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FIJI continued...

Fiji Times Express Stamps continued...
Lot Symbol CatNo. Lot Description CV or Estimate
1381 O S.G. #4 imageS.G. #4, 1870 1/- Black on rose quadrille paper, position 9, used single with clear to large margins, complete rouletting at right, neat ms. "#" cancel, light crease and small edge tear at right, otherwise fine (Scott #5; $2,250.00). (Image) £1,800

SOLD for $325.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1382 ng S.G. #4 imageS.G. #4, 1870 1/- Black on rose quadrille paper, position 10, an exceptionally large margined example possessing complete rouletting on three sides and a large margin on the fourth, small part o.g., h.r., strong rose color though light staining (mostly gum soaking) and small tears at top, extremely fine appearance; 1973 PF certificate (Scott #5; $1,700.00). (Image) £1,500

SOLD for $325.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1383 ng S.G. #4 imageS.G. #4, 1870 1/- Black on rose quadrille paper, position 11, unused example with strong impression and fresh light rose color, margins are well clear to large with full rouletting at sides, small thinning at top, otherwise nearly very fine; 1966 PF certificate (Scott #5; $1,700.00). (Image) £1,500

SOLD for $525.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1384 O S.G. #4 imageS.G. #4, 1870 1/- Black on rose quadrille paper, position 11, an exceedingly attractive used example, large even margins all around and showing all or part of the rouletting on all four sides, neat ms. "#" cancel as usually applied at Levuka, rose color is fresh and bright, most remarkable in addition to all these nice features that affect its appearance is that this stamp is sound, without the usual faults that are almost always found on the "Fiji Times Express" issues, extremely fine; one would have to look hard to find another as nice as this; 1981 RPS certificate (Scott #5; $2,250.00). (Image) £1,800

SOLD for $1,700.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1385 O S.G. #4 imageS.G. #4, 1870 1/- Black on rose quadrille paper, position 11, attractive used single with large to extra-large margins all around, rouletting is complete at left and bottom, ms. "#" cancel with an additional spot of this same ink on the reverse that shows through to the front, in all other respects a completely sound stamp and extremely fine for this issue where faults are the norm (Scott #5; $2,250.00). (Image) £1,800

SOLD for $500.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1386 O S.G. #1 imageS.G. #1, 1870 1p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 13, an apparently used example with an unusual vertical pen stroke over "Express" but in identical ink to that used for manuscript cancels on these issues, full to large margins with nearly full rouletting at top and right, light soiling, small pinhole and other minor flaws, nearly very fine appearance (Scott #1; $3,000.00). (Image) £3,500

SOLD for $300.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1387 og S.G. #1 imageS.G. #1, 1870 1p Black on rose quadrille paper, positions 13-15, an incredibly rare and unusually handsome mint horizontal strip of three of one of the scarcest "Fiji Times Express" values, nearly complete rouletting frames the margins except at left, which also has a balanced large margin, this strip possesses freshness that is rarely found on the quadrille paper issue, the rose color is strong and bright, it has full original gum that has a strip h.r., accompanying certificate states it is reinforced but there is no separation or even weakness between the stamps (certificate also states "stained" which we believe to be nothing more than a tiny smudge of printing ink), however there are a couple of the usual flaws including a light vertical crease in the right stamp and a small edge tear at the bottom of the center stamp, but both are totally insignificant on this rarity and neither of these detract from its extremely fine and impressive appearance. This strip is referred to by Charles Phillips in his Postage Stamps of the Fiji Islands, where he notes that it is "in a Parisian collection". This is taken as a reference to Philipp la Renotiere von Ferrary and is probably the strip in lot 313 of Sale 7. It was not a photographed item despite the fact that today it is recognized as one of the most important "Times Express" rarities. This is certainly a centerpiece of any collection of these issues and Mr. Meis was delighted when he acquired it from the Colonel Harrie Evans collection; 2001 RPS of Victoria certificate; ex-Ferrary and Col. Evans (Scott #1; $9,750.00+). (Image) £9,750+

SOLD for $10,500.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1388 O S.G. #1 imageS.G. #1, 1870 1p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 14, used single with scarce "Bau" star handstamp cancel, this small community on Vanua Levu Island is the only agency for the "Times Express" that had a handstamped cancel, and this cancel is only found on "Fiji Times Express" stamps, this is nearly a full strike of the eight pointed star but, as usual, it is light in the center and only faintly shows the negative "Bau" in the center, stamp is repaired in the top margin with a portion of the frame line drawn in, very fine appearance and a scarce cancel; ex-"Missionary" collection (Scott #1; $3,000.00). (Image) £3,500+

