1853-60 Waterlow "Small Ships", an exceptional assembly comprising eleven plate proofs in black, including 1c first setting (5, one originating from the Small collection), 4c first setting (3, one ex Small), 4c second setting type C, and 4c framed corners (2, one ex Small), some examples having the type identified, mostly fine; the largest selection of plate proofs ever offered in one lot (11). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1853 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion, brilliantly fresh, mint with original gum, large margins all around, tiny and almost invisible inclusion at top right, rare in this outstanding condition and as such an extremely fine gem; (SG £7'500 for unused without gum). According to our records, only six examples of this rarity are known in very fine or superior condition, this being one of two with original gum. Provenance: John E. du Pont (Lot 60052, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014) (Image)

1853 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion, unused without gum, of great freshness displaying good margins and a bright colour, in an outstanding condition for this very rare stamp; (SG £7'500). One of just six unused examples recorded in very fine or superior condition. Provenance: W. J. Webster (Lot 29, Harmer Rooke, February 1942, "very fine...brilliant colour, a rarity") John E. du Pont (June 2014) Expertise: Signed Bloch (Image)

THE "CASPARY" BLOCK OF FOUR 1853 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion, an exceptional block of four with very large and surprisingly even margins, deep fresh colour, showing traces of adjoining stamps at bottom, used with village coded datestamp of Sparta "A 5 C", small contemporary ink mark on one stamp reduced and horizontal archive fold in the lower stamps (almost not visible from the front), with the upper stamps being in very fine condition; (SG £6'800 as singles). Only two blocks of four recorded of this stamp off cover. (The other one, cancelled on 21.12.1855, was sold in a David Feldman Auction, lot 40542, Nov. 1987). Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (Lot 228, Harmer, May 1957) Lars Amundsen (Lot 80, Stanley Gibbons, December 1967, "of the greatest rarity") John E. du Pont (Lot 60053, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014) (Image)

1853-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion, first stone, pair with good to excellent margins, transfer types 5-6, showing two clear strikes of the "A 3 C/AG.23.1855" cds from the Arabian Coast, the left stamp with vertical crease, very fine in other respects and of attractive appearance; the only pair known cancelled with this rare village postmark; (SG £4'500+). Provenance: Lars Amundsen (Lot 82, Stanley Gibbons, December 1967) John E. du Pont Expertise: Signed George Fulpius (Image)

1853-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion, first stone, horizontal strip of four, with good to large even margins, transfer types 5-8, neatly tied on fragment by four clear strikes of the "A 5 C/8.OC.1855" cds from Sparta, a very fine showpiece; (SG £6’800+ as singles). One of two strips of four recorded off cover, this being unique in very fine condition (the other is torn horizontally, see the Derek Nathan collection). Provenance: Clayton Lars Amundsen (Lot 81, Stanley Gibbons, December 1967) John E. du Pont (Image)

THE HIGHEST MULTIPLE IMPERFORATE FRANKING OF BRITISH GUIANA 1853 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion, two vertical strips of three, one with complete to good margins, the other just touched in places, plus a well-margined horizontal pair, used together on double rate letter "Paid" from William's Town to Water Street in Georgetown, tied by 21 September 1855 Demerara datestamp, parts of address panel missing, cover edge wear and some stamps affected by creases. This spectacular franking including eight stamps on cover, being one of three recorded, is the highest known bearing this stamp; of much greater significance is the fact that this is the highest multiple franking of any imperforate issue in British Guiana. Provenance: John E. du Pont (Lot 60054, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014) (Image)

1853 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion, exceptional horizontal strip of four, one stamp just touched at base, otherwise the strip with clear to good margins and in very fine condition, radiant fresh colour, used on cover to Georgetown (Barlow correspondence) and tied by 29 February 1856 Demerara datestamp. One of three covers recorded exhibiting this franking, all originating from the Barlow in Georgetown correspondence, and cancelled between 22 and 29 February 1856. Provenance: Henry C. Gibson (Eugene Klein Auction, March 1944) John E. du Pont (Lot 60055, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014) (Image)

