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Great Britain, 1969, 1s6d Cathedrals, black omitted (SG 801a), o.g., never hinged, a pristine example, fresh and bright, Very Fine, a very scarce item: Pierron reports only 42 mint examples, many of which are damaged. Scott 594 var. SG £2,750 ($3,550). 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..Aug-13-2019, 14:24:52 EST
Sold For 800
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 362
Symbol:
Great Britain, 1997, Queen Elizabeth II, deep green (as used for 2p), light grey (as used for the 29p), flame (as used for 1st class, undenominated trials), full panes of 100, a limited supply of these were discovered, o.g., never hinged, Very Fine, each with photocopies of 2017 R.P.S.L. certificates that were issued for the discovery set of sheets. Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Machin trials discovered after 20 years
Sheets of three trials of the Machin head, produced in 1997, have come to light in this the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Arnold Machin's iconic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Machin definitives were first printed in lithography in 1980 as Royal Mail expanded its range of suppliers. However, by the mid-1990s it had decided that all the standard definitives should be printed in gravure. At the time The House of Questa, based in south London, did not have gravure capability.
As the company wished to participate in all future tenders for Royal Mail stamps, whether printed by litho or gravure, in gummed or self-adhesive versions in sheets or stamp booklets, it decided to make a major investment in a gravure press and an automated booklet maker. To achieve the best, Questa partnered with a number of highly qualified and renowned organisations to deliver the skills, processes and technology required to ensure it would be ready for production in less than 18 months.
Courvoisier, based in Switzerland, was at that time arguably the finest gravure stamp printer in Europe. The company agreed to assist Questa with technical advice and cylinder making. As part of this process Royal Mail gave permission for a print trial at Courvoisier using the Machin head: the original material to enable the trial to take place was supplied by Questa. Part of the thinking at the time was that Courvoisier might undertake the production of the cylinders needed for final stamp printing on behalf of Questa, but this did not materialise.
The undenominated trials were produced in October 1997 in sheets of 100 (from larger sheets of 200 guillotined in two) with the Courvoisier imprint along the vertical margins. They exist in three colours: deep green (as used for the 2p), light grey (as used at the time for the 29p), and flame (as used for 1st class). Courvoisier had printed the then current Kenya definitives, these being of the same overall size as the Machin definitives. As a consequence, the trials were printed on coated paper without phosphor bands, and have perforation 15 x 14. However, the stamp image is slightly smaller than that used on Machin definitives.
Barry Robinson, then Design Director of Royal Mail, visited Courvoisier to see the preparations. It is believed the trial sheets were printed on one of the small gravure printing presses at Courvoisier, some being printed during the visit.
The gravure press and the automated booklet line were produced by ATN in France. The new machinery would not fit within Questa's original base in Camberwell: the move to Byfleet was part of the development.
Courvoisier was founded in 1880 and started printing stamps in 1937. It was noted for the high quality of its photogravure work, but sadly it ran into financial difficulties and ceased trading in 2001. Suggested Bid $8,000-12,000 (Image)
Great Britain, Telegraph, 1877, £5 orange, overprinted SPECIMEN type 8 (S.G. Spec. L237sa), watermarked Shamrocks sideways, quite fresh with strong color and nearly full o.g., Fine to Very Fine. S.G. Spec. £2,400+ ($3,100). Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. Suggested Bid $1,000-1,500 (Image)
Australian States: South Australia, 1855, Queen Victoria (London Print), 6d deep blue, imperf (Scott 3), Large Star watermark, four margins single on mourning cover, tied to cover black square grid cancel, with Clare De 31, 1857 South Australia postmark, addressed to Petersfield, England, with green Adelaide Jan 1, 1858 Sth. Australia and red London transit marks on reverse, a little light soiling on face and minor paper adhesions to backflap, Fine. SG 3; £510 as cover ($660). Scott $200 as single. Estimate $200 - 300. Suggested Bid $200-300 (Image)
Australian States: Western Australia, 1879, Swan (engraved), 2d mauve, perf 12½, error of color (Scott 31a), Crown CC watermark, large part o.g., remarkably bright, fresh and well centered, Very Fine, 1981 BPA certificate. SG 55b; £18,000 ($23,240). Scott $20,000. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Another amazing example of a rare Western Australia major error. Suggested Bid $10,000-15,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $10,000-15,000
Opening US$ 6,000.00
Sold...US$ 6,000.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:27:40 EST
