Selection of Classics comprising Half-Lengths 1d x2 2d & 3d x3 (one an enormous stamp), Queen-on-Throne 2d x2 plus unused 1d & 6d x2, Emblems Imperf 4d x2 & Rouletted 2d pair, also Large Stamp Duty 5/- maroon/yellow & 1901 'POSTAGE' Omitted 5/- both mint with large-part original gum.
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1045
Symbol: **
Cat No: Collection
1854 Octagonal 1/- blue SG 25 extraordinary block of 24 [Types 17-24/25-32/33-40] from the base of the sheet, huge to humungous margins except at the top where six units are just touched to shaved, Position [36] with 'VIGTORIA' Flaw, some bends & creasing including horizontally across the upper row, 10mm vertical tear into the fourth unit & a minor closed tear in the margin at right, a few small central stains, remarkably all units with full unmounted original gum, Cat £31,200++, for 24 unused singles. A famous block and one of the most important items of Victorian philately: illustrated at page 85 by Geoff Kellow who states: "Mint blocks were unknown until 1981 when the remarkable discovery occurred in Adelaide of a block of 24". RPSofL Certificate (2019).
This impressive artefact was offered at auction in Switzerland in 1981. It sold for SFr110,000 +10% buyer's premium. That was a formidable sum 41 years ago. It was acquired by Signor Marchetti, an Italian Swiss businessman, and remained 'hidden' until the third of the 'Besancon' sales in 2018 where it sold for a truly modest SFr19,360 which was less than one-fifth of the price 36 years earlier! By comparison, in the first 'Besancon' auction, the used block of 6 of SG 1 realised SFr66,000 and in the second sale the SG 4 used block of 16 - catalogued at only £650 for a single - went to a new owner for SFr43,560. The third sale also included the majestic mint block of 10 of SG 12a, that sold for SFr25,400.
It is our professional opinion that the Shilling Octagonal block of 24 is at least the equal of these other gems, and should be worth at least as much as any of them. It is a larger multiple and, in fact, is the largest block - unused or used - of any of the imperforate Victorian stamps. It also has full unmounted original gum which, for these early issues, is virtually unheard-of. In addition, it is the only equilateral-octagonal design of any of the Colonies, making it a technically highly significant piece, that stature enhanced by the almost inconceivable sheet layout: see Geoff Kellow at page 83 and the accompanying article by Tony Banwell & Robson Lowe where they identify constant flaws on 21 of the 24 units & secondary flaws on 11 units. On top of all this, the only other unused multiple of the imperf Shilling Octagonal is the vertical strip of three (one-eighth the size of this block), offered in 'Besancon' (I) which is a Jeffreys forgery!. Only a handful of singles are known, grossly under-catalogued at a very modest £1300, were a fine unused single to be offered we would expect it to sell for at least $10,000.
In conclusion, this magnificent philatelic gem is deserving of pride-of-pace in the finest of collections of Victoria, of the Australian Colonies, indeed of Classics of the World. [As our vendor insists, if this was an American or German States item of similar significance, a million dollars wouldn't buy it. And he's absolutely correct]
1854-57 Half-Lengths Campbell & Fergusson Printings 1d dull red SG 26b horizontal pair, margins close to good, light but legible 'NEWSPAPER/[crown]/FE c 2/1856/MELBOURNE' d/s, Cat £220+. [Identified as Stone 2, Seventh Printing, Pos 20-21]
1854-57 Half-Lengths Campbell & Fergusson Printings 1d orange-brown SG 27, margins close to touching slightly at left & base, a couple of minor thins at left, large-part original gum, Cat £3750.
