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Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1357
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, The Wyon Medal and the Penny Black, 1837-40. This extensive collection illuminates the prehistory of the Penny Black and its iconic portrait of a young Queen Victoria. The bust, based on an engraving by William Wyon, was most famous prior to 1840 as the obverse of "The Wyon Medal", produced to celebrate Victoria's attendance of the annual Mayoralty banquet at Guildhall in the City of London. Encompassing both numismatics and philately, the collection here offered documents the full scope of the Wyon Victoria. Beginning with contemporary medals (close to 50, including two Guildhall medals), coins and decorative objects, along with Penny Black usages (39 covers), the holdings also include the centenary and sesquicentenary celebrations of the Black, with other modern philatelic items as well.
There are nearly 50 contemporary medals utilizing the Wyon bust, including two Guildhall medals (one copper, one silver), plus British National Stamp Show/Stampex mementos or awards (various medals) from the 1980s-90s. Also featured are two large bois durci cameos, one of Victoria, the matching Albert, along with a 1985-86 National Postal Museum Wedgwood Sweets Dish (white on black; #80 of 1000 issued) and a Crimea campaign medal set into bottom of a silver finger bowl(?). A fun, and unexpected, item is a letterpress metal plate (mounted and ready for printing) of four oversized "Penny Blacks" in denominations of 5p, 10p, 15p and 50p, all with a "Postal Strike" banner across the lower right corner (when printed).
The stamps include 39 Penny Black covers (one a horizontal pair, one alongside a 1d Red) plus five singles off-piece. These show a range of cancels (from devilish to Pollock-esque) and usages (including a turned letter and several stamps severely cut down, perhaps as a means of reusing the "mint" portion of a stamp to defraud the Post Office).
A "VR"-lettered example is included as well (whose printing looks slightly metallic), along with three Penny Red covers—including one addressed to Rowland Hill in Bayswater—and four 2d Blue singles in shades plus a cover. You'll also find an imitation copper printing plate, a Penny Black Albert (possibly the work of François Fournier), a Penny Red on (perhaps) Penny Black printer's waste (in need of further research!), etc., etc. Many of the Penny Black covers are to well-known persons of the time, and come with biographical information. There are also several examples of pre-adhesive postal markings, including a forged 1808 "Crown Free" cover (charged 4d postage).
The Classics are accompanied by a binder of material from the 1940 and 1990 celebrations of the Penny Black with a wide array of covers—UK mostly, but Canada and US noted as well. Certainly the most eye-catching is a multi-franked 1940 Centenary Registered cover, including a Penny Black, a perforated Penny Red, plus two later surface-printed Queen Victorias, a King Edward VII, four King George Vs, a King Edward VIII plus three King George VIs—many in red and all bearing the red Exhibition cancel honoring the Red Cross.
Two stunning items are plate proofs on card of the Penny Black, sans corner letters, both signed Robson Lowe. One is inscribed in pencil "1st Proof—upper lip too heavily shaded./1.11.39"; the second "2nd proof. November 16th, 1939."
Bringing us up to the modern era, there is a Fleetwood "Best of the Penny Black Sesquicentennial Stamps" by Charity Boxall (Jeffery Matthews, designer), with virtually all the singles and souvenir sheets issued around the world on the 150th, plus material from the Smithsonian Postal Museum's "The Queen's Own" Exhibit.
And if all that weren't enough…may we introduce you to the stamp snake? This tempting serpent, housed safely in its own display box, measures 25 inches overall, with its 21 5/8-inch body composed of hundreds of stamps (most Penny Reds from a cautious peek—though we see some blue in there as well) removed from envelopes, their corners cropped to varying degrees to produce the taper of the snake's body from head to tail, and strung together on a central line of cotton. Among the clippings and reprints in this lot are several pieces on stamp snakes (one 11 feet long and seven years in the making!). So for all you wondering what to do with those duplicates and space-fillers….
* * *
On 9 November 1837, Queen Victoria traveled from Buckingham Palace to the City of London. The young Queen, not yet enthroned five months, continued the royal tradition of attending the annual Mayoralty banquet at Guildhall at the invitation of the Lord Mayor, the Right Hon. John Cowan, and the Corporation. Her entourage departed the Palace at 2:00 p.m., making its way across town along rapturous crowd-lined streets, arriving at Temple Bar to be greeted by the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen, along with a deputation of six members of the Court of Common Council. The entire party proceeded thence to Guildhall where, following a ceremony of speeches, dinner was announced at 5:20 p.m., and, having dined and toasted, the Queen set off on her return to Buckingham Palace at 8:30 p.m.
