SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1855 Perkins Bacon London Printing - Proofs
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1001
Symbol: P
ONE PENNY: 1d imperforate plate proof in close to the issued colour, marginal pair from the left of the sheet on ungummed unwatermarked paper, margins close to huge. Harry Lower's pair sold for $1437.
ONE PENNY: 1d imperforate plate proof in close to the issued colour, block of 4 on ungummed unwatermarked paper, margins just shaved - at left - to large with fragments of both adjoining units at right, a couple of ironed-out creases do not affect the fine facial appearance. Probably the equal-largest recorded multiple. Pencilled notation on the reverse states "JLea/£5/Nov 1930". Michael Blake's block of 4 with ironed-out crease sold for $2445. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 1,150.00
Sold...AU$ 1,250.00
Closed..Nov-08-2022, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 1250
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1003
Symbol: P
TWO PENCE: 2d posthumous uncleared die proof of the defaced die in black on wove paper (66x82mm). A beautiful proof & exceptional exhibit item. Several impressions were taken in 1931. This die was rejected because of the "Knitting Needle" flaw through the Queen's Brow. Harry Lower’s & Michael Blake's similar proofs sold for $3220 & $3375 respectively.
TWO PENCE: 2d Plate 2 imperforate plate proof in dull carmine-lake, vertical strip of 3 on ungummed unwatermarked paper, margins close to good. [Harry Lower's marginal pair sold for $1320 & Michael Blake's marginal strip of 5 sold for $2910]
TWO PENCE: 2d Plate 2 imperforate plate proof in black, marginal block of 36 (6x6) from the upper-left corner of the sheet on ungummed unwatermarked paper being [Pos 1-6/61-66], margins good to enormous, two units comprising a vertical pair [R2/4 over R3/4] both with evidence of the whole designs having been burnished off the plate & re-entered, another unit [R4/3] with Defective First 'E' in 'PENCE', ironed-out heavy horizontal crease across the fifth row with some minor splitting, minor overall soiling. Ex Ron Butler: sold for £1840.
Technically, a highly significant multiple that is also probably the largest surviving piece from the sheet of 240. Peter Jaffé's similar plate proof block of 36 of the 6d in blue - minor faults - sold for $5520.
Perkins Bacon's workmanship is distinguished by exceptional engraving but haphazard plate-making. This block demonstrates their rather chaotic technique, with numerous units out of alignment with their neighbours. This is the principal reason why imperforate stamps with full margins are very elusive.
SIX PENCE: 6d imperforate plate proof in close to the issued colour, marginal block of 6 (3x2) from the left of the sheet on ungummed unwatermarked paper, margins close to very large. Superb. Although the Jaffé and Blake blocks were larger, they had a few problems. Harry Lower's superb block of 9 sold for $930.