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1048
Symbol: G
Cat No: Collection
1854-57 Half-Lengths Campbell & Fergusson Printings 1d pink SG28d with Retouched Upper-Right Corner group, most noticeably affecting the 'A' of 'VICTORIA' and the corner ornament alongside, good to wide margins just close at L/L, untidy Barred Numeral '61' of Maryborough largely clear of the variety, under-catalogued at Cat £350 each for a group of retouches. Only a couple of examples of each retouch are recorded; this particular variety was not listed by Purves nor by Geoff Kellow in 'Stamps of Victoria'. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Feb-28-2023, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1049
Symbol: F
Cat No: 31c
1854-57 Half-Lengths Campbell & Fergusson Printings 3d deep blue SG 31c (unlisted variety) with Coloured Diagonal Scratches Through Design & Void Lower-Right Corner, the scratches running through the 'V' of 'VICTORIA' to the 'N' of 'PENCE', margins good to large, light indistinct Barred Oval cancel, Cat £50 for normal. The most prominent variety in this printing; scarce this fine. See Geoff Kellow in 'Stamps of Victoria' at page 60, where he illustrates a similar variety.
1854-55 Woodblocks Imperf 6d dull orange (margins just clear - at the base - to good, possibly unused), 2/-, 'TOO LATE' 6d & 'REGISTERED' 1/- x2, all with full margins, plus Rouletted 1/-, Cat £1400 plus the 6d. (6)
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1052
Symbol: F
Cat No: 90c with
1860-66 Beaded Ovals Saunders With Paper Value in Words Watermark 3d deep blue SG 90c with Void Corner at Upper-Left, a few slightly uneven perfs, Melbourne duplex cancel of 'JA26/66' largely clear of the variety. Illustrated by Geoff Kellow in 'Stamps of Victoria' at page 132. A fine example of this scarce variety.
1860-63 Emblems De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 2d grey-violet as SG 101 but with No Watermark, a few uneven perfs, neat Melbourne duplex cancel. Unlisted by Gibbons. Ex Rod Perry & Gary Diffen. Rare: only two examples are recorded. Rod Perry (2009) Certificate plus RPSV Certificate (2011) stating "... genuine, being printed on the edge of a misplaced sheet, outside the marginal Wmk line".
1860-63 Emblems De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 2d slate SG 101c, cut from the sheet at right to preserve the design, well-centred, fresh colours, unused, Cat £350.
1861 Woodblocks Saunders Paper Value in Words Watermark 6d black as SG 102 but with the Watermark 'SIX P[ENCE]' Inverted, a few uneven perfs and cut from the sheet to preserve the design at left, neat Melbourne duplex cancel, unlisted by Gibbons. Ex JRW Purves, Roland Geitenbeck & Gary Diffen. Rare: only two examples are recorded. (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 300.00
Closed..Feb-28-2023, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1056
Symbol: G
Cat No: 104
1861-64 Netted Corners De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 1d apple-green as SG 104 but with No Watermark, a few uneven perfs, indistinct numeral cancel. Unlisted by Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. The only recorded example.
1863-73 Laureates De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 1d bluish-green Wmk '1' Printed Double SG 108ca, Sandhurst duplex, Cat £3000. Ex JRW Purves, Rodney Perry, Nick Holness - sold at our auction of 14.4.2005 for $4425 - and Gary Diffen (unsold). Rodney Perry (1985) & RPSofV (2008) Certificates. [Believed to be the finest of the three recorded examples, all of which were used at Sandhurst. Kellow rates this a "major rarity" & states at p148 "This may be a true case of a sheet passing twice through the press..." as distinct from 'kiss print' varieties. SG 108ca & 110a - see the next Lot - are the only Double Prints listed for Victoria]
1863-73 Laureates De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 4d rose Wmk '4' Printed Double SG 110a additionally with the Watermark Inverted & Reversed, also with Large Void Area at Upper-Right, misperforated so mercifully cut from the sheet to preserve the design, Cat £800. Ex Rodney Perry, Nick Holness and Gary Diffen. RPSofV Certificate (1997) states "...genuine, possibly irregularly issued". Four different kinds of error on the one stamp! and the only recorded example. [Illustrated by Geoff Kellow at page 162. SG 110a & 108ca - see the previous Lot - are the only Double Prints listed for Victoria] (Image1)
Estimate AU$2,000
Opening AU$ 1,500.00
Sold...AU$ 1,500.00
Closed..Feb-28-2023, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 1500
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1059
Symbol: G
Cat No: 110ca
1863-73 Laureates De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 4d rose Error of Watermark '8' SG 110ca, two short perfs at the base, partial Barred Numeral cancel, Cat £10,000. One of the great watermark errors of Victoria. Ex Gary Diffen: acquired at our auction of 5.9.2009 for $6115. Rodney Perry Certificate (2009) and RPSofV Certificate (2009).
