Sale 1287 — Worldwide Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 23-24 May, 2023
Category — Malta thru South Africa
MALTA, 1956-57, -1/4p-£1 QEII Views (246-252; SG 266-282). Bottom left selvage plate no. 1 or 1a blocks of four, most stamps Mint N.H., some with one stamp lightly hinged, the key £1 has all stamps Mint N.H., 2sh with gum crease, Fine-Very Fine, a handsome set of matched plate blocks, catalogue value as four sets, without any premium for the plate blocks, Scott $509.00, SG £520
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MAURITIUS, 1859, 6p Blue, 1860, 2p Blue (18, 25; SG 32, 47). Tied by oval grids, with May 7, 1860 Mauritius G.P.O. datestamp on reverse, on folded cover to Calcutta, India, Calcutta Steam Letter handstamp on reverse (June 11), manuscript "4"VERY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE MIXED-ISSUE COVER PAYING THE 8p LETTER RATE VIA ADEN TO CALCUTTA.
Ex Kanai and "Tatiana". With 1990 Holcombe and 1994 B.P.A. certificates.
MAURITIUS, 1859, 6p Blue, 1860, 4p Rose (18, 26; SG 32, 48). Block of four of 6p, horizontal pair of 4p, all tied by Mauritius General Post Office Crown Seals on 1861 cover to Bombay, India, Mauritius G.P.O. Mar. 22, 1861 crowned datestamp on front, red Bombay backstamp, crayon "1/4" and manuscript "per Steamer "Norma"", cover with small faults not affecting the stampsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTRAORINARILY RARE COVER FRANKED WITH A BLOCK AND PAIR OF TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COVERS OF THE BRITANNIA ISSUE.
Ex Kanai and "Tatiana". With 1994 B.P.A. certificate.
NEW ZEALAND, 1857-61, 1p Orange, 2p Blue, 6p Brown (7, 8, 9; SG 8, 10, 13). All tied by Port Ahuriri "11" in grid cancels on 1862 cover to Kilkenny, Ireland, Ahuriri June 1862 datestamp on back, Kilkenny receiving circular datestamp also ties the 6p stamp, stamps with large to full marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A STUNNING AND RARE THREE-COLOR FRANKING OF THE 1857-61 ISSUE FROM PORT AHURIRI TO IRELAND.
With 2018 B.P.A. certificate.
NORTH BORNEO, 1883, 2c Red Brown (1; SG 1). Horizontal strip of four tied by oval grids on 1885 cover to Singapore and redirected to Sarawak, red Sandakan Dec. 26, 1885 circular datestamp, Singapore 1886 backstamp, cover with a few toned spotsFINE. AN AMAZING AND UNIQUE FRANKING OF A STRIP OF FOUR OF NORTH BORNEO NO. 1. CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COVERS IN ALL OF NORTH BORNEO.
With 2001 B.P.A. certificate. Any cover with North Borneo No. 1 is a rarity. Stanley Gibbons assigns a premium of from x 100 for a single on cover. One stamp catalogues £80 (for £8,000) and four catalogue £320 (for £32,000).
NORTHERN RHODESIA, 6p Dark Gray, Inverted Watermark (68 var; SG 68w). Mint N.H., bright and freshVERY FINE. A RARE QEII VARIETY. PROBABLY ONLY ONE SHEET WAS PRINTED AND VERY FEW SURVIVE.
This is the only stamp in the whole of Northern Rhodesia listed with an inverted watermark in Stanley Gibbons.
SG £5,000
RHODESIA, 1917, -1/2p on 1p Brown Rose, Inverted Surcharge (139a; SG 280a). Block of four, bottom right stamp the wide space between "n" and "y" (SG 280c), original gum, bottom stamps (including the variety) Mint N.H., excellent centering, vibrant colorEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1917 HALF-PENNY ON ONE-PENNY INVERTED SURCHARGE - ONE WITH THE STANLEY GIBBONS LISTED VARIETY.
Only 120 stamps total were printed with the inverted surcharge and only six can exist with the variety. Few other blocks exist and this is the only one recorded with the wide spacing on one stamp.
With 1980 B.P.A. certificate. S.G. does not list the combination of inverted overprint and wide spacing. Catalog values are simply as four normal hinged singles. Scott $6,400.00. SG £4,800
RHODESIA & NYASALAND, 1956, 2-1/2p Ocher, Offset on Reverse (143B var; SG 3a var; SASC3b). Mint N.H. corner selvage block of eight, strong offset on five stamps, one with full design, two with nearly full design, and two with partial designVERY FINE. A RARE AND EYE-CATCHING VARIETY THAT IS LISTED IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN STAMP CATALOGUE.
