SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1876-1900 Broad Star Watermark - Perf 11½-12½
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1199
Symbol: *
Marginal Value/Sheet-Number pieces comprising 9d pair with '6d./STAMPS/10720', 9d strip of 4 with '2/- 1982', 1/- block of 4 with '2/- 1788' and 2/- pair with '2/- 1144' (inverted), various perforations, large-part o.g. An extremely elusive and desirable quartet. [The value/sheet numbers in this issue were printed on the blank sheets of watermarked paper, and usually placed centrally in the upper margin, which explains why they are much scarcer than on later issues, for which they were printed at the corner. The 'inverted' sheet number on the 2/- pair proves that it is in fact the watermark which is inverted].
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Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1200
Symbol: */**
Cat No: 112
THREE PENCE: '3-PENCE' on 4d ultramarine SG 112 block of 12 (6x2) from the right of the sheet with marginal vertical watermark lines on the right-hand units, characteristic rough perfs, large-part o.g. with at least four units being unmounted, Cat £2280++, for unused singles. A beautiful block and the second-largest recorded multiple of any of the '3-PENCE' on 4d issues. Ex Colonel Harry Napier and John Griffiths. The 'Besancon' (III) block of 16 sold for SFr5565. Michael Blake's block of 4 sold for $4890.
THREE PENCE: '3-PENCE' on 4d ultramarine Double Overprint SG 112a with the second overprint at the top as always, characteristic rough perfs, Adelaide duplex cancel, Cat £1900. Stated to be Ex Baron Ferrari de la Renotiere and illustrated, but we could not locate it in the catalogue. Sold at our auction of 10.3.2007 for $2645, and the equal of Harry Lower's stamp that sold for $3030. [About 20 examples have been recorded, of which many have defects. This is one of the finest]
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1202
Symbol: *
Cat No: 115 block of 4
FOUR PENCE: 4d deep mauve SG 115 block of 4, reinforced &/or rejoined perforations, large-part o.g., Cat £380+, for singles. A very scarce multiple in this delicate shade.
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1203
Symbol: *
Cat No: 117 block of 9
SIX PENCE: 6d Prussian blue SG 117 block of 9, quite well centred, large-part o.g. which is a little aged, Cat £1710++, for singles. A rare & beautiful multiple. Harry Lower's very fine block of 4 sold for $1690.
EIGHT PENCE: '8 PENCE' on 9d grey-brown SG 121 marginal block of 9 from the right of the sheet, quite well centred, minor natural wrinkles, large-part o.g. with a few units being unmounted, Cat £2025++, for singles. A rare & handsome block. Probably Ex Rev James Mursell (part of Lot 505): see also Lot 1213. Superior to Gary Diffen's similar but less well centred block of 12 - "two light creases and a heavy tonespot" - that sold for £3000 (2009). Harry Lower's non-marginal block of 12 (3x4) sold for $4425.
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1206
Symbol: G/F
Cat No: Collection
EIGHT PENCE: '8 PENCE' on 9d orange-brown & on burnt umber SG 118 & 119 horizontal strips of 3, cds of 'YARROWIE' or 'PORT ADELAIDE', the largest-recorded used multiples in these shades; also on 9d grey-brown SG 121 vertical strip of 3, minor faults, 'PORT ADELAIDE' cds; all three strips with characteristic rough perfs, Cat £96++, for singles. A desirable group.
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EIGHT PENCE: '8 PENCE' on 9d burnt umber as SG 119 with misplaced perfs at the top resulting in an abnormal Double Overprint, GPO duplex largely clear of both overprints, characteristic rough perfs. A marvellous 'freak'. Rev James Mursell had a similar stamp. These are the only examples recorded by us.
EIGHT PENCE: '8 PENCE' on 9d the four listed shades solo frankings 1) orange-brown SG 118 to London with 'SMITHFIELD' cds & part 'RA[ILWA]Y/SA' transit b/s (affected by part of the flap missing); 2) burnt umber SG 119 to the Isle of man with superb '... - R /S AUSTRALIA/ R ' duplex & 'RAMSEY' arrival b/s; 3) brown SG 120 to Hampshire with GPO cds & 'BASINGSTOKE' arrival b/s, flap faults; and 4) grey-brown SG 121 to Connecticut "Via England" with 'SHIP MAIL ROOM' duplex, London transit & 'DANBURY, CONN' arrival b/s. An attractive quartet.
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Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1209
Symbol: */**
Cat No: 123
NINE PENCE: 9d rose-lilac SG 123 block of 12 (6x2), small tear at the base of the third unit in the second row, some minor wrinkling/creasing, large-part o.g. with all the lower units being unmounted, Cat £384++, for mounted singles.
NINE PENCE: 9d rose-lilac Printed on Both Sides SG 123a, the original impression on the 'reverse' oriented sideways relative to the 'face', 'PARCEL POST ADELAIDE/OC30/90/SA' cds, undercatalogued at £600. A rare & most unusual error, of which Gary Diffen recorded only three examples. Ex Julian Beresford.
Until recently, Gibbons didn't recognise this error as being distinct from the similar variety with the original impression upright. The catalogue now includes a footnote stating "No 123a is known with the impression on the back either sideways or inverted". We suggest that the two varieties are fundamentally different and should be listed separately. We also note that all the other examples recorded by us have the usual upright/inverted orientation.
NINE PENCE: 9d rose-lilac SG 123 on cover with oval 'HL TODD/MINING &/GENERAL AGENT/ADELAIDE' cachet in purple, to Victoria with poor strikes of 'REGISTERED ADELAIDE/ SA' squared-circle & curved 'REGISTERED/No ' h/s, Melbourne arrival b/s of MY9/91, opened a bit roughly at left & repaired. Harry Lower's registered cover to Melbourne sold for $290.
ONE SHILLING: 1/- bright red-brown horizontal pair Imperforate Between SG 125a, light GPO duplex, Cat £3500. Rare. Ex AE Fryar. The 'Besancon' (II) pair sold for SFr2905. Gary Diffen's pair was 'misplaced': it was sold at auction on 5.5.2021 for £3240. Diffen has recorded six pairs, of which two are defective.
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1213
Symbol: */**
Cat No: 132
TWO SHILLINGS: 2/- carmine SG 132 block of 10 (5x2), well centred, characteristic rough perforations, large-part o.g. with all the lower units being unmounted, Cat £600++, for mounted singles. A delightful multiple. Probably Ex Rev James Mursell (part of his Lot 505): see also Lot 1205. BPA Certificate (2014).
TWO SHILLINGS: 2/- carmine SG 132 marginal block of 4 from the right of the left-hand pane, characteristic irregular perfs plus an Aberrant Horizontal Row of Blind Perforations towards the Base (that are obvious from the reverse of the block), large-part o.g., Cat £240++, for normal singles.
TWO SHILLINGS: 2/- carmine SG 132 rare solo franking on triple-rate (8d x3) Elder cover to Scotland "Via Brindisi", GPO cds of MR24/77 & fine 'GREENOCK SORTING TENDER/ B R / MY7/77' transit backstamp, vertical fold at left, minor hinge remainders & blemishes still one of the finest of the small number of 2/- covers. Harry Lower's similar redirected cover sold for $2095.
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1217
Symbol: *
Cat No: 134 block of 4
TWO SHILLINGS: 2/- carmine with Large Holes SG 134 block of 4, well centred, very lightly mounted, Cat £160+, for singles. Superb. The illustration is above Lot 1215.
