1885-93  2d blue-grey SG 96 block of 30 (6x5), some creasing & thins from having been removed from a parcel, multiple strikes of the 'NULLAGINE/DE29/98/WA' cds. A remarkable usage of a quarter-sheet! Ex John Dibiase: sold for $385. The rate is problematic. The Handbook gives only fragmentary & somewhat contradictory parcel rates. From 1892, the inter-Colonial rate was 8d for the first pound (lb) + 6d for each additional lb to a maximum of 11 pounds for which the rate was 5/8d so the 5/- here does not conform. However, from 1896 the rate for parcels to Britain was 1/- for the first lb + 6d for each additional lb so 5/- was correct for an article weighing between 6 & 7 pounds. It has been suggested that this usage was in payment of bulk postage (1d x60, or 2d x30) but who is likely to have been sending so many articles at one time from a tiny settlement?

Grade B/C (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

1885-93  ½d 2d (closed scissor-cut at upper-left) 3d 4d & 5d (creased) imperforate plate proof pairs in the issued colours from the imprimatur sheets, the 2d 4d & 5d from the left of the sheets with huge margin at left, full unmounted o.g.  Ex John Dibiase: sold for $895.  (5 pairs)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$750