1847: Entire letter from Perth (Nov 15) to Lyons, France struck with "Crown / GENERAL / POST OFFICE / PERTH" handstamp in black and equally fine oval "SHIP LETTER / Crown / WESTERN AUSTRALIA / PAID" in red alongside. Manuscript dated internally and with '4' (pence) on front. Carried via London with framed PACKET LETTER in black on front and transit cds (March 2, 1848) in red on reverse and charged '1 s.' in manuscript. Lyon arrival cds (March 6), also on reverse, where charged '25' dêcimes due. An extraordinary entire letter of great rarity to this destination and one of the earliest recorded entires from Western Australia to France. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1854: Reprinted Die Proofs (7) the stamp design with voided corners, each on heavy white paper, struck in vermilion, red, carmine, myrtle green, yellow green, violet and blue. Scarce. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 1 d. black, a superb large margined example with large portion of adjoining stamp at top, neatly cancelled in black. Exceptional and rare so fine Gi = £ 275. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 1 d. black, imperforate, a used example with narrow margins all round, neatly (and unusually) cancelled in red by mute handstamp. Scarce. Cert. RPS (1949). Gi = £ 275. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1854: 1 d. black, a fine used example, margins ample at base and large on three sides, neatly cancelled by obliterator handstamp in black leaving the Swan clear, a fine stamp Gi = £ 275. (Image 1) (Image)

1854: 1 d. black, a superb large margined horizontal pair, each stamp neatly cancelled by fine strike of the mute obliterator in red. Ironed vertical crease on right hand stamp but exceptionally attractive and scarce Gi = £ 525. (Image 1) (Image)

1854: 1 d. black, a vertical pair used on 1856 cover from Perth to Melbourne, Victoria cancelled by mute obliterators in black, the adhesives with large to touched margins and small inclusion on top stamp, with framed PERTH despatch above (Oct 29) in black. Reverse with "Ship Letter / Free / GPO Victoria" datestamp in red (Nov 15) and front with oval 'LC (Letter Carriers)' datestamp in red (Nov 15) and 'ADVERTISED / AND / UNCLAIMED' oval handstamp in black. Docket number '74' in red from Dead Letter desk and reverse with manuscript "Returned Letter Not Claimed 21 May 1857". A rare cover. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1854: 1 d. black, two horizontal pairs, one pair with large margins all round with portions of adjoining stamps at top and at base, second horizontal pair just shaved at top and large on three sides, used on reverse of 1854 cover to London tied by mute obliterators in black and by London arrival cds (Sept 1). Obverse with slight tear in panel at left and fair oval 'GENERAL POST OFFICE / Crown / PERTH / WESTERN AUSTRALIA' in red with manuscript '1s.' to pay upon receipt. Despite the opening tears an exceptionally rare cover. Cert. BPA (2018). (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1854: 1 d. black, rouletted 7½ to 14, a fine vertical pair used on small piece, cancelled by two strikes of mute obliterators in black and part cancel in red at base, part strike of "POST OFFICE / Crown / GUILDFORD / WESTERN AUSTRALIA" oval handstamp in black above. An extremely rare stamp and a particularly fine usage. Cert. BPA (1949) Gi = £ 1'400+. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. pale blue, a fine unused horizontal pair, marginal from left of sheet with the watermark lines, of fresh colour, superb unused, without gum. Signed A. Diena Gi = £ 750. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. pale blue, a superb unused block of four, of good colour and large even margins all round, (Group D), positions 177-178/197-198, with position 178 showing the Transfer Flaw "S" of 'AUSTRALIA' broken and joined to outer frame", minor wrinkle and corner crease on the Transfer Flaw, fresh and very fine appearance, unused without gum. Scarce and attractive multiple Gi = £ 1'500+. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. pale blue, a fine unused example from top right corner of the sheet, (Group D), position 20 with marginal lined watermark and clear to enormous margins all round, pre-printing Paper Fold just running through the top right hand corner of the stamp. A marvellous and fine example of this popular issue. Signed A. Diena Gi = £ 375. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. blue, a fine used vertical pair, (Group A), positions 2/22, ample to large margins all round, slightest of previous hinge thins at top left, beautifully cancelled by two strikes of the mute obliterator in red. A delightful and rare pair Gi = £ 500. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. blue, a fine used vertical pair, (Group B), position 47 on the intermediate Stone, ample to large margins all round, cancelled by mute obliterator in red Gi = £ 250. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. deep full blue, a fine used example with large margins all round in a very deep shade, lightly cancelled in black Gi = £ 850. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. deep dull blue, a fine horizontal pair, First Printing, Sone 1, with close to large margins all round and showing portion of adjoining stamps above, tied by "11" numeral obliterator of Freemantle to an early double rate cover to Maidstone, Kent, dated at lower left "W. Australia 12. Sept. 1854" and again, alongside the adhesives "18/9/54" with oval 'POST OFFICE / Crown / FREEMANTLE / WESTERN AUSTRALIA' handstamp in red. Reverse with London and Maidstone datestamps (Dec 4 and 5) and rated at '1s.' to pay in manuscript. A remarkable and very early cover of great scarcity. Cert. Ceremuga (2018).rnrnNote: The stamps at this date are almost certainly from Stone 1. The pair on the letter are shifted impressions to the right of the frames which can be seen above, this is a characteristic of the ninth horizontal row of the sheet thus this pair is from Row 9 / Stamps 3-4 on the Intermediate Stone of 60 (or positions 163-164, 173-174, 178-179 depending on which pane they came from). It is also interesting to note that the early printings of August 1854 totalled 100 sheets, only 40 of which were used in the early months of issue, the rest were placed on one side to be condemned. However, these 60 sheets were to be issued again some ten years later. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1855: 4 d. slate-blue, Third Printing, Stone 2A, an unused example with ample to large margins all round in this resonant shade, position 18 on the sheet, with marginal lined watermark at top, unused without gum, fresh and very fine. A rare stamp. Cert. Ceremuga (2018) Gi = £ 4'000. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1855: 3 d. slate-blue, a superb used example with large to huge margins all round in this deep resonant shade, lightly cancelled in black. An exceptional stamp. Gi = £ 1'300.rnrnProvenance: Collection Alfred J. Caspary, Harmers, London, 6-9 Oct 1958, lot 530. (Image 1) (Image)

