1861-62, ½r. orange, first setting, complete sheet of 100, large sheet margins all round and original gum. Outstandingly fine for this format, with just one light central vertical fold. Six complete sheets of this setting are recorded. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).. There are six different settings of this ½r. value in the second coarse printing, all made up of four complete transfer blocks of 20, plus two vertical rows of the same transfers arranged, in each setting, differently at right. The settings can also be differentiated by the identification of specific flaws unique to an individual setting.Provenance: Von Lind and Heister. (Image1)

Est. €1,500-2,000

1861-62, ½r. orange, second setting, complete sheet of 100, large margins except in corners which have been diagonally severed but without touching the designs, unused without gum. Tears with tape repairs affecting several units and some creasing mostly between adhesives. Only three complete sheets are recorded from this setting. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).Provenance: Heister. (Image1)

Est. €1,500-2,000

1861-62, ½r. orange, third setting, complete sheet of 100, large margins and remarkably bright colour, original gum. Two usual creases which are of no significance in such large pieces. One of five complete sheets recorded in this setting. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).Provenance: Heister. (Image1)

Est. €1,500-2,000

1861-62, ½r. orange, an outstanding horizontal block of eight, being marginal from the right of the sheet, very good margins and neat impression, with excellent strikes of rare black "8" numeral handstamp and "Correos/Dic 5/La Guaira" c.d.s. in blue. The third largest multiple recorded of this denomination, represented in a delightful exhibtion item harmoneously combining an intense and uncommon color with clean and neat handstamps. (Image1)

Est. €2,500-3,000

The Largest Recorded Used Multiple of the First Issue ½r. Denomination. 1861-62, ½r. orange, the phenomenal strip of ten, detailed impression, despite having vertically mis-aligned transfers, displaying margins outstandingly large, with portions of neighbouring adhesives visible, just touching at bottom left corner, tied to piece by clean strikes of "Correos/Jul 2/La Guaira" c.d.s. in greenish blue. Manuscript notation at bottom left, "Cont..." for "Contestada" (?), which seems to have been added by the addressee. Four vertical creases, of which one is between adhesives. The largest recorded used multiple of the ½r. Second Coarse Printing, which is, equally, the largest used multiple of the ½r. denomination in any of the three printings. A key item for the most advanced collection. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).Provenance: Gebauer, Hubbard and Heister. (Image1)

Est. €5,000-7,500

1861-62, ½r. orange, two large even margined and very fresh pairs, each tied by neat red "Correos/May 18/La Guaira" c.d.s.'s, on cover front to Caracas, paying a quadruple weight letter rate. A very attractive combination of colours in an item representing the highest franking recorded with this cancellation which was unusually applied in red (only recorded from May 10th. to June 16th. 1861), this being the earliest recorded on cover. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).. Provenance: Hubbard and Heister.Provenance: Gebauer, Hubbard and Heister. (Image1)

Est. €750-1,500

1861-62, ½r. orange, strip of five, cut slightly into at left, mostly large margins in other respects, tied by blue dispatch c.d.s.'s on 8 July 1861 cover paying the first distance up to 1¾ oz, endorsed "Pr. 2° Correo Julio 8". The frequent acidic erosions caused my the manuscript ink do not detract from this attractive and rare multi-rate mail. Cert. Kimmel (2009).Provenance: Gebauer. (Image1)

Est. €2,500-3,000

1861-62, ½r. orange, a very fresh strip of five, mostly very large margins showing neighbouring stamp at base, cut into slightly in one place at bottom left, on entire letter from Caracas to La Guaira, weighing from 1½ oz. to less than 1¾ oz., endorsed "Pr 2° Correo" and dated 6 September 1861, with each stamp cancelled by "0" numeral handstamp with neat c.d.s. on dispatch at left, both applied in blue. Vertical crease passing through the second stamp at right. A scarce high franking in conjunction with the uncommon use of this cancellation on multi-rate mail. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).Provenance: Heister. (Image1)

Est. €2,000-3,000

1861-62, ½r. orange, strip of four and strip of three, usual margins which range from very large to just cut into in a few places, on 2 September 1861 cover to La Guaira (Boulton correspondence) tied by blue Caracas c.d.s.'s, endorsed "Pr 1er Correo", carried at 3½ Reales rate for a weight up to 2½ oz. within the first distance. Erosions caused by the ink in addressee's panel, and two creases, one resulting in splits in places, the other impinging on one stamp, nevertheless a very rare and stunning cover, representing a unique franking for this stamp, being the second highest recorded on cover. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).Provenance: Heister. (Image1)

