abacus auctions Sale - 265
AUSTRALIA
Kangaroos - Evolution of the Design
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 1 |
P |
 1903 Vaughan Essays 2d KEVII with 'STATE OF' in upper tablet and blank tablet at base photo-mechanical proof in blue on ungummed
unwatermarked thick paper as ACSC E3A but Line Perf 13, well-centred, small mark & hinge remainder on the reverse not affecting the fine facial appearance, Cat $3500. Most of the Vaughan essays have obvious defects including tears, thins and surface
abrasions; this is well above-average. Ex Arthur Gray: sold in 2007 for US$5000+. Superior to Hugh Morgan's example that sold for £2520.
The Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue (ACSC) states that no archival records pertaining to these stamp-size proofs have been located, but that reference to them appeared in the philatelic press in May 1903. The designs from One Penny to
One Pound were for a proposed 'omnibus' stamp issue in which the name of the relevant State was to be inserted at the base. Several of the designs had the State name - usually 'QUEENSLAND' - at the base. Most, as here, had a blank tablet for
insertion of the name of the State.
The essays & proofs are attributed to Queensland Stamp Printer, GA Vaughan, based on a series of designs known affixed to a sheet titled "Designed and Printed at the Lithographic Branch of the Government Printing Office Brisbane/G.A. VAUGHAN GOVT.
PRINTER". It is presumed that Vaughan was given the task by Senator James George Drake, who was both the Federal Postmaster-General, and a Queenslander.
The ACSC concludes with "All the Vaughan essays are very rare, with only one to three examples of each recorded" and notes that many are held in institutional collections, primarily the Australia Post Archival Collection and the Royal Collection. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$2,000
Currently Opening at...AU$1,500.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 2 |
P |
 1903 Vaughan Essays 2d KEVII with 'STATE OF' in upper tablet and blank tablet at base photo-mechanical proof in black on ungummed
unwatermarked thin card as ACSC E3D but Line Perf 12½, well-centred, small hinge remainder otherwise very fine, Cat $3500. Ex Arthur Gray: sold for US$3735. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$2,000
Currently Opening at...AU$1,500.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 3 |
P |
 1903 Vaughan Essays 2d Queen Alexandra with 'STATE OF' in upper tablet and blank tablet at base photo-mechanical proof in
brown-olive on ungummed unwatermarked thick paper as ACSC E4C but Line Perf 13, well-centred, tiny aging mark on one perf tip at top otherwise very fine, Cat $3500. Ex Arthur Gray: sold for US$3450. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$2,000
Currently Opening at...AU$1,500.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 4 |
P |
 1903 Vaughan Essays 2d Queen Alexandra with 'STATE OF' in upper tablet and blank tablet at base photo-mechanical proof in blue on
ungummed unwatermarked thick paper as ACSC E4C but Line Perf 13, Cat $3500. Ex Derrick Ray and Arthur Gray: sold for US$3735. Hugh Morgan's similar example sold for £3480. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$2,000
Currently Opening at...AU$1,500.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 5 |
P |
 1903 Vaughan Essays £1 Queen Alexandra, Globe & KEVII with 'STATE OF' in left-hand tablet and blank tablet at right
photo-mechanical proof in blue on ungummed unwatermarked thick paper as ACSC E12A but Line Perf 13 with marginal line of colour at the top, well-centred, very fine, Cat $5000. Ex Arthur Gray: sold in 2007 for US$5175. Hugh Morgan's example in bistre
sold for £5400. (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$3,000
Currently Opening at...AU$2,300.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 6 |
E |
 1911 Stamp Design Competition original artwork for 'THREE PENCE/POSTAGE' vertical design featuring Kangaroo head surrounded by
grape bunches & vine leaves wreath, in pen & ink on heavy granite paper (103x140mm) signed "Bendigo" at the base, ACSC E53, very fine, Cat $1500.
(Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
Currently Opening at...AU$750.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 7 |
P |
 1912 Kangaroo & Map Essays Second Unadopted Design (Type 2; Vertical Format; Two Value Tablets; Crudely Drawn Map with Tasmania
Omitted) 1d die proof in dull red on ungummed unwatermarked paper ACSC KE11, large even margins, very fine, under-catalogued at $75,000 (2025) as it has been since at least 2004. BPA Certificate (2012).
The ACSC records only five examples - all different denominations - of which one is in the Australia Post Archival Collection, and one is believed to have been lost. This leaves a mere three examples in private hands, of which only this example is
imperforate. Ex Derrick Ray - sold at our auction of 22.4.2006 for $115,000 (Sale 121 Lot 7), Hugh Morgan - sold for £90,000 - and 'Chartwell' (2018) where estimated at £30,000 - £40,000 (without reserve) and snapped-up by Richard Guy for only
£18,000.
