Sale 1203 — The Gernot Reiners Collection of Togo and Cameroon - The Anglo-French Occupation
Sale Date — Tuesday, 18 June, 2019
Category — British Togo - Second (Narrow) Setting
TOGO (British), 1914, 1p on 5pf Green, Second Setting (47; SG H28; Gibbs 28). Tied by "Lome, Togo 29.10.14" circular datestamp on commercial cover to "Wireless Station, Accra" in Gold Coast, Victoria (Gold Coast) transit backstamp, cover with central vertical file fold, Very Fine, while seemingly innocuous, truly commercial mail such as this is incredibly rare
TOGO (British), 1914, -1/2p on 3pf Brown, 1p on 5pf Green, "TOG" Error, Second Setting (46b-47b; SG H27a-H28a; Gibbs 27b-28b). Matching vertical blocks of eight (2x4) with selvage at top, positions 7-8/17-18/27-28/37-38, tied to small piece by "Lome, Togo 4.10.14" circular datestamps, pos. 37 the error, pos. 8 on each block also showing the Wide "TOGO" variety, fresh colors, Very Fine, a striking matched pair, -1/2p with 1979 B.P.A. certificate, catalogued as singles, Scott $621.00, SG £621
TOGO (British), 1914, 1p on 5pf Green, Heavy Overprint in Jet-Black Shiny Ink, Second Setting (47 var; SG H28 var; Gibbs 28d). Setting 2, minor h.r., precise centering, bold color, Very Fine example of this distinctive variety, Gibbs estimates at least one sheet of 50 was produced with only a few examples actually recorded, explained on pages 191-192 of his publication, with 2009 Gibbs certificate
TOGO (British), 1914, 5pf Green, Second Setting (49; SG H15; Gibbs 15). Tied to small piece by bold "Lome, Togo 29.10.14" circular datestamp, fresh and Very Fine, Gibbs estimates about 40 examples printed, signed Bothe BPP, Scott $750.00, SG £750
TOGO (British), 1914, 5pf Green, Second Setting (49; SG H15; Gibbs 15). Tied to small piece by bold "Lome, Togo 26.11.14" circular datestamp, deep color, Very Fine, Gibbs estimates about 40 examples printed, Scott $750.00, SG £750
TOGO (British), 1914, 5pf Green, Second Setting (49; SG H15; Gibbs 15). Position 20 or 39 showing less than 2mm between "Anglo-French", tied to small piece by bold "Lome, Togo 23.12.14" circular datestamp, well-centered, Very Fine, Gibbs estimates about 40 examples printed, Scott $750.00, SG £750
TOGO (British), 1914, 10pf Carmine, Second Setting (50; SG H16; Gibbs 16). Pefectly struck "Lome, Togo 26.11.14" circular datestamp, precise centering, deep colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-PFENNIG FROM THE SECOND SETTING. GIBBS ESTIMATES 15-20 EXAMPLES EXIST, ALL OF WHICH ARE USED.
The first example we have offered in over 20 years. With 1972 Hoffmann-Giesecke certificate. Scott $3,000.00. SG £3,000
TOGO (British), 1914, 20pf Ultramarine, "TOG" Error, Second Setting (51a; SG H17a; Gibbs 17a). Setting 2B, position 37, tied on small piece by "Lome, Togo 4.10.14" circular datestamp, exceptional centering, deep intense shade, Extremely Fine, a rare and desirable error, this error was eventually discovered during the overprinting process of the 25pf values but, by that time, all the 20pf stamps had been printed, Gibbs states about 40 examples were printed with about half of them used, with 1983 Buhler certificate, Scott $2,500.00, SG £2,500
TOGO (British), 1914, 30pf Orange & Black on Salmon, Second Setting (53; SG H19; Gibbs 19). Block of fifteen, cancelled by "Lome, Togo 14.9.14" circular datestamps, fresh colors, some splitting and couple sensible hinge reinforcements, Very Fine, cancelled three days prior to the opening of the post office for the Wide Setting, Gibbs' theory relates to the small quantity of stamps put aside for officers that went to Cameroons though the Narrow Setting was unlikely to have been done prior to Sept. 14 meaning these were indeed backdated, possibly when the officers returned
TOGO (British), 1914, 40pf Lake & Black, Second Setting (54; SG H20; Gibbs 20). Tied on small piece by bold strike of "Lome, Togo 26.11.14" circular datestamp, excellent centering, rich colors, Very Fine and choice, a surprisingly difficult stamp and the first we have offered since keeping computerized records, Gibbs estimates only 25-30 were issued, signed Richter and with 1932 B.P.A. certificate, Scott $1,600.00, SG £1,600
TOGO (British), 1914, 40pf Lake & Black, Second Setting (54; SG H20; Gibbs 20). Tied on small piece by "Lome, Togo 14/9 14" circular datestamp, bold colors, Very Fine and choice, a surprisingly difficult stamp, likely either backdated or cancelled early for privileged individuals, Gibbs estimates only 25-30 were issued, signed A. Diena, Scott $1,600.00, SG £1,600
TOGO (British), 1914, 50pf Purple & Black on Salmon, Second Setting (55; SG H21; Gibbs 21). Tied on small piece by lightly struck "Lome, Togo 29.9.14" circular datestamp, fresh colorsVERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 50-PFENNIG FROM THE SECOND SETTING. GREENWOOD ESTIMATES TWELVE EXAMPLES WERE ISSUED, GIBBS SLIGHTLY HIGHER AT ABOUT 20.
