Great Britain and British Commonwealth Kangaroos - Third Watermark
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 79
Symbol: *
2d silver-grey Die I punctured 'OS' Plate 1 'CA' Monogram single ACSC 7D(1)zb, very lightly mounted, Cat $2000.
Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2018) states "genuine in all respects".
Provenance:
Barry Gribble, Lot 2142, sold for $510.
Lord Cornwallis, Lot 328, sold for £253.
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3866, sold for SFr363.
2d deep grey Die I Plate 2 'CA' Monogram corner strip of 3 ACSC 7A(2)z in a block of 8 (4x2), very well centred, minor ironed-out crease in the lower left margin corner, the lower unit second from left with a small natural paper inclusion, lightly mounted on the two top right units and in the upper left-hand margin, six units including the monogram strip are unmounted, Cat $3570+ for a mounted monogram strip plus two mounted and three unmounted singles.
Provenance:
Gary Watson auction of 8.9.1986, Lot 577, sold for $250.
Lord Cornwallis, Lot 89, sold for £2300.
'Besancon' Part II, Lot 3621, sold for SFr1815.
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 81
Symbol: F
Cat No: Collection
2½d indigo punctured 'OS' Plate 2 with Missing '1' in '2½d' ACSC 11C(2)j Pos [2L33] (SG 36ba as non-OS; unlisted variety of O44), very well centred, irregular 'fluffy' perfs at the base, indistinct cds cancellation well clear of the variety, Cat $37,500 in footnote 5 (£35,000 for non-OS).
BPA Expertising Ltd Certificate (2012).
Provenance:
The Morgan Collection, Lot 200, sold for £13,000 (offered with a 1956 RPSofV Certificate, subsequently lost).
'Chartwell', Lot 619, sold for £5400.
Stuart Hardy's poorly centred non-OS machine-cancelled example sold for $53,590.
The famous so-called 'Missing Fraction': this is widely regarded as the most famous variety in the entire Kangaroo & Map series. It occurred only in TS Harrison's printing in indigo. It is an ink-clogging flaw, akin to the 'CNE PENNY' varieties in the KGV Heads 1d reds. However, whereas the KGV variety progressed through several states, that on the 2½d Kangaroo shows little variation and was promptly rectified.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states that only three mint and twelve used examples - of which only three are punctured 'OS' - have been recorded. A key factor that contributed to the rarity of this variety is that many of the sheets from Harrison's indigo printing were overprinted 'N.W./PACIFIC/ISLANDS' for use in Occupied New Guinea.
If the ACSC is correct that only three examples punctured 'OS' exist, we can account for them all. An example with Perth machine cancellation sold at an auction in Perth on 12.8.2006 for $40,700. The 'Lionheart' example, with Sydney machine cancellation, sold for $15,725. And this is the third.
2½d deep blue Plate 1 Inserted 'CA' Monogram single ACSC 11B(1)za in a block of 6 (3x2), very well centred, a couple of slightly uneven perfs, two upper units very lightly mounted otherwise unmounted, Cat $1670+ for a mounted monogram single and two mounted and three unmounted singles.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 236, sold for $1075.
2½d indigo Plate 2 TS Harrison One-Line Imprint block of 4 ACSC 11C(2)zf, both right-hand units Pos [2R49] & [2R55] with Thick Western Australian Coastline ACSC 11C(2)d, remarkably well centred, the upper-right unit with a couple of faint tonespots, very lightly mounted at the top of the gutter only and otherwise unmounted, Cat $3750+ for a mounted imprint block of 4.
Provenance:
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3776, sold for SFr1330.
Specialists will enjoy the challenges presented by this block: the Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states that unit [2L60] has a retouch to the right of the value tablet, whereas Greg Pope states that in the Harrison printings the retouch is not evident but that there is a small colour flaw close to the top of the 'd' in '2½d'. That strongly suggests that [2L60] was actually substituted. On this block, neither the retouch nor the spot of colour is apparent.
Greg Pope also states that the Thick Coastlines on units [R49] and [R55] are the Second State, which is the thickest and most obvious variant. However, while on both right-hand units the coastline is definitely thicker than on unaffected stamps, it is more like State One than State Two. Also interesting is that only one of the two secondary flaws on [2L55] identified by Pope - ie the small spot of colour adjoining the outer frame of the value tablet at 11 o'clock - is present.
At pages 99 and 117, Pope illustrates "margin characteristics" in the 'jubilee' lines. There is a distinctive thinning at the base of the left-hand line adjacent to unit [2L60] and a 'bite' out of the base of the right-hand line adjacent to [2R55] that are both present here. However, the vertical white crack or scratch through the horizontal line below the gutter is not evident. Clearly, more research is required.
