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

Recess by De La Rue 1863: 4 d. on 6 d. carmine, imperforate, wmk. Crown CC, FOUR PENCE surcharge 15½-16½ mm. in black, an unused example, variety "Surcharge Double", shaved at base (as are all known examples) with huge margin at top and showing portion of the adjoining stamp, slight thin and ironed corner bend otherwise particularly fresh and fine, without gum. Illustrated in "St. Helena" by Edward Hibbert on page 38. A very rare error - just 12 examples can possibly exist. Cert. RPSL (1967) Gi = £ 15'000.rnrnNote: The error was caused by the Surcharge forme which consisted of four rows of 12 impressions, the third application of the forme was one row too high, thus doubly surcharging row 8. Twelve examples can possibly exist.