NB: Rodney Perry's certificate states "Kellow records two examples; this is another". However, Geoff Kellow states at p163 that the discovery example, found in 1894, was "irretrievably lost": see also Philately from Australia (Dec 2008) at p107 where that statement was repeated by Richard Breckon. This means that only the other example recorded by Geoff Kellow - Ex Mavis Rodwell & Rod Perry - and this stamp, found in 2008, are now known.
1863-73 Laureates De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 1/- blue/pale blue Wmk '1' Perf 13 SG 113 Z-shaped block of 6, minor toning, Melbourne duplex cancels of JN20/68. One of the largest recorded multiples.
1863-73 Laureates De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 1/- blue/light blue as SG 113 but with No Watermark additionally with Strong Offset on Reverse, a few uneven perfs, large-part original gum. Unlisted by Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. This is the only recorded example with no watermark. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Feb-28-2023, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1062
Symbol: *
Cat No: 118
1863-73 Laureates Emergency Printings on De La Rue Paper Single-Lined Watermark 3d lilac Wmk '8' SG 118, quite well-centred, large-part original gum, Cat £275.
1863-73 Laureates Saunders Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 4d rose-red Wmk '4' with the Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 121aa, neat Barred Numeral '173' cancel of Daylesford, unpriced by Gibbons. First reported in 1952, this error was not listed by Gibbons until 2010. Ex Gary Diffen. Rare: our vendor states that this is the only recorded example (but see next Lot). RPSV Certificate (2008).
1863-73 Laureates Saunders Paper Single-Lined Numeral Watermark 4d rose-red Wmk '4' with the Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) as SG 121aa but additionally with the Watermark Reversed (the serif on the horizontal stroke of the '4' pointing towards the base of the stamp), a couple of short perfs & minor creasing, very fine First Type Barred Numeral '244' of Back Creek/Talbot (goldmining), recorded but unpriced in Gibbons. Only one other example of the Watermark Sideways variety has been recorded - not Reversed - used at Daylesford (see previous Lot).
1867-81 Laureates V/Crown (W19) Watermark 1d bluish-green with the Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 131fa, indistinct numeral cancel, unpriced by Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. First reported in 1952, this error was not listed by Gibbons until 2010. Only four examples recorded, of which one has the watermark facing right (see next Lot). RPSV Certificate (2008).
1867-81 Laureates V/Crown (W19) Watermark 1d bluish-green with the Watermark Sideways Facing Right (as seen from the front) SG 131fa, small-part light numeral cancel, slightly rounded corner at U/R, unpriced by Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. Only four examples recorded, of which this is the only example known with the watermark facing right (see previous Lot). RPSV Certificate (2008).
1867-81 Laureates V/Crown (W19) Watermark 2d lilac with the Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 132ba, light '200' partial duplex cancel of South Yarra, some uneven perfs, unpriced by Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. First reported in 1952, this error was not listed by Gibbons until 2010, and unusually is not mentioned in Geoff Kellow's 'Stamps of Victoria'. RPSV Certificate (2008).
1867-81 Laureates V/Crown (W19) Watermark 3d dull-orange with the Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 134ab, neat 'VICTORIA' in bars partial duplex cancel, a couple of very light corner creases and a few uneven perfs, Cat £750. Ex Gary Diffen. First reported by JRW Purves in 1958, this error was not listed by Gibbons until 2010, and unusually is not mentioned in Geoff Kellow's 'Stamps of Victoria'. Only three examples recorded. RPSV Certificate (2008).
