SPERATI FORGERY: 1884-6 10s purple-brown, colour 'die proof' on wove paper and three similar items in black on surfaced wove paper comprising the complete design, the value tablet only and the undenominated master 'die' (mounted on card), the last three each signed in pencil by Sperati and bearing 'REPRODUCTION INTERDITE' hs, the first three with "Sperati/Reproduction" on the reverse. A most unusual group and virtually impossible to duplicate (4) (Image)

1887 (13 May) mourning envelope to Italy, franked at 8d double rate by 1884-86 4d pale violet vertical pair, tied by fine strike of 9-bar oval obliterator (thinner bars - earliest recorded date), with illegible dispatch cds at foot and red Liverpool entry cds (8 JU 87) at upper left and red crayon "6" alongside indicating amount due to England, the reverse with Firenze arrival (11.6) cds. Minor toning but a scarce and attractive cover to an unusual destination. SG 24 (Image)