Embossed Revenue c.1900 group of three revenue proofs with blank date plugs, struck in red on thin wove, comprising 6d with annotation 'specimen sent was from the 3d die' at foot, and 1s and 5s impressions overprinted 'CANCELLED', the former with red ms annotation 'also proof of 9d die sent to colony'. Offered with issued 1s, single impression dated 13.11.03, 2 years prior to the recorded earliest use. (Image)

Fee: c.1884 Hand Painted essay denominated 1d produced by overpainting an issued 3d dull purple (in the 'Surcharge postage design used for postage due stamps), in dull purple and Chinese white, initialled in red, and affixed to archival card (35x52mm) endorsed with (60 set) and 'Inspector' at top. A extraordinary and unique essay of this unissued stamp, and so perfectly executed that the '1d' was listed by Barefoot for a number of years! (Image)

Fee: 1889 3d dull purple opt 'SPECIMEN' type D12, affixed to archival card annotated 'May 9.89' at top. Perfs trimmed off at left and top, of minimal importance as this is the unique file copy ex De La Rue archives, illustrated in 'The De La Rue collection', (vol 6 p.6407). As McClellan F14 (Image)

Fee: 1884-95 group of four trials for the issue, the pence trials (2) on wmk CA paper, without gum, both denominated 4d, with value tablets and overprint in blue and red rather than the issued black, offered with pair of Overprint trials for 'Fee' and 'FEE 10/-' in black, (both as issued) on 1869 5s rose-lake, (the design of which was used for the issue in different colours to the postage issue). A fascinating and unique set of early trials, ex De Vries (Image)

Fee: 1884-95 1d to £1 set of eight, fresh and fine large part o.g., and including the 3d 'Surcharge Postage', (albeit with trimmed perfs at foot) of which only a handful of recorded examples are known. A desirable set in a wonderful state of preservation, by some distance the finer of the two unused sets recorded. McClellan F13/20 (Image)

Fee: 1884-95 3d dull purple very fine used with part ms cancellation. A rarity, with just a handful of recorded examples. McClellan F14 (Image)

Fee and Free fee: Extensive study collection (100s) beautifully written up on album pages including 1889 1d carmine opt 'FEE' (5) and 'FREE' (as always with R deleted to read 'FEE) used, 2½d ultramarine, two examples opt 'FEE' one with the 'HALFPENNY' in value tablet deleted, believed by the vendor to be unadopted essays, ½d dull green (3) and 1d carmine (10), with postal cancellations (likely used as postage dues), 1884-95 issue study including unused values (10) to £1, and used including 10s (10) and £1 (6), 5s with watermark inverted (sole recorded example), and cancellations, dates etc. and 'FREE FEE' in similar depth including the 1891 DLR overprint unused trio. A wonderful lot for the specialist. (Image)

Opium Duty: c.1880 Excise Strips to pay customs Duty for two ounces and four ounces of Opium in red and blue respectively, fine unused, without gum as issued and trimmed at left for display. A fascinating and extremely rare pair of revenues, this just the second such pair we have seen in a decade. McClellan O1/O2. (Image)

Opium Duty: c.1880 USED Excise Strips (3) paying customs Duty for opium, 2oz red and 4oz blue (2), each cancelled with black pen stroke and trimmed to the crest only, the remainder of the bands having been affixed to seal a package of opium as a seal. A trio of the highest rarity- these the first used examples we have ever seen or heard of. McClellan O1/O2. (Image)

1935 $4.80 rose-carmine, imperforate proof wmk Script CA, perforated 'SPECIMEN' type B9, fresh without gum. As McClellan R32 (Image)

1935-36 Bradbury Wilkinson revenues small collection (14) comprising used $1.20 blue-green (4), $4.80 rose-carmine (3), including remarkable $16.80 combination franking on piece, 4c brown mint (4) and used, plus two covers, one an uncancelled 'bought on first day' envelope, the other an attempted postal use, caught and taxed. An interesting lot, the $4.80 a particularly difficult high value. McClellan R31/33 (Image)

1935-36 $1.20 blue-green, upper left marginal block of four, fresh and very fine unmounted o.g. rare thus. McClellan R32 (Image)

1902-70 used balance collection comprising general duty embossed (30) to £1, plus complete GB foreign bill document franked with £1 (2) and 3s grey, direct embossed stamps including unused 1920 stamped paper, two cheques, 1902 6d used, and 1966 issues (7) to $10, fiscally used postage stamps (c.60) to £1 (13), plus wide variety of national insurance issues in mint blocks, written up on 8 pages. An interesting and varied lot. (Image)