1856 4d carmine on highly glazed blued paper, wmk Medium Garter, overprinted "SPECIMEN" type 2 vertically (reading downwards)., large part o.g. Ex Latto. SG 63s, Spec J48t, £1,200 (Image)

1863 4d Pale red Pl.4. Very fine and fresh unused o.g. example lettered TJ. Scarce. (Image)

1862 6d Deep lilac. Very fine and fresh unused o.g. example lettered SB. A lovely example in an exceptionally deep shade. (Image)

1865-7 4d dull vermilion, Plate 14 (CB), overprinted 'SPECIMEN' (Type 8), redistributed gum, centred to top. Good colour. SG 93, Plate 14, Spec J16s unpriced (Image)

1865-67 4d deep vermilion plate 12 horizontal strip of three (TJ-TL) cancelled by neat "AYR MY 28 72" cds, a fine multiple SG 95 (Image)

1865-7 6d lilac, Plate 5 (TA) with hyphen, variety 'WATERMARK ERROR, THREE ROSES AND SHAMROCK', franked with 1858-76 2d, Plate 9 (KC) to entire letter addressed to Saxony, endorsed 'Ostend', cancelled by Bradford duplex for 'MY 5 66', red 'PD' in circle below, blue Aachen double-ring transit at left, the reverse with London transit and Ausgabe arrival cds; filing fold missing the adhesives and variety has been lifted, for checking, and replaced. Fine and scarce. BPA Certificate (2007) mentioning the variety. SG 45, 97c (Image)

1867 3d Rose Plate 7. Very fine unused o.g. example lettered CL overprinted "SPECIMEN" type 6A. Believed to have been part of an 1872 presentation set and thought to be unique in private hands. This stamp is illustrated on page 24 of "Specimen stamps and stationery of Great Britain" by Samuel and Huggins. Ex Beaumont. (Image)

1867-80 3d rose plate 10 block of four (PC-QD) used by "Blackpool JY 25 73" cds, a fine block SG 103 (Image)

1870 3d die proof printed in rose on white matt card (38mm x 38mm), produced by DLR for the 1870 International Exhibition. Very fine and extremely rare. Only one or two examples exist in each colour in private hands. SG 103 var (Image)

1867-80 6d mauve, plate 8 (NK); unmounted og. Fresh appearance. SG 109, plate 8, £800+

1867-80 6d mauve, plate 9 (ED), right wing margin; gum creasing otherwise unmounted og. Bright colour. SG 109, plate 9, £700+ (Image)

1867-80 6d mauve plate 9 (IF), mint large part o.g., fresh colour and gum, fine SG 109 (Image)

1867 9d straw, Plate 4 (JJ), lower marginal with part inscription “Ninepence/per Label“, neatly cancelled by Fenchurch St. cds for MR.11.1872. Scarce. SG110 (Image)

1867-80 10d deep red-brown plate 1 (OE), mint large part o.g., nice appearance but reperforated at left, a fine filler of this difficult stamp SG 114 £3,600 (Image)

1867 10d red-brown Plate 2 (FE) 'Abnormal' used cancelled by London district numeral W.C 29, trimmed perfs at left, a most desirable item, one of only thirty in existence with most examples in poor condition, rare. RPS cert (1950) SG 112, £15,000 (Image)

1867-80 1s. green plate 5 block of four (FG-GH) used by very neat "Dundee MY 16 72" cds, good colour, a fine and most attractive block SG 117 (Image)

1867-80 2s. deep blue plate 1 horizontal pair (CG-CH) cancelled by clear "Liverpool 10 MY 72" cds, a fine pair SG 119 (Image)

1867-80 2s brown, Plate 1 (PE), right wing margin, cancelled by part London, S.W. duplex. A good example of this scarce and very popular stamp. SG 121, £4,250 (Image)

1867-83, wmk Maltese Cross, 10s greenish grey (ED), cancelled by indistinct part barred numeral; one short perf and centred to left. Reasonable colour. Fair. SG 128, £3,200 (Image)

1878 £1 Colour trial Plate 1. Very fine unused o.g. imperforate bottom left hand corner marginal example lettered DA, printed in purple overprinted "SPECIMEN" type 9. Scarce. (Image)

1878 £1 Colour trial. Very fine imperforate top marginal example lettered AD, printed on gummed watermarked paper in grey blue, overprinted “SPECIMEN“ type 9. Showing small part sheet inscription. Scarce. (Image)

1867-83, wmk Maltese Cross, £1 brown-lilac (CH), cancelled by indistinct part barred numerals; some faults including small tear at left and slightly faded. A good space filler with reasonable centring. SG 129, £4,500 (Image)

1878 £1 brown-lilac, Plate 1 (DG), neatly cancelled by Glasgow cds for MR.2.1882. Attractive. SG 129 (Image)

1867-83 5s rose, Plate 4 (EC) on blued paper, neatly cancelled by complete and part 'CORNHILL RD/MR 27 83/E.C.' cds; very small stain on reverse, barely noticeable on front. Well centred with fresh colour. A very collectable example of this scarce stamp. SG 130, £4,800 (Image)

1867-83, wmk Anchor, white paper, 5s rose, Plate 4 (BD), cancelled by heavy squared circle 'LOMBARD ST B.O./E.C./L/SP 6/83'; some small stains. Good colour and fine centring. A very collectable example of this scarce stamp. SG 134, £3,800 (Image)