RED OVERPRINT: Red 'A' with No Stop on Rouletted 1d yellow-green with roulettes on all sides & the design virtually complete, light 'GAMBIERTON/NO30/68/SA' cds. Rated RRR: Ron Butler rates unused examples at RRRR but Don Pearce has identified no examples & believes that none have been recorded. Superior to the 'Besancon' and 'Tamiami' examples that sold for SFr665 & $719 respectively. [Date range 19.9.1868 to 19.12.1868 only]
Almost certainly used in connection with building of the first government hospital outside Adelaide, at Gambierton (later Mount Gambier) between 1867 to 1869. It closed in 1961 but was not demolished until 1971.
RED OVERPRINT: 'A' with No Stop on Rouletted 2d vermilion with roulettes on all sides, ironed-out horizontal crease, light GPO cds of 'MY--/6[8]'. Ex AE Fryar. Unlisted by Ron Butler & the only recorded example, so it should be rated RRRRRR.
RED OVERPRINT: 'A.' with Stop on Rouletted 2d bright vermilion from the right of the sheet with marginal vertical watermark line at R, rouletting & ample margins except where cut from the sheet just clear of the design at the top, 'GAMBIERTON/JY10/68/SA'. Rated RRRR. Superior to the 'Besancon' example that sold for SFr242. [Date range 1.6.1868 to 21.12.1868]
RED OVERPRINT: 'A.' with Stop on Perf 11½-12½ 4d dull purple, slightly trimmed perfs at the top, large-part o.g. Rated RRRR. Better centred than the Napier/'Besancon' example - with short/pulled perfs at right - that sold for SFr1815.
RED OVERPRINT: 'A.' with Stop on Perf 11½-12½ 4d dull purple, huge example with part of the adjoining unit at left, a couple of faint tonespots, very fine 'GPO/ L /OC9/68/ADELAIDE' cds. Rated RRRRR: the earlier of only two recorded examples. [Date range 9.10.1868 to 15.4.1871, indicating a miniscule rate of usage]
RED OVERPRINT: 'A' with No Stop on Rouletted 6d ultramarine, a large example with fragments of the adjoining units at right & base, rouletting on three sides and cut from the sheet to preserve the design at the top & clear of the design at left, large-part o.g. Superb. Rated RRR. Ex Rev James Mursell and Colonel Napier (III). The 'Besancon' examples sold for SFr508 & SFr532 (2020).
RED OVERPRINT: 'A' with No Stop on Rouletted 1/- brown with rouletting clear of the design on all sides, unused. Rated RRRR. More attractive than the 'Besancon' example with large-part o.g., that sold for SFr2057.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'A.' on DLR Crown/SA Rouletted 2d, rouletting on all sides, separation fault at centre-left does not intrude on the design, GPO cds of JA10/71. Rated RRR. [Date range 10.1.1871 to 7.12.1871. The fact this is the best example obtained by Don Pearce, indicates that it is extremely scarce & probably underrated]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'A.' on DLR Crown/SA Perf 10 2d, one pulled perf at lower-right, GPO cds of DE9/72. Rated RRR; not recorded unused. [Date range 27.4.1872 to 9.12.1873]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'A.' on Irregular Compound Perf 11½-12½x11½-12½x10x11½-12½ 4d dull purple, small defects and repaired corners at upper-left & upper-right, GPO cds of OC14/73 (?). Rated RRRRR. [Date range 14.10.1873 (?) to 9.12.1873 only]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'A.' on Irregular Compound Perf 10x11½-12½x11½-12½x11½-12½ 4d dull purple, deep shade, several trimmed perfs at U/R, GPO cds of DE9/73. Rated RRRRR. [Date range 14.10.1873 (?) to 9.12.1873 only]
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 18
Symbol: F
Cat No: Collection
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'A.' on Perf 11½-12½ 6d deep blue (not Prussian, as listed by Ron Butler) block of 9 from the right of the sheet with marginal vertical watermark lines, the upper six units with the Overprint at the Top and the lower three units with the Overprint at the Base, a couple of inconsequential blemishes, multiple strikes of GPO cds of MY18/76. One of the great items in the collection. Rated RRRRR: despite being nine units, for rating purposes, this should be treated as a single piece.
Apart from its rarity, this is a technically highly significant piece that proves multiple applications of the overprinting forme on the sheet of stamps. There is nothing else like it in the collection.
Don Pearce acquired this remarkable block plus the 'O.S' Overprints 6d Prussian blue block of 6 (2x3) - illustrated alongside - with the same cds of the same date, and apparently from the same package, at a German auction more than 20 years ago.
This is confirmation that at least some Departmentals still in stock when the 'O.S.' Overprints were issued in 1874 were used up before 'O.S.' stamps were actually introduced: see Ron Butler at page 38. Certainly, they retained their postal validity.
Significantly, these two blocks would appear to be Last Day of Use of the 'A.' 6d (not necessarily in the Colonial Architect's office) & First Day of Use by the same user of the 'O.S.' 6d.
(Qty 2 blocks)