1867-81 Laureates V/Crown (W19) Watermark 6d blue as SG 136 but with the Watermark Inverted, large-part original gum with light overall aging, Cat £95 for normal. Gibbons do not list inverted watermarks for the Australian States on the basis that many are 'normal'. However, in this issue they are 'abnormal' and very scarce. Ex Gary Diffen.
1867-81 Laureates V/Crown (W19) Watermark 6d blue with the Watermark Sideways Facing Right (as seen from the front) SG 136ab, light 'HAMILTON/JA22/73/VICTORIA-4[6]' duplex cancel, some uneven perfs, unpriced by Gibbons. Rare: this is the only example recorded facing right; one other example is recorded facing left. First reported in 1952, this error was not listed by Gibbons until 2010, and unusually is not mentioned in Geoff Kellow's 'Stamps of Victoria'. RPSV Certificate (2008). Ex Gary Diffen.
1867-81 Laureates V/Crown (W19) Watermark 8d red-brown/pink with the Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 137d, additionally with Double Perforations Vertically at left, two light duplex cancels, a couple of pulled perfs, Cat £400 for the watermark error. Ex Gary Diffen. First reported in 1929, the error was mentioned in a footnote by Gibbons before being listed in 2007. About a dozen examples are recorded. A remarkable combination of errors.
1867-81 Laureates V/Crown (W19) Watermark 1/- blue/light blue as SG 138 but with the Watermark Inverted & Reversed, large-part original gum with light overall aging, a few uneven perfs, Cat £275 for normal. Gibbons do not list inverted or reversed watermarks for the Australian States on the basis that many are 'normal'. However, in this issue they are 'abnormal' with only a couple of examples recorded. Ex Gary Diffen.
1867-70 Laureates Emergency Printings on Saunders Paper Value in Words Watermark 1d pale yellow-green with Watermark '[SIX]PENCE' Sideways Facing Right (as seen from the front) SG 162a, light but clearly dated 'JY 7/68' cds, a few faults, unpriced by Gibbons. Ex JRW Purves (in a mixed lot) & Gary Diffen. First recorded in the TW Hall auction in 1939, this error was not listed by Gibbons until 2009. RPSV Certificate (2008) states " ... genuine, with repaired tear upper right and light vertical crease at left".
1870-73 De La Rue V/Crown (W19) Watermark 2d dull lilac-mauve Perf 13 as SG 169a but with Misplaced Vertical Perforations corrected with Perf 12 creating Mixed Perforations 13x12x13x12, light but clear Barred Numeral '16' of Ballan, a few uneven perfs as to be expected. Incorrectly listed by Gibbons as SG 170b (Perf 12) and unpriced. Ex Gary Diffen. Rare: the only example recorded. RPSV Certificate (2015) also incorrectly identifies the stamp as SG 170.
1873 Laureates '½ ½/HALF' Surcharge on 1d green Perf 13 with Misplaced Vertical Perforations corrected with Perf 12 creating Mixed Perforations 13x12x13x13 SG 174c, untidy numeral cancel, a few uneven perfs as to be expected, unpriced by Gibbons. Rare: the only example recorded. Ex Gary Diffen. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2004).
1873-87 Bell V/Crown (W19) Watermark 1d yellow-green Perf 13 with Misplaced Vertical Perforations corrected with Perf 12 creating Mixed Perforations 13x12x13x12 SG 177c, light Melbourne duplex cancel, a few uneven perfs as to be expected, unpriced by Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. Rare: only one other example recorded.
1873-87 Bell V/Crown (W19) Watermark 1/- indigo-blue/light blue with the Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 180a, very fine Barred Numeral '156' of Mansfield, a couple of slightly uneven perfs, Cat £750. Ex Gary Diffen. First reported in 1929, the error was not listed by Gibbons until 2005. About a dozen examples are recorded, including two in the Royal Collection.
1873-87 Bell V/Crown (W19) Watermark 1/- pale blue/light blue with the Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 180c, partial but clearly dated 'MY 26/80' cds, small closed tear at base and some uneven perfs/rounded corners, Cat £750. Ex Les Molnar & Gary Diffen. First reported in our auction of the Les Molnar Collection of Victoria in 2012 and listed by Gibbons in 2016. Rare: the only example recorded.
