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

Surcharged at the Government Printing Office, Suva 1891 (March 1): ½ d. on 1 d. dull blue, perf. 10, twelve examples including four pairs used on 1892 local cover to Basil H. Thompson in Suva, all cancelled by "Suva / Fiji" circular datestamps (Nov 1) in black. A few imperfections but a charming and scarce usage Gi = £ 960 off cover.

Note: Sir Basil Home Thomson, KCB (1861–1939) was a British Colonial administrator and prison governor, who was Head of Metropolitan Police CID during World War I. This gave him a key role in arresting wartime spies, and he was closely involved in the prosecution of Mata Hari, Sir Roger Casement amongst others. He arrived in Suva in 1884 to assist the Governor as a stipendary magistrate and later as Commissioner of Native Lands. Whilst there he learnt both the Fijian and the Tongan languages.