Great Britain and British Commonwealth TASMANIA Postal Fiscals
Sale No: 237
Lot No: 439
Symbol: P
c.1880 St George 3d 2/6d 5/- & 10/- imperf plate proof singles on ungummed 'TAS' watermarked paper. [The 'TAS' watermark without upper & lower lines was introduced only in 1880. Only the 2/6d was issued with this watermark]
1880 Platypus mint set x3 including 1/- with Plate Number '1', postally used set x2 & Vertical 'SPECIMEN' set plus 1/- Current Number '8' block of 4, and Horizontal 'SPECIMEN' 1/- (thinned), a few are without gum otherwise generally very fine.
(33)
1855 small envelope to Hobart Town with Courier 4d (cut-square, margins clear to good) with small triangular punch tied by superb First Allocation BN '18' & boxed 'CAMP TOWN/23 May 55' d/s alongside, 'tombstone' 'PRE-PAID/26MY26/1855' arrival d/s in red, a bit crumpled which has affected the stamp but still of pleasant appearance.
1861 (July 4; Independence Day) cover to "Birds run/Guernsay County/Ohio" - a rare destination - with Imperf 'VAN DIEMENS LAND' 4d x2 (3 or 3½ margins) & 'TASMANIA' 6d (a huge stamp with full margins & fragments of the units at right & left) all tied by BN '52' with very fine diamond Launceston d/s alongside, London transit of SP19/61 in red & scarce 'DETROIT AM PKT/ 5 ' postage due h/s both on the face, endorsed "5 cts postage due" on the flap, minor blemishes. [Rather grumpy letter headed "St Leonards" & signed "J Trethewil" about a relative, & Cobb & Co: "...I wish your Children were nearer so as to make friends with her, to get her money after Death(!)...There ware a Company of Yankeys two or three years ago came out to Melbourne to the Gold fields and cut down the price of Coaching as to throw others out of employment...our male from one town to another was advertised for tender..."]
1890 cover with inspection slits at the sides endorsed "Scrip Certificates" to "Broken Hill Proprietary Silver Mining Co/Melbourne", Sideface ½d orange solo franking tied by BN '69' with 'NEW NORFOLK' cds alongside, a few blemishes. [Printed Matter was required to be unsealed, unless inspection slits made it possible to see the contents]
1894 (Feb 13) OPSO locally used envelopes for Lands & Works Department (with the enclosure) or Tasmanian International Exhibition (with the Frank h/s in rosine) both to "Captaine de Chauliac/French Warship Scroff" (!) or "...Scorff". [Between 1887 & 1908, a Franco-British Naval Commission operated in the waters of New Hebrides & New Caledonia. The 'Scorff' was one of the French vessels, which also made occasional visits to Australian ports. It had arrived from Dunedin (NZ) on 12.2.1894]
(3 items)
ENVELOPES: 1898 Waterlow 2d & 2½d scenic issue complete set of 12, a few minor blemishes &/or paper-hinge remainders on the flaps otherwise very fine to superb unused. Australia's most beautiful postal stationery issue, of which only 306 sets were prepared.
(12)
ENVELOPES: 1898 Waterlow 2½d scenic issue 'GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HOBART' to Denmark with 'HOBART/AU4/1902/ TASMANIA' cds, a few very minor blemishes, partial-Copenhagen arrival b/s. Rare. [Of the 306 sets prepared, a very high proportion were retained unused as souvenirs]
POSTAL CARDS: 1906 'THE ADDRESS ONLY...' KEVII 1d printer's rough proof in black with a second impression below without the stamp on thin card (124x168), light discolouration in the upper portion, unfolded. Possibly a prototype for an unissued Reply Postal Card.
WRAPPERS - STAMPED TO ORDER: 1890s 2d green 165mm wide with banner 'The Tasmanian Mail/Only Illustrated Weekly in Tasmania/6d.', to London with Hobart dumb bars cancel, folded at left clear of imprint.
