Mint selection including 3d blue x2, 4d olive x3, 5d brown x4 and 1/4d greenish blue x2, also 'OS' Overprints ½d, 1d, 3d & 5d x2 plus a couple used, a few unmounted, some of the mounted with minor hinge remainders, Cat $800+ (£360+).  (32)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$150

2d red Die III vertical pair with additional aberrant stike of the comp through the lower unit and below that with Double Vertical Perforations ACSC 103b (SG 127 variety),  the upper unit with a tiny hinge remainder, the lower unit unmounted, Cat $275+.

Grade A C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

5d ACSC 127 (SG 130) five marginal blocks of 4 each with one or two minor varieties (eight in all), a few minor bends, unmounted, Cat $800+ for normal singles (£475+ for mounted).  (5 blocks)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

1/4d turquiose-blue John Ash Imprint block of 4 ACSC 131z, very light vertical fold through the central gutter, small hinge remainders in the gutter & lower margin, the stamps unmounted, Cat $1000 for mounted.

Grade A C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

OVERPRINTED 'OS': 1d green with the Watermark Inverted and with the Watermark Reversed ACSC 82(OS)a & aa (SG O129w & x), the first poorly centred, Cat $4000 (£1900). (2) 

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$600

POSTAL FORGERY: 2d red on gummed unwatermarked paper Perf 11 ACSC 103cc (SG 127 footnote) block of 4, quite well-centred, characteristic 'fluffy' perfs, a couple of tiny paper inclusions/marks on the reverse, three units lightly mounted, the lower-left unit unmounted, Cat $4200+ for singles (£1800 for mounted singles). The ACSC states "multiples of the forgeries exist but are rare". A similar block - all units mounted with some tonespots on the reverse - sold at our auction of 31.8.2019 for $1711. The forgeries were created in Sydney as part of an elaborate fraud involving the mailing of a faked prospectus for the Irish Sweepstakes, and for forwarding tickets to unwitting subscribers. See also Lots 323 & 324 below for examples of the Sydney Harbour Bridge 2d Letterpress stamps forged as part of this fraud.

Grade A B2 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

POSTAL FORGERY: 2d red on gummed unwatermarked paper Perf 11 ACSC 103cc (SG 127 footnote) two slightly over-lapping examples tied by Sydney '27 MCH/1932/POST EARLY IN THE DAY' slogan machine cancellation on cover to Highbury (SA), a few minor blemishes from bulky contents, Cat $8000 for a 'pair' on cover (see footnote 4). The ACSC states "about six covers are recorded, with dates of 23 24 or 27 March 1932, of which two are franked with two examples of the forgery". Arthur Gray's cover of 23.3.1932 - one unit torn in half before being affixed - sold at our auction of 30.10.2015 for $4998. This is a very significant postal history item, proving actual usage of the forgeries. By contrast, the only covers bearing the related forgery of the 2d Sydney Harbour Bridge are uncancelled or were created by collectors after the arrest of the perpetrators of the fraud.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$4,000