1878 Essay of the Khedivial Printing Works at Boulac: "5 PARAS" on 2 1/2pi grey lilac and "10 PARAS" on 2 1/2pi grey lilac, perforated 12 1/2, surcharged in red, an important and extremely rare pair of essays and were missing from several of the great Egypt collections (Nile Post E81-E82). Note: The Essay is inscribed in French and Arabic, arranged to fit the oval of the vignette, with vertical lines to obliterate the original denomination. The surcharge is in black and red. (Image)

5pa on 2 1/2pi violet, mint and used, four singles showing plate flaws as illustrated in the Third Issue GPC book page 293, fine and scarce. (Image)

5pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, used block of four, cancelled by ALEXANDRA cds dated March, 1879, an extremely rare used multiple. (Image)

5pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, mint and mint nh block of nine, showing central stamp with inverted cliché resulting in a TÊTE-BÊCHE pair, fresh, very fine and an extremely rare mint multiple with the tête-bêche, only a few recorded. Provenance: King Farouk (lot 256). (Image)

5pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, mint top right corner sheet marginal block of six, showing "cleft pyramid" in position 1, fresh, very fine and an attractive multiple showing the plate error. (Image)

5pa on 2 1/2pi violet, two mint singles with perf. 12 1/2 and perf. 12 1/2 x 13 1/3, both showing the rare and popular "cleft pyramid" plate error, very fine. (Image)

5pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, mint block of six, showing "2 1/2" distorted in position 54, fresh, very fine and an attractive multiple showing the plate error. (Image)

5pa on 2 1/2pi violet, mint and used singles with perf. 12 1/2, both showing the rare and popular "cleft pyramid" plate error and inverted wmks, very fine. (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, used block of four, cancelled by ALEXANDRA cds dated March, 1879, an extremely rare used multiple. Expertise: Cert. Sorani (1992). (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, single tied in combination with De La Rue 1pi rose, by POSTE EGIZIANE/MEHALLA/STAZIONE cds, an unusual and extremely rare mixed issue franking. (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, mint top right corner sheet marginal block of six, showing "cleft pyramid" in position 1, fresh, very fine and an attractive multiple showing the plate error. (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi mauve, perf. 12 1/2 x 13 1/3, block of four showing the bottom right stamp with cliché inverted resulting in a TÊTE-BÊCHE, cancelled on neat envelope from Kafer-Zayat to Alexandria, by POSTE EGIZIANE/KAFER-ZAYAT/27.GEN.79 cds, with similar alongside, arrival bs, a stunning showpiece and an important Egyptian rarity, a unique usage. Provenance: The Royal Collection (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, mint block of four showing inverted wmk variety, plus pos. 78 with weak "2 1/2" and frame distorted at lower left, frame broken under "KHEDEVIE", very fine & scarce. (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, mint and mint nh block of twenty-four, all with inverted wmk, from pos. 146-149/156-159/166-169/176-179/186-189, position 168 shows weak "2 1/2" and damaged frame at lower-right corner, fresh, very fine and an extremely scarce compound perforation block. (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2 x 13 1/3, mint and used singles, both showing inverted surcharge varieties, plus one with additional inverted wmk, a fine and scarce pair. (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, mint block of four, showing pos. 122 with broken "P" of "PARAS", fresh, attractive, very fine and a scarce surcharge error. (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, mint single and two used singles, all showing inverted surcharge varieties, plus one with additional inverted wmk, a fine and scarce trio. (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2, mint bottom left foliated corner sheet marginal block of four, showing IMPERFORATE between the bottom two stamps and the margin, also guide marks at lower left, fresh, attractive, very fine and an extremely rare error. The only recorded block. Provenance: Lars Alund (Image)

10pa on 2 1/2pi violet, perf. 12 1/2 x 13 1/3, used single, showing unrecorded guide marks top right & top left, unusual and scarce. (Image)