1840 1d. black, a superb used set of the twelve plates (1a-XI) each with large balanced margins and beautifully cancelled by superb strikes of the black Maltese cross; a few minor faults though an exceptional set which is extremely difficult to replicate in this quality. (Image)

1840 1d grey black, Pl.1a CA, four margins, cancelled by a complete upright Maltese cross in red; very fine. (Image)

1840 1d grey-black pl.1a (heavily worn plate) GD, with good to huge margins, neatly cancelled by red MC, tiny scuff at lower right and faint trace of a corner bend, a striking example. (Image)

1840 1d intense black pl. 1a JA, four margins, red Maltese Cross, wmk small crown inverted, constant variety blind "A", very fine used and rare example, cert. Brandon (2017) (S.G. Spec. AS1g £4'000). (Image)

1840 1d black, Pl.1a LB-LC pair, four margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red, pairs on this plate are scarce; very fine. (Image)

1840 1d grey black, Pl.1a LE, four margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red; fine. (Image)

1840 1d grey black, Pl.1a NH, four margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red; fine. (Image)

1840 1d grey black, Pl.1a QK, four margins, cancelled by a double strike of a Scottish Maltese cross in black, scarce on this plate; very fine, (SG Spec AS2f £1'200). (Image)

1840 1d grey black, Pl.1a SI-SJ pair, four margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red, Brandon certificate states "vertical crease in margin between stamps", pairs on this plate are scarce; very fine. (Image)

1840 1d grey black, Pl.1a SJ, four margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in black, scarce on this plate, clear profile; very fine, (SG Spec AS2f £1'200). (Image)

1840 1d black pl.1a TK, large margins all round, lightly cancelled by a Maltese cross in red, leaving a clear profile; very fine. (Image)

1840 1d Black pl.1b FE, fine to very good margins, tied to 1840 (Nov 17) entire from Maidstone to London by two strikes of red-brown Maltese Cross, with despatch ds adjacent, London arrival bs, cover has been cleaned, fine. (Image)

1840 1d black, Pl.1b FK, four margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red; fine. (Image)

1841 (Jul 12) Envelope to London with 1840 1d black pl.1b HD, small to good margins and just touching at top, well tied by a brownish red Maltese Cross with Emsworth despatch cds alongside, boldly marked "38 Registered" and 1/-" rate in red-brown ink, with London Paid tombstone, a very rare usage with this being the only recorded example of a plate 1 used on registered mail and a very late use of the red Maltese Cross which should have been changed to black in February 1841, ex Alan Holyoake RDP FRPSL, cert BPA. (2010). (Image)

1840 1d intense black, Pl.1b HF, four margins, cancelled by a complete upright Maltese cross in red; very fine. (Image)

1840 1d black pl.1b OG, four margins, tied to piece by an indistinct 1844 numeral cancel, with town dated Malton and York to top part of piece dated MR 11 1849, very late use of a penny black (S.G. Spec. AS6za £3'000). (Image)

1840 (Dec 19) Cover sent to Manchester franked with a 1d black pl.1b QB, four margins, tied by the Magenta Maltese Cross of Preston, horizontal filing crease not affecting stamp, cert. Jackson (2021) (S.G. Spec. AS5vd £8'500). (Image)

1840 1d black pl.1b RE, with variety watermark inverted, lightly cancelled by a Maltese cross in red; fine and rare (SG Spec AS5i £2500) (Image)

1840 1d black, Pl.1b TE, very large margins all-round, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red; very fine. (Image)

1840 (May 15) reduced Cover, franked with 1d black pl.2 CE, margin close to touching top and good to fine, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red; sent from Gloucester to London, (SG Spec AS15tf £3'500) (Image)

A WONDERFUL USED BLOCK 1840 1d Black pl.2 FI-GJ without ray flaws in block of four, fine to good margins, beautifully tied to a piece by crisp red MCs, hint of a pressed crease at foot (not mentioned on the accompanying cert.), a spectacular multiple, rarely seen so fine Provenance: "Mayflower" Expertise: Cert. BPA (2010) (Image)

1840 1d black pl.2 HB, four margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in black, scarce on this plate; fine, (SG Spec AS16a £650) (Image)

1840 (Jun 1) Envelope to London franked with 1d black pl.2 PH, four margins, cancelled by the orange-red Maltese Cross of Chertsey, with "Laleham/Penny Post" mark to front, dispatch Chertsey and London arrival to back, dates indistinct, a good to fine envelope (See Encyclopaedia of the Maltese Cross Cancellations of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume III, by Rockoff and Jackson). (Image)

1840 1d black pl.2 PK, four good to large margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red; very fine (Image)

1840 1d black pl.2 RH, four margins, cancelled by a Maltese cross in red, with a manuscript cancel, faint vertical crease. (Image)