3d olive-green Die I Plate 1 Inserted 'JBC' Monogram single ACSC 13K(1)zc in a block of 4, the monogram unit Pos [1R58] with early state of Frame Break above 'ST' of 'AUSTRALIA' ACSC 13(1)f, very well centred, a couple of slightly uneven perfs, very lightly mounted, Cat $1950+ for a mounted monogram single and three mounted singles, plus a premium for the scarcer shade.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 250, sold for $1015, described as "lower units MUH".
3d olive-green Die I Plate 2 TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint block of 4 ACSC 13K(2)zf in a block of 8 (4x2), remarkably well centred and very fresh, a few nibbled perfs at the top, very lightly mounted across the gutter at top and in the lower margin otherwise unmounted, Cat $5300+ for a mounted imprint block of 4 and four unmounted singles, plus a premium for the scarcer shade.
Provenance:
Lord Cornwallis, Lot 104, sold for £3130.
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3778, sold for SFr2660.
3d olive Die IIB Plate 3 TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint pair ACSC 14D(3)za in a strip of 4, well centred and very fresh but with a couple of minor tonespots, vertical fold in the gutter & a light bend affecting the second unit from the left, unmounted, Cat $2200+ for a mounted imprint pair and two unmounted singles.
Provenance:
Frank Scrivener/Ron Mallin, Jos Gregson Private Treaty Sale No 1 (1993), Lot 135, sold for £200.
Lord Cornwallis, Lot 105, sold for £698.
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3779, sold for SFr1450.
6d ultramarine Die II Plate 1 Inserted 'CA' Monogram single ACSC 19A(1)za, an attractive deep shade, well centred, very lightly mounted, Cat $3000. Superb.
Provenance:
Private transaction.
6d dull ultramarine Die II punctured 'OS' Plate 2 'CA' Monogram strip of 3 ACSC 19A(2)z in a block of 8 (4x2) without the side-margin at left, well centred (the monogram unit remarkably so), minor tonespot on the upper-right unit, the upper units lightly to very lightly mounted, all units in the lower row are unmounted, Cat $10,125+ for a mounted monogram strip (at $12,000 x75% for being punctured 'OS'), plus one unmounted and four mounted 'OS' singles.
Perfin Club of New Zealand & Australia Certificate (2021).
Provenance:
'Lionheart' Australian Rarities, Lot 15, sold for $6990.
6d dull grey-blue Die II Plate 2 'T.S. HARRISON' Two-Line Imprint block of 4 with 'jubilee' lines ACSC 19E(2)zi, remarkably well-centred for an imprint piece, almost insignificant aging at the top & a few very minor tonespots that don't detract at all from the beautiful facial appearance, the lower units are unmounted, Cat $32,500+ for mounted.
Provenance:
Private transaction.
A great rarity and a highly important item in the Kangaroo Series. The ACSC states that the 6d Die II Harrison Imprint is the rarest imprint apart from some of the Bicoloured High Values, and that only three blocks of 4 - across both plates - have been recorded. We expect that this is the finest of them. It is certainly of superior quality to Arthur Gray's similar block - described as "very fine & exceedingly choice", but with significant gum toning - that sold for US$25,300.
On the subject of relative scarcity - and based on the ACSC's recorded items - both the 1/- Die II and the 2/- brown Harrison imprint blocks are scarcer, with only one of the former known, and only one of each of the one-line & two-line imprints known for the latter.
6d pale ultramarine Die IIB Plate 4 TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint pair ACSC 20C(4)za in a strip of 4, light vertical fold through the margin, a little aged with a couple of miniscule tone specks, mounted in the margin only with all the stamps being unmounted, Cat $8,250+ for a mounted imprint pair and two unmounted singles.
The Die IIB imprints have no 'jubilee' lines in the margins: compare with Lot 89.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 267, sold for $5485 (mis-identified as Die II ACSC 19(2)zh).
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 91
Symbol: P
Cat No: Collection
6d Die II die proof in red-brown on white wove paper as ACSC 21(DP)1 with a significant Colour Flaw in the Indian Ocean off Geraldton and a Partial Offset on the Reverse, minor corner crease at upper-right, the paper (81x104mm) with a few small natural inclusions but the impression is unaffected and superb!, Cat $25,000.
Provenance:
'Chartwell', Lot 536, sold for £6240.
The smaller Arthur Gray example sold for US$29,900. It was re-offered in The Morgan Collection, where it sold for £19,200. Lord Vestey's example similar to the proof offered here - Ex James Williamson - sold for £22,800. These both appear toalso be Die II.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states that three examples have been recorded. The Arthur Gray/Morgan Collection example in chestnut on smaller piece (31x34mm) exhibited a deformity towards the base of the outer frameline at right: that is the example illustrated in the ACSC. The example in James Williamson's collection, described as "chestnut" on paper size 79x99mm appears from the catalogue illustration to have no flaws.