The map of Australia was very crudely drawn and Tasmania, the sixth State, was omitted, as was the word 'POSTAGE'. Further modification was therefore inevitable. Being the 1d value, and in red - a direct forerunner to Australia's first stamp, the
'Penny Kangaroo' - this example is considered by many to be the most important of all the essays. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$50,000
Currently Opening at...AU$38,000.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 8 |
P |
 1912 Kangaroo & Map Essays Third Unadopted Design (Type 3; Vertical Format; One Value Tablet at Upper-left; Redrawn Map including
Tasmania) 2d die proof in brown on ungummed unwatermarked paper ACSC KE22B, large even margins, minor light aging marks mostly in the margins, under-catalogued at $15,000 (2025) which has been reduced from $18,000 (2004). The only example recorded in
the ACSC. Hugh Morgan's similar examples in red & in green sold for £7800 and £6600 respectively. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$10,000
Currently Opening at...AU$7,500.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 9 |
P |
 1912 Kangaroo & Map Essays Third Unadopted Design (Type 3; Vertical Format; One Value Tablet at Upper-left; Redrawn Map including
Tasmania) composite die proofs on smooth surfaced unwatermarked gummed paper (123x92mm) in yellow-green, comprising the Kangaroo vignette only, the 5/- value with vignette in black, the 10/- value with vignette in purple, and 20/- value with vignette
in carmine-rose endorsed "V.G.+PR" in pencil at lower-left ACSC KE24Ea, a few minor thins along the upper edge not affecting the proofs, the 20/- with a small hinge remainder at base, the others unmounted, Cat $70,000. Illustrated in the ACSC at page
25. A rare, wonderful & extremely important proof.
Only eight such compositie proofs are recorded - one being in the Australia Post Archival Collection - all in different colour combinations, generally referred to by the dominant colour. Arthur Gray's two examples - the brown and the red - sold in
2007 for US$57,500 each. Hugh Morgan's in purple sold for £48,000. 'Bescancon' (I) in orange - with a small thin on the 20/- value - sold for CHF25,410. 'Dubois' (I) in carmine sold for CHF29,280. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$40,000
Currently Opening at...AU$30,000.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 10 |
P |
 1912 Kangaroo & Map Essays Third Unadopted Design (Type 3; Vertical Format; One Value Tablet at Upper-left; Map Redrawn including
Tasmania) ½d die proof in yellow-green on ungummed unwatermarked paper Line Perf 12½ ACSC KE27B, well-centred, very fine, under-catalogued at $17,500 (2025) which has been reduced from $20,000 (2004) when Arthur Gray's 1d example in bistre-brown sold
at our auction of 22.4.2006 for $57,500 (Sale 121 Lot 7). Ex Hugh Morgan: sold for £18,000. BPA Certificate (2012).
The ACSC records only three examples, two - including this one - in or close to the issued colour. Being a direct forerunner of the issued 'Halfpenny Green Kangaroo', this is considered by us to be among the most important of all the Type 3 essays.
The Type 3 essay was intended to be the final product and was widely circulated for comment, which was almost universally scathing. Royalists objected to the absence of the King's portrait; others made derisory comments about the choice of the
kangaroo, which was regarded by graziers as a pest that should be exterminated, or the tuft of grass that was dubbed a "rabbit". They were produced in significant numbers for distribution to newspaper editors (believed imperforate only) and the ACSC
records almost 40 singles (of which only 12 are noted as perforated) and seven sheetlets as being in private hands. Despite this seeming abundance, only a few examples have been offered at auction in the last decade. A good indication of how
well-held Type 3 essays are is that neither Greg Pope nor Sir Gawaine Baillie (who was passionate about proof material) was ever able to acquire an example. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$25,000
Currently Opening at...AU$19,000.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 11 |
P |
 1912 Kangaroo & Map Essays Third Unadopted Design (Type 3; Vertical Format; One Value Tablet at Upper-left; Map includes Tasmania)
2d die proof in ultramarine on ungummed unwatermarked paper Line Perf 12½ ACSC KE29B, well-centred, light vertical line mark on the map, one pulled perf at left & slightly short perfs at lower-left corner, under-catalogued at $17,500 (2025) which has
been reduced from $20,000 (2004).
The only example recorded in the ACSC. Ex 'Chartwell': sold in 2018 for £6960. The 'Dubois' (I) 1d in bistre and 2d in purple sold for CHF14,030 and CHF16,470 respectively. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$20,000
Currently Opening at...AU$15,000.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 12 |
P |
 1912 Kangaroo & Map Essays Third Unadopted Design (Type 3; Vertical Format; One Value Tablet at Upper-left; Map includes Tasmania)
10/- Bicolour die proof in brown & blue-green on smooth surfaced unwatermarked gummed paper 'jumbo' example Line Perf 12½ as ACSC KE32 but an unrecorded colour combination, extremely well-centred, tiny mark in the margin at lower-right, Cat $25,000+.
Ex Arthur Gray: sold in 2007 for US$24,150.
The ACSC records only two examples, in pale green & blue-green and in brown & violet. This is only the third recorded example of this important essay, in an unlisted colour combination. The brown & violet is Ex Hugh Morgan - sold for £19,200 - and
'Dubois' (II): sold for CHF13,420. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$25,000
Currently Opening at...AU$19,000.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 13 |
P |
 1912 Kangaroo & Map Issued Design 1d green Die II on unwatermarked gummed paper ACSC 3PP(2)A, a couple of slightly uneven perfs at
base otherwise very fine, lightly mounted, Cat $25,000+ for singles. Ex 'Chartwell': sold in 2018 for £4800.
