1864 Medio Real PROOF pair in black, five or fewer multiples of this known, full original gum and signed Buhler, an important “starting point” for a collection of the First Issues, lot also includes same value in green on green wove paper, this without gum, both very fine (Image)

1r Ochre, 1872 6th printing on white paper, sheet of 90 split reconstructed from two blocks of 45, clearly from the second setting (pos. 6 is 18.5mm wide, heretofore 19.5mm wide), the two half-sheets show somewhat different impressions, shades and gum plus no marginal border lines, a great exhibition showpiece, some faults incl. paper breaks as can be expected, very fine appearing (SG 2e, £1’260 as singles) (Image)

1865-72 1r Orange on quadrille paper oriented vertically from the 5th printing, a very scarce large block of 10 (pos. 29-33/38-42), pos. 32 shows “UN PEAL” variety typical of the poor impressions, full og with 8 stamps nh, a rarity, fresh and very fine (Scott $600 as singles) (Image)

1r Orange on quadrille paper oriented vertically from the 1872 5th printing, BR marginal block of 4 (pos. 80-81/89-90) with border lines, pos. 90 shows major plate damage or wear at bottom right corner, no gum, fresh and very fine (Scott $240 as singles) (Image)

1r Orange-Yellow on quadrille paper, 1872 5th printing, vert. block of 9 with marginal border line at foot, all cancelled by Ambato 18 JUIL cds (no year date), one of the largest used blocks of this printing, couple margin nibs else and small sealed tear above bottom row, stamps are from pos. 47/55-56//82-83, very fine overall, ex Hubbard (Scott $495 as used singles) (Image)

1r Orange-Yellow on quadrille paper, 1872 5th printing, pair tied to legal wrapper by superb 10-point star and “PI” cancel, Quito / Franca 18 DIC 72 cds, the PI cancel is very rare in black and seldom seen on quadrille paper, very fine pair, 2003 cert. Moorhouse (Scott $300 for single on cover) (Image)

1/2r Blue, 5th printing, COMPLETE SHEET of 84 with thin + thick border rules at top (partly visible) and bottom, single lines at sides, the water-soluble ink has reacted to water droplets leading to “white paper” spots at several places, and there are creases and splits plus minor nibs at the corners. Full original gum, a remarkable showpiece which shows the deterioration of impression by this time (1869-70) Note: the setting is different from the half-sheet of 42 offered elsewhere in this catalogue (Image)

1/2r Blue, bluish “wash” to paper, spectacular and possibly largest known accordion paper fold (at bottom label), tiny puncture near left edge (caused by fold), an important showpiece, og, very fine (Image)

1/2r Pale Blue, 4th printing, unevenly inked unused pair (right stamp not showing ornament at BL corner) and R marginal strip of 4 (pos. 33-36) with diamond-of-dots “FRANCA” cancels, strip with left margin cutting else very fine (Image)

1/2r Medium Blue, top margin block of four on slightly blue surfaced paper, great margins, mint blocks of the first two printings are rare, trace of ironed crease else extremely fine showpiece (Image)

1/2r Indigo, intense colour, TR corner margin pair with thick lines, pos. 11-12, the latter showing two irregular coloured lines at right (from top to bottom labels), a dramatic showpiece, very fine (Image)

1/2r Value, examples from the 3rd and 4th printings with boxed “DE OFFICIO” hs in black and in red respectively, also two stampless covers or wrappers (one 1871, other undated) showing diff. framed double-line black “DE OFFICIO” hs, one from Santa Ana (2009 cert. Moorhouse), other from Latacunga, a great exhibit page, very fine (Image)

1/2r Blue with diagonal dotted lines mute cancel, one of the rarest pmks on the first issue (only two recorded), small margin faults but of little importance for this rarity, ex Hermansson (Image)

1/2r Blue, two singles respectively cancelled by OTAVALO FRANCA cancel (very rare, only five recorded, small corner crease) and red LOJA cancel (Image)

1/2r Blue with ms COLONCHE, light crease, a rare cancel (up to 5 recorded) (Image)