1873-87 Bell V/Crown (W19) Watermark '8d 8d/EIGHT PENCE' Surcharge on 9d lilac-brown/pink SG 191 with Major Horizontal Misplacement of the Overprint, light Melbourne duplex cancel.
1873-87 Bell Emergency Printings on Coloured Paper 2d dull violet/green Perf 12 with Misplaced Vertical Perforations corrected with Perf 13 creating Mixed Perforations 12x13x12x12 SG 199a, neat '5' partial duplex cancel of Ballarat, a few uneven perfs as to be expected, unpriced by Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. Rare: the only example recorded. RPSV Certificate (2014).
1884 Stamp Statute 1d green V/Crown Wmk (Type 19) Upright Perf 12½ SG 220a, well above-average centring, a couple of slightly uneven perfs, large part original gum, Cat £200. Ex Ed Williams.
1884 Stamp Statute 3d mauve V/Crown Wmk (Type 19) Sideways Perf 12½ SG 221, characterisctically off-centre, light '712' Nagambie duplex postal cancel, a couple of uneven perfs and some very minor aging, Cat £600. Ex Ed Williams.
1885-95 Naish 'STAMP DUTY' V/Crown (W33) Watermark 4d lilac Error of Colour SG 300b, neat Barred Numeral '1' killer of Melbourne, Cat £1700. Ex JRW Purves, Rod Perry & Gary Diffen. The stamp was issued first in magenta (much redder) and then in bright rosy-mauve (much darker).
1896-99 'STAMP DUTY' V/Crown (W82) Watermark 2d violet with Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 334a rejoined pair, light but clear 'SOUTH MELBOURNE/FE 4/99' cds, under-catalogued at £190+. Substantially scarcer than the same variety on the later V/Crown (W85) Watermark 1899 issue SG 359a, which is unpriced by Gibbons [see Lot 1091]. Ex Gary Diffen.
1896-99 'STAMP DUTY' V/Crown (W82) Watermark 1/- brownish red with Watermark Upright SG 341a, large-part original gum with small hinge thin, unpriced in Gibbons (Cat £500 for used). Ex JRW Purves & Gary Diffen. Rare: the only recorded unused example.
1899-1901 'STAMP DUTY' V/Crown (W85) Watermark ½d green with Watermark Upright SG 356b, almost full original gum imperceptibly mounted (if at all), minor gum bend and tiny tonespot at left, unpriced unused in Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. Only three mint examples are recorded.
1899-1901 'STAMP DUTY' V/Crown (W85) Watermark 1d rosine with Watermark Sideways Facing Right (as seen from the front) SG 357b, large-part original gum, unpriced in Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. Rare: only two mint examples are recorded.
1899-1901 'STAMP DUTY' V/Crown (W85) Watermark 1d rosine with Watermark Sideways Facing Right (as seen from the front) single and with Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) horizontal pair SG 357b, the pair with a few tone-spots on the reverse, unpriced in Gibbons. Ex Gary Diffen. (2 items)
Sale No: 250
Lot No: 1091
Symbol: */**
Cat No: 359a
1899-1901 'STAMP DUTY' V/Crown (W85) Watermark 2d violet with Watermark Sideways Facing Left (as seen from the front) SG 359a block of 4, the upper two units with a small hinge remainder, the lower two units unmounted, unpriced by Gibbons. Ex JRW Purves & Gary Diffen. First reported in 1952, this error was not listed by Gibbons until 2000. Only seven mint examples are recorded: including this block of 4.
1901 'POSTAGE' Omitted V/Crown (W82/85) Watermark ½d blue-green complete sheet of 240 (20x12) including the 'PCSTAGE' flaw [Row 7 Pos 19], variable centring, lots of perf separation, unmounted, Cat £800+, for mounted singles. [We suggest foregoing the stamps being unmounted & rejoining the various blocks]
