Samoa, 1878, 1sh Yellow, State II. Group of 6 mint (12½ x4 & 11¾ x2) and 21 used each with town cancel including Fiji sunburst and Sydney transit cancels, 1sh perf 12½ (R2/4) tied on piece by Jun 20, 1880 cds, dull to golden yellow shades, few flaws, F.-V.F. overall. Scott No. 6a-6c $3,850. SG No. 7-7b; £2,950 ($4,631)  Estimate $750 - 1,000. $0 (Image)

Samoa, 1878, 1sh Yellow, State II. complete plate reconstruction of 10, all perf 12½, used each with town cancels, bright to deep shades, Very Fine. Scott No. 6b $1,000. SG No. 7  £900 ($1,413). $0 (Image)

Samoa, 1878, 1sh Yellow, State II. Position 5 (R1/5), clear at bottom with enormous margins around, tied by clear "Apia, Samoa, Aug. 19, 1880" cds with second partial strike at upper right on cover to Cassel, Germany, in combination with N.S.W. 1871, 1d salmon + 8d yellow tied by "Sydney, N.S.W., Sep. 10, 1880" duplex postmarks, reverse with "Cassel, 21.10 80" receiving cds, Extremely Fine, a magnificent usage of the 1sh Express issue on cover (Odenweller EO7). Scott No. 6b. SG No. 7+N.S.W. 208+218  Estimate $10,000 - 15,000. THERE ARE ONLY 11 RECORDED COVERS WITH THE FIRST ISSUE SAMOA EXPRESS ADHESIVES AND OF THESE 11, ONLY FIVE ARE FRANKED WITH THE 1SH VALUE. THIS COMBINATION COVER IS ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE PACIFIC RIM.This cover left on August 26, 1800 from Apia on brigantine "Active" for Australia. This cover is from the same correspondence as the forwarder cover to Germany (See Lot #), both with the identical N.S.W. franking and mailed only about three months apart. $0 (Image)