1/2r Blue, second printing, left marginal horiz. strip of four (pos. 61-64), Guayaquil cds (25 MAR 67), uneven inking but clear impression, multiples larger than pairs from the first three printings are rare, great margins, very fine (Image)

1/2r Blue, 3rd printing, tied to large part of 1867-68 legal wrapper with the famous “6 spoke wheel” hs of PELILEO, also shows circular cancel of same reading “PELILEO / M.C.” with first “L” inverted, ms blue crayon “5/8 Oz” weight, thus treated as parcel, stamp has marginal border line at left (pos. 49, but without large blue dot at left frameline), docketing of contents on backflap, very fine and rare showpiece, 2003 cert. Moorhouse Note: the PELILEO / M.C. cancel is almost unknown on cover (Image)

1865 1/2 Violet Blue, strip of four with partial sheet margin marking at foot, mostly huge margin at top, right stamp with corner clipped else a superb and scarce multiple, tied by Guayaquil diamond of dots cancels to 1872 cover to Lima, PERU with bs of 11 March 1872, bottom flap missing else fine, signed and cert Buhler (1994). Note: probably carried by the PSNA steamer “Chile” which departed Panama on March 2, 1872 (Image)

1/2r Indigo (or Dark Ultramarine), amazing intense colour, 3rd printing pos. 18-21, strip of four tied to commercial cover to Lima, PERU by very scarce JIPIJAPA cds (28 AOUT 68), bs at Lima (10 SET 868), rate to other nearby countries was 2r per 1/4 ounce, a fabulous showpiece, very fine (Image)

1/2r Blue, vert. pair with top sheet margin and clear and bold “Guano” ms cancel (five or fewer multiples known with this) on nearly cplt legal wrapper with 1865 endorsement re: contents, sent at the parcel rate of 1/2r per oz (rated “2 Oz” at top right), quite attractive, fine, 2003 cert. Moorhouse (Image)

1/2r Light Blue, uneven impression from the 2nd printing, tied by diamond-of-dots to complete folded letter (paper with embossed oval “Republica del Ecuador” and Arms), datelined from Concepcion (Oct. 20, 1867) and with near-perfect ESMERALDAS cds of a month later (the scarcest cds used on the first issue), addressed to Quito, 1/2r paid the domestic single letter rate (up to 1/4 ounce), very fine Note: addressed to D. Juan Jose Flores Tipon, later President of Ecuador (Image)

1865 1/2r Blue, pos. 9 from the 1st printing, tied to small-size judicial wrapper (nearly complete, long ms endorsement on reverse) by mute diamond-of-dots with Ambato cds (25 Aout 65) below, believed to be the earliest recorded use of this cds, ms “1/2 o(nza)” (= 1/2r), stamp margins clear to fullsome, fine and useful showpiece, ex Antilla (Image)

1/2r Milky Blue, first printing, fine stamp tied by diamond-of-dots cancel and great strike of Riobamba cds for 26 AOUT 65, to legal cover (nearly cplt, endorsement of contents), possibly the earliest recorded use of this cds (later found rather worn), fresh and fine, ex Antilla (Image)

1/2 Blue, 1st printing and 1st setting, very clear impression and deep colour, in BL margin STRIP OF NINE with border lines at L and B, manuscript Riobamba cancels, on legal wrapper front with docketing on top flap on reverse, sent to Guaranda, weight (ms) “8 3/4 oz.” paid by 4 1/2r franking (at 1/2r per oz.), an attractive “2 page” exhibit showpiece, second largest piece from the 1st printing on cover and third totally, very fine, ex Bustamante and ex Longhi, 2009 cert. Moorhouse states “Large multiple frankings of the 1/2r blue are rare on cover.” One of the highlights and “gems” of this exhibit collection (Image)

1/2r 6th printing tied to small-size legal front to Ambato by Pelilio “wheel” cancel (used only there), red Pelileo / Franca cds above (8 Maro° 72), old fold through franking else very fine, 2003 cert. Moorhouse (Image)