REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE FIRST STAMP ISSUE: John Carmichael's engraved 1d design based on Great Britain's 'Penny Black' die proofs in scarlet, black or deep blue on wove paper, each with large margins and very fine. Except for the Queen's portrait, the design is closely related to Carmichael's accepted design for the Sydney View 2d, including the vertically-lined background. Of course, corner lettering was not used for the issued stamps. Ex Sir Miles Rivett-Carnac (scarlet; apparently his proof slightly reduced to remove peripheral marks), 'Carrington' (in black), and Sir Gawaine Baillie (in blue). (3) 

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE FIRST STAMP ISSUE: John Carmichael's engraved designs for proposed 6d Crown and 1/- Lion & Crown denominations, proofs reduced to a bit larger than stamp-size each with large even margins comprising the 6d in scarlet and in blue and the 1/- in black and in scarlet. (4) 

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE FIRST STAMP ISSUE: John Carmichael's engraved designs for proposed 6d Crown and 1/- Lion & Crown setenant proofs in black on wove paper with huge margins, a trifle soiled.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE FIRST STAMP ISSUE: John Carmichael's engraved designs for proposed 6d Crown and 1/- Lion & Crown setenant proofs in blue on wove paper with huge margins.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$600

REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE FIRST STAMP ISSUE: Robert Clayton's 1d design based on Great Britain's 'Penny Black' lithographed proofs in blue, scarlet or blue & scarlet all on stout wove paper, reduced to stamp-size, aged on the reverse. The originals - illustrated by Alfred Basset-Hull on Plate I - were sold by Alfred van Dyck to Thomas Tapling, but not before he had made several sets of facsimiles. Sir Gawaine Baillie's similar set, affixed to a non-contemporary piece of paper endorsed "4", sold in 2005 for $2795. The Baillie catalogue noted one other set, in George Ginger's collection, but we can't locate it in the Ginger catalogue: this may be the set referred to. (3) 

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE FIRST STAMP ISSUE: Thomas Ham's 2d design based on Great Britain's 'Tuppence Blue' lithographed proofs of two intermediate states and of the finished design all in vermilion on a piece of highly surfaced card (reduced to 100x30mm), minor blemishes & a little soiled at upper-left. Ex Sir Gawaine Baillie: sold in 2005 for $2560. The originals - illustrated by Alfred Basset-Hull on Plate I - were sold by Alfred van Dyck to Thomas Tapling, but not before he had made several sets of facsimiles. 

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE FIRST STAMP ISSUE: Thomas Ham's 2d design based on Great Britain's 'Tuppence Blue' lithographed proofs of two intermediate states and of the finished design all in vermilion on a piece of highly surfaced card (100x72mm), endorsed below "1d" and "This red can be a little darker/TH", hinge remnants on the reverse otherwise superb. Endorsed in pencil on the reverse "Mann Col/3£". Ex 'Besancon' (III). [The originals - that in blue illustrated by Alfred Basset-Hull on Plate I - were sold by Alfred van Dyck to Thomas Tapling, but not before he had made several sets of facsimiles. The endorsements were probably made by van Dyck]

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,500

REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE FIRST STAMP ISSUE: Thomas Ham's 2d design based on Great Britain's 'Tuppence Blue' lithographed proofs of two intermediate states and of the finished design all in deep blue on a piece of highly surfaced card (100x72mm), endorsed below "3d" and "This blue would be brighter/TH", hinge remnants on the reverse otherwise superb. Endorsed in pencil on the reverse "Mann/3£". Ex 'Besancon' (III). [The originals - that in blue illustrated by Alfred Basset-Hull on Plate I - were sold by Alfred van Dyck to Thomas Tapling, but not before he had made several sets of facsimiles. The endorsements were probably made by van Dyck]

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,500

SYDNEY VIEWS: Robert Clayton's 1d plate proof single in orange-red on wove paper, margins close to large, minor adhesion on the reverse. BPA Certificate (2015). The superb 'Besancon' (I) example sold for SFr1585.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$600

SYDNEY VIEWS: Robert Clayton's 1d plate proof in orange-red on pelure paper horizontal strip of 3 [Pos 13-15], good even margins except where just touched at lower-right and with a nick just clear of the base of the central unit, faint and inconsequential soiling on the reverse. Rare. Ex 'Manwood', where it was stated that the central unit has a tiny thin spot, which we cannot discern. Sold at our auction of 15.8.2014 for $2900. Believed to be one of only two strips of three & the equal-largest surviving multiple. At least the equal of Ric Slade-Slade's strip that sold at our auction of 4.3.2006 for $3910.

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,500

SYDNEY VIEWS: Robert Clayton's 1d plate proof single in dull carmine on wove paper, margins just clear - at lower-right - to good. Close to the issued colour of SG 8. Very scarce.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$750

SYDNEY VIEWS: Robert Clayton's 3d design lithographed proof in vermilion & blue on stout wove paper, close even margins, aged on the reverse. Ex Sir Gawaine Baillie: sold in 2005 for $1280. The original (also with a 1d in vermilion), illustrated by Alfred Basset-Hull on Plate I, was sold by Alfred van Dyck to Thomas Tapling, but not before he had made several sets of facsimiles. The Baillie catalogue also included a facsimile of the piece sold to Tapling, which bears the extraordinary note "The form and colors [sic] are approved..." If proceeded with, the 3d would have been the world's first bicoloured stamp.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

SYDNEY VIEWS: 1d plate proof horizontal pair in black on thin card, good even margins. Superb. RPSofV Certificate states "it is a posthumous reproduction".