SOLD for $400.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1389 O S.G. #1 imageS.G. #1, 1870 1p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 16, used example with large portion of "Bua" star handstamp cancel, this strike shows well the negative "Bua" in the center of the star which is rarely the case, stamp has three large margins showing nearly complete rouletting at top and right, closer but well clear at left, usual small faults including tear at top that is in the area of the cancel but doesn't affect its appearance, very fine appearance and a nice example of this scarce cancel as well as a scarce value (Scott #1; $3,000.00+). (Image) £3,500+

SOLD for $525.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1390 ng S.G. #1 imageS.G. #1, 1870 1p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 17, unused single with clear even margins, fresh rose color, minute pinhead thin speck, otherwise sound and fine (Scott #1; $3,250.00). (Image) £3,250

SOLD for $1,150.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1391 og S.G. #2 imageS.G. #2, 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 19, mint example with full to large margins, complete rouletting at top and partial at right, other sheet-edge margins are nearly as large, o.g., h.r., soiled and light crease, otherwise very fine; 2001 RPS of Victoria certificate; ex-Col. Evans (Scott #2; $2,750.00) (Image) £3,500

SOLD for $250.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1392 O S.G. #2 imageS.G. #2, 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 21, attractive used example with three large margins showing portions or all of the rouletting, closer at bottom as is usual for this value but still well clear and attractive, strong color for the quadrille paper though light soiling, ms. "#" cancel, thin at bottom causing a small edge tear, otherwise very fine; ex-"Missionary" collection (Scott #2; $2,500.00). (Image) £3,500

SOLD for $1,700.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1393 ng S.G. #2 imageS.G. #2, 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 22, this is the position that comes with a comma after "Express", as listed by Stanley Gibbons for the 9p on laid batonne paper, on this stamp it looks more like a malformed period, unused single with full even margins, nearly complete rouletting at left, color is a bit faded, small faults including small thin spot, very fine appearance; 1966 PF certificate (Scott #2; $2,750.00). (Image) £3,500

SOLD for $1,200.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1394 ng S.G. #2 imageS.G. #2, 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 22, on this position the period after "Express" appears distorted rather than like a comma as it does on the 9p of the same position, unused, large margins showing portions to nearly full rouletting on three sides, light staining and thins, one breaking the surface causing a tear at top right, otherwise very fine appearance (Scott #2; $2,750.00). (Image) £3,500

SOLD for $425.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1395 O S.G. #2 var. imageS.G. #2 var., 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, variety comma after "Express", position 22, this is one of the three positions that were converted to the 9p in the second issue, and this position is also the one that shows the comma after "Express" in that value, however unlisted on the 3p First Issue, such as this example, which also show the "comma", it is hard to tell whether this is a comma inserted by error or whether it is a period that became distorted, as the previous unused examples illustrate it does not always print like a comma, this stamp shows the comma configuration as well as any 9p stamp and certainly warrants listing, an attractive used single with impressive margins, rouletting is complete on three sides, and though missing at bottom, as is usual for the outer sheet edge, the bottom margin is as large as the others, ms. "#" cancel, good color, small closed tear at top right, otherwise extremely fine and a nice example of this value and variety; catalog values are for the normal stamp; clear 1986 RPS certificate as normal S.G. #2 (Scott #2; $2,500.00). (Image) £3,500+

SOLD for $1,900.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1396 O S.G. #2 var. imageS.G. #2 var., 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, variety comma after "Express" position 22, this stamp shows the comma variety very distinctly, listed by Stanley Gibbons on the 9p from this position but not on the 3p, attractive used example with usual ms. "#" cancel, margins are large showing full rouletting at left and partial at right, fresh light rose color of the first issue, only minor flaws including a couple of insignificant edge tears, otherwise very fine; catalog values are for the normal stamp; 2001 RPS of Victoria certificate not mentioning the variety; ex-Col. Evans (Scott #2; $2,500.00+). (Image) £3,500+

SOLD for $1,250.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1397 ng S.G. #2 imageS.G. #2, 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 23, exceptional unused example that for all practical purposes is sound, margins full to extra-large with full rouletting at top and right, this stamp is fresh with nice rose color for this early issue, very fine and rarely found in a condition this nice; 2001 RPS of Victoria certificate; ex-Col. Evans (Scott #2; $2,750.00). (Image) £3,500

