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

1d. intense black, plate 1b, lettered BC, unused, without gum, margins good to clear, deep shade consistent with an early impression, black mark on reverse, small thin spots, cleaned of soiling. Cert. RPSL (2023). Gi. AS4 =  £17,500.rnrn 

1d. grey-black, plate 1b, lettered FA, four large to very large margins, showing moderate plate wear, neatly-struck Maltese Cross in red, a superb example, very fine. Gi. AS6 = £500.

1d. black, plate 1b, lettered OL, four large margins, showing partial sheet inscription at right, lightly-struck Maltese Cross in red, a few trivial thins in sheet margin, not detracting from the desirability of this otherwise very fine stamp. Gi. AS5 = £375

1d. black, plate 1b, seven singles, lettered GH, HK (2), GC, JC, MK, and QL, each with four mostly good margins, close in places, cancelled with Maltese Cross in red or black, each with the non-coincident re-enty showing portions of the original impression, the occasional minor flaw not detracting from this challenging group. Gi. AS5b.

1d. black, plate 1b, vertical strip of three, lettered BE-DE, margins good to large all around, cancelled with three strikes of red Maltese Cross, fresh appearance, a very fine and beautiful multiple. Gi. AS5 = £1,025 as singles.rnProvenance: Ex. J.B. Seymour Collection, Robson Lowe, 7 November 1951, lot 59 (DE small defect).

1d. black, plate 1b, block of four, lettered SG-TH, margins chiefly fair to good though touching in places, affixed to piece and cancelled by red Maltese Cross, Arundel double-arc c.d.s. (Aug 13) struck at left, positions SG-SH showing thinner than usual top frame lines, a scarce block. Gi. AS5 = £18,000.rnProvenance: Ex. J. B. Seymour Collection, Robson Lowe, 30 April 1952, lot 91; Robson Lowe, 12-13 April 1978, lot 199; Habsburg, Feldman,...

1d. black, plate 1b, lettered CE, margins large at top and bottom, clear to into at sides, and 1d red, plate 11, lettered LL, tied to mourning cover to Lansdowne by two Maltese Cross strikes in black, red London Inland Office morning duty despatch on reverse (26 Mar), cover with tear at left, and uncommon rate for such a small envelope, paying for a weight greater than 1/2oz, scarce as such, with Simpson and Louis listing only ten such usages...

1d. red brown, plate 1b, lettered PB, margins good to large, centrally-struck with bold Maltese Cross in black, very fine. Gi. AS7 = £375rnrnrnKARL - Simon noted this as showing the original plate 1a re-entry but I admit I cannot see it, please double-check.

1841, 1d. red-brown, block of six, lettered MB-ND, stamps MD and ND being plate 1c, the remaining place 1b, very good to large margins all around, cancelled with neatly-struck Maltese Crosses in black, trivial scissor cut at left in margin only, pleasing rich colour, an exceptional and important block, the largest recorded used block from this plate in private hands. Cert. BPA (2010). Gi. AS7/AS8rnrnProvenance:rnCollection "Mayflower"...

1d. black, plate 1a and plate 1b., each lettered NL and struck with black Maltese Cross, margins mostly good to large, with State A close but clear at lower right, together with 1d. red brown, plate 1b, lettered NL, with slight central winkle and spots on reverse, otherwise a fine matched trio. Gi. AS2, AS5, AS7 = £1,125.

1d. black, plate 2, lettered AI, four very good balanced margins, cancelled with light Maltese Cross in red, a fine stamp. Gi. AS14 = £375

1d. black, plate 2, lettered HF, four large even margins, cancelled with red Maltese Cross, a lovely stamp. Gi. AS14 = £375