RED OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 1d green, rouletting on three sides & cut from the sheet to preserve the design at the base & well clear of the design at the top, small ironed-out crease at upper-left, GPO cds of MR3/69 clearly ties the overprint in several places. Unrecorded by Ron Butler and the only recorded example so it should be rated RRRRRR. [Ron Butler, at page 79 states that the One Penny "is believed was never used by the Chief Secretary". However, he cites no authority for that proposition]
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 2d bright vermilion with partial Double Overprint (the 'C' from the adjoining unit at right is inside the roulettes), rouletting on all sides, very fine GPO cds of OC8/68. Rated RRRR+: the variety not recorded by Ron Butler. [Date range for the basic stamp 10.5.1868 to 25.10.1869]
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 2d vermilion, rouletting at left otherwise cut from the sheet well clear of the design, significant oxidisation, tied by GPO cds of MR3/69 to OHMS cover with 'Chief Secretary's Office' imprint at L/L, to 'BRIGHTON' with arrival b/s of the same day, straight-line 'UNCLAIMED' h/s & returned with GPO b/s of AP5/1869 & superb 'DEAD LETTER/69/AP6/ADELAIDE' cds on the face, very fine apart from the stamp, which is rated RR. The only 'C.S.' cover in Anthony Presgrave's Census.
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Perf 11½-12½ 4d dull purple on unusually Thin Paper, GPO cds of OC29/68. Superb. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused. More attractive than the 'Besancon' example that sold for SFr360. [Date range 8.4.1868 to 29.10.1868]
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 6d deep ultramarine, rouletting at R otherwise cut from the sheet clear of the design, small-part roller cancel of the GPO. Rated RR. More attractive than the 'Tamiami' example, that sold for $263. [The only date recorded by Don Pearce is 9.4.1869]
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 1/- red-brown, rouletting on all sides, minor separation fault at L/L, very fine GPO cds of MR18/68 being the earliest recorded usage of any of the Departmental Overprints. Rated S+. The Chief Secretary, who had final responsibility for the matter, may have decided to send one or most 'test letters' before the official release date. [Date range 18.3.1868 to 20.4.1869]
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 1/- red-brown, rouletting on all sides, minor separation fault at L/L, very fine GPO cds of AP1/68 being the official First Day of Issue of the Departmental Overprints. Rated S+. [Date range 18.3.1868 to 20.4.1869]
RED OVERPRINT: 'G.S.' (Error of Lettering for 'C.S.') on Rouletted 1/- red-brown, cut from the sheet clear of the design on all sides with no trace of rouletting & apparently Imperforate, untidy but light parcel-roller cancel. Unlisted by Ron Butler and belived to be the only recorded example so should be rated RRRRRR. Ex Brown and Colonel Harry Napier. RPSofL Certificate (1965) failed to recognise that this is an error of lettering: note that only the 2d was issued with 'G.S.' overprint for the Government Storekeeper - see Lot 374. One of the great errors - perhaps a double-error - of the Departmental series.
BLUE OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Rouletted 2d red-orange, rouletting on all sides, GPO cds of JA2-/71. Rated RR: unrecorded unused. The 'Tamiami' example sold for $239. [Date range 14.6.1870 to 6.4.1871]
BLUE OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 4d dull purple, an unusually large stamp with rouletting on all sides, closed tear at R just intrudes on the design but is barely visible from the face, GPO cds of JA18/69. Rated RRR. [Date range 1.12.1868 to 18.2.1869 only]
BLUE OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 6d dull blue, rouletting at top & right otherwise cut from the sheet well clear of the design, large-part o.g. Rated RRRR. The two 'Besancon' mint examples sold for SFr3630 & SFr1330 (2020) respectively.
BLUE OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Rouletted 6d dull blue, rouletting on all sides, shallow thin spots, indistinct numeral cancel. Rated RR. The very fine 'Besancon' example sold for SFr665. [Date range 28.1.1869 to 26.4.1869 only, suggesting that this stamp is underrated]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on De La Rue Star Wmk Rouletted 2d red-orange, rouletting on all sides, GPO cds of MR20/71. Superb. Rated S: unrecorded unused. [Date range 25.11.1870 to 24.3.1873]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange with Crack across 'C' of 'C.S.', GPO cds of JL18/73. Rated RR+: the only recorded example of the variety.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange tied to piece by GPO cds of AP21/74. Rated RR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 24.4.1873 to 25.6.1874]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Perf 11½-12½xRouletted 4d dull purple rejoined horizontal pair, the first unit with a minor hinge-stain, GPO cds of MY6/69. Rated RRR+: unrecorded unused. [Date range 6.5.1869 to 13.9.1869]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Star Wmk Rouletted 4d deep dull purple, rouletting on all sides, minor stain on the reverse that doesn't impact on the very fine facial appearance, GPO cds of OC14/69. Rated RR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 14.10.1869 to 17.3.1870]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Star Wmk Perf 10 4d dull purple with Defective 'S' in 'C.S.', a few toned perf tips, unused. Rated RRRRR, without the variety.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Star Wmk Perf 10 4d dull purple horizontal pair, a couple of tiny & insignificant tonespots, GPO cds of OC21/71. Rated S+. Scarce multiple. [Date range 30.11.1870 to 15.12.1871]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on V/Crown Wmk Perf 10 4d deep bright purple, GPO cds of FE16/72. Superb. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 16.2.1872 to 14.3.1874]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on V/Crown Wmk Perf 10 4d deep bright purple Printed on Both Sides with both impressions upright, light GPO cds of JA3/72. Superb. Rated RRRRR: unrecorded unused. Superior to Gary Diffen's example, that was unsold with a £1500 estimate. [Date range for the error is 14.12.1871 to 3.1.1872 only]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Star Wmk Regular Compound Perf 11½-12½x10 4d dull purple, GPO cds of AP30/74. Rated RR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 5.8.1873 to -.5.1874]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Perf 11½-12½ 6d bright blue, GPO cds of AU2-/69. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused. Superior to the 'Besancon' example that sold for SFr265. [Date range 3.8.1869 to 5.1.1870]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Perf 11½-12½xRouletted 6d Prussian blue Printed on Both Sides with Both Impressions Upright, GPO cds of JU7/70. Rated RRRRR: unrecorded unused. [Only two examples recorded, dated 7.6.1870 & 16.9.1870]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Perf 10 6d Prussian blue, an unusually large stamp, GPO cds of AP7/74. Superb. Rated RR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 31.3.1871 to 27.10.1874]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Perf 10 1/- red-brown on brownish tinted paper with Crack across 'C' in 'C.S.', indistinct GPO cds. Rated S+: unrecorded unused. [Date range for the normal stamp 3.1.1872 to 23.3.1873]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Regular Compound Perf 11½-12½x10 1/- red-brown on brownish tinted paper, misplaced perfs with 'ONE SHILLING' at the Top, GPO cds of FE27/73. Rated R+: the normal stamp unrecorded unused. [Date range 5.9.1872 to 9.1.1874]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.S.' on Regular Compound Perf 11½-12½x10 2/- carmine-pink, a little aged, GPO cds of MR3/71. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused. More attractive than the 'Besancon' example that sold for SFr1150. [Date range 3.3.1871 to 3.4.1871 only]
