SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1886-96 De La Rue 'POSTAGE & REVENUE' - Essays an
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1307
Symbol: E
Cat No: Collection
THE ORIGINAL ARTWORK: Original handpainted stamp-size essay in shades of violet with Chinese white highlights and blank value tablet, plus sketches for 'TWO SHILLINGS/AND SIX PENCE' in Blue and 'FIVE/SHILLINGS' in Red, on tracing paper (58x73mm), endorsed "Approved/14.7.85" and signed "CTodd/ PMG", repaired tear at the top impinges on the design but is barely visible from the face. Unique. A beautiful and important essay. Illustrated in 'The De La Rue Collection' at page 6044, and by Ed Williams at page 5.
DIE PROOFS: Master die proof with blank value tablet in black on highly-surfaced card (92x60mm), handstamped '12OCT85' and 'BEFORE/HARDENING'. Superb. Ex Julian Beresford (?; not illustrated there) and Ric Slade-Slade. Ed Williams at page 5 states that four examples have been recorded, and only one 'AFTER/HARDENING' (which has been reduced in size). Ed Williams' example reduced to stamp-size and creased sold for $1585. A full-size example sold at a Sydney auction in 2003 for $3110.
DIE PROOFS: Master die proof with blank value tablet in black on highly-surfaced card (92x60mm), handstamped '16OCT94' in blue, light soiling and minor rubbing clear of the impression. Unique. Recorded by Ed Williams at page 5: "This was taken [sic] by de la Rue during an inspection, cleaning and waxing of dies held in the custody of the Agent-General for South Australia"
DIE PROOFS: Die proofs for the duty plates 'TWO SHILLINGS/AND SIX PENCE' and 'FIVE/SHILLINGS' both in black on highly-surfaced card (90x59mm, slightly trimmed otherwise very fine, or 90x60mm and superb), both handstamped '16OCT94' in blue. The 5/- is Ex Ric Slade-Slade. Recorded by Ed Williams at page 5 with reference to the previous lot: "Th[ese were] taken [sic] by de la Rue during an inspection, cleaning and waxing of dies held in the custody of the Agent-General for South Australia". It is implied but not specifically stated that these were the only examples produced.
(2)
PLATE PROOFS: Imperforate undenominated plate proof in lilac lower-left corner block of 10 (5x2) on gummed unwatermarked paper with Plate Number '1' at lower-left, virtually full o.g. with most units being unmounted. Superb. Jeff Harris' lower-right block of 8 (4x2) sold for $830. Ed Williams states only two sheets (120 units) were printed. This block is illustrated by him at page 6.
PLATE PROOFS: 2/6d imperforate in lilac with the value in bright blue, lower-left corner block of 4 on gummed unwatermarked paper with Plate Number '1', virtually full o.g. with the lower units being unmounted. Superb. Ex Ric Slade-Slade as a block of 6 (3x2). Ed Williams at page 7 states only one sheet of 60 units was printed. Michael Blake's upper-left corner block of 12 (6x2) sold for $2975.
PLATE PROOFS: 5/- imperforate in lilac with the value in red, marginal block of 4 on gummed unwatermarked paper from the base of the sheet, virtually full o.g. with the lower units being unmounted. Superb. Ex Ric Slade-Slade. Ed Williams at page 7 states only one sheet of 60 units was printed. Michael Blake's lower-left corner block of 8 (4x2) with plate number '1' sold for $2480.
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 1314
Symbol: P
Cat No: Collection
PLATE PROOFS: Perf 14 in lilac with 'TWO SHILLINGS/AND SIXPENCE' in bright blue or 'FIVE/SHILLINGS' in red upper-right corner blocks of 4 each with Plate Number '1' on gummed unwatermarked paper, virtually full o.g. with the lower units being unmounted. Superb. Ed Williams at page 7 states only one sheet of 60 units was printed. Ed Williams had only singles. Absent from Michael Blake's collection.
(2)
PLATE PROOFS - PRINTED IN ADELAIDE: 5/- in carmine-pink on ungummed pink laid paper with the Value Printed Five Times (Three Times in the Tablet, and Twice Inverted at the Top), Perf 11½-12½ on three sides & imperforate at right. Almost certainly a trial by the printer, who had not previously used the keyplate process, to correctly align the duty plate. Ed Williams at page 8 "About ten copies are known to the writer, including one pair and a strip of 3". Jeff Harris' example sold for $875. An example imperf on both sides sold at our auction of 14.8.2004 for $1415.
PLATE PROOFS - PRINTED IN ADELAIDE: 5/- in carmine-pink on ungummed pink laid paper with the Value Printed Four Times (Three Times in the Tablet, and Once Inverted at the Top), Perf 11½-12½ at top and base & imperforate at the sides with an Additional Horizontal Line of Perforations below the 'POSTAGE & REVENUE' Tablet, minor blemishes. Ed Williams' similar example but with the additional perforations above the value tablet sold for $622.
