1853 1d Pale Blue unused, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, fine margins, small corner crease otherwise very fine and fresh appearance (Image)

1853 1d Blue unused showing a very distinct “kiss” print, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, frameline cut into on three sides, couple of thins and minor yellowing, fresh colour, an unusual and desirable variety (Image)

1853 1d Pale “milky” blue unused pair, early impression, medium soft yellowish paper, pos.5-6, fine to large margins, small tear at top and some trivial imperfections, a fresh colour and a very rare unused multiple An exceptional unused pair and an important showpiece Provenance: Burrus (lot 389), Tinsley (1990, lot 53 (featured on front cover)) (Image)

1853 1d Blue unused, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, with fine to large margins, small thin spot and couple of tiny spots, very fine and fresh appearance Provenance: Earl (1980, lot 2007 realised CHF 2’300) Expertise: Cert. RPS (1955) (Image)

1853 1d Blue unused lower left corner marginal with printer’s inscription “Printed by H & C Be”, early impression, pos.19, with good to huge margins, closed tears at top, a very fine looking stamp and extremely rare A stunning showpiece and desirable positional item (Image)

1853 1d Blue unused without gum, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, with fine to good margins, slight trace of thin, fine and fresh colour Expertise: Cert. RPSV (1999) (Image)

1853 1d Pale blue unused strip of three, worn impression, thin hard white paper, pos.22-24, just touched at left & some thin spots, close to fine margins showing tiny portion of marginal inscription A very rare unused multiple with a lovely appearance Provenance: Earl (1980, lot 2027 realised CHF18’000) (Image)

1853 1d Blue used vertical strip of four with printer’s inscription “C.W. Coard Sc”, medium soft yellowish paper, early impression, pos.6/24, just touched at top and faults incl. repaired tears, “23” numerals of Cleveland, fine to huge margins with deep shade A very scarce used multiple especially as strips of four are the largest multiples recorded Note: “23” numerals of Cleveland rated RR by Avery (Image)

1853 1d Pale Blue used, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, fine to very large margins, “68” numeral of Hobart, very fine Expertise: Cert. Holcombe (1998) (Image)

1853 1d Blue used right marginal strip of four, pos.9-12, early impression, medium soft yellowish paper, touched at left only, indistinct numeral cancels, vertical crease affecting right stamp otherwise fine and a very scarce used multiple Provenance: Earl (1980, lot 2012 realised CHF 4’400) Note: The image in the catalogue shows a fault at the top of the 2nd stamp. This is actually only a flaw with the image and is not on the stamp itself (Image)

1853 1d Blue used pair, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, pos.8-9, good margins, faint traces of thins, with what appears to be “63” numeral of Hobart (rated RR by Avery), fresh and very fine appearance (Image)

1853 1d Blue used with printer’s inscription “Printed by H & C Be”, showing a distinct “kiss-print”, medium soft yellowish paper, intermediate impression, pos.19 with fine to large margins, “68” numeral of Hobart and part of red ds, corner crease at lower left and tiny thin, scarce positional item with inscription (Image)

1853 1d Blue used, early impression, medium soft yellowish paper, with fine to huge margins, small faults, showing light “45” numeral cancel of Norfolk Plains (rated RR by Avery), very fine (Image)

1853 1d Blue used, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, fine margins, “68” numeral of Hobart, fine Expertise: Cert. Brandon (1981) (Image)

1853 1d Blue used, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, fine to large margins, light indistinct numeral, very fine appearance (Image)

1853 1d Blue, intermediate impression, medium soft yellowish paper, with close to good margins, tied to piece by “64” numeral of Hobart and boxed “PAID / 4 O CLOCK” ds, very fine Expertise: Cert. RPS (1947) (Image)

1853 1d Pale Blue strip of four, pos.13-16, worn impression, thin hard white paper, clear margins all around, “60” numeral cancels, some faults, a very scarce used multiple Provenance: Earl (1980, lot 2029 realised CHF 3’200) (Image)

1853 1d Blue used pair, intermediate impression, thin hard white paper, fine to very good margins, “60” numerals of Launceston, very fine with crisp clear cancels (Image)

1853 1d Blue used, intermediate impression, thin hard white paper, good to very large margins, “42” numeral of Macqurie River (rated RR by Avery), very fine to superb (Image)

1853 1d Blue used, pos.13, intermediate impression, thin hard white paper, fine to large margins, “60” numeral of Launceston, very fine (Image)

1853 1d Blue sheet reconstruction of 24 incl. pos.21-24 strip of four which has been cleaned to remove pen strokes (ex Burrus & Robson Lowe Jul 1979), pos.15-18 used strip of four with faults (ex Earl realised CHF 3’000), and 16 used singles, mixed condition (Image)

1853 1d Blue used selection of 24 singles, 2 pairs (one with “42” numeral of Macquarie River) and a strip of three, all with varying degrees of faults, all singles with four margins (some very large), an attractive looking group (31) (Est. € 5’000/8’000) (Image)

Covers: Note: Only 23 covers with 1d Courier frankings are known; one 6d rate, nine 4d rate and thirteen 1d rate covers Earliest Known Usage of the 1d Courier 1853 (Nov 9) Entire from Private R. Robertson in Hobart Town (from the same correspondence as the 1855 1d concession rate cover featured later in the auction), sent to Scotland with two pairs of 1853 1d blue, medium soft yellowish paper, pos. 11-12 & 17-18, both touched in places, tied by light “64” numerals along with faint G.P.O. cds. Stamps paying the 4d Ship Letter rate and with hs “8”, carried from Melbourne by S.S. “Great Britain” departing on Nov 19, reverse with “LIVERPOOL / SHIP LETTER” and Blairgowrie arrival cds, cover appears to have been lightly cleaned and pressed, still very fine in appearance The earliest known usage of this issue, which was issued only 8 days before. An important exhibition item Provenance: Featured in “Philatelist” April 1983 (photocopy included); Robson Lowe auction May 1983 lot 138 realised £6’500 (featured on front cover) (Image)

1854 (Feb 1) Wrapper sent locally in Launceston with 1853 1d blue, early impression, pos.24 showing tiny portion of imprint, just touched at lower right, tied by “59” numeral, with “10 O’CLOCK” cds adjacent, cover soiled, scarce (Image)

1854 (Mar 28) Entire from Red Hill to Launceston with vertical strip of four 1853 1d deep grey-blue, medium soft yellowish paper, pos.6/24 showing small portion of marginal inscription, cut into at top and a couple of small tears at left caused by being placed over the top edge, tied by “25” numeral of Deloraine (rated RR by Avery), arrival bs A very rare usage of this deep shade and probably unique from this town (Image)