Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — Worldwide Stamps and Covers, Bermuda thru Germany
BERMUDA, 1845, "Paid at Ireland Isle Bermuda" Crowned Circle Handstamp in Red (A3; SG CC2). Outstanding strike on 1860 pink cover to London, "6d" handstamp above, "Ireland Isle Bermuda" circular datestamp on reverse and London arrival, small inconsequential cover flawsVERY FINE. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE RARE IRELAND ISLE CROWNED CIRCLE HANDSTAMP.
This is one of the clearest strikes of this important Crowned Circle postmark we have encountered. Includes original contents datelined "Somers Isles" describing life on the island.
Ex Cartier and Leuhusen. SG £7,500
BRITISH EAST AFRICA, 1891, -1/2a on 3a Black on Red, Initialed "A.B." (34b; SG 24). Nine examples (single, pair, strip of three, and "block" of three), all with selvage from the bottom right corner of the sheet, tied to large part of 1891 cover (with embossed royal arms on flap) by Mombasa circular datestamps, sent to "H. L. Churchill Esq., H. M. Vice Consul, Zanzibar", July 2 originating backstamp and July 3 arrival backstamp, the cover is reduced at right (where another pair was removed) affecting the perfs of one stampFINE. A SPECTACULAR AND UNIQUE SHOWPIECE. THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE PROVISIONAL ON COVER AND THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLES.
This incredible cover represents a large proportion of all the recorded examples. It has been known since 1899, when Mr. Churchill wrote to the Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal, describing how he purchased the last -1/2a Provisionals in stock, affixed them to the envelope, and sent it to himself. This is a key showpiece for a gold medal collection of British East Africa.
Ex Hunt, Reynard, and Krieger. Catalogue values as nine single stamps. SG £20,250
BRITISH GUIANA, 1850, 4c Black on Yellow, "Cotton Reel" (2a; SG 3). Cut to shape, initialed "E. D. W." (Edmond Dalzell Wight, clerk to the Colonial Post Office), full frame line all around, Demerara double-ring circular datestamp, a few tiny margin tears and small stain above first "A" of "Guiana"FINE APPEARANCE. A DESIRABLE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1850 4-CENT BLACK ON YELLOW COTTON REEL -- ONE OF THE INCONIC ISSUES OF THE WORLD.
The first stamps of British Guiana were issued in July 1850, in denominations of 2c, 4c, 8c and 12c. They were printed at the offices of the Royal Gazette of British Guiana newspaper. Quickly produced from printer’s type and a printer’s rule bent into a crude circle, the stamps earned the nickname “Cotton Reel” from collectors because they look similar to labels on the wooden ends of a reel of cotton thread. Each stamp was initialed as a control to prevent either theft or counterfeiting. The “E.D.W.” initials of Edmond D. Wight also appear on the famous One-Cent Magenta British Guiana stamp. Except for the very rare 2c value, the 4c on Yellow is the rarest of the Cotton Reels. The famed du Pont collection had just one off-cover example.
From our 1973 Rarities of the World sale. Ex Chapin. With 1973 P.F. certificate. SG £24,000
BRITISH GUIANA, 1856, 4c Black on Magenta (14; SG 24). Unused, initialed "E.D.W." (Edmond Dalzell Wight, clerk to the Colonial Post Office), large margins, strong paper color, vertical crease, which has slightly cracked the paper, has been strengthenedVERY FINE APPEARENCE. WE ARE AWARE OF ONLY TWO UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE 1856 4-CENT BLACK ON MAGENTA. AN IMPORTANT RARITY, NOT ONLY OF BRITISH GUIANA, BUT OF THE WORLD.
The only unused examples we are aware of have both been sold through the Siegel firm. One is the ex-Ferrary copy, which we last sold in our 1981 Rarities Sale, when it was purchased by John du Pont. It was then sold as part of the du Pont collection in 2014, where it was noted as the Rose-Carmine paper color (No. 14a; SG 25), though the accompanying B.P.A. certificate states it is Black on Magenta (and has a surface thin painted over). The other is the example offered here, which we last sold in our 1973 Rarities sale. Another copy from the du Pont collection that had previously been offered as unused received a B.P.A. certificate stating "cannot be certified as unused."
Ex Caspary and Lilly. With 1974 Friedl certificate. SG £100,000
BRITISH GUIANA, 1862, 4c Blue on Black, SG Types 14 and 15 (41a, 43a; SG 123a, 124a). Se-tenant block of six (R3-4/4-6), top row Type 14, bottom row Type 15, imperforate (without roulettes), part original gum, large margins at top and left, but close at the sheet margins (typical of this issue), bottom right stamp with insignificant corner bendFINE. A STRIKING AND VERY RARE SE-TENANT BLOCK OF THE 1862 4-CENT BLUE ON BLACK.
