MAIN ROADS, GAMBIERTON Overprinted 'MRG' and Variants
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 464
Symbol: F
Cat No: Collection
RED OVERPRINT: 'MRG' with No Stops on Rouletted 2d bright vermilion, rouletting on all sides, fine Gambierton cds of AU4/68. Rated RRRRR: unrecorded unused. Ex Colonel Harry Napier (III). RPSofL Certificate (1965). [The only date recorded by Don Pearce. The only other recorded example is in the institutionalised Sir George Murray collection]
BLUE OVERPRINT: 'MRG' with No Stops on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Rouletted 2d dull orange, rouletting on all sides & Double Roulettes at the Top, small thin at the base, Gambierton cds. Rated RRRR+. Ex Rev James Mursell and Colonel Harry Napier (but not included in his sales). RPSofL Certificate (1965) states "creased and defective". The two 'Besancon' mint examples - also rated RRRR - sold for SFr5080 & SFr2900 (2020) respectively. [The only (part-)dated example recorded]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'MRG' with No Stops on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange, unusually well centred, Gambierton cds of JU21/71. Superb. Rated RRRRRR, but three examples have been recorded so it should be rated RRRRR: unrecorded unused. Ex Rev James Mursell and Colonel Harry Napier (III) but not included in his sales. RPSofL Certificate (1965). The 'Besancon' used example with Stops 'M.R.G.' - rated RRRRR - sold for SFr4355. [Date range -.2.1871 to 10.2.1872]
NB: the certificate states "...it appears to be 'MRC' for 'MRG'..." but we believe that is an illusion created by the postmark obscuring the serif on the 'G']
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'M.R.G.' with Stops on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Rouletted 2d dull orange block of 4, the upper-right unit with Defective 'G' appearing as a 'C', remarkably well centred with rouletting on all sides & between the units, Gambierton cds of JY11/70. Ex AE Fryar (1955). Rated RRRRR: unrecorded unused but this is the only recorded example of the error, so it should be rated RRRRRR. The 'Besancon' & 'Tamiami' singles without the error sold for SFr4355 & $11,980 respectively. One of the most important items in the sale. [Date range 11.7.1870 to 1871]
Indicative of how little was understood about the Departmentals before the publication of Ron Butler's book, at the Fryar sale, this outstanding rarity was offered in the same lot as the very rare 2d 'MRG.' with Stop after the 'G' only, and neither was thought to warrant a photograph.