1853 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion, very fresh horizontal strip of four in a radiant shade, showing types 7 to 10, touched in places and used on cover to Sophia's Hope Estate Mahaicony (Barlow correspondence), tied by 29 February 1856 Demerara datestamp. One of three such frankings known, of which two are offered in this sale. Provenance: John F. Seybold (Morgenthau Auction, March 1910) John E. du Pont (Lot 60056, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014) (Image)

1853-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent vermilion first stone, used selection including two pairs, both Types 4-5, of which one tied to piece by scarce coded "A 3 C" cds for Wakenaam Island, the other cancelled by Demerara double-arc ds, as well as four singles, with Berbice (2) and Demerara (2) cds's, all well margined, fine to extremely fine; (SG £13'600+). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1853-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent dull red, type A and type C, two well to largely margined examples representing different types, both used with Demerara A "thimble" ds of 20 and 21.3.1860, the former with tiny thin, the latter with a bigger but still small thin spot, a very scarce visually appealing duo; (SG £5'000). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

THE OUTSTANDING "DALE-LICHTENSTEIN" STRIP OF FOUR ON COVER 1857-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent, type B, very fresh horizontal strip of four paying the four cents letter rate on cover to New Amsterdam, wide margins except for being slightly touched at right, neatly cancelled by crisp Demerara datestamp on 6 January 1860, tied to cover at top, nice pastel shade of the dull red printing. Just four covers are known exhibiting this stamp, and this is the finest bearing the largest multiple recorded. Provenance: W. J. Webster (Lot 43, Harmer Rooke N.Y., February 1942) Dale-Lichtenstein (Lot 429, H. R. Harmer, February 1969, acquired then by Renato Mondolfo) John E. du Pont (Lot 60059, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014) Census of covers: - Single franking on mail to London, 1st December 1860; ex Burrus and Townsend - Strip of four, 6th January 1860; ex Webster, Dale-Lichtenstein and Du Pont, (the item offered here) - Strip of four, 6th March 1860; ex Small and Du Pont (the following lot in this sale) - Strip of four featuring mixed types, 27th March 1860; ex Ferrary, Caspary, Lek and Dr. Chan Chin Cheung (Image)

THE "FREDERICK T. SMALL" STRIP OF FOUR ON COVER 1857-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent dull red, type B, a very fresh horizontal strip of four, just touched in small place at upper left, clear to large margins in other respects, used on cover to Georgetown, tied by crisp 6 March 1860 Demerara datestamp, margins all around except at one corner. Only four covers are recorded bearing this stamp, of which three show a strip of four, which is the largest multiple known. Provenance: Frederick T. Small (Lot 80, Robson Lowe, March 1970), showing his "Comet" hs on reverse John E. du Pont (Lot 60060, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014) (Image)

ONE OF THREE EXAMPLES UNUSED 1853-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent brownish red, second stone, type B, complete to mostly wide margins, minute tear mainly confined to the bottom margin and slightly touching the design, as well as a tiny, almost invisible, shallow thin; (SG £17'000). An immense rarity supported by the fact that we have only recorded three unused examples, unquestionably an outstanding gem of the British Empire. Provenance: John E. du Pont Expertise: Signed Bloch Census of the unused examples: - Ex Burrus, "creased and touched at foot" - Currently in a private collection (wide margins) - Ex du Pont (the example presented here) (Image)

THE FINEST UNUSED EXAMPLE 1853-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent dull red, type C, a delightful unused example without gum, displaying large even margins and delicate shade, extremely fine; (SG £11'000). To our knowledge, only four unused examples are recorded, this being the most valuable as outstandingly superior in quality. Provenance: John E. du Pont (Lot 60061, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Census of unused examples: - Ex Frederick T. Small, clear margins and touched at base, "tiny thin spot and small natural flaw" - Ex Frederick T. Small, tiny margins and touching in places, "slight faults" - Ex Ferrary, Champion and "Bartica", "small surface fault", smaller margins than the present example - Ex du Pont (the example presented here) (Image)

