1840 Paper and Gum Trials, two Pieces of paper marked in manuscript "dg 26lb/ La Po (large post)" indicating the weight of paper and dark gum the other marked "dg 16lb/medium"; some toning, otherwise fine and very rare (S.G. from £3'500 each). (Image)

1840 (June) Paper, Gum and Cancellation trials: A large sheet of paper (folded for display) bearing 6 1840 1d. blacks pl. 7, trial printings on the lighter weight paper the normal weight being 30lbs per ream), annotated as "24lbs" TC and TD, "26lbs" BC and BJ, and "28 lbs" CC and CJ in the hand of L.de Nicolas (Rowland Hills clerk), each cancelled by concentric circles cancellation, the lower three stamps of each weight with an overall brownish wash or varnish, which presumably formed part of the trial removal, the top of the sheet bearing three gummed paper samples with "present gum", "New dark No.1" and "New light No.2" in the hand of Joshua Bacon above. A very rare and desirable trial of major philatelic importance and major exhibition showpiece of which very few complete examples exist in private hands, cert. BPA (2010), ex Mayflower. (Image)

1865 Royal Reprint 1d carmine-rose on gummed watermarked paper, very fine (S.G. £2'250). (Image)

1841 2d red brown on "Dickinson" silk thread paper, with large margins all round; very fine unused with part o.g, an extremely rare trial printing of which only 24 were produced eight of which are in the Royal Philatelic collection and many of the other remaining examples housed in other institutional collections; ex Ernest Dale. (Image)

1867 2d blue pl.9 HI/IJ Paris exhibition proof block of four; lovely vibrant colour; a scarce multiple. (Image)

1870 April- May colour trials for the 1/2d. bantam stamps, 8 proof impressions (one impression covered by another) as struck from the small plate of six incomplete impressions of the New south Wales 1d., 2d. and 3d. "Diadem" issues on white wove paper affixed to piece of printers day book in various colours with manuscript annotations as to how the colours are made; a very rare exhibition showpiece. (Image)

1870 April- May colour trials for the 1/2d. bantam stamps, 11 impressions as struck from the small plate of six incomplete impressions of the New south Wales 1d., 2d. and 3d. "Diadem" issues on white wove paper in various colours; 9 of the proofs trimmed at top and at base; a very rare group. (Image)

1870 April- May colour trials for the 1/2d. bantam stamps, a single impression as struck from the small plate of six incomplete impressions of the New south Wales 1d., 2d. and 3d. "Diadem" issues on white wove paper in orange ochre. (Image)