Only 24 50pf stamps were found in Kamina, plus an unknown amount elsewhere. Gibbs believes all of those found at Kamina were used on the Wide Setting plus those found elsewhere - likely leaving very few for the Narrow Setting left.
Interestingly, the cancel is dated Sept. 29 while the Post Office in Lome only started issuing this setting on Oct. 1. Researchers speculate that these were either backdated or made available to those with special privileges prior to opening. The Gibbs example has the same date along with a similarly light cancel.
With 1968 B.P.A. certificate. Scott $9,000.00. SG £9,000
TOGO (British), 1914, 50pf Purple & Black on Salmon, Broken "e" in "French", Second Setting (55 var; SG H21 var; Gibbs 21 var). Position 23, tied on small piece by lightly struck "Lome, Togo 29.9.14" circular datestamp, well-centeredVERY FINE. THIS IS THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE BROKEN "E" VARIETY ON AN ALREADY IMMENSELY RARE 50-PFENNIG FROM THE SECOND SETTING. GREENWOOD ESTIMATES TWELVE EXAMPLES WERE ISSUED, GIBBS SLIGHTLY HIGHER AT ABOUT 20 OF THE BASIC STAMP.
Only 24 50pf stamps were found in Kamina, plus an unknown amount elsewhere. Gibbs believes all of those found at Kamina were used on the Wide Setting plus those found elsewhere - likely leaving very few for the Narrow Setting left.
Interestingly, the cancel is dated Sept. 29 while the Post Office in Lome only started issuing this setting on Oct. 1. Researchers speculate that these were either backdated or made available to those with special privileges prior to opening.
Ex Gibbs. Signed Champion, Roumet and Bothe BPP. With 1979 B.P.A. certificate. Catalogued as normal stamp. Scott $9,000.00. SG £9,000
TOGO (British), 1914, 80pf Lake & Black on Rose, Second Setting (56; SG H22; Gibbs 22). Setting 2C, cancelled by Lome circular datestamp, bold colors, Very Fine, a rare stamp that Gibbs estimates only 25 were printed, about ten of which are unused leaving less than 15 possible used examples, signed Friedl, Scott $2,250.00, SG £2,500
TOGO (British), 1914, 80pf Lake & Black on Rose, Second Setting (56; SG H22; Gibbs 22). Setting 2C, cancelled by Lome Sept. 1914 circular datestamp, well-centered, bold colors, Very Fine and rare, Gibbs estimates only 25 were printed, about ten of which are unused leaving less than 15 possible used examples, as this was dated in Sept. 1914, the same comment applies as with the 50pf and 2m from this collection, Scott $2,250.00, SG £2,500
TOGO (British), 1914, 1m Carmine, Second Setting (57; SG H23; Gibbs 23). Setting 2, tied on small piece by bold "Lome, Togo 17.11.14" circular datestampVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-MARK FROM THE NARROW SETTING. ACCORDING TO GIBBS, ABOUT 40 EXAMPLES WERE ISSUED.
Of those 40, about ten unused examples are believed to exist leaving less than 30 used examples even possible. With 1983 Buhler certificate. Scott $4,250.00. SG £4,250
TOGO (British), 1914, 1m Carmine, Second Setting (57; SG H23; Gibbs 23). Setting 2, lightly struck "Lome, Togo 5.10.14" circular datestamp, well-centered for this valueVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-MARK FROM THE NARROW SETTING. ACCORDING TO GIBBS, ABOUT 40 EXAMPLES WERE ISSUED.
Of those 40, about ten unused examples are believed to exist leaving less than 30 used examples even possible. Signed Champion and Mohrmann. Scott $4,250.00. SG £4,250
TOGO (British), 1914, 1m Carmine, Second Setting (57; SG H23; Gibbs 23). Setting 2, tied on small piece by well-struck "Lome, Togo 17.11.14" circular datestamp, fresh colorFINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-MARK FROM THE NARROW SETTING. ACCORDING TO GIBBS, ABOUT 40 EXAMPLES WERE ISSUED.
Of those 40, about ten unused examples are believed to exist leaving less than 30 used examples even possible. Signed Stanley Gibbons. Scott $4,250.00. SG £4,250
TOGO (British), 1914, 2m Blue, Second Setting (58; SG H24; Gibbs 24). Setting 2, with bottom right corner sheet selvage and affixed to piece cancelled by light "Lome, Togo 29.9.14" circular datestamp, well-centered with wide marginsVERY FINE. AN IMMENSE RARITY OF TOGO. ONLY TWELVE USED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN RECORDED OF THIS 2-MARK WITH NARROW SETTING WITH NO UNUSED EXAMPLES KNOWN.
Gibbs states "it is possible that a sheet of 20 was overprinted although I do not believe that 20 examples exist". Of the twelve recorded, one resides in the Royal Collection.
Similar to the the 50pf and 80pf from this collection, the cancel is dated Sept. 29 while the Post Office in Lome only started issuing this setting on Oct. 1. Researchers speculate that these were either backdated or made available to those with special privileges prior to opening. The Gilbert example, which also had selvage at bottom, has the same datestamp with similarly light strike.
Signed Calves and Bothe BPP. With 1977 Behr certificate. Scott $14,500.00. SG £14,000