1853-59 Waterlow lithographed 1 cent dull red, type C, uncommonly large even margins all around, very fresh displaying complete and delicately applied strike of the Demerara A "thimble" cds, dated 2 February 1860, a superb and most desirable example; (SG £2'750). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents deep blue, a delightful unused example without original gum, excellent even margins all around, extremely fine; (SG £6'000). One of the finest unused examples available, belonging to the restricted group of only about six known in sound condition. Provenance: W. J. Webster (Lot 48, Harmer Rooke N.Y., February 1942) Dale-Lichtenstein (Lot 430, H.R. Harmer, February 1969, acquired by Renato Mondolfo) John E. du Pont (Lot ex 60062, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Signed Bloch (Image)

1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents deep blue, a very fresh example unused without gum, predominantly large margins all around, very fine; (SG £6'000). One of only six examples recorded without faults. Provenance: John E. du Pont (Lot 60063, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Signed Bloch (Image)

1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents deep blue, a very fresh example just touched in lower right corner, clear to huge very large margins in other respects, used on 8 December 1854 envelope to Mahaicony (Barlow correspondence, with additional private notations by the recipient on front), tied by Demerara double arc datestamp, with coded "A 3 C" transit backstamp of William's Town dated 7th December; (SG £3'300). As far as we can say, only four single frankings are recorded on cover. Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

THE FINEST SE-TENANT USED PAIR 1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents deep blue, horizontal pair showing types 6 & 7, large margins all around, right stamp clearly showing the retouch featuring coloured line over the denomination, neatly cancelled by 18 November 1853 Demerara cds, an extremely fine multiple; (SG £2'700 as singles). The finest se-tenant pair recorded, featuring the retouch, of only four recorded, with only two being in perfect condition (the other being a vertical pair, ex "Besançon"). Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (Lot 245, H.R. Harmer, May 1857, "superb") John E. du Pont (Lot 60067, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Signed "AD" Alberto Diena (Image)

1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents selection of 16 including different types, shades and retouches, with singles in deep blue, blue and pale blue, one with possibly unique Essequibo Steamer cancellation on an imperforate issue, all appearing to have good to large margins, generally very fine, several in exceptional condition. Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

THE ONLY UNUSED RETOUCHED TYPE MULTIPLE KNOWN 1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cent deep blue, first stone, an extraordinary pair with both stamps displaying the retouch (coloured line over the denomination), with good to large margins for the most part, left stamp with vertical bend, the other being extremely fine, very fresh and appealing; (SG £22'000+). The only multiple recorded in private hands featuring the retouch, an extraordinary conjunction of this variety in a pair. According to Townsend & Howe, "there is a pair on cover in the Royal Collection with both stamps retouched". As an unused multiple, the present example is unique. Provenance: Dale-Lichtenstein (Lot 443, H.R. Harmer, February 1969, "dark blue - extremely fine", bought by Stanley Gibbons for US$750) John E. du Pont (Lot 60066, David Feldman SA, June 2014) Expertise: Signed Bloch (Image)

1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents deep blue, showing the retouch "coloured line over the denomination", good to very large margins for the most part, very fresh and cleanly cancelled by 7 January 1854 Demerara cds, very fine and scarce; (SG £1'600). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents deep blue (2) and blue (1), three singles displaying the retouch featuring "coloured line over the denomination", good to mostly large even margins, showing cds's of Demerara (2) and Berbice; a very fine, scarce and desirable trio; (SG £4'200). Provenance: F. de Coppet (1893) John E. du Pont (Image)

1854 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents blue, an extraordinary example with part original gum and in brilliant fresh colour, good margin at right, being evenly large on other sides, extremely fine; (SG £3'250). According to our records, this is the only unused example, of only seven singles known - most of which have imperfections -, possessing original gum. Provenance: John E. du Pont (Lot ex 60062, David Feldman SA, June 2014) (Image)