Sold For 6000
Great Britain and British Commonwealth Bahamas
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 366
Symbol:
Bahamas, 1845 (May 13), folded letter entire from Nassau, Bahamas, to Bawtry, Yorkshire, via Bermuda, rated "1/-", with reverse showing exceptional strike of the very rare "Ireland-Isle/Bermuda" PM4 datestamp (MY 19), marginally overstruck by London JU 3 dater; recipient's name and large part of address, plus other areas, bleached out for disinfection, none thankfully affecting the datestamp, nearly Very Fine, only five examples of this datestamp are recorded. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000
Ludington's handbook (1978 edition) contains a close-up of the datestamp portion of this cover. Suggested Bid $1,500-2,000 (Image)
Suggested Bid $1,500-2,000
Opening US$ 900.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:28:06 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 367
Symbol:
Bahamas, 1849 (Jan. 25), "Prepaid" entire from Bahamas to London, folded letter picked up on the outbound trip of the Dee and carried through the entire Mexican route before reaching Bermuda and onward to Southampton, resulting in a five-week delay; rated "1/" with Crowned Circle "Paid/at/Bahamas" (SG #CC1, £2250 on cover) alongside light London PAID datestamp for March 31, both in red; superb, crisp "BAHAMAS" double-arc origin dater on reverse, Very Fine, an unusual cover, Ex-"Staircase". Estimate $750 - 1,000. Suggested Bid $750-1,000 (Image)
Bechuanaland, 1919, "Bechuanaland Protectorate" on Great Britain (KGV "Seahorse") 5s bright carmine (Scott 93a), De La Rue printing, apparently canceled to order, Very Fine. SG 87; £425 ($550). Scott $500. Estimate $200 - 300. Suggested Bid $200-300 (Image)
Belize, 1988, 60¢ Painted Bunting (Scott 909A), Very Fine. Scott $750. Estimate $300 - 400. Suggested Bid $300-400 (Image)
Suggested Bid $300-400
Opening US$ 300.00
Sold...US$ 300.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:28:54 EST
Sold For 300
Postal History General Postal History by Year
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 370
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1771 (June 25), folded letter entire from Bermuda to Annapolis, from John Morton Jordan to his wife, "Mrs. Jordan/at Annapolis/Maryland"; rated 2d ship letter plus 10d internal (240 miles), or 1s Sterling = "1/8" New York currency = "3Sh4" Maryland currency; reverse showing very light strikes of "New/York" handstamp alongside "13/IY" Bishopmark; some damp staining, still nearly Very Fine, one of only three covers into the American Colonial Post, and highly important as such, Ex-Morris H. Ludington. 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..Aug-13-2019, 14:29:32 EST
Sold For 650
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 371
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1807 (Dec. 2), folded letter entire sent London to Bermuda, marked "p Packet" at lower left, with large red London "PAID/DEC 3/1807" handstamp at left with light "2/" rating at right; carried by the Princess Adolphus on the winter route (November-February) from Falmouth to Bermuda, Very Fine, an eye-catching cover. Estimate $600 - 800. Suggested Bid $600-800 (Image)
Suggested Bid $600-800
Opening US$ 350.00
Sold...US$ 325.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:30:03 EST
Sold For 325
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 372
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1811 (Mar. 29), "Bootleg" folded letter entire, sent Bermuda to New York, a lovely cover sent via "Schooner Barbara, Lieut. Dickens" to New York City; placed in the mails with prepayment of "1"¢ drop letter rate; arrival dater (Apr. 10) in red on face, Very Fine, Ex-Morris H. Ludington. Estimate $150 - 200. Suggested Bid $150-200 (Image)
Suggested Bid $150-200
Opening US$ 90.00
Sold...US$ 90.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:30:36 EST
Sold For 90
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 373
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1812 (Aug. 21), cover from London to Bermuda, sent "p Catherine" to Messrs. Wadson & Astwood, and handled and rated by the first official Bermuda Postmaster, John Till, originally at 1/3d as a triple 5d-per-sheet rate and then corrected to the double rate at 10d, both in red crayon; clean and attractive, Very Fine. Estimate $800 - 1,200
A unique example of a pre-adhesive two-sheet 5d x 2 internal rate, and the earliest recorded manuscript "1/3d" altered to "10d". Suggested Bid $800-1,200 (Image)
Suggested Bid $800-1,200
Opening US$ 500.00
Sold...US$ 500.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:31:08 EST
Sold For 500
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 374
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1815 (Mar. 14), folded letter sent via Packet from London to Bermuda, noted "p Packet" at lower left; sent via Route 3 (April 1815-October 1823) and despatched on the Princess Elizabeth (sailed Apr. 13) to Halifax, where it was forwarded by H.M. Schooner via the summer route to Bermuda —despite the Bermuda Post Office being closed at this time for internal carriage (Nov. 1814-Oct. 1817); rated "2/2" (2/11 currency) and "5d" internal charge; London Paid datestamp in red, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300