1855: 4 d. slate-blue, a fine used example with good to large margins all round in this resonant shade, interesting lack of background to the printing at upper right, minor thins not affecting appearance, lightly cancelled in black. Cert. RPSL (1960) Gi = £ 1'300. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. pale blue, an unused example of fine appearance, (Group A), position 125 with "Shaved "T" in POSTAGE", slight paper repair at base, without gum, a very scarce stamp Gi = £ 2'250. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d pale blue, used example with close to large margins all round, position 124 showing "Tilted Border", lightly cancelled in black but with small corner repair Gi = £ 1'500.rnrnProvenance: Collection Frank Chadwick, RL, London, 18 May 1978, lot 2085. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. pale blue, a superb unused horizontal pair, of good colour and with large margins all round, (Group A), positions 104-105, with left hand stamp showing "EN" of 'PENCE' shorter, without gum, fresh and very fine, a rare multiple showing the Transfer Flaw Gi = £ 3'100+. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. pale blue, a superb unused block of eighteen (3 x 6), marginal from top of sheet of good colour and with large margins all round, (Group A), positions 3-5/23-25/43-45/63-65/83-85/103-105, with position 25 showing 'dot between "US" of 'Australia'; position 104 showing the Transfer Flaw "EN" of 'PENCE' shorter, the margin showing the watermark lines and '20', corner crease at top right and creased between second and third horizontal rows, somewhat toned paper due to gum staining, gum now removed, nevertheless a wonderful block for the connoisseur of classic philately Gi = £ 9'125+.rnrnProvenance: Collection Frank Chadwick, RL, London, 18 May 1978, lot 2033. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. pale blue, a superb unused horizontal pair from right of the sheet, (Group D), positions 119-120, showing position 120 Transfer Flaw "Swan and Water above 'ENCE' damaged", fresh and fine, minor fault at lower left corner of left had stamp of no significance, a scarce and most attractive pair Gi = £ 4'000+.rnrnProvenance: Collection John Gartner, RL, Geneva, 26 April 1978, lot 219. (Image 1) (Image)

1854 (Aug 1): 4 d. pale blue, a used example with ample even margins all round, (Group D), position 157, showing the Transfer Flaw "WESTERN" squeezed down with letters only 1½ mm. tall", lightly cancelled by mute obliterator in black, largely leaving the variety clear. A fine example of a rare stamp Gi = £ 1'700. (Image 1) (Image)