Partly annotated selection with various 'SPECIMEN' or 'Specimen' Overprints with Sidefaces to 5/- including pairs of ½d, 3d with Current Number '47' & 10d, Surcharges ½d on 1d, 1½d on 5d & 2½d on 9d x2, Tablets set plus a second set missing the ½d 6d & 2/6d, St George Rough Perf 12 2/6d (faded), 5/- olive & 10/- vermilion x2 (one with Chris Ceremuga Certificate), a couple of faults but generally very fine & mostly with large-part o.g. A very clean lot. Mostly ex Ron Butler.
(58)
1892-99 Tablets 5/- with Double 'SPECIMEN' Overprint horizontal pair, large-part o.g. Rare: the only examples we have seen. [The first overprint was underinked but correctly positioned; the second overprint was Misplaced to the Left]
Sale No: 237
Lot No: 452
Symbol: *
Cat No: 229-236
1899-1900 De La Rue Pictorials ½d to 6d SG 229-236, 3d with a couple of pulled perfs, plus 1902-04 V/Crown ½d 1d & 2d SG 237 240 & 239, large-part o.g., Cat £920.
(11)
1899-1900 De La Rue Pictorials ½d green SG 229 marginal block of 4 from the left of the sheet with large-part Plate Number '2' at left, large-part o.g. with the lower units being unmounted. Rare.
1899-1900 De La Rue Pictorials 3d brown SG 233 marginal block of 4 from the left of the sheet with complete Plate Number '1' at left, the upper units with a couple of minor creases, full unmounted o.g.
CANCELLED-TO-ORDER (CTO): Partly annotated selection with a few Sidefaces, Tablets two sets to 10/- (one with Wmk Crown/A), De La Rue and Melbourne Pictorials with a few duplicates, mostly with large-part o.g.; also KEVII ½d & 1d Wrappers. Scarce material.
(52)
PRESENTATION SHEETS: c.1897 large page headed 'POSTAGE STAMPS OF TASMANIA/SHOWING YEAR WHEN ISSUED' with Reprints including Courier Imperf 1d with 'CW Coard Sc' Imprint (the only example we have seen on such a page) & 4d from the defaced plates, 'REPRINT' Overprints x13 with Chalons 1d to 1/-, Sidefaces 4d blue & 5/- and Postal Fiscals, and 'SPECIMEN' Overprints x21 including Sidefaces to 9d, Tablets set (no 10d; issued in 1899) and Platypus 3d & 1/-, standard folds & some minor peripheral damage but the stamps are unaffected. Rare.
PRESENTATION SHEETS: c.1900 large page headed 'POSTAGE STAMPS OF TASMANIA/SHOWING YEAR WHEN ISSUED' with Reprints including Courier Imperf 1d & 4d from the defaced plates, 'REPRINT' Overprints x15 with Chalons 1d to 1/-, Sidefaces 4d blue & 5/- and Postal Fiscals, 'SPECIMEN' Overprints x8 including Tablets £1 and Platypus 3d & 1/-, and CTO x19 including Tablets to 10/- & De La Rue Pictorials set, standard folds & a couple of minor blemishes but the stamps are unaffected. Rare. Ex Bill McCredie: sold for $2097.
UPU RECEIVING AUTHORITIES: 1899-1900 De La Rue Pictorials ½d to 6d overprinted 'Specimen', the ½d & 2½d additionally with rubber 'SPECIMEN' Handstamp, large-part o.g. Ex Natal Post Office Archives. [Each stamp has a small square paper-hinge remainder which indicates that these are an original set. Why were only two apparently random values handstamped?]