Ex Ferrary. With 2007 B.P.A. certificate. Catalogue values are as singles. SG £8,100
CANADA, 1859, 6p Brown Violet, Perf 11-3/4 (13; SG 27). Original gum, incredibly bright color, crisp well-incised impression on fresh paper, minute pinhole in left margin which in no way detracts from this stamp's exceptional overall appearance and is barely noticeableVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 6-PENCE PERFORATED ISSUE.
The first perforated series of Canada invariably comes with perforations touching on at least one side due to the very narrow margins between stamps. This is only the third original-gum example we have offered in the last twenty years and possesses, by far, the finest overall appearance and freshness of this tiny population.
Ex King Carol Collection. Signed Bloch. With 1983 B.P.A. certificate. Unitrade C$25,000.00. SG £18,000
CANADA, 1959, 5c Seaway Invert (387a; SG 513a). Unhinged but with slight gum disturbance from a mount, excellent centering, bright colorsVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE DESIRABLE CANADA SEAWAY INVERT.
The St. Lawrence Seaway provided for passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. It was a collaboration between the United States and Canada. The Seaway was opened in 1959 with a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower. Both the United States and Canada issued stamps to commemorate the event. Both stamps have the same basic design, except the Canada stamp has bilingual text at top. The invert is only known on the Canadian stamp.
With clear 1966 P.F. certificate. SG £9,000. Unitrade C$12,500.00
CEYLON, 1863, 10p Vermilion (56; SG 58). Large part original gum, wonderfully rich color, well-centeredVERY FINE. A HANDSOME ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 10-PENCE VERMILION.
This is a very rare stamp, which is missing from even the most advanced collections. With 1980 Friedl and 2014 B.P.A. certificates. SG £4,750
FALKLAND ISLANDS, 1869, "Falkland Paid Islands" Black Frank (SG FR1). Crisp strike on 1873 blue cover to Swansea, Wales, excellent strike of Oct. 1, 1873 circular datestamp at bottom left, endorsed "Paid", manuscript "6" rating to indicate postage paid alongside, red London transit, faint Swansea backstamp, small part of flap missing at topVERY FINE. A CHOICE STRIKE OF THE RARE FALKLAND ISLANDS 1869 BLACK FRANK. ONLY 46 ARE RECORDED.
The cover was carried by the Black Hawk to Montevideo, and then by the Boyne to Southampton.
Ex Palmer and Styles. No. 5/73 in the Barnes census. SG value
FALKLAND ISLANDS, 1918, 1p Orange Vermilion, War Tax, Double Overprint (MR2a; SG 71ca). Selvage at left, lightly hinged, bright color, two distinct overprintsFINE. A HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE 1919 ONE-PENNY WAR TAX DOUBLE OVERPRINT. A KEY ERROR RARITY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS.
With 2007 B.P.A. certificate. SG £4,500
FIJI, 1917, -1/2p-4p Black, Postage Due, First Printing, Se-tenant Strip of Eight (J6a; SG D1a var). Horizontal strip of eight comprising the complete setting of -1/2p, 1p (3), 3p (3) and 4p, without gum as issued, natural s.e. at left and right as always, sensible hinge reinforcements on a few separated perforationsVERY FINE. A REMARKABLE 1917 POSTAGE DUE SE-TENANT STRIP OF THE FIRST PRINTING COMPLETE SETTING. ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
SG £18,000.
GERMANY, 1901, 3pf on Half of 5pf Green, Vineta Provisional (65B; Michel AI). Left vertical half, tied by "Kais Deutsche Marine Schiffspost 23/4 01" circular datestamp on complete wrapper to Breslau, GermanyVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A MARVELOUS USE OF THE 1901 3-PFENNIGS SURCHARGED BISECT, THE "VINETA" PROVISIONAL, USED ON ORIGINAL WRAPPER.
A total of 600 bisects were produced by the Commander of the ship Vineta to alleviate a shortage of 3pf stamps. The shortage occurred partly due to a large portion of the crew wanting to send home newspapers reporting the celebration of the Kaiser's birthday. Few wrappers have survived due to higher attrition as compared to covers.
With 1999 Jakubek certificate. Michel €22,000
1937, May 6, Hindenburg Disaster Flight. German despatch bearing German Air Post stamps (at top right and bottom left) on part of charred cover addressed to C. Ford in San Francisco, centrally struck red flight cachet, wrapped in cellophane by the post office and with Post Office Department seal on reverseFINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF A HINDENBURG CRASH COVER AND STRIKING RELIC OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AIR DISASTERS IN HISTORY.
With 1993 Dr. Simon BPP and 1993 German Philatelic Society certificates. Proceeds from this lot will be donated to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.