1860-76 Ship Issues (SG 29-115). 1860-76 Ship issue 4 cents black, die proof in black on carton paper, very fine and rare. (Image)

1860-79 Ship issue 1 cent reddish brown, perf. 12, mint, fresh, vibrant vivid colour with superb perforations and centring showing equally large margins all around, a truly exceptional example; (SG £550). (Image)

THE "BURRUS" BLOCK OF 65 1860-76 Ship issue 4 cent perf. 12 1/2 mint block of sixty-five, comprising half the fourth row and the lower six rows of the sheet with margins and "Waterlow & Sons, London" printer's inscription at foot, deep shade, very well centred examples, slight creases and odd tone spots, not detracting from this extraordinary multiple and attractive exhibition item; (SG £7'800+ as singles). Note: The Four Cents denomination was printed from four settings. The first from a stone of 100 individual clichés in four printings, the first two perf. 12 on thin or thick papers, the last two perf. 12 1/2 on thin or medium paper respectively. the rest were composed using transfer strips of five types, and perf. 12 1/2, 10 and (part of 4th setting) perf. 15. Provenance: Maurice Burrus (Lot 97, Robson Lowe, November 1963) John E. du Pont (Lot 60092, David Feldman SA, June 2014) (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 1 cents black, medium paper, perf. 12 1/2-13, bottom imprint sheet marginal mint large block of seventy (the full sheet is composed of 100), from the 5th setting, position 83 showing "broken buckle" variety, with predominantly well centred examples, fresh, very fine and a very rare unused multiple; (SG £5'950+ as singles). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 4 cents blue, perf. 10, mint block of fifteen from the 4th setting, types B-C-D-E-A repeated vertically, quite well centred units, of great freshness and appealing pastel colour, a scarce unused multiple; (SG £2'250+ as singles). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 8 cents pink, perf. 10, mint block of eight from the 3rd setting, rough perforations, still though very fine and of great freshness for this scarce unused multiple; (SG £2'600+). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 8 cents carmine, perf. 10, mint imprint sheet marginal block of thirty-five (7x5), from the 3rd setting, types A-B-C-D-E-A-B repeated vertically, mainly displaying good centrings and very fresh, very fine and an extraordinary unused multiple; (SG £17'500+ as singles). Note: There were about 150,000 issues of this stamp from the 2nd and 3rd printings, with sheets of 50 composed of five transfer types, perforated 10 or 12 1/2 (both settings) and 15 (3rd setting only). Provenance: David Bernhard Edward T. Granger Frederick T. Small (Lot 143, Robson Lowe, March 1970), showing his "Comet" hs on reverse John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 8 cents carmine, perf. 10, mint pair from the 3rd setting, types D-E, fresh, excellent centring, very fine and a very scarce unused multiple; (SG £1'000 as singles). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 48 cents red, perf. 10, bottom imprint marginal mint block of four from the 4th setting, types A-B/A-B, good impression, remarkably showing the Waterlow & Sons imprint in sheet margin, fine and one of the rare blocks recorded, which are only known for the fourth setting; (SG £1'800 as singles). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 48 cents red, perf. 10, mint block of four from the 4th setting, types A-B/A-B, well centred and fresh, very fine and most desirable, with the only blocks known of this value originating from the fourth setting; (SG £1'800+ as singles). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 4 cents blue, perf. 15, left sheet marginal mint block of four from the 4th setting, types A-B/A-B, usual centring, deep shade, fine and scarce; (SG £1'400+ as singles). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue 6 cents ultramarine, perf. 15, mint block of four from the 4th setting, types C-D/C-D, slight corner crease at lower right, barely detracting from this, one of very few multiples recorded in this remarkable shade; (SG £5'600+). Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (Lot 330, Harmers, May 1957) John E. du Pont (Image)

1860-76 Ship issue collection of the different settings and printings on 9 album pages, with proofs, unused incl. many mint singles & multiples, some useful used, an attractive and valuable assembly, viewing highly recommended; (SG £30'000+). Provenance: John E. du Pont (Image)

1860 Envelope from Demerara to Mahaicony with 1860-76 Ship issue 4 cents paying internal rate, neatly tied by light "A03" numerals, reverse with despatch cds for 25 July 1860 and Mahaicony "E 7 C" arrival cds on the 27th; the earliest known usage of the 4 cents. (Image)

1861 Pair of entires from the same correspondence from Demerara to England, the first with 1860-76 Ship issue 12 cents tied by the scarce "5d" accountancy hs (light filing fold affecting stamp) and the other with 12 cents cancelled by "A03" numeral with "5" accountancy marking adjacent, both with Demerara despatch cds and London transit, an attractive pair. (Image)