We suggest that the example offered here was the first produced, that the die was rejected because of the flaw off the Western Australian coast, and the colour was also not approved. Arthur Gray's example was struck in the accepted colour but was probably also rejected because of the poorly cut right-hand frame. It seems likely that the Williamson/Vestey example, with no obvious flaws, was the final version.
The issued stamps were all Die IIB, prompting our suggestion that these three proofs were produced at an earlier time, perhaps in the same period as the High Value proofs - see Lots 52 & 57 - which would make them of far greater significance than has previously been accepted.
6d chestnut Plate 3 TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint with 'N' over 'M' block of 4 ACSC 21A(3)zb in a block of 8 (4x2) including Pos [L54] with Hairline from Map to Value Circle ACSC 21A(3)g, well centred, characteristic rough perfs, very fresh with only the upper-left and upper-right units lightly mounted and otherwise unmounted, Cat $1280+ for a mounted imprint block of 4 and two mounted & two unmounted singles. Superb!
Provenance:
Private transaction.
9d pale violet Die II Plate 1 Inserted 'CA' Monogram single ACSC 26B(1)za in a horizontal pair, the non-monogram unit Pos [1L58] with Islands below 'A' of 'POSTAGE' ACSC 26B(1)d, well centred, small blemish in the right-hand margin of the normal unit, very lightly mounted and the monogram unit is superb!, Cat $3250+ for a mounted monogram single and the variety.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 284, sold for $1550.
1/- pale blue-green Die II Plate 1 Inserted 'CA' Monogram single ACSC 32A(1)za in a block of 4, well centred, the upper units very lightly mounted, the lower units including the monogram unit are unmounted, Cat $4025+ for a mounted monogram single plus one unmounted and two mounted singles.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 301, sold for $4530.
1/- blue-green Die II Plate 1 Inserted 'JBC' Monogram single ACSC 32A(1)zc in a block of 4, reasonably well centred, the upper units very lightly mounted, the lower units including the monogram unit are unmounted, Cat $4025+ for a mounted monogram single plus one unmounted & two mounted singles.
Provenance:
Greg Pope, Lot 257, sold for $2690
'Fordwater', Lot 125, sold for £1920.
'Besancon' Part II, Lot 3629, sold for SFr1695.
1/- pale blue-green Die II Plate 2 TS Harrison One-Line Imprint pair ACSC 32A(2)zh, well centred, lightly mounted across the gutter with small-part hinge remainder, Cat $15,000. Superb.
Provenance:
Lord Cornwallis, Lot 124, sold for £8670.
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3783, sold for SFr4600.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states that this "is a very scarce imprint, and at present only one example in a block of four can be confirmed as existing in private hands". Arthur Gray's imprint block of 4 sold for US$29,900. Stuart Hardy's imprint block of 8 sold for $51,260. It was re-offered at 'Chartwell', where it sold for £19,200.
By comparison, the ACSC states of the 6d blue Die II Harrison Two-Line Imprint that this is "perhaps the rarest imprint outside the bicoloured high values. At present, only three blocks of 4 can be confirmed". Neither ACSC footnote gives details of the respective imprint pairs recorded, but, in our experience, the 1/- pairs are scarcer than those of the 6d blue: refer to Lot 91.
The Gray and Hardy blocks were both stated to be from Plate 1. This Plate 2 pair has different characteristics at the junction of the marginal 'jubilee' lines.
1/- blue-green Die IIB Plate 3 with the Watermark Sideways AJ Mullett Imprint block of 4 ACSC 33Aaa(3)zb including Pos [3R49] with Break in North-West Coast of Tasmania ACSC 33aa(3)j, jumped perfs creating a quite well centred 'jumbo' pair at the base, one faint tonespot in the gutter, light vertical fold in central gutter, lightly mounted, Cat $2250 in footnote 1.
Provenance:
Lord Cornwallis, Lot 126, sold for £985.
'Besancon' Part II, Lot 3631, sold for SFr605.
NB: most Watermark Sideways imprint blocks are poorly centred.
2/- brown horizontal pair Imperforate Three Sides ACSC 37Ab (SG 41a) from the upper-left corner of the right-hand pane, margins large to enormous with part of the adjoining marginal 'jubilee' line at left, some minor and inconsequential black fibres adhering to the reverse, still very fresh and lightly mounted, Cat $125,000 (£110,000). A magnificent showpiece that is arguably the most important item in the 'Artemis' collection. BPA Expertising Ltd Certificate (2012).
Provenance:
The Morgan Collection, Lot 256, sold for £84,000.
'Chartwell', Lot 546, sold for £60,000.
In 1920, one sheet with the top row imperforate on three sides was discovered, in Adelaide. The strip of 12 was presumably bought over the post office counter at the face value of 24/- (= $2.40)! The strip was divided into four pairs, a strip of three and a single (that the Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states was subsequently "lost").