Est. €4,000-5,000

1861-62, ½r. orange, strip of five, margins varying from very large to touching in one stamp at top, on 19 September 1861 cover to La Guaira - less than 25 miles - not exceeding 1¾ oz., tied by "Correos/Caracas" c.d.s.'s in blue. Some acidic ink erosions in addressee's panel which has been reinforced on reverse with tape along with a vertical crease affecting the fourth stamp. A scarce and desirable high franking. Cert. Moorhouse (2011), opinion Holcombe.Provenance: Gebauer, Gibson and Heister. (Image1)

Est. €1,500-2,500

The Largest Known Multiple on Cover of the ½ Real Second "Coarse Impression". 1861-62, ½r. orange, an extraordinary marginal block of eight from the left of the sheet, large margins on the other three sides, except for being touched on one stamp, tied by two blue c.d.s.'s of Caracas, on 2 October 1861 cover, endorsed "1er Correo", to La Guaira, weighing from 2½oz. to less than 2¾ oz. and carried within the distance of 25 miles. Vertical crease through two adhesives in the third row, in no way detracting. This item can be considered one of the most important in the first issue, as exhibiting the largest multiple known on cover of the second coarse printing, with its appeal being further enhanced by the spectacular sheet margin. Cert. Moorhouse (2011), signed Holcombe and Oliva.Provenance: Gibson, Hubbard and Heister. (Image1)

Est. €25,000-30,000

1861-62, ½r. orange, rich shade, good to very large margins, tied by clean strike of "Correos/La Guaira" c.d.s. in blue, paying the single weight for the first distance after entering Venezuela at La Guaira for onward transmission to Caracas, on 14 October 1861 cover from Le Havre, paying the double French rate to Venezuela on dispatch with 1853-54 20c. blue, type I, and 40c. orange, tied by "1495" dotted lozenges, with Le Havre maritime c.d.s. and boxed "P.P." in red alongside. A filing fold has caused a horizontal tear which is clear of the franking and closed with hinges on reverse. An extraordinary item featuring the only recorded genuine French-Venezuelan combination franking to include the first Venezuelan issue. Of tremendous visual appeal and, without doubt, can be ranked as one of the great combination frankings in French postal history. Highly desirable for both collectors of French and Venezuelan philately. Cert. Moorhouse (2011), signed Holcombe and Calves.Provenance: Bustamante and Heister. (Image1)

Est. €30,000-40,000

1861-62, ½r. orange, a striking left sheet-margin example, mainly large margins on the other sides, tied in transit by "Correos/Nov 4/La Guaira" c.d.s. in black, on entire letter from Puerto Cabello on 31st October 1863 to Caracas. This is the only example recorded on cover of this cancellation in black, which, in view of the extensive usage of this datestamp, makes this cover an exceptional rarity. The late use of this stamp was the cause of being applied in an exceptional colour for the period in which this issue was mainly used. In addition. A marginal example on cover increases the rarity factor. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).Provenance: Heister. (Image1)

Est. €750-1,000

The Unused ½ Real, First Issue, Error of Colour. One of the Two Most Important Items in Venezuelan Philately. 1861, ½r. red, Error of Colour, adopting the shade of the 2 reales values instead of that corresponding to this denomination, uniformly balanced margins which are large on three sides, ample at right, vivid colour clearly exhibiting the error, unused without gum. Very slight vertical crease which is absolutely not noticeable on front, and minute surface scuff on reverse, none of which being of any significance for a unique item of this category.. This stamp is noted to have been in the Ferrari collection but it was not specifically mentioned in the Ferrari sale catalogues, but was, in all probability, included in the small but important group of Venezuela 1859-62 period which was offered as part of Lot 658 in Sale No. 9 (11 April 1924). The similar single error of colour of this denomination, but from the Fine Printing, is also offered in this sale. Both errors, which are believed to have emanated from the Ferrari collection, would have been the most important items in the 1924 Venezuela assembly.. One of the two most important items, along with the other error of colour, of Venezuelan philately, with the present item originating from a different printing and being unique in an unused condition. A great gem of South American philately. Catalogued in the Scott for US$250,000. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).Provenance: Ferrari, Foster, Hubbard and Heister. (Image1)

Est. €150,000-200,000