To commemorate this visit, William Wyon, R.A., an engraver of the Royal Mint, sculpted a commemorative medal, whose obverse featured the head of Her Majesty, with a tiara, to the left, with VICTORIA REGINA the legend. The reverse portrayed the front of the Guildhall, surmounted by the royal standard; the exergue below reading IN HONOUR OF HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE CORPORATION OF LONDON 9th NOV: 1837. The medal measures 2.15 inches in diameter. Officials record three struck in gold, 120 in silver and 350 in bronze.
As proud as Wyon was of his work (he distributed specimens to prospective clients, including other European royals), perhaps even he would be surprised at the latitude and longevity of his 1834 likeness of a then-15-year-old Princess Victoria. For beyond the event-specific medal, his likeness of the queen was used on military decorations for service in the Crimea, the Baltic, China and South Africa, among other theaters; on exposition and diplomatic medals, student prizes, awards for excellence in various fields; and further on book bindings, wall plaques, perfume bottles, jewelry, Wedgwood…any decorative piece imaginable.
But it is as the basis of the Penny Black that it saw its most widespread and popular usage. Rowland Hill, instigator of British postal reforms, felt it a "foregone conclusion" that the first stamp portray the queen, whose portrait should have the added benefit of instilling in the public "a taste for fine art." Wyon's sculpted bust was taken by Edward Henry Corbould and turned into a watercolor drawing for Perkins Bacon & Co. in mid-October 1837, already working with Hill. Corbould's drawing was then transcribed by engravers Charles and Frederick Heath into the stamp we all know and crave today.
Perhaps the greatest fan of the bust was Victoria herself, who never allowed another portrait of herself to appear on stamps or stationery during her long reign. (In the Post, at least, the queen never aged.). Estimate $10,000 - 15,000. Suggested Bid $10,000-15,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $10,000-15,000
Opening US$ 5,000.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:24:31 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1358
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Majestic Mint Collection, 1881-2010. Housed in one Davo and four KaBe albums, each pristine and slipcased; Victorians spotty, but virtually complete from Edward on; note Edward definitives to the 5s value, a selection of Seahorses, Empire Exhibition issues, Silver Wedding, George VI to the £1, Wildings, Castles, phosphor and paper varieties, Machins galore, strips and blocks, booklet panes, souvenir sheets, Postage Dues complete, Regional Issues, Channel Island Occupation issues, etc., etc.; vibrant color and crisp printing throughout, Very Fine overall, well worth inspecting. Estimate $3,500 - 5,000. Suggested Bid $3,500-5,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $3,500-5,000
Opening US$ 2,500.00
Sold...US$ 2,500.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:25:10 EST
Sold For 2500
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1359
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Collection, 1840-1999. A total of nine albums plus some loose Scott Specialty pages, of Great Britain, Guernsey, a couple British Commonwealth Omnibus albums and various offices on loose Scott pages, with the best album on Davo pages from 1840-1992, containing 1 (2), 26 (5), 27-28, 37-42, 43, 45, 48, 49 and 54 on large piece, 51 (3), 52, 55, 60, 64, 64a, 69-71, 73, 78-87 (80 is mint), 96 mint, 96, 98-107, 108, 109 mint, 111-22, 124, 127-38, 139-40, 179-81, 209 mint, 222-24, 286-89 mint, group of officials, J34-38 mint, diverse group of Machins, some revenue stamped paper cut squares, plus two albums of parallel collections of quadrille pages from early surface prints to postage issues of 1999, another Great Britain album from early surface prints to 1989 with 27, 32 (2), 34 (2), 39, 42, 43 (5 of various plate numbers), 50, 58 from several different plate numbers, 66, 67 (4 of various plate numbers), 87, 139-40, 173, 179-80, Queen Mother 80th Birthday Omnibus issues, QEII 1977 Silver Jubilee Omnibus issues, Great Britain Middle East Forces 14-26, 27-33, J1-10, Tripolitania 14-26, 27-34, J1-10, offices in Morocco 246-62, 531-45, 550-58, Guernsey Collection 1979-1987, an album of Isle of Man from 1958-1980's and finally an album with images of Great Britain stamp on postal cards, mixed condition, with some typical faults among the early issues, modern issues appear mostly sound with much face value postage, generally Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000. Suggested Bid $3,000-4,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $3,000-4,000
Opening US$ 2,200.00
Sold...US$ 2,200.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:25:50 EST
Sold For 2200
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1360
