WORLDWIDE STAMPS AND POSTAL HISTORY continued...

There are only two recorded unused examples of the Half Anna Red Scinde Dawk. One was in the famous Burrus collection, which at the time it was sold in 1963, was thought to be the only unused copy in existence. Since then another has come to light, believed to have been in the collection of an Indian royal family. Due to the unusual nature of this stamp and the photography methods available in 1963, it is difficult to determine if this is the Burrus copy or the one found later. Whichever is the case, it is an outstanding showpiece and one of the great rarities of Indian philately. It is also an essential stamp for someone collecting unused classic stamps of the British Empire or the World. Also of note is the fact that the Half Anna Red was the first of the Scinde Dawks to be issued, making it actually the very first stamp produced by India.

With only two copies known, it could be decades before another unused Half Anna Red Scinde Dawk comes to the market. Accompanied by 1986 RPS and 2009 Brandon certificates (the latter specified "ex-Burrus"). Both Scott and Stanley Gibbons list it unused but do not price it (S.G. #S3). (Image)