(8)
UPU RECEIVING AUTHORITIES: 1899-1900 De La Rue Pictorials ½d to 6d overprinted 'Specimen' (the 2d from the Melbourne Printings), '1½d.' on 5d, Sideface 9d & Tablet 1/- all affixed to archival page, the 1d 1½d 2d 2½d 9d & 1/- each additionally with rubber 'ULTRAMAR' Handstamp in blue. Ex Goa Postal Archive. (11)
UPU RECEIVING AUTHORITIES: 1902-04 V/Crown 2d with 'SPECIMEN' Overprint & additionally with rubber 'ULTRAMAR' Handstamp in blue, no gum. Ex Portuguese Colonies Archive: sold at the Prestige auction of 11.5.2012 for $559. [Bill McCredie's 1899 1d sold for $559]
Partly annotated selection with unoverprinted Imperf Courier 1d x2 & 4d x2, Chalons including 4d pale blue block of 4, Sideface 4d blue x4 & Postal Fiscals St George set plus extra 2/6d 5/- & 10/-, Perf Courier 1d x2 & 4d, Chalons set plus extra 1d 2d & 4d, Sideface No Wmk 4d blue (small fault; could be easily mistaken for the original stamp), and Overprinted 'REPRINT' with Chalons 1d x3 to 1/- x2 plus strips of 4 of the 2d 4d 6d & 1/- (the strips with full unmounted o.g.), Sidefaces 2d 4d blue & 8d, St George Imperf set plus 3d with the Overprint Inverted x2, and Perf set, generally very fine & mostly with large-part o.g. A very clean lot. Ex Ron Butler.
(88)
UNOVERPRINTED: 1853 Couriers 4d Plate II defaced plate complete sheet of 24 (6x4) with both imprints, in yellow on thick wove paper, several units showing significant plate wear. Superb!
UNOVERPRINTED: 1853 Couriers 4d Plate II defaced plate complete sheet of 24 (6x4) with both imprints, in red-orange on thick wove paper (250x157mm), several units showing significant plate wear. Superb! [This is a rare item. Neil Russell's similar sheet had the outer margins removed]
UNOVERPRINTED: Sidefaces 4d blue imperf blocks of 12 with Plate Number '3' or Current Number '43', overprinted 'Halfpenny' on 1d imperf gutter block of 20 with Double 'Halfpenny' Overprint on the 12 R/H units, & on 'd/2½' on 9d Current Number '50' block of 4, also 'SPECIMEN' Overprint on ½d orange pane of 60.
(5 items)
UNOVERPRINTED:POSTAL FISCALS: St George & the Dragon 10/- yellow-orange complete imperforate sheet of 120 (12x10) on thin ungummed card, barely noticeable pencil notations in the margins, minor blemishes on the reverse. A rare sheet. Ex JRW Purves & Dr John Miler. [Bill McCredie's perforated half-sheet of 60 sold for $670]
This sheet clearly demonstrates the chaotic platelaying that was apparently inspired by the similarly dubious workmanship of Perkins Bacon.
OVERPRINTED 'REPRINT': Perforated blocks of 4 on Thick Paper comprising Chalons 2d 4d 6d & 1/-, Sideface 4d blue & 'd./2½' on 9d (upper units very lightly mounted), full unmounted o.g. Superb! [The reprints were produced in 1879 but overprinted only in 1886]
(6 blocks)
OVERPRINTED 'REPRINT': Perforated blocks of 4 on Thin Paper comprising Sidefaces 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d bistre, 9d, 10d & 5/-, some units with trimmed perfs, some minor tonespots, large-part o.g. Ex Ron Butler.
(7 blocks)
OVERPRINTED 'REPRINT': Sidefaces 5/- dull claret on thin card gummed & perforated sheet of 120 (missing the U/R unit) with Plate Number '6' at U/R & L/L and Current Number '48' at U/L & L/R, full unmounted o.g. [Bill McCredie's similar pane of 60 sold for $699]
OVERPRINTED 'REPRINT':POSTAL FISCALS: Perforated blocks of 4 on Thick Paper comprising 3d sage-green, 2/6d carmine, 5/- sepia & 10/- vermilion, large-part o.g. with most units being unmounted. Superb! Ex Ron Butler.
(4 blocks)
OVERPRINTED 'REPRINT': Platypus 9d dull violet gummed & perforated upper pane of 50 (10x5; the U/R unit removed) with Plate Number '1' at U/L, full unmounted o.g.
c.1900 reprinted die proofs of the Van Diemen's Land Chalon design with blank value tablet on coloured wove paper comprising in green/yellow, vermilion/green, vermilion/pink, brown/green & brown/pink.