It is especially desirable and unusual to have the offset of the entire stamp, as in the case of the bottom left stamp. Most only have a partial offset. The SASC states the value is for a stamp showing 80% or more of the design, of which three on this block qualify. The SASC value is ZAR 30,000 per stamp, so the catalogue value is ZAR 90,000. But that does not count the two with less than 80% of the design, nor an extra premium for the one with the full design
ST. HELENA, 1922, -1/2p Black & Gray, Inverted Watermark (79 var; SG 97gw). Mint N.H. bottom left corner plate no. 1 pair, excellent centering, marvelously bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE POSTITION PIECE OF THE 1922 HALF-PENNY BADGE OF THE COLONY WITH INVERTED WATERMARK.
Inverted watermarks are very rare on this issue. Only the -1/2p, 1-1/2p, and 8p value are known with an inverted watermark.
This is the only recorded plate number pair with an inverted watermark.
SOUTH AFRICA, 1913, 1p Rose Red, Offset on Reverse (3 var; SG 4 var). Mint N.H. bottom left selvage control plate no. 6, strong offset on reverse of the bottom half on the bottom stamps and the plate number and marginal markings, Very Fine and unusual variety
SOUTH AFRICA, 1947, 1p-3p Royal Visit, Trial Colors (103-105 var; SG 111-113 var; SASC 110-112 footnote). Complete set of nine trial colors (three for each value) in right-selvage bilingual pairs, Mint N.H., bright and freshVERY FINE. A RARELY OFFERED SET OF TRIAL COLORS OF THE 1947 ROYAL VISIT.
While trial colors of stamps are found on 19th century stamps, they are far less frequently found on 20th Century stamps. In fact, the set of South Africa Royal Visit issue is the only commemorative set of the entire British Commonwealth during the King George VI reign to be found in trial colors.
SASC ZAR 120,000.
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SOUTH AFRICA, 1947, 1p-3p Royal Visit, Trial Colors (103-105 var; SG 111-113 var; SASC 110-112 footnote). Complete set of nine trial colors (three for each value) in top selvage arrow blocks of four, Mint N.H., bright colors on pristine paperVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE SET OF ARROW BLOCKS OF FOUR OF TRIAL COLORS OF THE 1947 ROYAL VISIT.
The set of South Africa Royal Visit issue is the only commemorative set of the entire British Commonwealth during the King George VI reign to be found in trial colors. This is the only set of arrow blocks known.
SASC ZAR 240,000 simply as two sets of pairs, not taking into account the unique positional blocks.
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SOUTH AFRICA, 1987, 40c Bible (704 footnote; SG 628 footnote; SASC 638). Mint N.H., well-centered and fresh, Very Fine, this stamp was withdrawn before the official date of issue, due to religious objections, however, some smaller post offices sold them over the counter, contrary to regulations, some were used on mail and some were used on first day covers, only a small number of Mint N.H. stamps still exist, SASC ZAR 25,000
SOUTH AFRICA, 1987, 40c Bible (704 footnote; SG 628 footnote; SASC 638). Mint N.H. top right cylinder block of four, wonderfully freshEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE CYLINDER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE UNISSUED 1987 40-CENT "WORD OF GOD" STAMP.
The Cylinder block is the most desirable position piece in South African philately. Only a few were sold over the counter, contrary to regulations. We could locate only a few others, including one used and one in a full sheet.
SASC ZAR 200,000.
SOUTH AFRICA, 1950, 2p Purple & Slate Blue, Official, Bilingual pair (O38; SG O35). Mint N.H. rich color and pristine paperVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS KEY OFFICIAL STAMP.
Scott $3,250.00. SG £4,250.
SOUTH AFRICA, 1950, 2p Purple & Slate Blue, Official, Bilingual pair, Right Stamp with Raised "Official" (O38 var; SG O35 var; SASC 40d). Mint N.H. pair, deep colors on bright paperVERY FINE. A BRILLIANTLY FRESH EXAMPLE OF A RARE AND DISTINCT VARIETY ON AN ALREADY SCARCE STAMP.
With 2010 B.P.A. certificate. S.G. £4,250 (as the normal stamp). SASC ZAR150,000.
SOUTH AFRICA, 1940, 5sh Green & Black, 10sh Olive Brown & Black, Official (O39-O40; SG O28-O29). Mint N.H. bilingual pairs, 10sh bottom left selvage pair, fresh and Very Fine, Scott $625.00, SG £620
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SOUTH AFRICA, 1940, 10sh Olive Brown & Black, Official (O40; SG O29). Bottom right corner selvage block of four, original gum, top pair lightly hinged, bottom pair Mint N.H., well-centered, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce positional multiple, ex Matheson, catalogued as two pairs, Scott $1,000.00, SG £1,000
SOUTH AFRICA, 1950 2p Purple & Slate Blue, Official, Inverted Overprint (O47c; SG O45a). Mint N.H. bilingual pair, well centered, deep luxuriant colors on fresh paper, Very Fine, a scarce error and the only value of the series that comes with an inverted (reading up) overprint, with 1986 P.F.S.A. certificate, listed but unpriced in Scott, SG £1,100