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SWAZILAND, 1933, -1/2p-6p King George V, Official (19 Footnote; SG 20 Footnote). Mint N.H. corner sheet selvage singles, -1/2p and 6p from top right, 1p and 2p from bottom right, exceptionally fresh colors, wonderfully well-centered

VERY FINE AND CHOICE SET OF THE FOUR VALUES OF THE 1933 KING GEORGE V ISSUE WITH "OFFICIAL" OVERPRINT. AN IMMENSELY RARE SET WHICH WAS OVERPRINTED AND PREPARED TO BE ISSUED, BUT WAS ULTIMATELY WITHDRAWN JUST BEFORE BEING RELEASED. HOWEVER, A FEW SETS HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO THE SECRETARIAT STAFF. THIS IS THE ONLY CORNER SELVAGE SET, WITH JUST A TOTAL OF FOUR SETS BELIEVED TO EXIST. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND AN IMPORTANT SET OF THE HIGHEST MAGNITUDE.

In 1934, both Basutoland and Swaziland arranged for four values - the -1/2p, 1p, 2p, and 6p - to be overprinted with "Official" for use on official correspondence. These issues were quickly withdrawn at the request of the Colonial office in London as they had not been officially authorized. Unlike in Basutoland, where a total of 137 stamps had already been used over the course of May to June 1934, it is reported that Swaziland had used two or three letters with these stamps. To date, none of these have been seen.

Contemporaneous reports at the time of withdrawal state that only four sets escaped destruction from Swaziland. Unlike with the Basutoland issue, where a block of four had been presented to King George V for this collection, no examples of the Swaziland were presented to him. It is theorized that these four sets were originally destined for his collection, but ultimately they were not presented to him.

Ex van der Molen. With 1995 B.P.A. certificate for the set. Scott $50,000.00. SG £50,000

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