ORIGINAL ARTWORK: Original handpainted stamp-size essay for the 'Bantam' ½d in shades of green with Chinese white highlights & simulated perforations on tracing paper (76x62mm), endorsed at the base "Seen 23/11/87 AB". Unique and exquisite. Illustrated in 'The De La Rue Collection' at page 6041.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,500

ORIGINAL ARTWORK: Original handpainted stamp-size essay for the 3d in shades of violet with Chinese white highlights on tracing paper (59x74mm), endorsed "Approved/14.7.85/CTodd/PMG", minor peripheral faults so affixed to a piece of thin white card to prevent further damage. Unique. Illustrated in 'The De La Rue Collection' at page 6039. [Usually, approval was given by the Agent-General, who was based in London. However, on this occasion, the Postmaster-General, Charles Todd, was visiting London]

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

ORIGINAL ARTWORK: Original handpainted stamp-size essay for the 4d in shades of violet with Chinese white highlights on tracing paper (65x84mm), endorsed "MARCH 18 89" at upper-right, affixed to a piece of this white card. Unique. Illustrated in 'The De La Rue Collection' at page 6040.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,000

ORIGINAL ARTWORK: Original handpainted stamp-size essay for the 6d in shades of green with Chinese white highlights on tracing paper (64x74mm), damage at right has affected the endorsement "Approved/[14.7.85/C]Todd/PMG" but not the artwork. Unique. Illustrated in 'The De La Rue Collection' at page 6039. [Usually, approval was given by the Agent-General, who was based in London. However, on this occasion, the Postmaster-General, Charles Todd, was visiting London]

Grade C (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

DIE PROOFS: 'Bantam' ½d with two impressions in black on highly-surfaced card (92x60mm) handstamped '30JAN82' in blue & 'BEFORE HARDENING' in black. Superb. The two similar 'Besancon' (III) die proofs sold for SFr530 each. [Modelled on the Victorian 'Bantam' ½d designed by William Bell; two impressions of the stamp were engraved on a single die which, combined, was the same size as the De La Rue 1d and 2d values, but laid-down horizontally]

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$600

DIE PROOFS: 'Bantam' ½d with two impressions in black on highly-surfaced card (92x60mm) handstamped '1FEB82' in blue & 'AFTER HARDENING' in black. Superb. The two similar 'Besancon' (III) die proofs sold for SFr530 each.

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$600

DIE PROOFS: 3d in black on highly-surfaced card (91x60mm), handstamped '16OCT85' & 'BEFORE/HARDENING'. Rare and superb. Ex Peter Jaffé: sold for $1395.

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$800

DIE PROOFS: 3d in black on highly-surfaced card (91x60mm), handstamped '22OCT85' & 'AFTER/HARDENING'. Rare and superb.

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$800

DIE PROOFS: 4d in black on highly-surfaced card (91x60mm), handstamped '15JUL89' and 'BEFORE/HARDENING'. Rare and superb. Ex Peter Jaffé: sold for $1630.

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$800

DIE PROOFS: 4d in black on highly-surfaced card (91x60mm), handstamped '16JUL89' and 'AFTER/HARDENING'. Rare and superb. An initialled example sold at our auction of 24.10.2009 for $1340.

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$800

DIE PROOFS: 4d in black on highly-surfaced card (91x60mm), handstamped '19JUL89' (corrected to "18") and 'AFTER/STRIKING', initialled "HG" below the impression & "AG 18/7/89" at lower-right. Rare and superb.

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$800

DIE PROOFS: 4d in black on highly-surfaced card (91x60mm), handstamped '16OCT94' in blue. Superb. According to Ed Williams at page 5, die proofs dated in 1894 were "taken [sic] by de la Rue during an inspection, cleaning and waxing of dies held in the custody of the Agent-General for South Australia".

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

DIE PROOFS: 6d in black on highly-surfaced card (91x60mm), handstamped '21OCT85' & 'BEFORE/HARDENING'. Rare and superb. The only example we have recorded.

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$800

DIE PROOFS: 6d in black on highly-surfaced card (91x60mm), handstamped '16OCT94' in blue, light peripheral burnishing marks. According to Ed Williams at page 5, die proofs dated in 1894 were "taken [sic] by de la Rue during an inspection, cleaning and waxing of dies held in the custody of the Agent-General for South Australia".

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

PLATE PROOFS: 4d imperforate 1) in black on thin card, block of 36 (6x6) from the top of the right-hand pane; and on gummed unwatermarked paper 2) in purple, block of 36 (6x6) from the top of the right-hand pane; and 3) in a slightly different shade, block of 30 (6x5) from the top of the left-hand pane with Plate Number '1' at upper-left. Superb.  (3 blocks)

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$800