The strip of three was in Colonel Harrie Evans' collection, and sold in 2001 for $88,000 which, at the time, was a world record price for a Commonwealth of Australia item. It was subsequently separated into an unmounted single (the right-hand unit; sold privately) and a pair, which has a tear between the units and into the right-hand stamp. At the sale of Arthur Gray's collection, this defective pair sold for US$74,750.
Two of the original pairs are now institutionalised, in the Royal Collection and in the Australian National Philatelic Collection respectively. Another pair was in the Ron Hieronymous collection that was stolen in 1984 and is believed to have been destroyed. There are therefore only the unmounted single and two pairs in private hands, of which this Morgan/'Chartwell' example is by far the superior item.
Alec Rosenblum, one of the most prominent and influential pre-WWII Australian philatelists wrote: "This variety is justly regarded as about [sic] the greatest [Australian] Commonwealth rarity". We contend that it is also in the highest echelon of Twentieth Century errors of the entire British Commonwealth.
2/- grey-brown punctured 'OS' ACSC 37Hba (SG O49) block of 4 from the right of the sheet with vertical watermark-line at right, well centred, a couple of minor gum-bends that do not detract from the very fine appearance, unmounted, Cat $13,000+ for unmounted singles (£1900++ for mounted singles) plus a premium for the scarcer shade.
Perfin Club of New Zealand & Australia Certificate (2015).
Provenance:
Prestige/Mossgreen sale of 5.3.2015, Lot 1291, sold for $5380.
'Kangaroo Issues' Spink, Lot 178. Estimate £2500-£3000, unsold.
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 100
Symbol: *
Cat No: Collection
2/- brown Plate 1 Inserted 'CA' Monogram single ACSC 37A(1)za, very fine facial appearance but with a small thin behind the first 'A' of 'AUSTRALIA' and another at the base of the margin, and the upper 40% of the stamp with no gum, Cat $15,000.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 325, sold for $20,275 (described as "nice mint" with no reference to any problems).
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue records no CA Monogram strips, only a pair and four singles (one of which is in the Australian National Philatelic Collection, and one of which is postally used). That leaves only the pair and two mint singles in private hands.
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 101
Symbol: F
Cat No: Collection
2/- brown punctured 'OS' Plate 1 Inserted 'JBC' Monogram strip of 3 ACSC 37Aba(1)zb in a block of 12 [1R49-54/55-60], the right-hand margin and a small piece of selvedge at the base removed but with part of the gutter margin at left, very well centred, a few short perforations which hardly detract, multiple largely fine to very fine strikes of the 'LATE FEE/ 1 /8AP18/SPENCER ST VIC' cds that do not intrude on the monogram, Cat $50,000 for a mint punctured 'OS' monogram strip of 3 - see below - but unpriced used. A magnificent and stunningly beautiful showpiece.
This is the equal-largest known surviving monogram piece of any denomination between 2/- and £2. Further, we believe it is also the largest surviving postally used punctured 'OS' monogram piece for any denomination.
Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria Certificate (2013).
Provenance:
Stuart Hardy, Lot 350, sold for $34,950.
'Chartwell", Lot 620, sold for £18,000.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states in footnote 8 that only one other JBC Monogram strip of 3 is recorded, in a mint strip of 6 that has been rejoined (and is "therefore technically not a monogram strip of 3"). There are also two mint pairs and three mint singles (one with the watermark inverted). Of the CA Monogram, no strips are recorded, only a pair and four singles (one of which is in the Australian National Philatelic Collection and one of which is postally used).
Kevin Nelson's 2/- brown 'JBC' Monogram rejoined mint strip of 6 - referred to in the ACSC footnote - sold for $21,280. His First Watermark 2/- brown 'JBC' Monogram corner strip of 3 in a CTO block of 12 - the equal-largest surviving high value monogram piece - also sold for $21,280.
The ACSC prices very few used monograms, and where it does, this is invariably for CTO rather than postally used. We contend that prices for postally used monograms that are known to exist should be provided in the ACSC.
In our view, this block is the most important - and the most spectacular - used multiple of the Commonwealth of Australia. Collector interest in used multiples has grown steadily in recent years. This is an item around which an entire collection deserves to be developed.
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 102
Symbol: *
Cat No: Collection
2/- brown Plate 2 TS Harrison One-Line Imprint pair ACSC 37A(2)zg, remarkably well centred for an imprint piece with only the faintest evidence of having been mounted, Cat $20,000 for a pair. A rarity.
Provenance:
Lord Cornwallis, Lot 135, sold for £13,245.
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3788, sold for SFr11,495.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states that the only One-Line Imprint block of 4 is in the Royal Collection. This is the most attractive of the four pairs we have identified. It is much better centred and with a deeper margin than either Arthur Gray's pair that sold for US$14,375 or the 'Chartwell' pair that sold for £7800. Peter O'Rourke's similar but poorly-centred pair sold for $10,135.
