Auction 309-320 - Australian States & Commonwealth British Africa, St. Helena - Day 1

1893 (July 4): The spectacular set of four De La Rue perforated Essays, Die II on unwatermarked paper, all matching examples from the top left corner of the sheet, with all four values in issued colours and the SEYCHELLES legend and Duty Plates hand-painted in orange, green, lilac and carmine as accepted for the issue, with figures picked out in Chinese white. All four values signed off as accepted by the Crown Agents in the margin in red manuscript ink, superb, with the stamps unmounted og. Illustrated in "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP on page 5630. A wonderful set and unique.rnrnProvenance: 15 c. Essay: Collection R.A.F. Winchester, Sotheby's, London, 19 July 1996, lot 362; 45 c. Essay: Collection Jeffrey Weiss, Harmers, London, 15 Dec 2004, lot 115; Complete set: Collection Lt. Col. J.R. Danson, Robson Lowe, London, 9 Dec 1976, lot 329; Complete set: Collection Lord Vestey, Spink, London, 7-8 Dec 2010, lot 1375.