Auction 333-341 Australian States & Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand – The ‚KOOYONG‘ Collection - Day 2

1894 (Feb): Group of ten different Proof examples from the Pictorial issue. Includes; imperforate printer's sample stamps of four values, the 2 c. black & bistre, 3 c. myrtle & red-brown, 8 c. blue & light brown and 12 c. black & blue-green, each unpunched but with 'WATERLOW & SONS LTD / SPECIMEN' overprint diagonally in black, showing variants as Samuel Type WS1a, the 12 c. with wide spacing and no stop after 'LTD', all affixed to individual pieces from sample books with 'M/S' reference number above (S.T.452, 4710, 456 & 457 respectively). Also four complete miniature sheets of nine sample stamps for the 1 c. in black & rose, 5 c. in black & grey-blue and two examples of the 18 c. in black & slate-purple all perf. 12½, each unit with small security punch hole and diagonally overprinted in black 'WATERLOW & SONS LTD. / SPECIMEN' (Type WS1). Lastly, two examples of the 24 c. value one in blue-green & yellow and one in black & lilac, perf. 14½-15, without gum and large part of gum respectively, rare and attractive, the status of the black & lilac unclear. Some imperfections and flaws but most very fine. Very desirable selection (10).  Fine and scarce.