2/- brown ACSC 37A (SG 41) marginal block of 4 from the base of the sheet with part-TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint, exceptional centring, characteristic 'fluffy' perfs, mounted on the upper units & in the margin, the lower units are unmounted, Cat $5900+ for two mounted and two unmounted singles (£1200+ for four mounted singles).
Provenance:
'Goldfarm', Lot 3101, sold for US$2760.
'Kangaroo Issues' Spink, Lot 153, described as "fine mint" with the unmounted units not noted. Estimate £1000-£1800, unsold.
Harrison Imprint blocks of the 2/- brown are extremely rare. The ACSC states that the only One-Line Imprint block is in the Royal Collection, and that there is only one Two-Line Imprint block "in private hands" - Ex 'Zed', sold at our auction of 25.1.2003 for $56,000 - but unpriced in the catalogue.
2/- maroon with the Watermark Inverted ACSC 38Aa (SG 74w) block of 4, well centred, faint toning on the lower-right unit, hinge remainder reinforcing a few split perforations at right, the lower-left unit with only the faintest evidence of having been mounted, Cat $24,000+ (£9000+) for four mounted singles.
Provenance:
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3808, sold for SFr4600.
Stated to be the only recorded block with the Watermark Inverted. Arthur Gray's similarly centred single sold for US$1840, despite having a horizontal crease (not mentioned in the description). An extremely off-centre pair sold for $4170 at the Status International auction of 6.12.2018.
2/- maroon Plate 1 TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint block of 4 ACSC 38A(1)z, characteristic irregular/rough perforations, lightly mounted across the gutter at the top, the imprint pair is unmounted, Cat $4000+ for mounted.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 333, sold for $4055.
5/- grey-black & yellow-orange with the Kangaroo Misplaced Downwards ACSC 44Bca block of 4 from the top of the left-hand pane with Horizontal Watermark Line at the top, additional colour in the top margin and Pos [L2] Broken Coast near Sydney and Break in Right Frame near Top ACSC 44(D)d, very well centred, what might appear to be a few tonespots between the upper units is actually residual yellow ink that is most obvious at the top of the stamps, mounted centrally with small hinge remainder, Cat $40,000+ for singles plus a premium for the scarcer shade. A marvellous and exaggerated example of the misplacement that intrudes on both the value circle and Tasmania.
One of the most visually-arresting and spectacular varieties in the entire Kangaroo & Map series.
Provenance:
Rodney Perry auction of 1.3.1979, Lot 341, Estimate $1000, result unknown.
'Chartwell', Lot 557, sold for £13,200.
The only other block known to us - with a few short perfs at the base and a few split/reinforced perforations - sold at our auction of 26.1.2002 for $23,520.
5/- grey & deep yellow 'CA' Monogram single ACSC 44Cza in a block of 4, the upper-right unit Pos [L52] with Kangaroo's Foot Broken & Tail Pointed ACSC 44(V)o, well centred, faint diagonal crease to the left of the monogram in the margin only otherwise very fine and lightly mounted, Cat $36,900+ for a monogram single, the variety and two normal singles.
Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria Certificate (2013).
Provenance:
Jack Kilfoyle, Lot 187, sold for £18/10/-
Stuart Hardy, Lot 373 sold for $25,630.
'Chartwell', Lot 559, sold for £14,400.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue records only three CA Monogram multiples being this block, a block of 8 and a pair, along with three singles (one with the watermark inverted).
5/- grey & pale yellow TS Harrison Imprint block of 4 ACSC 44Dzd with Pos [R55] Tsunami off NSW Coast ACSC 44D(v), very fresh with the upper units very lightly mounted & the lower units unmounted, Cat $13,500+ for a mounted block of 4.
Provenance:
Private transaction.
The ACSC states in footnote 13 that "Harrison imprints in pieces larger than a pair are rare. At present six blocks of 4 can be identified, and a block of 8".
5/- grey & yellow-orange John Ash Imprint block of 4 ACSC 44Czf with Pos [R55] Tsunami off New South Wales Coast ACSC 44(D)v, faint diagonal natural gum bend that in no way detracts from the very fine appearance, very lightly mounted on the upper-left unit and in the margin at the base otherwise unmounted, Cat $14,500 for a mounted block.
Provenance:
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3790, sold for SFr9075.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states that "Although Ash imprint pairs are frequently seen, there may be no more than five surviving blocks of 4".
10/- grey & deep aniline pink with the Watermark Inverted ACSC 48Ba (SG 43aw) marginal block of 4 from the right of the left-hand pane with large-part 'jubilee' line, brilliant colours, well centred, characteristic rough perforations horizontally, minor hinge remainders, Cat $19,000+ (£11,000+) for four mounted singles.
Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria Certificate (2003).
Provenance:
'Zed', Lot 83, sold for $10,640.
Lord Steinberg, Lot 121, result unknown.
Robert Siegel (New York) auction 7.10.2014, sold for US$9200.
'Kangaroo Issues' Spink, Lot 167. Estimate £5000-£6000, unsold.
Blocks with the watermark inverted are extremely elusive. This item is better-centred than Stuart Hardy's block of 4 that sold for $8445.
10/- grey & deep aniline pink punctured 'OS' ACSC 48Bba (SG O51) upper-left corner block of 4 with 'jubilee' lines Pos [L1-2/7-8], brilliant colour, mounted in the upper margin only where there are a few split/reinforced perforations, the stamps are unmounted, Cat $15,000+ for unmounted singles (£4800+ for mounted singles). Superb. [See also Lot 148]
Perfin Club of New Zealand & Australia Certificate (2021).
Provenance:
Postmaster-General's Department
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester by way of gift.
Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood by way of gift.
George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood by descent.
Spink auction of 11.11.2013, Lot 23, sold for £6820.
'Kangaroo Issues' Spink, Lot 181. Estimate £4000-£5000, unsold.
The 2013 Spink catalogue stated "from a collection of [then-]current Australian stamps (all in similar blocks of 4) presented in 1934 by the Postmaster-General, Senator AJ McLachlan, to HRH The Duke of Gloucester, who passed it to his [older] sister, Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood". [The Duke of Gloucester was the third son, and fourth child of King George V and Queen Mary. In 1934, he was presented with the blocks of 4 during his visit to Australia for the Centenary of Victoria Celebrations. Between 1945 and 1947 he was Governor-General of Australia, the only Royal to hold that position]
10/- grey & deep aniline pink punctured 'OS' with the Kangaroo Misplaced into the Sea off Broome ACSC 48Bcb marginal single from the top of the sheet with 'jubilee' line, brilliant colour, lightly mounted in the margin only, the stamp is unmounted, Cat $5000 for CTO; unpriced mint. Superb.
This is believed to be the only recorded mint example.
Provenance:
Julian Sterling Part 2, Lot 115, sold for $5680.
'Kangaroo Issues' Spink, Lot 182. Estimate £2000-£2500, unsold.
In the new (2021) edition of the Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue the price from the 'used' column has - apparently inadvertently - been moved to the 'mint' column. However, footnote 8 still states that the variety is known only on stamps that have been cancelled-to-order. We have quoted the pricing details as shown in the 2017 edition.
10/- grey & deep aniline pink with Type B 'SPECIMEN' Overprint block of 4 ACSC 48xa, exceptional centring, tonespot on the lower-left unit, the upper units are lightly mounted and the lower units are unmounted, Cat $8500+ for a mounted block of 4.
Provenance:
William Holbeach.
Arthur Gray, Lot 710 sold for US$6035.
Martin West, Grosvenor auction of 4.10.2012, Lot 181, sold for £4710.
'Besancon' Part II, Lot 3635, sold for SFr4356.
A similar block of 4 sold at the Millennium auction of 22.4.2005 for $3960.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states in footnote 11 "Multiples ... are very rare ... four blocks of 4 are presently recorded".
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 114
Symbol: */**
Cat No: Collection
10/- grey & deep aniline pink punctured 'OS' 'JBC' Monogram single ACSC 48Bbazb in a block of 4, a few minor tonespots on the upper units which are lightly mounted, the lower units - including the monogram unit & margin - are unmounted and superb, Cat $82,750+ for a punctured 'OS' mounted monogram single plus one unmounted and two mounted units.
Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2018) states "genuine in all respects, contemporary perf OS. Great rarity as only a total of 4 JBC monogram items were previously recorded in private hands, with 3 being normal singles, and only 1 being perf OS (as block of 6), and now this block being additional".
Provenance:
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3873, sold for SFr21,780.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue records only the four items listed by Ceremuga plus a mint strip of 3 in the Royal Collection and does not refer to this block. The ACSC prices the mint punctured 'OS' corner block of 6 at $100,000.
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 115
Symbol: */**
Cat No: Collection
10/- grey & pale aniline pink TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint block of 4 ACSC 48Ezc, faint vertical bend affects the left-hand units, very lightly mounted across the gutter at the top only, the lower units are unmounted, Cat $75,000.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 365, sold for $45,315.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue records only three blocks of 4, the other two of which are in the Royal Collection and the Australian National Philatelic Collection respectively, plus three further blocks of 4 punctured 'OS' (two of which are CTO). An additional unpunctured block of 4 was offered in the Status International auction of 2.2.2017, Lot 1034, and sold for $42,930.