SOLD for $2,900.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1398 O S.G. #2 imageS.G. #2, 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 24, used single with four balanced margins, ms. "#" cancel, only small thin spots, otherwise very fine and a nice example of this position (Scott #2; $2,500.00). (Image) £3,500

SOLD for $525.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1399 c S.G. #2 imageS.G. #2, 1870 3p Black on rose quadrille paper, position 21, a marvelous single franking on extremely rare and important "Fiji Times Express" cover, the stamp has three well clear to large margins and close to just along the frame at left, despite the small barely apparent faults at the top this stamp is quite attractive and more sound than any of the stamps on the known first issue covers, this value is the sole Fiji franking paying the three pence rate, this stamp along with a New South Wales 3p Green (S.G. #158) are both tied to a petite pink cover to Brunswick, Melborne, Victoria by "Sydney/ 70 DE 10/ NSW" duplex, backstamped on the 17th in Melborne and Brunswick, this cover is marvelously well preserved and far better than any of the other known "Fiji Times Express" covers, having only some tears on front and back at extreme left from opening, in overall condition this is very fine. The "Fiji Times" instituted a mail service that started the first of November, 1870. Its real purpose was to provide a system of mail delivery within the Fiji islands so that their newspaper could be efficiently delivered and circulation would increase. Because normal mail service was so poor they also accepted other mail for transmittal within the islands, from outside Fiji to Fiji destinations and from various localities in Fiji to destinations outside the country. The only known examples that have survived are from this last group. Three covers (all of which are found in the Meis collection) and one front are the only known covers with the first quadrille paper "Fiji Times Express" stamps. There are also three covers and a front with the second issue on laid batonne paper. These eight items, other than the stamps themselves, constitute the entire postal history of this interesting service. The cover offered here is outstanding and unique in a number of respects. First, it is the earliest known cover. Secondly and related to this early usage, is the fact that it is the only known of all the covers that has the 3p rate used prior to the rate change on December 17, 1870. It comes from the well known Dods correspondence, which has provided us with three of the other known "Fiji Times Express" covers. And finally, of all the complete "Fiji Times Express" covers this is in the best condition. Others are far more faulty in either the stamp or cover and usually both. This cover is the most important of the "Fiji Times Express" covers for its rare rate that existed for only 46 days and exceptional attractive appearance. This is an incredible rarity of this country and one of the premiere world rarities of any country; ex-Langerhoef and Burrus (Scott #2). (Image) Est. 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $18,000.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM
1400 c S.G. #2-3 imageS.G. #2-3, 1870 3p Black and 6p Black on rose quadrille paper, positions 1 and 24, an exceptionally rare "Fiji Times Express" cover posted from the "Fiji Times Express" agency at Rewa, the two stamps are cancelled with rarely seen ms. "X" and this cover establishes that at least this office used this type of marking rather than the "#" configuration that is more common and believed to have been the cancel of Levuka, stamps are faulty along the edges though actually they are quite well margined examples that come from the bottom left and top right corners of the sheet respectively, thus they would normally have been trimmed close on the outside edges anyway, both stamps are tied by "DE 31 1870 Sydney/NSW" duplex and the "NSW" portion of another strike of this duplex was used to tie the New South Wales 3p Green (S.G. #158) that was required for the foreign transmission, backstamped Melborne and Brunswick, piece missing from the front carrying over to the back from rough opening, but 1985 RPS of Victoria specifically states that no stamp is missing, small boxed "Rewa" marking at left, an important and wonderful "Fiji Times Express" usage. Rewa was a locality on the south side of Vitui Livu Island on the Rewa River, not far from Suva. Interestingly this community has no cancellations known for it by that name in the later governmental postal period. Nevertheless it was one of the original agencies listed by the "Fiji Times Express" as being open when service commenced on November 1, 1870. This is the only example of the four known first-issue covers that is clearly from an outlying agency. The previous cover has no Fiji cancel on the stamp to indicate origin and by rate is presumed to be Levuka and the other two (both franked with 3p and 6p values) have ms. "#" cancellations which are also believed to be Levuka, so even if they were cancelled there only in transit they have no indication of origin other than that. This is an immensely rare cover with a marvelous usage from a small agency; 1985 RPS of Victoria certificate (Scott #2-3). (Image) Est. 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $7,250.00
Closing..Mar-08, 12:00 PM

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