Auction 309-320 - Australian States & Commonwealth British Africa, St. Helena - Day 1

Chalons. Recess by H. and C. Best 1856/57: 1 d. pale brick-red (2 examples) and single 4 d. blue, imperforate, no wmk., margins just shaved to huge, tied to 1858 entire letter to London endorsed "pr. Columbian", tied by "60" numeral obliterators in black alongside framed "POST OFFICE / LAUNCESTON / ♚ / VDL" datestamp (Jan 12) in red. The "Columbian" left Melbourne on Jan 17, arriving at Suez via Galle on Feb 27. A superb and rare entire. Note - I have followed the certification as to the stamps on the cover, however the two 1 d. adhesives do appear to be in the November 1856 deep red-brown shade. Certs. BPA (1981), RPSV (1999).rnrnProvenance: Collection Bob Odenweller RDP., Harmers, London, 14 April 1981, lot 391; Collection P.W. Robinson, SG, London, 17 May 1984, lot 65; Collection Prof. Enrico Bombieri, Spink, Melbourne, 27-28 March 1999, lot 1072; Collection John Bell, Prestige, Melbourne, 8 May 2013, lot 1661.rn