1861 Cover from Arabian Coast village to Georgetown, with 1860-76 Ship issue 8 cents brownish red diagonal bisect, used as a four cents, tied by neat 12 November 1861 "A 1 C " cds, cover fold just touches one corner, such bisects banned by Dalton's P. O. notice of April 1862, described in the Burrus catalogue as "a great rarity", which we confirm. Note: Illustrated on Plate 12 of Townsend & Howe. These so-called "Split" provisionals were in use for over a decade, with various stamps bisected or trisected when there was a shortage of two and four cent stamps. Those recorded are four and eight bisects and the twelve cent trisect. Provenance: Maurice Burrus (Lot 140, Robson Lowe, November 1963) William Augustus Townsend (Lot 70, Harmer's, October 1969) John E. du Pont (Lot 60090, David Feldman SA, June 2014) (Image)

1861 Cover to London, with 1860-76 Ship issue 12 cents lilac perf. 12 tied solely by the large accountancy handstamp "5d" in red, 23 November Demerara cds on reverse, rare and displaying an appealing combination of colours. Provenance: John E. du Pont (Lot 60091, David Feldman SA, June 2014) (Image)

1862 Envelope from French Guiana to Basse Terre, Guadeloupe, with 1860-76 Ship issue 2 cents and 8 cents applied at Georgetown, neatly tied by "A03" numerals paying 10c, with "Guyane Française" despatch cds underneath the 2c, endorsed "Packet" at top left with various rates and accountancy markings, reverse with 23 March 1862 Georgetown cds, cover faults also including part of backflap missing, an extremely rare usage via British Guiana. (Image)

1862 Wrapper from Georgetown to St. Lucia, with 1860-76 Ship issue first setting second printing 2 cents perf. 12 pair, cancelled by "A03" numerals, paying double rate internal postage and charged "8" due on arrival, reverse with despatch cds for 8 July 1862 and St. Lucia 11 July arrival, very fine; the earliest recorded usage of this printing of the 2 cents. (Image)

1863 Envelope from Georgetown to England, with 1860-76 Ship issue 4 cents, 8 cents and 12 cents paying the 24 cents rate, neatly tied by Georgetown "A03" duplexes for 21 November 1863, Blackburn arrival cds, couple of pulled corner perforations; a very fine and attractive three-colour franking. (Image)

1864 Cover to London endorsed "Per West Indian Steamer", with 1860-76 Ship issue 12 cents lilac pair, from the 2nd printing, paying double weight postage to England, tied by two strikes of the Georgetown "A03" duplex, paying the 24 cents rate to England, red London cds alongside, scarce. (Image)

1864 Cover to Exeter, bearing 1860-76 Ship issue 8 cents pink, perf. 12 1/2 x 13, strip of three on thin paper, cancelled and just tied by three strikes of the "A03", with red London Paid cds alongside plus Demerara and Exeter backstamp, probably carried on the RMSP "Thames" to St. Thomas (which left Demerara on the 24 of September), a very scarce and delightful usage. Expertise: Cert. RPS (1994) (Image)

1864 Envelope from Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana, with 1860-76 Ship issue 24 cents applied (slightly over the edge) at Georgetown, neatly tied by "A04" numeral, despatch "FRANCO" 9/20 ds adjacent, London transit and reverse with Demerara (Sept. 22) and London (Oct. 14) cds, minor cover tears, a very scarce and desirable usage from Dutch Guiana. (Image)

1865 Mourning envelope from New Amsterdam to Lexington, Kentucky, redirected to Chicago, with 1860-76 Ship issue 4 cents pale blue and 6 cents blue, lightly cancelled, plus tied by part of the new address, manuscript "4", shield-framed "ADVERTISED" ds in blue, boxed "NOT/CALLED/FOR", "STEAM" ds and Boston transit, all alongside, with New Amsterdam, Georgetown, St. Thomas and Chicago bs, attractive, unusual and full of character. Provenance: "Bartica" collection (Lot 66, Spink, September 2019) (Image)

1866 Envelope from Georgetown to England, with 1860-76 Ship issue 6 cents, neatly tied by "A03" barred numeral, endorsed "per the Achilles" at top, with "1/2" accountant marking and "FALMOUTH-SHIP-LETTER" cds adjacent, reverse with despatch cds (4 April 1866) and London transit, missing small portion of backflap, very fine; the earliest known usage of the 6c second setting (predating by almost one year the earliest date known to Townsend and Howe, March 1867). Expertise: Signed Kurt Maier (Image)