(6)
Classic remainders including Star Wmk 4d strip of 4 on piece, range of other imperfs with a few apparently unused, duplicated array of perforated Chalons including Perf 12 1d block of 4 (large-part o.g. but a little oxidised), Re-Issued 'TASMANIA' 6d mint blocks of 9 & 10 both with full unmounted o.g., some postmark interest including a few postal manuscript cancels, also a few Reprints including an undenominated die proof in carmine on large piece (Ex Sir Gawaine Baillie) & Revenues, condition very mixed & most of those apparently unused have had cancels removed. Careful inspection is recommended.
(200+)
Sale No: 237
Lot No: 384
Symbol: */**O
Cat No: Collection
Unusual mostly mint collection with Sidefaces 4d blue unused & a remarkable 5/- violet block of 20 (stated to be the largest recorded block of this stamp, pen cancels removed), Chalon Reissued 6d blocks of 4 x4, Tablets mint to 1/- & used £1 plus blocks of 4 to 1/- and 2½d & 5d blocks of 4 both with 'SPECIMEN' Overprint, 1899-1900 Pictorials set plus a few extras to 6d, etc, generally fine to very fine.
(250+)
Large blocks comprising Reissued Chalon 6d corner block of 24 (8x3), Sidefaces ½d orange SG 159 complete sheet of 120, 1d SG 160a Plate Number '1' block of 48 (6x8) with Major Over-Inking (a few with Obliterated Queen) & 3d SG 165 L/H pane of 60 - no margins at top or base - with Chisel Flaw [55], 'Halfpenny' on 1d complete L/H pane with Plate Number '3', 1899-1900 Pictorials 1d block of 36 (6x6) & 2½d block of 24 with large-part Plate Number '2', '1½d.' on 5d R/H pane of 60, Crown/A ½d with the Watermark Upright SG 249d block of 40, and Postal Fiscal 3d Platypus SG F27 Plate Number '1' corner block of 16 (4x4) & Current Number '8' corner block of 8 (2x4), generally very fine with most units having full unmounted gum, Cat £5500++ as mounted singles.
(11 items)
Oddments including Sidefaces Crown/CC 4d imperf plate proof in blue & Imperf ½d orange, 1d block of 4 with Current Number '41', 3d block of 4 with Chisel Flaw & Plate Number '5', 10d black block of 10, Pictorials 2½d block of 4 with part Plate Number '1' (tonespot in margin), etc.
(32)
1853 CouriersEarly Printings 1d blue SG 2 vertical strip of 4 with 'CW Coard Sc' Imprint at the base, margins good to huge with complete outer framelines, extensively repaired - 'REPAIRED' handstamp on the reverse - rendering the strip of fine appearance, untidy numeral cancels, Cat £6000++. Ex Koichi Sato: sold in 2014 for €1140. [The sheet layout was 6x4, meaning that a vertical strip of 4 is a complete column]
1853 CouriersLater Printings 1d pale blue SG 3 [3] with opened-out Pre-Printing Paper Fold, good even margins with complete outer framelines, a couple of very minor imperfections, Cat £1300+. Ex Enrico Bombieri & 'Besancon' (II). [A most unusual variety on the First Issue]
1853 CouriersFOUR PENCE: Plate I Early Impressions 4d bright red-orange SG 5, large even margins, light BN cancel, signed in pencil "AD" {= Alberto Diena}, Cat £1000. Superb! Ex 'Besancon' (II).
1853 CouriersPlate II 4d red-orange on ungummed Laid Paper, excellent colour & unusually with good even margins, Cat £11,000. Superb! Ex Michael Blake. RPSofL Certificate (2005) states "...is of proof status": see Gibbons' footnote below SG 12. [This is a rare proof of which most examples have had the corners clipped; ie cut-to-shape. This oustanding example is possibly the finest recorded. There was no example in Koichi Sato's Grand Prix exhibit]
1855 London Printings Large Star 2d imperforate plate proof in black marginal block of 4 on ungummed unwatermarked paper, magins just clear to good. Rare multiple. [A block of 6 was sold at the Prestige auction of 6.8.2011 for $3450]
