SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1860-69 Second Rouletted Issue - Proofs
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1062
Symbol: P
DIE PROOFS: 4d finished die proof in black on India paper affixed to a small piece of card (43x48mm). Superb. A rare proof. Ex Jeff Harris: sold for $3495. Superior to Michael Blake's similar proof - "a couple of trivial blemishes" - that also sold for $3495.
DIE PROOFS: 4d in dull claret on India paper affixed to a slightly larger piece of thin card (34x39mm), a couple of trivial blemishes. Superb. A rare proof. Michael Blake's similar very fine proof sold for $6990.
DIE PROOFS: 9d in black on India paper reduced to a bit larger than stamp-size & affixed to a small piece of thin card (25x28mm). Rare: only two other examples in private hands have been recorded. Ex Rev James Mursell. Superior to the John Griffiths/Harry Lower/Michael Blake example - very tight margins, on a slightly larger piece of card - that sold for $7280.
DIE PROOFS: 2/- in black on India paper affixed to a piece of thin card & reduced to a little larger than stamp-size, a couple of faint blemishes. Michael Blake's example on a somewhat larger piece - 38x40mm - sold for $6700.
PLATE PROOFS: 4d imperforate corner block of 36 (6x6) from the upper-left of the sheet in dull rose-carmine on ungummed unwatermarked paper, margins close to huge, ironed-out horizontal creases across the second and fifth rows hardly detract from the spectacular appearance. Gary Diffen's block of 15 (5x3) - creased between the top two rows - sold for £840 (2009). The 'Besancon' (II) block of 9 sold for SFr508.
PLATE PROOFS: 4d imperforate corner block of 36 (6x6) from the upper-left of the sheet in dull red-purple on ungummed unwatermarked paper, margins close to huge, ironed-out horizontal creases across the second and fifth rows hardly detract from the spectacular appearance. Jeff Harris' block of 24 (6x4), creased across the second row, sold for $3145.
PLATE PROOFS: 9d imperforate ungummed unwatermarked block of 10 (5x2) in black from the right of the sheet, margins good to huge with fragments of three adjoining units below. Harry Lower's similar block of 10 sold for $660. Michael Blake's corner block of 12 sold for $845.
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1069
Symbol: P
Cat No: Collection
PLATE PROOFS: 9d imperforate ungummed unwatermarked singles in black & in slate-violet. The latter is unrecorded in the literature. However, we have noted two other examples, in the collections of Colonel Harry Napier and Peter Jaffé (sold for $815).
(2)
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1070
Symbol: P
Cat No: Collection
PLATE PROOFS: 9d imperforate singles in stone and in bright reddish violet both on thin ribbed card, close even margins, the latter with minor rosine-ink marks on the face. Rare in private hands.
These are reprints made circa 1905, apparently for the Royal Collection: see 'The Empire in Australasia' by Robson Lowe (1962) at page 136. Peter Jaffé's similar plate proof single of the 1/- in rose-pink (not "rose-carmine" as stated in the catalogue), sold for $1105.
(2)
PLATE PROOFS: 2/- in black on ungummed unwatermarked paper corner block of 36 (6x6) from the lower-right of the sheet, ironed-out horizontal creases across the second row and between the fifth & sixth rows. A stunning exhibition piece. Jeff Harris' block of 6 sold for $535.
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1072
Symbol: P
Cat No: Collection
PLATE PROOFS: 2/- in red-purple on ungummed unwatermarked paper marginal pair from the left of the sheet, margins good to very large. A rare proof: unlisted in 'The Empire in Australasia' by Robson Lowe and not to be confused with the posthumous reprints on ribbed card. Gary Diffen's single sold for £540 (2009), where it was stated "...may be the only recorded example outside the Royal Collection".
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1073
Symbol: P
Cat No: Collection
PLATE PROOFS: 2/- reprinted plate proof in deep yellow-brown. A rare proof. See 'The Empire in Australasia' by Robson Lowe at page 136, where he speaks of 1905 reprints on ribbed card, believed to have been provided for the Royal Collection. Peter Jaffé's similar 1/- in rose-pink (not "rose-carmine" as stated in the catalogue) sold for $1105. This proof is not on the ribbed paper.
