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

1840, 1 d. black, House of Parliament envelope, with line under inscription, printed on greyish wove paper, used from London to Elgin (Scotland), cancelled by red Crown in circle datestamp 21 January 1840, arrival to reverse dated 22 January, with black wax seal "Library of House of Commons", has been repaired top left corner and backflap, most attractive and rare; these postal stationery envelopes were available for four weeks, this being an...

Imprimaturs 1840: 1 d. black, plate 1a, lettered TC from the base of the Imprimatur sheet, ample to large margins all round and in a clear and distinct shade, taken from the second registration sheet, unused. Rare - only stamps AL, SC-SL and TA-TL were removed (22) from the 'After Hardening' Imprimatur sheet. Light horizontal bend at top not remotely affecting the wonderful appearance. Extremely rare and most attractive. Cert. RPSL (1985) Gi...

1840, 1 d. black, plate 1b, lettered LC, used, variety "Watermark Inverted", cancelled by a red Maltese Cross cancellation, four good to large margins although fuzzy edged to the side of the top of north west, scarce. Gi = £2'000.

1840, 1 d. black, plate 2, lettered JK, used, tied to piece by red Maltese Cross and the "POULTON / PENNY POST" handstamp in black, four margins which are large in places, scarce combination, fine example. Gi = £2'500.

1840, 1 d. black, plate 3, lettered BA-EA, used vertical strip of four, cancelled a red Maltese Cross, four margins all round, close to large in places, very fresh printing, strong colour, CA has a hole just north east of center, light horizontal fold between middle stamps, otherwise very fine; multiples of three or more are extremely scarce, vertical examples more so, a rare and attractive example.

1840, 1 .d black, plate 7, lettered HA, used, cancelled by red Maltese Cross, exhibiting a dramatic vertical pre-printing paper fold, cut into in places and has a vertical scissor cut at lower left, extremely rare and eye catching. Cert. RPSL (1992).rnrnProvenance: Lady Mairri Bury Collection.

1840, 1 d. black, plate 9, lettered EH, Re-entry, used, cancelled by a fine Maltese Cross in red, four margins, slightly irregular along base, although large to top and right side, showing the classic re-entry marks in the corner squares, a fine example.

1840, 1 d. black, plate 9, lettered CG-DI, photographic FORGERY block of six, with the distinctive York Maltese Cross in red on piece, one of the more infamous forgeries, an interesting piece especially for the specialist line engraved enthusiast.

1840, 2 d. blue, plate 1, lettered NC, Re-entry, used, cancelled by black Maltese Cross, four margins, close at top of right side although part of NB to left, a good to fine example. Gi = £1'250.

1840, 2 d. blue plate 1, three singles, lettered CE, DG and RF, in combination with 2 d. blue, plate 2, lettered EI, all overlapping, used on cover from Annan to Castle Douglas, dated 27 July 1842, tied by black Maltese Cross cancellations, document refers to a "Warrant" and "£550" which needed urgent attention, EI, CE and DG have good to large four margins, RF is cut into top and right side, although does have part of RE, cover has heavy...

1840, Rainbow Colour Trial, 1d, lilac-pink, on white wove unwatermarked paper, number 8, state II, void corner, blank checkletter squares, no gum, dipped in prussiate of potash, deeply blued, upper right corner example with large to extremely large margins all round, vertical and horizontal filing creases to right side and top respectively, both well clear of the impression, an impressive example. SG DP20B(a) = £2'000.rnProvenance: (as a...

1849, 1 d. red, plate 89, two unused blocks, no gum, one of thrity (5 x 6), letterd CD-HH, including variety to DG, the other an irregular block of fifteen (1 & 2 x 7), from the top right corner of the sheet with plate number and selvedge with inscription, lettered AL (missing imprimatur position) and BK-HL, margins all round, heavily soiled and stained, with creasing and imperfections, despite appearance rare unused multiples, the...