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

SYDNEY VIEWS: 3d plate proof single in myrtle-green on thin card, margins close to good, apparently contemporary notation on the reverse signed "PO Secretary". The 'Dubois' (I) example sold for SFr2440. It was stated there "Probably just one, possibly two sheets of twenty-five were printed". The next lot is in a slightly different shade

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

SYDNEY VIEWS: 3d plate proof single in myrtle-green on thin card, margins good to large. Superb. Ex Marcel Burrus and 'Manwood'. RPSofL Certificate (2016). The 'Dubois' (I) example sold for SFr2440. It was stated there "Probably just one, possibly two sheets of twenty-five were printed". The previous lot is in a slightly different shade.

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,000

QUEEN-ON-THRONE: Perkins Bacon group comprising 2d plate proof single in black, reprinted unfinished die proofs with blank tablets in vermilion, in violet, in deep green & in black on Wove Paper and in green on Thin Card, similar with ornaments in the tablets in carmine on Thin Card and in green on Thick Card, each with margins large to enormous, also Bromides with 'NEW SOUTH WALES' inscription at 1½-times stamp-size x3 apparently from the printers' day-book; and 'VICTORIA' 6d plate proof pair in black; a couple with very minor blemishes that hardly detract. In his book on Victoria, Geoff Kellow states at page 101 "it seems that a remarkable error occurred ... with the wrong Colony's name being engraved originally". The NSW version was never issued. The die had to be re-worked to shorten the upper tablet for insertion of 'VICTORIA'. See also Lot 923.  (11 items)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

LAUREATES: 2d imperforate plate proof horizontal pair in pale dull rose on wove paper, margins good to large except where a little shaved at the top, minor faint soiling. Believed to be the only recorded examples. Ex Guy Hutson: estimated at £1000 but unsold.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$750

LAUREATES: 6d imperforate plate proof single in choclate-brown on thin card, superb impression, margins close to good except where just cut-into at upper-right, shallow thinning that is of no significance. Rare: only six examples recorded. Sold at our auction of 12.6.2010 for $465. Guy Hutson's very similar example sold for £480.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

LAUREATES: 8d imperforate plate proof single [Pos 3] in deep blue on thin card, superb impression, margins close to good except where just shaved at the base, tiny nick in the margin at lower-left. Ex Guy Hutson: sold for £420. The Hutson catalogue stated "..It was recorded in the earliest days of philately..." and notes that a block of 9 & three singles are institutionalised, with around 9 or 10 singles in private hands.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

LAUREATES: 8d imperforate plate proof single [Pos 12] in deep blue on thin card, superb impression, margins just clear - at the base - to large with a fragment of the adjoining unit at right, ironed-out vertical crease that is barely noticeable from the face.

Grade (B) (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

DIADEMS: Progressive die proof of the Queen's Head only superb impression in black on India paper (73x117mm) showing the full dimensions of the die, affixed to thin card of the same size, very fine. Ex RB Yardley, George Ginger, Guy Hutson (private transaction), 'Manwood' (together with the next two lots; sold in 1995 for US$6325) and 'Alvarado': estimated at £4000 but unsold. RPSofL Certificate (2013) states this is the final state with the inner-background lines strengthened. Only three examples recorded, of which one is in the Royal Collection and the other is somewhat smaller than this.  

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$4,000

DIADEMS: Progressive die proof for the 6d with Blank Tablets superb impression in black on India paper (70x80mm) showing the full dimensions of the die, affixed to thin card of the same size, one tonespot at the top outside the outer dimensions of the die otherwise very fine. Ex RB Yardley, George Ginger, Guy Hutson (private transaction), 'Manwood' (together with Lots 124 & 126; sold in 1995 for US$6325) and 'Alvarado': estimated at £5000 but unsold. RPSofL Certificate (2013). Only three examples recorded, of which one is in the Royal Collection.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$5,000

DIADEMS: Progressive die proof for the 1/- of the Head & Outer Decorations superb impression in black on India paper (67x92mm) showing the full dimensions of the die, affixed to thin card of the same size, some faint soiling well clear of the design otherwise very fine. Ex RB Yardley, George Ginger, Guy Hutson (private transaction), 'Manwood' (together with the two previous lots; sold in 1995 for US$6325) and 'Alvarado': estimated at £5000 but unsold. Ex RPSofL ertificate (2013). Only two examples recorded, of which the other is in the Royal Collection.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$5,000

DIADEMS: 1d die proof in black on India paper mounted on card (50x51mm), very minor blemishes mostly clear of the design. Rare. A superb example of the engraver's art. 

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$4,000

DIADEMS: 1d plate proof in black on ungummed unwatermarked wove paper, marginal horizontal strip of 4 from the top of the sheet, margins just touched - at upper-left - to enormous, characteristic deckled edge at the top, minor burnishing marks between the units. Sir Gawaine Baillie's block of 4 (one unit shaved at right) sold for $640.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$400