Bermuda 1938-53 5s dull yellow-green and red/yellow, perforations 14¼ (line), from May 1941 3rd printing (only 200 sheets), lower right corner plate block of 4, showing varieties "Broken top right scroll" (R5/11) and "Broken lower right scroll" (R5/12), SG118b/bd/be.

Quite exceptional quality for this stamp, being unmounted mint with full original gum. Shows characteristic streaky gum and the lovely fresh colours need to be viewed in the flesh to be fully appreciated.

A rare and desirable positional multiple of King George VI stamps.

The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £3,150+.

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Bermuda 1938-53 10s yellowish green and deep carmine-red/green, ordinary paper, perforations 14 (comb), lower right corner horizontal pair with plate number, showing printing variety "Broken lower right scroll" on R5/12, SG119c/ce.

A very fine mint pair with original gum and especially rare and desirable in this positional form.

From the 1943 5th printing, with a maximum of only 86 possible examples.

Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £2,825+.

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British Guiana 1865 Waterlow reprints of the 1853 1c vermilion and 1853-55 4c pale blue, from fresh transfers (five varieties) from the original dies, in COMPLETE SHEETS OF 100 (10x10) with 'Waterlow and Sons London' imprint below R10/5-6, perforations 12½, SG1120.

Very fine mint entire sheets with original gum with the vast majority of stamps being unmounted mint. Toned gum and some inevitable minor imperfections typical of sheets of this nature (R1/5 and R10/5 on each sheet with an unobtrusive pinhole), nevertheless in a remarkable state of preservation.

Very rare in sheets, being the first we have ever handled and a real privilege.

See footnote in Stanley Gibbons British Commonwealth & Empire catalogue Part I after SG 11, 20.

The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £4,200++.

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British Guiana 1940-55 2c black Postage Dues, chalk-surfaced paper, upper right corner block of 15 (3x5) showing watermark error W9a 'Missing crown' on R4/4-5, SGD2a/ab.

A stunning unmounted mint block of 15 with full original gum, (hinged in margin only).

An extremely scarce philatelic piece of the highest quality.

Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £915+.

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British Occupation of Italian Colonies (Middle East Forces) 1942 (2 Mar) set of 5 to 5d, type M2/M2a 'M.E.F.' overprints applied at GHQ, Middle East Land Forces, Nairobi, for use in Eritrea, SGM6/10/a/b.

The unique and celebrated series of se-tenant multiples comprising the 1d to 3d in lower marginal PANES of 60 (6x10) with the complete setting, and the 5d value in lower marginal block of 30 (6x5), unmounted mint with full original gum (except two stamps each in the top rows of the 2½d and 3d panes and 5d block hinged).

The panes show square stops (type M2) on rows 2, 3 and 7, with round stops (type M2a) on the other rows, yielding 18 se-tenant vertical pairs, while the 5d block includes 6 se-tenant pairs.

A wonderful and spectacular group, with the 2d, 2½d, 3d panes unique (the 1d one of two recorded) while the 5d block is the largest now surviving, from the small original printings of just 600 panes (1d, 2½d), 200 panes (2d, 3d) and 88 panes (5d), from which a very high proportion was postally used.

Quite remarkable pristine unmounted mint very fine and fresh quality, other than the odd inconsequential blemishes (faint gum yellowing, 5d with a couple of trivial tones, 2d pane with minor separation), mentioned for accuracy, but in no way detracting from the importance and superb appearance of this remarkable assembly.

Provenance: Ex Gian Maria Rossi collection (Warwick and Warwick 8 June 2005, lots 172, 174, 176, 179, 182).

Accompanied with a Brandon certificate of authenticity (1999) for the 5d block.

The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £53,880++.

In 1941, British forces captured Italian territories in East Africa during World War II, including Eritrea, Somalia, and Tripolitania.

To maintain postal services amid turmoil, British stamps were overprinted “M.E.F.” (Middle East Forces) at the GHQ Middle East Land Forces in Nairobi, effective 2 March 1942. Most of those printed were used for field post.

This assembly is more than just a group of stamps. It's a fully intact historical archive piece, a reflection of Allied postal logistics in wartime East Africa, and a top-tier philatelic treasure. The complete set, with its rarity and provenance, makes it a major acquisition opportunity for museums, investors, and the highest profile collectors alike.

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Canada 1897 Jubilee ½c die proof in black (which became the issued colour) on India paper (62x61mm) affixed to card, SG121.

A beautiful quality piece in pristine condition.

A very rare specialist philatelic item and a star piece in any complete study of this lovely stamp issue.

The stamp was issued to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria died at the beginning of 1901, after a reign of over 63 years. The printing of Canadian stamps with the portrait of Queen Victoria continued into 1902, as the new definitive stamp plates with the portrait of King Edward VII were not used until 1903.