£1 pale brown & blue ACSC 52D (SG 44) corner block of 4 from the upper-left of the sheet with 'jubilee' lines, the last unit with a couple of lightly toned perfs, minor gum loss from where a central hinge has been removed, Cat $18,000+ (£12,000+) for singles.
Provenance:
'Holding' Collection, Harmers of Sydney auction of 2.6.1982, Lot 153, Estimate $4000, result unknown.
Private transaction.
£1 chestnut & blue ACSC 52B (SG 44a) corner block of 4 from the upper-right of the right-hand pane including Pos [R11] White Flaws below 'AG' and over Cape York ACSC 52(D)k, rich colours, well centred especially the upper pair, the lower pair with a slight shift of the vertical perforations, the upper-left unit with a tiny natural paper inclusion at the top, the lower-right unit with a faint natural paper bend that is not apparent from the face and a small mark in the margin alongside (not toning), hinged in the margins only with all the stamps being unmounted, Cat $70,000+ for unmounted singles (£13,000+ for mounted singles) plus a premium for the listed variety.
An exceptional block and one of the most beautiful items in the collection.
Provenance:
'Chartwell', Lot 574, sold for £16,800.
£1 chocolate & blue Type B 'SPECIMEN' Overprint ACSC 52Axa block of 9 [R40-42/46-48/52-54], units [41] & [53] both with Major Break in the Coast of the Bight 52(D)r & t and unit [47] with Kangaroo's Ear Broken 52(V)va, very well centred, a couple of very minor gum-blemishes otherwise superb unmounted, Cat $27,500++ for a mounted block of 4 plus five unmounted singles, plus a significant premium for the three listed varieties. A magnificent showpiece and a 'must have' for the collector of Specimen Overprints.
Provenance:
Status International auction of 2.2.2017, Lot 1042, Reserve $45,000, result unknown.
Private transaction.
Arthur Gray's unmounted block of 4 sold for US$11,500.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states "there are at least two blocks of 9", making this the equal-largest multiple in private hands. There were blocks of 9 in both Australia Post Archival Sales by Tender in 1987 and 1988. This is an additional block, the quality strongly suggesting that it is from the same archival source. On several occasions, Australia Post has donated philatelic items to raise funds for exhibitions and this may be one such piece.
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 119
Symbol: *
Cat No: Collection
£1 chocolate & dull blue 'JBC' Monogram single ACSC 52Azb with the monogram a little trimmed, well centred, the gum a trifle aged, small hinge remainder in the margin with just the faintest evidence of the stamp itself having been mounted, Cat $75,000.
Provenance:
Spink (New York) auction of 12.9.2018, Lot 574, sold for US$45,000.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states in footnote 8 that "monograms are extremely rare ... Of the JBC monogram there are three mint singles (one in the Royal Collection), one of which has the watermark inverted (in the chestnut & blue shade) (total - 3). All examples seen ... have the monogram trimmed at base".
Peter O'Rourke had both the recorded singles in private hands: the example in brown & blue with Watermark Upright sold for $45,315; the chestnut & blue example with Watermark Inverted sold for $50,085, having previously been sold in the Arthur Gray auction for US$69,000.
This stamp was apparently a new discovery when sold in 2018, and is not included in the ACSC listing.
£1 grey ACSC 53A (SG 75) marginal block of 12 from the left of the sheet [L25-27/43-45], of very fresh appearance but the gum is evenly aged, the upper-central unit very lightly mounted otherwise the block is entirely unmounted, Cat $42,250+ for one mounted and eleven unmounted singles (£7800+ for mounted singles). A highly desirable multiple, believed to be the equal-largest known mint block.
Provenance:
Dr Leslie Abramovich.
'Chartwell', Lot 582, sold for £4560 (described as "gum toned").
Arthur Gray's similarly-configured block of 12 from the right of the left-hand pane, with similarly aged gum and all but one unit unmounted, sold for US$19,550. It seems likely that both blocks are from the same sheet and were probably both in the Abramovich Collection.
£1 grey ACSC 53A (SG 75) block of 4 from the left of the pane with vertical marginal watermark line at left, short perfs at the base, tiny pink speck at lower-left of the first unit, central 'REGISTERED/9MR32/SYDNEY-NSW' cds, Cat $2300+ (£1400+) for four singles. A rare multiple.
Provenance:
Rodney Perry auction of 30.8.1989, Lot 1443, sold for $396.
'Goldmine', Lot 379, sold for $1490.
£1 grey CTO ACSC 53w block of 4 from the upper-right corner of the sheet with horizontal & vertical watermark lines and with largely superb central strike of the 'GPO MELBOURNE/24MY24/- 1 -' cds, very well centred, characteristic 'fluffy' perfs, the lower-right unit with a minor natural gum-bend, all stamps unmounted, the upper-right unit with minor ink transfer on the gum, Cat $3000+ for four CTO singles without gum (£1400+ for four postally used singles). A rare and beautiful block.