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, The Prince of Wales Mint and Used Collection, 1840-1997. A seriously respectable collection, beginning with some strong Victorians (such as #5-7), generally missing the high values (possibly a few small condition issues in earliest), but from 1930 onwards appears complete for almost seven decades, on Edifil Hingeless pages in three Deluxe binders with slipcases. Large catalogue value and high face value in later issues! generally Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000. Suggested Bid $2,000-3,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $2,000-3,000
Opening US$ 1,600.00
Sold...US$ 1,600.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:26:08 EST
Sold For 1600
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1361
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Collection, 1952-2019. In four Lighthouse hingeless albums, from early QEII to modern issues, each carefully put into the proper place and with a high level of completion (only missing some of the early Phosphor and other early varieties), good Windsor Castles, recent topicals such as Game of Thrones, Star Wars, etc., stamps are clean and kept in a dry location with clean pages and fresh stamps, Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000. Suggested Bid $2,000-3,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $2,000-3,000
Opening US$ 1,400.00
Sold...US$ 1,400.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:26:41 EST
Sold For 1400
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1362
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Outstanding Collection, 1840-1987. On homemade quadrille pages in a well-used but still useful springback album; a wealth of Victorian items (mostly used, some mint), with 20th century essentially complete (with most mint), plus smatterings of stationery, covers, etc.; among the many highlights are used #1 (four margins, "KK"), Penny Reds and 2d Blues (perf and imperf), #5, 7, 28 & 42 (wing margins), 43, 52, 60, 96 (with four large margins), 108, 139-140, 173, 173a, 175, 179 & 180 as blocks of four (#179 a lower right corner margin), 209 and 224; and mint/unused #43, 50, 111-122, both 1924 and 1925 British Empire Exhibition issues, #222-223, 249-251A, etc., etc.; note Dues, Offices, some Empire overprints, mint Channel Islands, extensive used Ireland, and much, much more, Fine to Very Fine, with better throughout, an absolute must-view. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000. Suggested Bid $2,000-3,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $2,000-3,000
Opening US$ 1,500.00
Sold...US$ 1,500.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:27:24 EST
Sold For 1500
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1363
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, The "Great Stock!" Offering, 1840-1953. Presented on a roughly three-inch stack of fully identified dealers cards; unlike most stock offerings, this one is strongest in Queen Victoria issues and thins out as you go forward; starts with two Penny Blacks, eight #3, two #4, and continues with a nice (and valuable) array of better, such as (used, unless noted) #13, 14, 15, 23, 26 (right wing margin plus 2 normal), 28b, 37, 39, 42, 43 (3, 1 mint no gum), 57 (2), 103, 104 (3), 105 (2), 107 (2), 109, 179-181, etc., plus #185-186 never hinged, large format Machins (never hinged), J8 Specimen, the complete mint Peace Issue omnibus, complete Queen Elizabeth II Coronation omnibus, plus a smattering of "A" Commonwealth countries; used predominates, with mint coming in mostly from Edward; some condition issues noted (and as expected), Fine to Very Fine with better, massive catalogue value and great retail potential; worth review. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. Suggested Bid $1,500-2,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $1,500-2,000
Opening US$ 800.00
Sold...US$ 800.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:27:51 EST
Sold For 800
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1364
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Corner Margin Plate Block Collection, 1971-2004. In nine albums of Vario pages, neatly organized with much face value postage as well as the occasional topical issue, Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. Suggested Bid $1,500-2,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $1,500-2,000
Opening US$ 1,100.00
Sold...US$ 1,100.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:28:28 EST
Sold For 1100
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1365
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Collection, 1840-1986. In large Scott Specialty album, with 1, 4, 5 (full margins), 26-28, 28, 32 plate 1, 32 (3), 147 different plate numbers of perforated penny reds, 34, 39, 42, 43 (7 with various plate numbers), 45, 46, 48, 49-55, 49 (2 with different plate numbers), 53, 57 (2), 59-60, 62, 64 (2), 66-68, 67 (14 with different plate numbers), 68 (4 with different plate numbers), 70 (4), 73, 78-87, 82 (3 with different plate numbers), 84 (two with different plate numbers), 87, 94-95, 95, 96, 98-105, 107, 108-9, 111-26 with duplicates of each, 127-38 with duplicates, 139-40, various Sea Horses up to 10/-, a few nice officials and offices, very high Scott value; usual mixed condition, generally Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. Suggested Bid $1,000-1,500 (Image)
