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

1884 (April 1): ½ d. slate blue, wmk. Crown, perf. 14, used on cover, from London to Whitehaven, tied by the rare undated LONDON N.P.B. Hoster Machine Trial cancel in black. The wrapper being an envelope cut at both ends. Has horizontal filing crease and two diagonally of which there is a repaired tear to the right of the adhesive. This cancel was for domestic newspaper mail and as such is normally only found on the ½ d. brown newspaper wrapper (Dubus Type 48). Rare; only known example.