A series of 1d Colour Trials in the Approved Design were prepared by JB Cooke in October 1912 to provide a colour scheme for the proposed series. The 'green' was used for the ½d denomination, and proofs are known in colours used for all other
denominations except 2d, 5/-, 10/- & £2. The magenta-pink proof was intended for a 2/6d denomination that was not issued.
Note that these proofs were derived from electrotypes that were never used for printing the issued stamps. Accordingly, we list this proof under 'Evolution of the Design' instead of under the issued 1d Die II (where they are listed in the ACSC).
Conversely, the plate proofs of the 1d and 3d produced from plates used for the printing of issued stamps are listed under those issues: see Lots 42, 53, 75 & 153 below.
The ACSC records nine examples of this proof in green, including three pairs, one of which is in the Royal Collection. The other pair, Ex Kevin Nelson, sold at our auction of 3.5.2002 for $16,240 (Sale 95 Lot 2020) and in 'Dubois' (I) for CHF8540. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$10,000
Currently Opening at...AU$7,500.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
Kangaroos - First Watermark
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 14 |
 |
 ½d green with the Watermark Inverted ACSC 1a (SG 1bw) horizontal pair, the left-hand unit with unlisted Break in Value Circle at
Right, a little light gum aging, unmounted, Cat $750+ for singles (£200+ for mounted singles). (Image1) (Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia 1bw] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census |
Estimate AU$200
Currently Opening at...AU$150.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 15 |
|
 ½d green ACSC 1 (SG 1) on Very Thin Paper ACSC 1ac marginal block of 4 from the upper-left corner of the Plate 2 left pane, the
lower-left unit with Break on Upper-Right Leg of final 'A' of 'AUSTRALIA' [Pos 2L7] ACSC 1(2)d, well-centred, the margins slightly trimmed well clear of the 'Jubilee' Lines, the upper-right unit with a small surface scuff (due to the thinness of the
paper?) and the lower-right unit with a very light aging mark on one perf tip, a couple of very light bends, unmounted, Cat $1900+ for Thin Paper singles. (Image1) (Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia 1] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census |
Estimate AU$500
Currently Opening at...AU$380.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 16 |
|
 ½d green with the Watermark Inverted ACSC 1a (SG 1bw) marginal block of 4 from the lower-left corner of the left pane, the lower
units with Double Perforations at Base and in the Lower Margin ACSC 1bb, the right-hand units with a couple of slightly uneven perfs, small hinge remainder & minor thinning in the upper-left margin, the lower margin with perf reinforcing the stamps
all unmounted, Cat $1950+ for two Double Perforation and two Watermark Inverted singles (£400+ for normal Watermark Inverted singles). Ex Greg Pope: sold in 2004 for $585 (Sale 109 Lot 224). The ACSC does not separately list or price Double
Perforations in combination with Watermark Inverted. (Image1) (Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia 1bw] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census |
Estimate AU$750
Currently Opening at...AU$575.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 17 |
 / |
 ½d green ACSC 1 (SG 1) marginal block of 4 from the base of the sheet, the upper units with Triple Perforations at Base and Sides
ACSC 1bc, some gum aging more pronounced on the upper units, small hinge remainder/perf reinforcing across the upper units, the lower units unmounted, Cat $1350+ for singles. (Image1) (Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia 1] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census |
Estimate AU$300
Currently Opening at...AU$230.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 18 |
/ |
 ½d green ACSC 1 (SG 1) marginal block of 6 (3x2) from the lower-right corner of the left pane with Double Perforations on all Sides
ACSC 1bb, surprisingly well-centred, extensive perf reinforcing as to be expected, one unit unmounted, Cat $2475+ for singles. Spectacular.
(Image1) (Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia 1] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census |
Estimate AU$800
Currently Opening at...AU$600.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 19 |
|
 ½d green ACSC 1 (SG 1) Imperforate at Base ACSC 1b horizontal pair, well-centred, tiny hinge remainders & small gum disturbance,
Cat $17,500+ for singles. The ACSC states that "The final strike of the perforating comb was omitted on four Plate 2 (Lower) sheets". The 'Artemis' block of 4 - two units Imperforate at Base - sold at our auction of 1.12.2021 for $14,750 (Sale 246
Lot 3). (Image1)
(Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia 1] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census |
Estimate AU$5,000
Currently Opening at...AU$4,200.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
| 20 |
|
 ½d deep green ACSC 1B (SG 1) with Prominent Small-Part Offset (10%) ACSC 1ca at upper-left, horizontal Watermark Line at top
indicating that the stamp is from the top row of the sheet, small thin at base in the watermark, lightly mounted with some minor gum disturbance, Cat $1750. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
Get Market Data for [Australia 1] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census |
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Sep-07, 07:30 PM |
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