Suggested Bid $1,000-1,500
Opening US$ 650.00
Sold...US$ 650.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:28:50 EST
Sold For 650
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1366
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Penny Black Collection, 1840. Group of 15 stamps (mostly Scott number 1), twelve with red or black Maltese cross cancels, one four margin with red Maltese cross cancel from plate 1b, one with four margins (appears unused), 1 on folded letter piece and 4, a few stamps with four margins all around, some usual small faults, a great specialist group with opportunities for plating or shade collectors, generally Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. Suggested Bid $1,000-1,500 (Image)
Suggested Bid $1,000-1,500
Opening US$ 800.00
Sold...US$ 800.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:29:08 EST
Sold For 800
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1367
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Old Time Collection, 1840-1930. On quadrille pages and Vario pages, with 1, a few stock pages of perforated penny reds, sorted by plate number, some surface printed Victoria's, two 2/6 Victoria's, £1 green Victoria, 127-32 mint, 138 mint, 2/6-10s Edward VII used, two 2/6 Edward VII, £1 green Edward VII and a few sea horses to 10/-; mixed condition, with some faults, generally Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000. Suggested Bid $750-1,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $750-1,000
Opening US$ 400.00
Sold...US$ 400.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:29:21 EST
Sold For 400
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1368
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, First Day Cover Collection, 1971-2019. In seven albums of mostly first day covers, plus the additional commercial cover and a small section of imperf penny reds on cover, all covers appear to be addressed from British Post and include recent topicals such as Game of Thrones, Star Wars, etc., Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750. Suggested Bid $500-750 (Image)
Suggested Bid $500-750
Opening US$ 325.00
Sold...US$ 325.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:29:48 EST
Sold For 325
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1369
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Victorian Private Stationery Collection. Housed in a Showgard cover album, 35 stamped envelope entires with denominations ranging from 1d to 2s; an eye-catching compilation with a mix of colors and indicia designs; most with some light toning, a couple with foxing spots, but otherwise attractive for their age and sound; would make great collateral material for an exhibit, and an interesting research project for the postal rate specialist (6½d? 1s½d?), Fine to Very Fine, uncommon material; inspect. Estimate $500 - 750. Suggested Bid $500-750 (Image)
Suggested Bid $500-750
Opening US$ 475.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:30:08 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1370
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain, Extensive Mint and Used Collection, 1855-1983. Starter on Davo pages in album (later hingeless). Beginning with a decent selection of used classics, gradually becomes mint, apparently complete (with much never hinged) from the late 1960s on, including high-value early Machins, Regionals, Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man, etc., Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600. Suggested Bid $400-600 (Image)
Suggested Bid $400-600
Opening US$ 350.00
Sold...US$ 350.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:30:31 EST
Sold For 350
Parliamentary Envelopes
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1371
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Great Britain & Channel Islands, Collections, 1966-1991. Hundreds of primarily mint singles, sheets and multiples, all neatly housed in 3 binders. Great Britain includes a nice Machin section and is nearly complete for the period, with some both mint and used and modest duplication. Alderney has 1-22, 28-36 and most of the balance until 1991. Guernsey includes 1-23, blocks of 22a and 23a, also blocks and several full sheets. Isle of Man is likewise solid with some blocks. An estate holding with well-packed albums. Very high catalog value. Perfect for show or eBay dealer. Nearly all mint n.h. Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750. Suggested Bid $500-750 (Image)
Suggested Bid $500-750
Opening US$ 350.00
Sold...US$ 350.00
Closed..Nov-01-2019, 17:30:59 EST
Sold For 350
Sale No: 730
Lot No: 1372
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Aitutaki, Collection, 1903-2016. Neatly in order and labeled on black stock pages, mostly complete to 1990's, containing 1-18, 82-95, 215-46d, 293-306, 322-41, B44-50, O1-16, O17-33, O34-37 and O40-41, generally Fine to Very Fine. 2016 Scott $2,300+ (Owner's) Estimate $500 - 750. Suggested Bid $500-750 (Image)
