Seal embossed proof impression in grey-black on thin card (131x182mm, minor peripheral blemishes) of the official seal of British New Guinea from the reign of King Edward VII featuring the British coat-of-arms & a Bird of Paradise within Latin inscriptions, the seal having a massive diameter of 64mm. A superb impression of this impressive design, that would make an excellent introductory page for any Papuan collection.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

Photograph 'glossy' print (112x83mm) from Captain FR Barton's glass negative of his image of a Lakatoi and Hanuabada Village that was the basis for the British New Guinea stamps, the apparent damage at left having been on the original negative; with its plain envelope (tonespots) endorsed "Photograph/from/Papua Original/ supplied to De La Rue". Ex Rev Roger Lee. Outstanding frontispiece for a collection of BNG/Papua.  On 7.1.1901, Sir Horace Tozer, Agent-General for Queensland, requested De La Rue to provide cost estimates for an issue of stamps derived from this photograph. A completed essay - see "Lakatoi I" front cover - was forwarded only three days later & approved on 11th January! [The EC Harris Archive contained two prints, a 'glossy' from the undamaged original (minor toning on the reverse) & a 'matte', very similar to this item. They sold at our auction of 12.10.2012 for $844 & $1395 respectively]  (2 items)

Grade A/C (Image1)

Estimate AU$750

Imperforate plate proofs ½d to 1/- vertical pairs [Pos 3/9] in issued colours on ungummed watermarked wove paper, a matching set from the top of the sheets with colour registration markings in the upper margins, each with light vertical crease not apparent from the face, some mostly minor blemishes/soiling largely confined to the reverse excepting the ½d which is noticeably soiled in the margin and the 4d & 6d which have small holes (from the registration pin?) in the margins. [From De La Rue's imprimatur sheets of 30 (5x6), that were apparently folded in half. The 2/6d, issued four years later, does not exist in this form. Tim Rybak's & Peter Troy's sets of horizontal pairs sold for $4830 each (2008 & 2009 respectively)]  (7 pairs)

Grade A-/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,000

Watermark Horizontal ½d to 2/6d SG 1-8, the 2/6d in particular is unusually well centred, Cat £850.  (8)

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$750

Watermark Horizontal ½d & 2d with White Leaves at Right [Pos 4/5] SG 1var & 3var marginal blocks of 4, plus blocks of 4 of the 1d, 2½d (two diagonal creases), 6d (one unit with light bend) & 1/- all marginal except the 1d, the centring mostly very good, all unmounted, plus Watermark Vertical 2/6d SG 16a with very lightly mounted but tropicalised gum, Cat £1660+ (for mounted) plus a premium for the varieties. RPSofV Certificate (2023) for the 2/6d.  (25)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

Watermark Horizontal 2½d black & ultramarine Thin Paper (.0039mm) SG 4a, well centred, Port Moresby cds of 25MA05, Cat £225.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$150

Watermark Horizontal 4d black & sepia with Deformed 'd' in '4d' at Lower-Left SG 5a being the lower-left unit in a block of 4, exceptional centring & very fresh, minor perf reinforcing, Cat £995+. Ex Rev Roger Lee.

Grade A A1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

Watermark Horizontal 2/6d black & brown SG 8, well centred & remarkably fresh, unmounted & rare thus, Cat £650+, for mounted. Superb. 

Grade A+ B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$800

Watermark Horizontal 2/6d black & brown SG 8 rejoined vertical pair, both with very fine centrally-struck 'PORT MORESBY/12OC06/BRITISH NEW GUINEA' cds cancels, Cat £1100.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,200

Watermark Vertical on Thin Paper (.0035mm to .004mm) ½d SG 9a mint, 1d (unlisted by Gibbons) with light bars cancel, 2d SG 11a mint & 2½d (unlisted by Gibbons) neatly cancelled.  (4)

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

Watermark Vertical on Thin Paper 4d black & sepia SG 13b, well centred, unmounted, Cat £350+, for mounted. Superb. 

Grade A+ B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$450

Watermark Vertical on Thin Paper 6d black & myrtle SG 14a, well centred, unmounted & rare thus, Cat £1200+, for mounted. Superb. 

Grade A+ B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,750

Watermark Vertical on Thin Paper 1/- black & orange SG 15a, unmounted & rare thus, Cat £950+, for mounted. Superb. 

Grade A+ C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

Watermark Vertical on Thin Paper 2/6d black & brown as SG 16a but a fake created by removing the Small 'Papua' Overprint (SG 45a) & the 1907 cds is a strong hint that it's not right, Cat £1400 for the genuine stamp. Handy reference item.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

Watermark Vertical Thin Paper 2/6d black & brown as SG 16a but a fake created by removing the Small 'Papua' Overprint (SG 45a), crude Port Moresby cancel (that is not even circular!), Cat £1400 for the genuine stamp. Handy reference item.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$100