1885 hand-painted essays in the issued designs and colours for the 1887 Jubilee issue, together with an 1881 1d lilac (this an actual stamp). Each essay is on thin card and affixed to a single piece of card inscribed at foot THE DESIGNS ARE SIMPLY DRAWN BY HAND AND DO NOT SHOW THE FINISHED EFFECT WHICH WILL BE OBTAINED BY ENGRAVING. The card was subsequently endorsed by W.H. Cousins (Secretary, Inland Revenue), "This is the scheme of stamps approved by the P.M.G. W.H.C. 11 June 85". A unique item of great importance (Image)

1885 Head Die proof for the Jubilee issue (Die 288) in black on glazed card (92 x 62mm), circular black surround with uncleared shading around head, with two slots at the side. Endorsed BEFORE HARDENING and dated 2 JUL 85. Very fine, ex Aureum (Image)

1887 Jubilee imprimaturs, a very fine imperforate group of ten from ½d to 1/- green, less only the 4½d value, on gummed and watermarked paper. Between SG 197/211 (Image)

1886 Die proof of the Jubilee ½d in black on glazed card, cut to stamp size and affixed to piece of a striking book page. Dated May 6 and endorsed '240 Leads' in pen, also 'Aug 30. 86' in red, unique. Ex Aureum, For SG 197 (Image)

1886 Die proof of the Jubilee ½d in black on glazed card, cut to stamp size and affixed to piece of a striking book page. Dated Feb 23 and endorsed '2 Formes/ 240 Leads' in pen, also 'Die 17 March/ 3 plates Aug 30 86' in red. Unique, ex DLR Archives and Aureum, for SG 197 (Image)

1900 ½d Jubilee Die Proof in black on glazed card (92 x 60mm), dated 30 MAR 00 in blue, endorsed 'after Striking March 30' in pencil ('Befr' deleted) and initialled G.F.S. in ink. Top right corner truncated. For SG 197 Alterations to the marginal markings between the two panes (requested in January 1900) meant that some damage to nearby leads occurred. New leads were struck, and Proofs taken to confirm that the Dies were still serviceable. The top right corners were cut away, for an unknown reason (Image)

1886 Die proof of the Jubilee ½d in black on glazed card (91 x 60mm). Endorsed BEFORE HARDENING and dated 5 FEB 86. Very fine, ex Aureum, for SG 197 (Image)

1887 Jubilee ½d vermilion three strong unlisted shades; deep brownish vermilion, unmounted o.g., with copy of Hendon Certificate (2012) when in a block of four, very deep vermilion with Hendon Certificate (2014) when in a pair, and very pale vermilion corner example with large part o.g. SG 197 var (Image)

1887 ½d deep vermilion bottom row o.g. strip of twelve from Plate 1 from the left side of the 480 mill sheet, marginal Setting 1A, perf Type P. Without Control at R20/11, a rare strip from the first plate. The right stamp with a blunt corner. Six stamps unmounted including the 'No Control' stamp. Ex Aureum. SG 197 var, KC1 (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion interesting group of o.g. Control items (11) on two Hagner sheets. KC22b pair, unmounted; KC22c pair; KC12(I) single, ex Aureum; KC15 pair, and block with damage to jubilee line; deep vermilion KC18 single with damaged 'M'; KC20a(P) strip of 3, unlisted, unmounted; K27k in strip with Control 'P'; KC22 block of fourteen, some toned perfs; KC22a block of four ex Young, Hendon Certificate (2010) and normal pair (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion complete sheet of 240, Control Q, from setting 2b, unmounted o.g. Very fragile; ex Rutherford. SG 197 (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion Control Q block of nine from the vertical comb perforator, some bends and inconspicuous creasing, eight stamps unmounted o.g. SG 197, KC22a (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion top two rows of a pane with R1/11 showing a cracked plate variety, very similar to that from Control Q (K27j), showing what is possibly a more advanced state than that illustrated in the Specialised catalogue; and a lightly hinged single with an inking variety left of the profile, resembling an additional shadow profile. SG 197 var (Image)

1887-92 ½d vermilion bottom two rows of sheet (twenty-four stamps), o.g., Control Q, watermark inverted. From the right side of the 480-set mill sheet as indicated by cross 'M' watermark in the sheet margin, plate 51, marginal setting 2b, perf type 1. Central fold, light even overall toning, twenty-two stamps unmounted. Wiseman Spec FAk-1 (Rarity M), ex Young. SG 197Wi, K27a (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion unmounted o.g. irregular block of eleven with watermark inverted. Four stamps show worn or broken shading at the base of the neck; two stamps with a bend, otherwise fine. SG 197Wi (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion unmounted o.g. Control Q block of six with watermark inverted, on Repp paper. Ex Lady Mairi Bury, very scarce. SG 197Wi var (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion unmounted o.g. block of eight with watermark inverted, fine. SG 197Wi (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion unmounted o.g. right marginal block of four with watermark inverted, minor wrinkle affecting one, otherwise fine. SG 197Wi (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion unmounted o.g. lower left corner pair with watermark inverted, from the lower left side of the Mill sheet. Very fresh. SG 197Wi (Image)

1887 Jubilee ½d vermilion right marginal example with PEARS' SOAP advertisement in orange outline letters, unmounted o.g. Brandon Certificate (2005). SG 197 var, K27m (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion horizontal pair with 'Half-penny' underprint in black on each, large part o.g. Hinged on the design side with a little ink-stripping, and minor offsetting of the underprint; each stamp with a central pinhole from alignment of the underprint. Very rare, with just three or four examples known, ex Aureum. SG 197 var (Image)

1887 Jubilee ½d vermilion overprinted CANCELLED Type 16, fine large part o.g., scarce. Ex Aureum. SG 197 var, K27(2)t (Image)

1887 ½d vermilion unmounted o.g. example with blue OGILVIE & MOORE, CORK underprint. Bends but rare, apparently not recorded in this colour, ex Rutherford. SG 197 var (Image)

1890 handpainted essay for the proposed and subsequently abandoned issue, executed on tracing paper (42 x 55mm) showing the Boehm head, in lilac with lettering in Chinese white. Faint 'I.R.' at top left, dated Dec 17th and cancelled by manuscript cross. A lovely and unique piece, ex DLR Archives (Image)

1884 handpainted essay by G.R, Smith for the 1½d value in dull purple and blue, with details in Chinese white, affixed to a piece of card (31 x 30mm). Head off centre and the value quite large. A unique essay, ex DLR Archives (Image)