1859 Sherwin 2d in black, plus the unissued 1d in black, the "Royal" reprints of the defaced plates 3x4 made in 1911, presented to the officers of the Royal Philatelic Society by King George V, one of 20 sets made, on die sunk card with vertical defacement lines. (Image)

1859 Sherwin 2d deep blue, position 1 on the plate of 12, superb with sheet margin at top and large margins other sides, neat barred oval leaves most of face free, small shallow thin in top margin only, brilliant colour and an exceptional stamp (SG £8'000)

Provenance: ex Burrus 1963 ("superb example")

Expertise: Cert. BPA (1988) (Image)

1859 Sherwin 2d deep blue, position 3 on the plate, deep colour with four even margins, neatly cancelled by circular PAID in black, fine and rare (SG £8'000)

Expertise: Cert. RPS (1974) (Image)

The Finest Known Sherwin Cover

1859 Entire letter to Bordeaux, franked with no less than FOUR 1859 Sherwin 2d deep blue, pos. 4, 11, 2, 5, tied by void ovals and red French Suez transit cds tying stamp at right. Backstamps include G.P.O.MAURITIUS/NO 10 1859, Paris and Bordeaux transits.

All stamps with just clear or good margins for this issue, the third stamp showing scarce underinking flaws at right. Cover with usual archive fold.

Only seven Sherwin covers known, this being the unique highest franking with four examples

?I believe this to be the most important Sherwin item, which was unfortunately missing from the Kanai collection, and consider it to be one of the top ten items in Mauritius philately.? David Feldman, 2015

Expertise: Cert. BPA (2002)

Estimate: £160?000 - £200?000 (Image)

One of Only Two Double Rate Sherwin Frankings

1859 Sherwin 2d deep blue, a vertical pair (positions 3 6) tied by barred oval grids to folded letter Port Louis to Paris, GPO MAURITIUS despatch of NO 10 1859 on flap, stamps of fine deep colour and with large margins except at top right (where barely touched), a very rare franking with only one other cover bearing a pair for double rate recorded

Provenance: Stevens 1964 (illustrated on front cover)

Expertise: Cert. BPA (1973) (Image)