A scarce cover carried on the first regular voyage after the War of 1812. Suggested Bid $200-300 (Image)
Suggested Bid $200-300
Opening US$ 120.00
Sold...US$ 110.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:31:28 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 375
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1817 (Aug. 11), Summer Route Packet folded letter, sent London to Bermuda, "Pr Packet" at lower left, carried aboard the Francis Freeling from Falmouth; rated "Paid 2/2" (a light currency "2/9" rating at right); upon arrival, the cover was carried by C.R. Beach's interim service with an initial rate of "5d" in pencil subsequently corrected to "4" in red crayon, Very Fine, rare—only a handful of such covers are recorded. Estimate $300 - 400. Suggested Bid $300-400 (Image)
Suggested Bid $300-400
Opening US$ 180.00
Sold...US$ 150.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:31:53 EST
Sold For 150
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 376
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1818, folded letter entire endorsed by William B. Perot, sent to John Dickenson, Merchant at St. George's, and marked at top "Recd from St. Georges 10d" in Perot's hand; some damp spots, plus repaired tear at top center, nonetheless Very Fine, and the only example of a pre-adhesive two-sheet 5d internal rate with marking made by W.B. Perot of Hamilton. Estimate $400 - 600
While "Bermuda" is included in the address, the lack of any off-island postal markings suggests that this item came bootleg from overseas and was then handed in to the Post Office to avoid the ship fee. Suggested Bid $400-600 (Image)
Suggested Bid $400-600
Opening US$ 250.00
Sold...US$ 250.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:32:30 EST
Sold For 250
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 377
Symbol:
Bermuda, ca. 1820, folded letter entire sent Philadelphia to Bermuda, via North Carolina, addressed to Mr. Joseph Fowler, Merchant, in New Bern, NC; there, address crossed out and "St Georges Bermuda" inserted; reverse inscribed, "Forwarded by your Obedient Servant/John Spencer West"; red "Phil/7/MAR" origin dater and manuscript "25" rating (US internal postage for more than 400 miles) on face, Very Fine, a beautiful, fresh cover—and an unusual routing. Estimate $250 - 350. Suggested Bid $250-350 (Image)
Suggested Bid $250-350
Opening US$ 150.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:33:05 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 378
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1822 (Apr. 4), folded letter entire sent from Bermuda to London, from Thomas Driver to his mother, "p Brig Douglas & Belfast"; rated "1/3" (deleted) then twice "2/6" and showing framed "Belfast/Ship Letter" handstamp (S4); reverse with a fine initialled black wax seal, and showing faint "Bermuda" fleuron datestamp (PM1 with "carrots" 10mm long) in red across join, along with fancy red Dublin MY 22 transit and black double-circled London MY 25 receiver, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750
A unique routing to London via Belfast, and the earliest recorded date of the PM1 datestamp, two months earlier than recorded by Ludington.
Thomas Driver (1790-1852) was the first significant painter to work in Bermuda. Five letters known from him are illustrated in Forand and Freeland, Bermuda Mails to 1865, on page 7. Suggested Bid $500-750 (Image)
Suggested Bid $500-750
Opening US$ 300.00
Sold...US$ 275.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:33:27 EST
Sold For 275
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 379
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1823 (July 1), "single sheet" folded letter sent via packet from London to Bermuda, carried by Lord Sidmouth following the summer route from Falmouth to Halifax, and thence per H.M. Sloop Argus to Bermuda, following the Admiralty's assumption of responsibility for the route; inscribed "p Packet" at lower left, rated manuscript "2/2" and "3/8"; lovely despatch dater (JY/7/1823) on reverse, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400
The first trip after the Admiralty took over the route from the GPO, and rare thus. Suggested Bid $300-400 (Image)
Suggested Bid $300-400
Opening US$ 180.00
Closed..Aug-13-2019, 14:33:52 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 727
Lot No: 380
Symbol:
Bermuda, 1825 (Apr. 23), folded letter entire sent from Mexico City to London, via Jamaica and Bermuda, sent by Mexican Packet just before the formal establishment of the monthly packet in July; traveled overland to Vera Cruz, then via Jamaica and Bermuda to London; rated "3/-" and showing a faint strike of the rare "Mexico" fleuron handstamp (crossed by file fold); reverse with Vera Cruz manuscript forwarding agents endorsement of April 28, Kingston (Jamaica) June 8 datestamp across join, and London arrival datestamp (July 25), Very Fine. Estimate $600 - 800
The earliest recorded cover carried on the Mexican Packet service, and the earliest recorded usage of the Mexico fleuron handstamp. Suggested Bid $600-800 (Image)
