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

1840, 1 d. black, plate 8, lettered RE, used, cancelled by a centrally struck superb example of the London 'Broken Points' Maltese Cross in black, scarce on 1 d. blacks, showing the most complete version of this affected cross with all four points of the diamond with breaks, four margins, top have faint horizontal crease, otherwise fine and what is an exhibition quality strike of this distinctive Cross. rnRemark: Rockoff/Jackson record the use of this cross, on dated covers, between 1840 and 1842, although the six illustrations shown in their book are on covers dated between February 1841 and August 1841. SG list the London 'broken points' Maltese Cross under the use of the 1841 1 d. reds plate 12 to 131, within the "Distinctive Maltese Cross Cancellations (in Black)" section.rnReference: "Encyclopaedia of The Maltese Cross Cancellations of Great Briatin and Ireland", Volume 1, by Rockoff & Jackson, page 164.rn