still present on the Second Registration sheet, an earlier R.P.S.L. certificate numbered ‚66313‘ (issued 1968) is unfortunately lost  (S.G. Cat.: GBP 20.000)

Official Stamp (Never issued) 1840, VR 1d. black, TA, Imprimatur from the lower-left corner of the (before hardening) sheet with Plate Letter ‚A‘ , inscription and pen initials „C.P.“, slight thinning in margin and slight vertical crease, otherwise fine. One of the most important items in the history of the invention of Postage Stamps: The World’s First Postage Stamp that was prepared but not issued! For the other imprimatur (first printing of the world's first postage stamp) registered on 15 April 1840, see lot 303).

2d. blue, plate 1, KJ, large to very large and regular margins all round, tied by a red Maltese Cross to double weight entire letter, Edinburgh „JAN 5 1841“ datestamp for dispatch on reverse, addressed to Meigle, stunning fresh and of finest possible quality. R.P.S.L. certificate (1984) (S.G. Cat. GBP 2.500)

2d. blue, plate 1, PB, large margins all round tied by red Maltese Cross to entire, „WELLINGTON SOMERSET  NO … 1840“ c.d.s. for dispatch on front with missing day-slug and year 1840 inserted inverted, to Tiverton, the 2d. with small corner crease at lower left re-affixed for protection and left side flap of entire missing, otherwise in a very fresh state of preservation. (S.G. Cat. GBP 2.500)

2d. blue, plate 1, strip of four, LG-LJ, with large balanced margins all round, cancelled with four superb strikes of a black Maltese Cross, paying the 8d. outbound rate for a Ship Letter from the famous „Thomas MacLear, Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope“ correspondence, „APR  16  1842“ (Edinburgh) for dispatch, „18 APR 1842“ (London Foreign Branch) in transit on reverse and „PAID SHIP LETTER LONDON 18 AP 1842“ in red on front. A fantastic and ‚eye catching‘ Foreign Destination cover of the 1840, 2d. blue, one of just three such Ship Letters to the Cape recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index, all three being mailed between 14th and 18th  April 1842, this being the only cover with a strip of four, the other two frankied with the matching blocks of four B.P.A. certificate (2006)

1840, 2d. blue, plate 2, horizontal pair, NH-NI, unused with part original gum, close but not touched at upper right corner, otherwise with large to very large margins all round, stunning vibrant colour, two slight  horizontal creases nearly invisible from the front. A magnificent and very rare mint multiple from plate 2, one of the very few recorded unused items from the 2d. plate 2 not originating from the (ungummed and very defective) block, HA/NL, in the Mackay Collection (1898) which was cut up during the last 125 years into singles and smaller multiples. (S.G. Cat.: GBP 100.000)

2d. blue, plate 2, block of four, QK/RL, mostly large regular margins all round, only RK cut close at the upper left and minute scissor cut at left between stamps QK and RK, tied with black Maltese Crosses to small piece, a very rare multiple from plate 2, B.P.A. certificate (1996) (S.G. Cat. GBP 22.000)