Sale No: 22DE
Lot No: 50079
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Mauritius - "Post Paid" 1848 1 Penny. The sensational assembly of 32 items, comprising a key element in the work of Sperati: the negative matrix on film which is the foundation to produce the clichés, this with painted surround to concentrate the light on the area of the design, with annotations on back "Alpha" for the lantern plate of the English brand 'Ilford' which Sperati used, "retouche crayon" (retouch pencil) although he used ink; a stunning number of eight glass clichés in brown, red and black shades which were preferred Sperati's colours to create good contrasts, with notes including dates in June 1931 and February 1933, one with "18 x 5% x 2'30" (5% of a chemical substance, exposure to light of 2 mins 30 secs under 18°C temperature); four clichés on celluloid with three in shades from vermilion to deep red and one in black, the vermilion example with "retouche 3eme Agfa p. 2'30" " denoting a third retouch and a light exposure on Agfa celluloid during 2 mins 30 secs; 14 essays or 'die' proofs on mainly medium wove paper but also including very thin and yellowish papers, three of these proofs exhibiting two impressions (three in red and black and one in red for both), including all the impressions on medium white wove paper as numbered in pencil from 1 to 12 by Sperati -so we presume that this is the complete set-; concluding with three finished reproductions which were previously unknown (one with Pascal Scheller certificate stating the reproduction to be "non répertoriée"), as well as an additional reproduction on bluish thin paper printed on both sides including one inverted.
One of the most incredible discoveries from the Sperati archive, representing one of the greatest classic countries in worldwide philately. From the matrix through the clichés to the also highly important finished reproductions, all these items being unique, and except for one essay or 'die' proof, all previously unknown. Without doubt being in the top ranking of Sperati rarities, as well as an astonishing section in the most advanced collections of Mauritius.
Additional note on the rarity and relevance: The B.P.A. stated about this issue that "Sperati is known to have made 'die' proofs in colour and probably made unused and used reproductions (...) In the B.P.A. reference collection there is only one example of a Sperati die proof and no other copy of this reproduction has been available for examination...". Nothing about the "Post Paid" has been recorded in the Sperati II handbook by Robson Lowe and Carl Walske, and no examples were found in the Musée de la Poste of Paris. (Image)
Opening EUR 30,000.00
Sold...EUR 30,000.00
Closed..Dec-06-2022, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 30000
Sale No: 22DE
Lot No: 50080
Symbol:
Mauritius - 1860 9p, hand signed definitive reproduction, very fresh and fine. (Image)