Auction 333-341 Western Australia & Great Britain - Day 3

1840: "POST OFFICES REGULATIONS / On and after the 10th January", the original notice sent to all post offices, introducing the Uniform Penny Postage reform, with the new scale of reduced rates, "1840" manuscript notation at upper right, some disturbances to reverse at top and bottom, possibly resulting from having been affixed for display at the post office, reduced in size as typically seen, yet a remarkably fresh example of this rare...

Uniform Penny Post, Second Day of Use: large part entire, with black "Pd." manuscript notation at lower left, neatly-struck double-lined London tombstone cancellation of January 11, to Sleaford, Lincolnshire, unobtrusive file spike punch, else a fine second day usage.

1839: Charles Whiting of Beaufort House, 1 d. blue and red on wove paper, Congreve Method essay, margins mostly close to just clear at upper right, some adhesions to reverse, scarce and otherwise fine.

1839: Charles Whiting of Beaufort House, two Essays in blue and blue & red respectively, on thick wove paper, introducing the concept of check letters, showing "A / 3" in upper corners and "C / W" in lower corners, from the larger composite essay sheet printed using the Congreve Method, fresh and fine. 

1839: Charles Whiting of Beaufort House, embossed essay in deep vermilion, 1862 reprint on wove paper, with PAID above uncrowned Queen, cut leaving margins large to well clear of oval, scarce and fine.

1848:, Charles Whiting of Congreve House, composite sheet for the Arts Journal, with embossed Victoria head in carmine, below pair of Beaufort House designs and "VR" Royal Cypher surrounded by fancy engine-turned background, all within ornate embossed frame, reverse with panel "PRINTED BY / CHARLES WHITING / BEAUFORT HOUSE / STRAND, LONDON / FOR PROTECTION AGAINST / FORGERY", trivial edge faults, much fresher than often encountered, offered...

1840: 1 d. black background trials, 1936 reprint with a small "3" above the outer frame line in one corner, in purple on thin, white, wove paper, with ornate engine-turned design by Perkins & Heath, remarkably fresh and fine Gi DP9c = £1,500

1840 (February): 1 d. black, Accepted Die I, die proof on India paper on soft card, 71 x 71 mm., showing the Queen`s head and background now fully engraved, mounted in sunken card, 94 x 128 mm., with manuscript notation "Engravers proof by Fredk Heath after drawing by Henry Corbould F.S.A", written in the hand of Corbould`s son, Edward Henry Corbould; the larger card showing some light uniform toning of no importance, the Proof being fresh...

1871: 2 d. Ormond Hill Die Proof, retouched in ultramarine on soft card, 60 x 60 mm., showing blank lower corners, stars in upper corners, trace of abino impression of "NEW DIE" lettering above, a superb and rare die proof Gi. DP46 = £ 18'000.

1840: 1 d. Rainbow trial, State 2, red on white wove paper, upper left corner strip of three, large margins, trivial wrinkle from hinge at upper right, a delightful and rare multiple Gi. DP20(2)c

1840: "VR" 1 d. black, prepared for use but not issued, imprimatur, lettered TA from the lower left corner of the second registration sheet, showing plate letter "A" and partial "Price 1d Per L..." inscription, manuscript initials "CP" below, thinning in left margin, light vertical crease, yet a rare and spectacular example, with only twenty seven stamps recorded as removed from this imprimatur sheet Gi. V1 = £20,000.

Provenance:...

1 d. black, plate 7, irregular reconstructed strip of eight on experimental paper, letttered BA-CA (marginal pair), BB-BD, and BE-BG, on experimental 28lb paper, with corresponding manuscript notation in sheet margin, cancelled with experimental ring cancellations, the stamps retaining large part original gum, a few minor imperfections do not detract from this magnificent multiple, unique in private hands, a similar block of ten being in the...