1903 AMES ESSAYS: Stamp-size photographic essay in sepia on thick ungummed paper with Saw-Tooth Roulette 13½ ACSC #E24, Cat $3000. Superb! Ex 'Besancon' (I). [The ACSC makes the point that this essay was undenominated & that it "was accompanied by a handdrawn 'VICTORIA' tablet to fit the blank space." In fact, that piece - which is included here & which is not handdrawn but a bromide - is also twice inscribed with the denomination '1D', making this an Australian 'keyplate' design!]

Grade A+ A1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

1903 VAUGHAN ESSAYS: 5/- KEVII, Allegorical Figure & Flag stamp-size perforated essay in blue on thick ungummed unwatermarked paper with 'STATE OF QUEENSLAND' in lower tablet BW #E10A, well centred, Cat $4000. Ex 'Chartwell': sold for £660. Superb! [NB: the 'Chartwell' catalogue stated that the perfs at right are trimmed. They're not: it's an optical illusion caused by the presence of a blue vertical line along the perf tips]

Most of the Vaughan essays have obvious defects including tears, thins and surface abrasions. This & the next three lots are among the finest such essays we have seen. The ACSC states: "All the Vaughan essays are very rare, with only one to three examples of each recorded". It is also noted that a high percentage are locked away in institutional collections. The 5/- design is especially relevant to the Kangaroo issue as it alone features a kangaroo, behind the allegorical figure.

Grade A+ A1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

1903 VAUGHAN ESSAYS: 5/- KEVII, Allegorical Figure & Flag stamp-size perforated essay in brown-olive on thick ungummed unwatermarked paper with 'STATE OF QUEENSLAND' in lower tablet BW #E10B, well centred and one of the finest such essays we have seen, Cat $4000. Ex 'Chartwell': sold for £576. Superb!

Grade A+ A1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

1903 VAUGHAN ESSAYS: £1 Alexandra, KEVII & Globe showing Australia stamp-size perforated essay in blue with a pink wash on thick ungummed unwatermarked paper with 'STATE OF' at L/L & the L/R tablet left blank BW #E12A, well centred, Cat $5000. Ex 'Chartwell': sold for a trifling £600. Superb!

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,500

1905 ESSAYS: Three moderately skillful renderings of variations on the theme of KEVII superimposed on a Map of Australia, "No 3" endorsed "White Australia King Edward 1905" & at the side "Personally I do not believe in a total White Australia", "No 1" with a repaired 30mm tear, "No 2" creased at L/R & stained, "No 3" with only minor blemishes. Unrecorded in the ACSC. Ex 'Besancon' (II): sold for SFr605. [Each item is endorsed on the reverse "EHK Crawford/Dryrah/Greenethorpe/NS Wales". Ernest HK Crawford was a grazier & District Justice at Greenethorpe, in the central west of NSW] (3 items)

Grade B/C (Image1)

Estimate AU$750

1905 ESSAYS: Amateurish pencil drawing of a 3d design with the Australian Coat of Arms on artpaper (61x80mm), endorsed "34" on the reverse. Not recorded in the ACSC. Ex 'Besancon' (III). [Apart from the vendor's attribution, there is nothing to indicate that this was a submission for a design competititon. Caveat emptor]

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

1911 STAMP DESIGN COMPETITION: Original stampsize watercolours for five different designs denominated 2d x2 or 2½d x3 featuring a Map of Australia x2, State Emblems x2 or a Six-Pointed Star, all rendered in black & grey highlighted with Chinese white, variously inscribed 'NEW SOUTH WALES' x2, 'QUEENSLAND', 'TASMANIA' or 'WESTERN/AUSTRALIA' ACSC #E25-29, Cat $20,000! Ex 'Besancon' (II): sold for SFr1210. Truly 'art in miniature'! (10)

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,000

1911 STAMP DESIGN COMPETITION: Two moderately skillful renderings of variations on the theme of the Map of Australia & Commonwealth Coat of Arms both photographically reproduced on postcard stock, each with a file-hole at U/R & closed pinholes. Unrecorded in the ACSC. Ex 'Besancon' (III): sold for SFr605. [Each item is endorsed on the reverse "H Grey Norris/.../Kensington Park/S Australia". Henry Grey Norris had senior positions with the railways in South India & retired to Adelaide] (2)

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

1913 ESSAYS: Two stamp-size photographic essays for 1d Coat of Arms and 1d Allegorical Figure, both endorsed on the reverse "63/E Whitehead & Co". Not recorded in the ACSC. Ex 'Besancon' (III). [The inscription 'GR' on the first of these strongly suggests they were not received for the 1911 Stamp Design Competition which closed 31.5.1911. KEVII died on the 6th of that month]. See also Lot 1243.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$100