Provenance:
Rodney Perry auction of 8.11.1988, Lot 651, Estimate $800, result unknown.
'Kangaroo Issues' Spink, Lot 185. Estimate £1500-£2000, unsold.
£1 deep grey with Type C 'SPECIMEN' Overprint ACSC 53Bxc block of 4 from the first two columns of the overprint forme of 30 (6x5), the left-hand stamps both with Hooked 'C' ACSC 53xd and the right-hand stamps both with Shaved 'P' ACSC 53xf, three units very lightly mounted and the lower-left unit is unmounted, Cat $7500+ for a mounted block of 4 plus a significant premium for the varieties.
Provenance:
'Goldmine', Lot 384, sold for $4530.
A similar block of 4 sold at the Millennium auction of 27.4.2005 for $3145.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states that there were four printings of the Type C 'SPECIMEN' producing a total of only 184 formes of 30, or 5520 stamps. The only recorded multiples are a block of 8 (2x4 with varieties xd and xf) and four blocks of 4 (at least one with the varieties).
£1 grey with TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint ACSC 53z with the second line of the imprint guillotined-off as is usual for the One Pound Grey, quite well centred, a few tiny imperfections otherwise superb, very lightly mounted across the gutter only, the lower-left unit is unmounted, Cat $20,000 with trimmed imprint.
Provenance:
'Besancon' Part III, Lot 3809, sold for SFr5565
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states only six imprint blocks have been recorded, of which only one - Ex Kevin Nelson - has the complete imprint, Cat $60,000.
£2 black & rose-carmine ACSC 56A (SG 45) block of 4 from the top of the sheet with horizontal watermark line at the top Pos [L3-4/9-10], Pos [L3] with Very Short Spencer Gulf ACSC 56(D)d and Pos [L9] with Broken Tail on Kangaroo ACSC 56(V)e, the upper-right and lower-left units both with unlisted Shaved 'Top of 2' in '£2', very well centred, exceptional freshness and lightly to very lightly mounted, Cat $32,750+ for two normal singles and the two listed varieties plus a premium for the unlisted varieties (£20,000+ for four normal singles). Superb.
A magnificent showpiece of the highest denomination in the series.
Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria Certificate (2013).
Provenance:
TE Field, Lot 211.
Jack Kilfoyle, Lot 227, sold for £135.
Stuart Hardy, Lot 458, sold for $39,610.
'Chartwell', Lot 590, sold for £10,800.
Cherrystone (USA) auction of 5.9.2018, Lot 535, sold for US$24,150.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue lists the Broken Tail on Kangaroo vignette plate variety on Pos [L4] [L9] [L12] and [R27]. Both [L4] and [L9] are present here, but we can detect no trace of the variety on the [L4] unit.
£2 black & rose-carmine with Type B 'SPECIMEN' Overprint block of 4 [19-20/25-26] ACSC 56xa, the lower-left unit with Frame Breaks below 'T' 'N' & 'S' of 'POUNDS' ACSC 56(D)u, quite well centred, one tiny tonespot at lower-right of the upper-right unit, some minor gum disturbance but lightly mounted, Cat $10,000. A very attractive and rare multiple.
Provenance:
Private transaction.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states that only five blocks of 4 have been recorded. Arthur Gray's block of 4 with 'fluffy' perforations, sold for US$6900.
£2 purple-black & rose-carmine with Type C 'SPECIMEN' Overprint block of 4 ACSC 56Cxc, a few split/reinforced perforations at the top, very fine appearance but the gum is a bit aged, the upper units lightly mounted and the lower units are unmounted, Cat $12,500.
Provenance:
Millennium auction of 27.4.2005, Lot 387, sold for $3130.
'Goldmine', Lot 396, sold for $3575.
Arthur Gray's very fine unmounted block of 4 sold for US$9200.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states there were two printings of the Type C 'SPECIMEN' producing a total of only 60 formes of 30, or 1800 stamps, with only one block of 8 (2x4) and four blocks of 4 recorded.
Sale No: 246
Lot No: 128
Symbol: */**
Cat No: Collection
£2 purple-black & rose-carmine TS Harrison Two-Line Imprint block of 4 ACSC 56z, well centred, characteristic rough perforations, very lightly mounted at top across the gutter, the monogram pair is entirely unmounted, Cat $125,000+ for a mounted block of 4. Marvellous and superb!
BPA Expertising Ltd Certificate (2012).
Provenance:
The Morgan Collection, Lot 294, sold for £60,000.
'Chartwell': Lot 586, sold for £60,000.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue states "Harrison imprint blocks are extremely rare." Only four blocks of 4 are recorded, one of which is in the Royal Collection. There is also a punctured 'OS' mint block of 4 and a CTO block of 8.
