Auction 309-320 - Great Britain 1840–1841 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

1852, 1 d. red plate 152, lettered OE, Treasury Roulette, used on cover front, tied by black London District "74", sent locally, manuscript note on reverse states 'February 1854', stamp exhibits the less common pattern of three vertical and two horizontal waves, which is found in approx. 10-11% of genuine serpentine rouletted stamps, slight toning and soiling to cover, otherwise very fine and attractive example. Cert. BPA(1990). SG B2a = £15'...

1848, 1 d. red, plate 70, lettered SK, Henry Archer Roulette Trail, approx. gauge 11.5 to all sides, fault to top, unused, no gum, very fresh and fine printing, comes matched with a used example from the same plate/position. Cert. BPA (1992). SG16a = £15'000.rnReference: "Stamp Perforation: The Somerset House Years 1848 to 1880", by R. Simpson & P. Sargent, illustrated on Plate 1. rnProvenance: Harmer, 21 December 1959, lot 186, Harmer,...

1848, 1 d. red, plate 70, lettered PK, Henry Archer Roulette Trail, approx. gauge 11.5 to three sides, the P row being top of the trial part sheet from plate 70 (PA-TL) and thus cut straight, unused, no gum, very fresh and fine, comes matched with a used example from the same plate and position. Cert. RPSL (1948). Gi SG16b = £15'000.rnRemark: The formerly adjoining pair PJ-PK in the H.P.Manus collection (sold by Plumridges 27 Oct. 1932, lot...

1853, Original Henry Archer signed document, dated 18 March 1853, regarding the Treasury Payment for his machine and invention, addressed to George F. Muntz MP for Birmingham, who had chaired the House of Commons Select Committee, the draft letter outlines Archer’s disappointment with the offer received. A unique and historically important document.rnTranscript:rn“I feel persuaded that when Mr Gladstone is informed that the first offer of a...

1848, Henry Archer Perforation Machine, Plain Paper Trial, comb perforation 16, block of fifty four, nine by six, believed to be Columns D to L, which if correct gives part margin lower right of two being cut to side; there are only five examples recorded, of which two examples are held in private hands; a block of twenty four and this example, both which derive from the same side of the original Wilkinson punch set as the example in the...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 92, lettered HC, die I, alphabet I, wmk. small crown, Archer Perforation 16, unused, with original gum, vibrant colour, strong impression, excellent perfs. which were perforated with the Williamson Comb I, hinge remains to back, very rare plate in unused condition. Cert. RPSL (2023). Plate SG unpriced in this condition = £3'000 for standard plate, this plate being almost three times rarer. rnProvenance: Ex. Silkin...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 93, lettered CL, Archer Perf. 16, used on cover, from Flurrybridge, Ireland to Inveraray, Scotland, addressed to "Francis Countess of Waldegrave, Inveraray Castle", dated 10 September 1853, prior to the official use, the Archer perforations consistent with Wilkinson Punch Set, Side 2; which matches the Archer Perforating Machine Plain Paper Trial sheet held in the Royal Collection, as well as the block of fifty four...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 93, lettered LL, Archer Perf. 16, used on cover, from London to Blackburn, dated 10 October 1850, earliest recorded usage from the Devon distribution outside the county, tied by London Inland “2”, a very fine, well centered example, with strong colour, arrival to reverse dated 11 October 1850, light horizontal filing crease well clear of adhesive, clean cover, a rare and important usage. SG16b = £2’200 although much...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 96, lettered JC-KD, Archer Perf. 16, unused block of four, nicely positioned, with small part original gum, extremely fresh colour, vibrant printing, excellent perforations all round which match those from the Hill/Addenbrooke Punch Set; distinct from the Wilkinson set as they are more precisely aligned; superb appearance and rare block. Cert. BPA (1996). SG16b = £15'000.rnReference: "The Postage Stamps of Great Britain...

1850, 1 d red, plate 96, lettered OA, Archer Perf 16, used on cover, from Ashburton to Exeter, dated 27 December 1850, tied by superb “29” Ashburton numeral in blue, dispatch and arrival to reverse in blue also dated the same day, horizontal filing crease lower half not affecting stamp, slight soiling and tone spots to perfs. which do not detract from the eye appeal, very attractive and scarce experimental Devon distribution; only 28% of...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 97, lettered AJ, Archer Perf. 16, used on cover, from Ireland to London, dated 3 April 1854, tied by an indistinct Irish diamond numeral, with dispatch and arrival dated 4 April 1854 on reverse, slight soiling, a fine and scarce example, there being only a handful of covers sent from Ireland with Archer Trial perforations. Cert. BPA (1967). SG CE2 = £1'500+. 

1850, 1 d. Red, plate 98, lettered FJ, Archer Perf. 16, used on cover, from Newmarket to London, dated 30 September 1851, tied by the Newmarket numeral cancel in black, a provincial usage from the House of Commons distribution, stained and some discolouration, otherwise fine, rare cover, with between 50 to 60 covers attributed to the 1851 distribution of which only 25% are known used in the provinces, these were doubtless carried there by...