The design features the 18-year-old Queen Victoria in 1837, from Chalon's coronation portrait, and a photograph of the 78-year-old Queen Victoria in 1897.

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Canada 1897 Jubilee 15c die proof in slate (issued colour) on India paper (65x63mm), die-sunk on large card (125x101mm) SG132.

A magnificent proof of the highest rarity. Pristine other than faint toning affecting card surround (from affixative gum on reverse).

The stamp was issued to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria died at the beginning of 1901, after a reign of over 63 years. The printing of Canadian stamps with the portrait of Queen Victoria continued into 1902, as the new definitive stamp plates with the portrait of King Edward VII were not used until 1903.

The design features the 18-year-old Queen Victoria in 1837, from Chalon's coronation portrait, and a photograph of the 78-year-old Queen Victoria in 1897.

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£2950.00

Canada 1897 Jubilee $5 olive-green, lower right corner block of 4, lightly cancelled by two strikes of 'WINNIPEG OC 13 05' violet circular date stamps, which leaves portraits largely clear, SG140.

Typical centring for this issue, but a rare and lovely multiple, in exceptional condition.

The stamp was issued to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria died at the beginning of 1901, after a reign of over 63 years. The printing of Canadian stamps with the portrait of Queen Victoria continued into 1902, as the new definitive stamp plates with the portrait of King Edward VII were not used until 1903.

The design features the 18-year-old Queen Victoria in 1837, from Chalon's coronation portrait, and a photograph of the 78-year-old Queen Victoria in 1897.

Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £3,000+.

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Canada 1903-12 7c straw, plate number '2' block of 20 (10x2) being the upper two rows of a sheet with full margins and imprint, SG181a.

A brilliant quality unmounted mint block with full original gum. Typical centring and natural gum bends, but a remarkable and interesting item in exceptional condition, showing plate wear on R1-2/10.

A rare and exceptionally fine quality block.

These definitive stamps were issued on the coronation of King Edward VII. The portrait of the new King is based on the coronation painting, featuring the king in military uniform and wearing the ermine collared coronation robe.

The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £2,400++.

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Canada 1937-38 10c rose-carmine, IMPERFORATE upper right corner plate "2" block of 4, SG363.

Very fine unmounted mint block with full original gum. Faintly yellowish gum with traces of disturbance, but inconsequential due to its rarity.

A major Canadian philatelic rarity, being one of only three plate blocks possible.

These were the first pictorial definitive Canada stamps issued for the reign of King George VI featuring Memorial Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa.

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Canada Official 1949 $1 purple, type O3, SGO170a, "O.H.M.S." overprint, variety Missing stop after "S" (R10/2, lower left pane), neatly cancelled by light "ST JOHN" circular date stamp.

Very rare, with this variety only present on a small number of sheets (the variety occurred only once per sheet), and the first used example we have ever handled. Used examples are much rarer than mint examples.

Accompanied with a British Philatelic Association (BPA) certificate of authenticity (2017).

This Post-War Canadian Official Issue series was used exclusively by government departments. The overprint “O.H.M.S.” (On His Majesty’s Service), was applied to regular postage stamps to denote official federal use during the reign of King George VI.

The $1 purple “Ferry at Prince Edward Island” was issued in 1946, depicting a ferry crossing the Northumberland Strait, a symbol of post-war national unity and infrastructure development.

The “O.H.M.S.” overprint began in 1949 as a short-lived but significant attempt to visibly mark government postage, eventually replaced by “G” overprints in 1950.

The “O.H.M.S.” overprints were not popular with many within the Canadian bureaucracy; some departments resisted using them, which partly led to their short issuance period.

The overprinting process was manual and prone to inconsistency, resulting in a range of collectible printing varieties. Many varieties are minor such as spacing or smudges. This "missing stop" is a major variety and extremely desirable.

Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £10,000.

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 Ceylon 1857-59 9d purple-brown, imperforate with clear to large margins and lovely colour, tied to folded piece by crisp oval of bars with red "COLOMBO/POST-PAID" despatch circular date stamp of "JAN 7 1860" alongside, SG8.

A most attractive dated example, very scarce in this choice quality.

Provenance: Ex Baron de Worms (Harmer 20 June 1938, lot 244, realised £11).

Accompanied with a British Philatelic Association (BPA) certificate of authenticity (1998).

The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £950+.

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 Ceylon 1921-32 50r dull purple, Script watermark, SG358.

A fine mint example with large part original gum.

Now a scarce stamp and challenging to find in such fine mint condition.

A beautiful King George V stamp from the island of beauty ‘Ceylon’, (modern–day Sri Lanka.) It successfully captures the essence of the ‘Emperor of India’.

Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £850.

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