RED OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Rouletted 2d bright vermilion, rouletting on all sides, a trifle aged, unused. Rated RRRR. More attractive than the 'Besancon' unused example that sold for SFr785. [Date range 17.7.1868 to 31.7.1868 only]
RED OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Rouletted 2d vermilion, rouletting on all sides, a little stained by the gum, tied by GPO cds of OC21/68 to OHMS cover without imprint to "Chinkford" [sic], very fine large-part strike of the rare 27mm 'CHINGFORD/OC22/1868/[S-A]' arrival b/s, endorsed "Try Tarlee" and "Reposted 4d to pay" with 'RIVERTON/NO5/68/S.A' transit cds on the face & large-part strike of the 24mm 'TAR[LEE]/NO("5")/68/S-A' cds, roughly opened on the back with part of the flap removed. The stamp is rated RR. Number 1 in Anthony Presgrave's Census of only two 'E.' covers, the other with a Blue Overprint. Ex AE Fryar: offered there with the unique Goolwa Tramway cover, the two being sold for £9 (!): see Lot 326.
This is the only taxed Departmental cover we have seen: a letter reposted at the office of delivery was forwarded without charge, provided it was on-sent within 48 hours of the original delivery. That was clearly not the case here.
NB: 'Hand-Held Postmarks...' under Chingford shows only a 21mm cds of MY1/72 but gives an early date of OC2/1868 which must be the type on this cover & is probably an error for the date here. It should be rated RRRRR. The Tarlee cds is rated RR.
RED OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Perf 11½-12½ 4d deep mauve, unusually well centred, a couple of tiny imperfections, GPO cds of JY13/69. Rated R. [Date range 21.5.1868 to 13.7.1869]
RED OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Rouletted 6d dull blue, rouletting on all sides, large-part o.g. Rated RRR. Far superior to the 'Besancon' example - small defects & separation fault at lower-left - that sold for SFr725.
RED OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Rouletted 6d pale blue, rouletting on all sides, a couple of ironed-out creases that don't detract from the fine facial appearance, GPO cds of JA6/69. Rated RRRR. [Date range 19.10.1868 to 30.3.1870]
RED OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Rouletted 1/- red-brown on brownish tinted paper, rouletting on three sides & cut from the sheet clear of the design at top, part-o.g. Rated RRR. More attractive than the 'Besancon' example that sold for SFr1210.
RED OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Rouletted 1/- red-brown on brownish tinted paper, rouletting on all sides, separation fault & coincident shallow thin at lower-left, fine GPO cds of 1868. Unrecorded used by Ron Butler & the only recorded example so it should be rated RRRRRR.
BLUE OVERPRINT: 'E.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Rouletted 2d orange with the Watermark Reversed, rouletting on all sides, untidy GPO cds. Rated RR. The 'Besancon' example sold for SFr785. [Date range 25.5.1869 to 14.3.1870]
BLUE OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Rouletted 1/- red-brown, rouletting on three sides & cut from the sheet at left, minor tonespots, GPO cds of AU11/70. Rated RRR. The very fine 'Besancon' example sold for SFr363. [Date range 11.8.1870 to 16.7.1872]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange, misplaced perfs at right creating a huge stamp with a chunk of the adjoining unit at right, GPO cds of OC3/71. Superb. Rated S. [Date range 20.12.1870 to 10.8.1873]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange block of 6 (3x2) from the left of the right-hand pane with marginal vertical watermark line & wing-margins at left, GPO cds of AU22/71. A superb multiple. Rated S+.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange block of 6 (3x2), the second unit with Defective 'E' (Advanced State), brown stain on reverse of the variety unit, GPO cds of AU22/71 (yes, the same date as the previous block). Rated S+. [The 'E' has a notch in the upright that later actually split into two sections: see Lot 317]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½xRouletted 4d deep dull purple, additional misplaced horizontal perfs towards the base & cut from the sheet clear of the design at the top, GPO cds of NO2/69. Rated RRRRRR: only one other example recorded & unrecorded unused. Ex Colonel Harry Napier (III). [Date range 5.10.1869 to 2.11.1869 only]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Perf 10 4d mauve from the right of the sheet with marginal vertical watermark line at right, GPO cds of AP14/72. Superb. Rated RRRR. [Date range 17.11.1870 to 14.4.1872]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Irregular Compound Perf 11½-12½x10x10x10 4d deep mauve, GPO cds of JA2/72. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 21.11.1871 to 21.1.1872 only. This & the next lot are the only two dated examples recorded by Don Pearce]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Regular Compound Perf 11½-12½x10 4d deep mauve, two short perfs at upper-right otherwise superb, GPO cds of NO21/71. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 21.11.1871 to 21.1.1872 only]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Perf 11½-12½ 6d bright blue, a couple of minor tonespots, GPO cds of JY22/70. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused. The only dated example recorded by Don Pearce]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Perf 11½-12½ 6d Prussian blue, small separation fault at U/R, unused. Rated RRRR. Superior to the 'Besancon' unused example - "minor crease & small thin" - that sold for SFr580.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Perf 11½-12½ 6d Prussian blue, small shallow thin, very fine strike of the unframed 'HOYLETON/JA17/76/S-A' cds (rated RRR). Rated RRR. A terrific item for the postmark collector.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Perf 11½-12½xRouletted 1/- red-brown rejoined horizontal pair, rouletting at the sides, the horizontal perfs misplaced so cut from the sheet largely clear of the design, a couple of tiny defects, worn strikes of the circle-in-bars cancel of the GPO. Rated RRRR+: unrecorded unused.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Regular Compound Perf 11½-12½x10 1/- red-brown on brownish tinted paper, GPO cds of MY22/74. Rated RR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 22.5.1874 to 16.7.1874 only, suggesting this stamp is underrated]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'E.' on Regular Compound Perf 11½-12½x10 1/- pale red-brown on brownish tinted paper with Defective 'E', GPO cds of 1874. Rated RR+: unrecorded unused. [The 'E' is actually split into two sections: see also Lot 304]
