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1½d. rose-red, plate 1, NK-NL, imperforate horizontal pair with sheet margin and inscription on Dr. Perkins chemically prepared paper with Wmk. Large Crown, wonderful fresh colour and gum. (S.G.Cat. GBP  15.500)

Note: Generally the trial printings on Dr. Perkins Paper show more or less blueing, especially the sheet printed from the 1d. plate 121. The 1½d. pair NK-NL shows practically no blueing, very similar as the formerly adjoining pairs above MK-ML and below OK-OL (N.P.M. London, vol. XXIX, page 45) and PK-PL (ex Joseph Silkin Collection), the only letterings recorded unused in the Karl Louis Card Index.

Provenance: ‚Verus‘ Collection, Stanley Gibbons, August 2015, lot 152

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1½d. pale rose-red, plate 3, PI, imperforate plate proof on ‚Large Crown‘ watermarked paper without gum, of unknown status, possibly unique in private hands. (S.G.Cat. GBP  7.500)

Note: The proof printing  has probably been taken from a later state of plate 3, especially the lower left network and the plate number ‚3‘ look quite worn. The Royal Collection contains an imperforate pair TK-TL from plate 3 stated by Sir John Wilson Bart (1952): "The status of the imperf. varieties (….) is undefined". The Joseph Silkin Collection (Harmers June 1971) contained a very similar imperf. pair with the same letterings TK-TL as the "Royal" pair, but with "pen stroke removed and the colour is very pale". In the Philips Collection (vol. XXI, page 11) N.P.M. London, is an imperf. plate 3, lettered TJ, which may have originally adjoined either the "Royal"  or the "Silkin" pair. The Marcus Samuel Collection contained an imperf. plate 3, lettered HA, with SPECIMEN overprint (unique). It might be possible, that these imperforate 1½d. plate 3 proof printings were produced in 1878/79 for trials in more lighter and fugitve colours.

Provenance: Robson Lowe, 8 September 1981, lot 1477 (described as a "proof of unknown status")

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1840, (February), Wyon’s head without pendant curl and Whitings Engraving: Essay ONE PENNY in light blue, extremely rare essay, embossed on thick card, some minor staining.

Note: This essay was printed in three colours: black, light blue and dark blue. The Karl Louis Card Index has records of just two such essays on stout card in light blue, A dark blue printing of this essay affixed on a Composite sheet (Royal Collection)  is dated "21 May 1840, Beaufort House" and noted in ms.  "Mr. Wyons head, the rest by us". 
Very few essays printed in either light blue or dark blue are also known printed on letter sheets or envelopes, recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index, but these are unavailable for private collectors in the N.P.M. London (Philips Collection) and the German Postal Museum, Bonn / Berlin.

Provenance: Robson Lowe, 13 December 1973, lot 1006

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1841, Postal Stationery 1d. pink envelope cancelled by black Maltese Cross, mailed to Alcester, Warwickshire, on reverse large part datestemp "12 FE (1841)" in red with docketing at left of receipt "Feb. 13/41" in manuscript and internally on flap "Arthur sends you this envelope as a specimen of the new Royal Postage Stamp". The second earliest example recorded , the 1d pink enveople being issued 10 February 1841 and was initially confined to the limits of the London Two-penny Post. A highly important item in regard of the change from the ‚hated‘ Mulreadys to the Penny Pinks postal stationery which were highly appreciated by the public and then in use for the next 60 years until 1901. Fine and very fresh.

Note: The earliest example of the 1d. pink was used on 10 February 1841, but is heavily restored.

Provenance: Michael Lockton Collection, 294th. Corinphila, 29 November 2022, lot 5318.

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Postal Stationery 1841, 2d. blue, embossed envelope, cancelled with black Maltese Cross and "EXETER MR 13 1842" c.d.s. alongside, locally used, in addition 1841, 2d. blue, plate 3, MK, large margins all round, tied by black Maltese Cross to entire, "EXETER JU 19 1843" c.d.s. on front for dispatch, addressed to Yeovil, an extremely fine and fresh "pair of covers" showing the EXETER datestamp struck on front (instead on reverse). The 1841, 2d blue postal stationery with Maltese Cross cancellations is considerably rarer than the 2d. Mulready similary cancelled!

Note: An almost identical Postal Stationery 2d. blue from the "James Esq., Solicitor, Close, Exeter" correspondence dated 20 February 1842 is in the Philips Collection, N.P.M. London, vol. XXX, page 4a

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1915, Seahorses 2s.6d., 5s.  and 10s., the left hand marginal set of Imprimaturs, removed by the N.P.M. in 1984, mint, 2/6 and 5 sh. showing portion of cross guide marks, full original gum, lightly hinged in the margins only, extremely fine and fresh. Handstamped "B.P.M.A." on reverse, the 10s. with additional small ink stroke of most likely official nature. An extremely rare set. 

Note: The Sea Horses are the first line engrave stamps in the Kings period, over 40 years after the last Victoria line engraved issue.

