1867-83 High Values. 1867 5s rose pl.3 BA, a beautifully executed stamp size composite hand painted essay on card, the central vignette of Victoria's profile having been pinned into place then the rest of the "stamp" intricately hand painted in red and Chinese white around it with superb precision, an absolutely stunning exhibition showpiece which was discovered amongst some personal belongings in a disused cow shed, possibly the only known such essay extant. (Image)

1867 5s rose pl.4 AF, a magnificent marginal imprimatur from the top of the sheet showing small part inscription, mint n.h. (mounted in the margin only), a beautifully fresh example with lovely rich colour, very rare. (Image)

1867-83 5s rose, pl.1 GD mint n.h. "SPECIMEN" from the upper right corner of the sheet, with part inscription at top and at right, pre-printing blind spot at right presumably from a foreign body getting onto the plate, rare. (Image)

1874, 5s rose pl.2 AB, mint o.g., a fine and fresh example of this scarce high value (S.G. £9'500). (Image)

1867-83 5s rose pl.1 AA/DC, a superb used irregular block of fifteen, each stamp neatly cancelled by good strikes of "Manchester Knott Hill" cds, superb bright colour, undoubtedly one of the finest used multiples of this issue. (Image)

1867-83 5s pale rose pl.2, a magnificent mint with large part to full o.g. (hinged in the margins only), complete pane of twenty lettered AA-DE with full selvedge showing marginal inscriptions all round, overprinted 'SPECIMEN' (Type 9), also showing sheet number '294'; brilliant Post Office fresh colour; some slight perforation separation, wrinkling and a couple of stamps with creases as to be expected of an item this size, though in no way detracting from the superb appearance of this very rare and stunning exhibition showpiece. (Image)

1867-83 5s rose pl.2 mint, gum creasing and small amount of staining, a rare mint stamp (S.G. £15'000). (Image)

1878 10s De La Rue die proof in black on white glazed card, 92x60mm, dated "Apr 30, 1878", very fine and rare. (Image)

1878, 10s De La Rue die proof without corner letters or plate numbers in black on glazed card (60x92mm), dated at upper left "May 4, 1878" and endorsed "BEFORE HARDENING", very fine and rare. (Image)

1867-83 10s grey green pl.1 CE, a superb imperforate imprimatur with large margins all round, pressed crease in no way detracting from the superb appearance of this very rare imprimatur. (Image)

1878, 10s greenish grey pl.1 CD, a superb used example, neatly cancelled by a superb strike of a Perth cds for Christmas day 1882, delightful quality; cert. BPA (1997) (S.G. £3'200). (Image)

1878, £1 colour trial marginal inscription block of four from the lower left of the sheet, printed in orange on gummed Maltese cross watermarked paper, overprinted "SPECIMEN" type 9, a rare and attractive multiple. (Image)

1867-83 5s rose pl.4 GD on blued paper, a superb mint o.g. example with strong vibrant colour, very rare so fine; cert. Brandon (2007). (Image)

1867-83 5s Rose pl.4 DC on blued paper, beautifully cancelled by a crisp Manchester Grandstand NO 23 82 cds, very fine and most attractive, cert. Brandon (2005). (Image)

1867-83 5s pl.4 FA rose on blued paper, a used example with strong vibrant colour, neatly cancelled by a good strike of a Liverpool cds, pressed crease not detracting from the fine appearance; cert. Brandon (2016) (S.G. £4'000). (Image)

1882, £5 orange on blued paper overprinted "SPECIMEN" type 9, mint o.g., fine (S.G. £3'000). (Image)

1867-83 £5 orange DJ on blue paper, neat Vere-Street JU 26 83 cds, vertical crease and crayon mark slightly erased, a presentable example of a rare stamp (S.G. £12'500). (Image)

1867-83 10/- Greenish Grey wmk Anchor White paper; corner crease; a presentable example of this rare high value. (Image)

1867-83 £5 orange on white paper, CB, used with Edinburgh JA 6 96 cds, dealer mark in violet on back, repaired lower left corner perf., a fine looking example (S.G. £3'500). (Image)

1867-83 £5 orange AF, neatly cancelled by Belfast cds, fine and attractive (S.G. £3'500). (Image)

1867-83 £5 orange BA, neatly cancelled by "MANCHESTER ACCOUNTS" cds, fine and attractive (S.G. £3'500). (Image)

1867-83 £5 Orange AQ, forgery "used", fine and unusual. (Image)