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

1850, 1 d. red, plate 99, lettered CC, DA-DC, Archer Perf. 16, single and strip of three, used on cover, from London to Wellington, dated 9 March 1854, tied by London Inland “16”, DA is damaged across base and other imperfections evident, the covers has a heavy horizontal filing crease and is soiled and stained, however a scarce example from the General Distribution of 1853-1854; which represents 50% of the total issued during the three...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 100, lettered BA, Archer Perf. 16, used on cover, London to Eton, dated 4 December 1851, tied by London Inland “4”, fine perfs. all round, an attractive small envelope in fine condition with very minor imperfections, an exceptional use and rare; only 17% of Archer trials, used in the three discrete experiments between 1851-1853, are recorded from the 1851 House of Commons distribution, an attractive and scarce example....

1850, 1 d. red, plate 100, lettered RJ, Archer Perf. 16, used on a House of Commons envelope, London to Nottingham, dated 7 May 1851, tied by London Inland, signed by J.P. Plumptre, MP for Kent (East), the backflap with embossed House of Commons crest, in extraordinarily fine condition, an exceptional use and rare; just 17% of Archer trials, used in the three discrete experiments between 1851-1853, are recorded from the 1851 Parliamentary...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 101, lettered OK, Archer Perf. 16, used on cover, from Kirby Lonsdale to Lancaster, dated 11 July 1854, tied by indistinct black numeral, arrival to reverse dated 11 July 1854, a fine example of provincial use from the General Distribution of 1853-1854, very scarce, as around 40% of the Archers issued went to provincial offices, the rest to London offices. SG16b = £1'900.rnReference: “Distribution and Usage of Archer-...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 101, Archer Perf. 16, used on cover, from London sent locally, dated 30 December 1854, tied by a London Inland cancel in black, positioned low, good perfs, a good example of a cover used at the end of the Archer period, one of the last recorded usages, the plate 101 being the last of the plates used for this issue, a scarce multiple. SG19b = £3'800 as two singles on cover. 

1851, 1 d. red, plate 108, lettered EC, Archer Perf. 16, used, cancelled by the Wigton "879" English numeral, an extremely rare example; according to explanations given in the Mike Williams collection there are only six recorded examples known from this plate; comes with an imperf. horizontal pair, lettered EC-ED, from the same plate, a superb line engraved rarity of significant importance. Cert. RPSL (2006). SG16b = £5'500. rnReference: "The...

1851, 1 d. red, plate 116, lettered GC, Archer Perf. 16, used, well centered, fresh colour, extremely rare example; according to Bill Barrell's list 132 there are only six known examples from this plate (incl. a pair), corner crease and small thin, otherwise fine, comes matched with an imperf. from the same plate and position, a line engraved great rarity of the upmost importance. Cert. RPSL (2007). SG16b = £8'000. rnReference: "The Post-...

1850, 1 d. red, plate 100, lettered JA, Archer Perf. 16, used on 1 d. pink postal stationery envelope, from London to St Albans, dated 1 March 1854, tied by London Inland “11”, good perfs and well centered, arrival to reverse dated 2 March 1854, minor soiling, some wrinkling and imperfections to envelope, however a rare combination, one of four examples of an Archer and 1 d. pink mixed-franking, an important and visually appealing example....

1850, Archer Perforation Trial study of the plates, set out on two album pages, comprising eight used Archer perf. 16 matched with imperf. from same plate/position, includes plates; 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100 and 101, there is also a plate 95 genuine plate but with faked perforations, a mixed lot although several fine, scarce assembly, tricky to match with B2 equivilents. SG16b = £4'875 used singles excluding B2 matched singles.

1850, Prince Consort Essay, 1 d. red-brown, lettered FJ, Archer Perf. 16, from plate position 'C', aligned to the right, part original gum, toned and soiled, thin top right corner, rounded corner at top, although maintains a regal air, a very rare essay in perforated form; there are only five known examples in red-brown which are perforated, two are offered in this sale. DP71(3)a = £25'000. rnReference: Queen Victoria Specialised Catalogue,...

1851, 3 c. orange-red, plate 2L, positions 43R2L, variety "Experimental Roulettes horizontally", most part original gum, cancelled by intersecting ruled lines defacing cancel, an important example from the Toppan Carpenter & Co. Bemrose Machine 1855 experiments, rare, very few survivors.rnReference: The 3c stamp of the United States 1851-1857 issue, revised, by Carroll Chase (1942), described by Dr. Chase on page 174-175. rnProvenance: Ex...

1877, Specification of James Murdoch Napier Perforation Machines, printed pamphlet/booklet, by order of the Commission of Patents for Inventions, No. 4485, priced 8d, contains the original specification on four pages and technical drawings printed upon a double page, additionally included is the 1883 Specification of James Charles Stuart Wallace for Affixing Postage Stamps and Labels, printed over five pages and an additional double page...