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1840, 1d. black, plate 1A (earliest printing), LK, attached to Postal Notice "TO ALL POSTMASTERS" from the General Post Office in Edinburgh, April 1840 (the month before the Penny Black, the first postage stamp in the world, was issued on May 6, 1840). The 1d. black with good to large margins, another 1d. black stamp, KK, formerly in a pair with the1d. LK, was removed, very fresh state of preservation. Karl Louis BPP certificate (2025) (SG GBP 75‘000)

Remarks: Based on the characteristic edges of the upper margin of the 1d. black, LK, and a further recorded single 1d. black lettered KK, with almost certainty both stamps originally formed a vertical pair stuck on the notice. The 1d. black, KK, must has been taken off at least 70 years ago and has been spotted on a Robson Lowe auction in 1956, a Harmer auction in 1957 and a Phillips auction in 1992. See illustration of the virtually re-joined pair. Twelve ‚genuine‘ Postal Notices bearing a vertical pair of the One Penny Black (of which at least two are in institutional collections) are recorded in the the Karl Louis Card Index, plus two Postal Notices (incl. this one offered here)  bearing a single Penny Black (with the second stamp from the vertcial pairs most likely cut off). A challange for the future owner to search for the ‚lost‘ single 1d. black, KK, and to re-unite with its original neighbour stamp LK on the Postal Notice.  

It must be assumed, that this Postal Notice has leaked from the Stamp Find in Edinburgh (and Dublin) before the first schedule of the find in 1899.

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1840, Mulready Envelope 1d. black, a complete unused sheet of 12, forme 4, stereos A172 (upper left) to A189 (bottom right), some folds as can be expected, but in a very fresh state of preservation. Rare, most of the sheets found in The Dublin Find have later been cut, only a few complete sheets of 12 are still preserved intact. Karl Louis BPP certificate (2025) (SG GBP 5.500)

Provenance: 1899, ex The Dublin Find.

1904, sold via Plumridges & Co. to H.W.Peckitt.

2025, re-discovered with other items of the Dublin Find in a collector’s estate in Kiefersfelden, Bavaria.

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Mulready Letter Sheet 2d. blue, a complete unused sheet of 12, stereos a92 (upper left) to a91 (bottom right), variously folded as can be expected with some wear, splitting and minor age toning along the folds. Only a few complete sheets of 12 of The Dublin Find are still preserved intact. Karl Louis BPP certificate (2025) (SG GBP 5.500)

Provenance: 1899, ex The Dublin Find.

1904, sold via Plumridges & Co. to H.W.Peckitt.

2025, re-discovered with other items of the Dublin Find in a collector’s estate in Kiefersfelden, Bavaria.

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1841, 1d. red-brown, plate 5, IB, 1841, 2d. blue, printing from the small trial plate of 12 without corner letters, and Postal stationery 1841, 1d. pink, two envelopes in two different sizes overprinted ‚SPECIMEN‘ in red, attached to Postal Notice "TO ALL POSTMASTERS" from the General Post Office in Edinburgh, 1841. Both adhesives with good to large margins, the 2d. with corner sheet margins, very fresh state of preservation. Karl Louis BPP certificate (2025)  (SG GBP 7.000)

Provenance: 1899, ex The Dublin Find.

1904, sold via Plumridges & Co. to H.W.Peckitt.

2025, re-discovered with other items of the Dublin Find in a collector’s estate in Kiefersfelden, Bavaria.

Remarks: The small plate of 12 impressions without letters in the lower corners was made because the first 2d. printing plate of the new type with "white lines" above TWO PENCE and below POSTAGE was not ready when samples were required for the distribution with the POSTAL NOTICES for the announcement of the new issue.

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1841, Postal Sationery 2d. blue envelope overprinted ‚SPECIMEN‘ in red attached to Postal Notice "TO ALL POSTMASTERS" from the General Post Office in Edinburgh, April 1841. Usual light folds, the 2d. envelope was originally stuck with the outer tip of the flap to the notice.Very fresh state of preservation. Karl Louis BPP certificate (2025)   (SG GBP 2.250)

Provenance: 1899, ex The Dublin Find.

1904, sold via Plumridges & Co. to H.W.Peckitt.

2025, re-discovered with other items of the Dublin Find in a collector’s estate in Kiefersfelden, Bavaria.

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1680, "A Penny Well Bestowed", William Dockwra's original advertising broadsheet for his Penny Post, printed by Thomas James. Part of base missing and here folded once. A great rarity of British Postal History; supposed to be the only copy in private hands.

1731, "Anno Regni Georgii II. ..” , act of Parliament referring to the Penny Post.

1840, 1d. black, plate 8, lettered KG-LH, margins touching to close, cancelled with four clear strikes of
Maltese Cross, block has been torn through LG-LH and re-assembled, vertical crease through central
margin and other small imperfections, of good appearance. (SG £22,000)

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1 P. purple, large margins imperforated fine, extremely rare!

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1867/83, wm 'Maltese Cross', 10 sh. greenish grey, nice colour and good perforation, lightly cancelled, very fine, certificate Louis BPP (2024)

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5 Shilling plate 1 pale rose, unused with original gum, slightly toned, otherwise fine

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5 Sh. pale rose plate 2, slightly off centre, unused without gum, otherwise fine

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1867/83, wm 'Maltese Cross', 1 Pound brown-lilac, nice colour and good perforation, clear central cds. "ABERDEEN JY 12 82", very fine. Signed Georg Bühler and certificate Louis BPP (2024)

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1867/83, wm 'Large Anchor', 5 Pounds orange, nice fresh colour and good perforation, clear central cds. "GLASGOW OC 9 94", very fine. Signed Georg Bühler and certificate Louis BPP (2024)

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