2017 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE RARE IRELAND ISLE CROWNED CIRCLE HANDSTAMP.

This is one of the clearest strikes of this important Crowned Circle postmark we have encountered. Includes original contents datelined "Somers Isles" describing life on the island.

Ex Cartier and Leuhusen. SG £7,500 (Image)

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FINE. A SPECTACULAR AND UNIQUE SHOWPIECE. THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE PROVISIONAL ON COVER AND THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLES.

This incredible cover represents a large proportion of all the recorded examples. It has been known since 1899, when Mr. Churchill wrote to the Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal, describing how he purchased the last -1/2a Provisionals in stock, affixed them to the envelope, and sent it to himself. This is a key showpiece for a gold medal collection of British East Africa.

Ex Hunt, Reynard, and Krieger. Catalogue values as nine single stamps. SG £20,250 (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. A DESIRABLE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1850 4-CENT BLACK ON YELLOW COTTON REEL -- ONE OF THE INCONIC ISSUES OF THE WORLD.

The first stamps of British Guiana were issued in July 1850, in denominations of 2c, 4c, 8c and 12c. They were printed at the offices of the Royal Gazette of British Guiana newspaper. Quickly produced from printer’s type and a printer’s rule bent into a crude circle, the stamps earned the nickname Cotton Reel” from collectors because they look similar to labels on the wooden ends of a reel of cotton thread. Each stamp was initialed as a control to prevent either theft or counterfeiting. The E.D.W.” initials of Edmond D. Wight also appear on the famous One-Cent Magenta British Guiana stamp. Except for the very rare 2c value, the 4c on Yellow is the rarest of the Cotton Reels. The famed du Pont collection had just one off-cover example.

From our 1973 Rarities of the World sale. Ex Chapin. With 1973 P.F. certificate. SG £24,000 (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARENCE. WE ARE AWARE OF ONLY TWO UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE 1856 4-CENT BLACK ON MAGENTA. AN IMPORTANT RARITY, NOT ONLY OF BRITISH GUIANA, BUT OF THE WORLD.

The only unused examples we are aware of have both been sold through the Siegel firm. One is the ex-Ferrary copy, which we last sold in our 1981 Rarities Sale, when it was purchased by John du Pont. It was then sold as part of the du Pont collection in 2014, where it was noted as the Rose-Carmine paper color (No. 14a; SG 25), though the accompanying B.P.A. certificate states it is Black on Magenta (and has a surface thin painted over). The other is the example offered here, which we last sold in our 1973 Rarities sale. Another copy from the du Pont collection that had previously been offered as unused received a B.P.A. certificate stating "cannot be certified as unused."

Ex Caspary and Lilly. With 1974 Friedl certificate. SG £100,000 (Image)

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FINE. A STRIKING AND VERY RARE SE-TENANT BLOCK OF THE 1862 4-CENT BLUE ON BLACK.

Ex Ferrary. With 2007 B.P.A. certificate. Catalogue values are as singles. SG £8,100 (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 6-PENCE PERFORATED ISSUE.

The first perforated series of Canada invariably comes with perforations touching on at least one side due to the very narrow margins between stamps. This is only the third original-gum example we have offered in the last twenty years and possesses, by far, the finest overall appearance and freshness of this tiny population.

Ex King Carol Collection. Signed Bloch. With 1983 B.P.A. certificate. Unitrade C$25,000.00. SG £18,000 (Image)

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VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE DESIRABLE CANADA SEAWAY INVERT.

The St. Lawrence Seaway provided for passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. It was a collaboration between the United States and Canada. The Seaway was opened in 1959 with a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower. Both the United States and Canada issued stamps to commemorate the event. Both stamps have the same basic design, except the Canada stamp has bilingual text at top. The invert is only known on the Canadian stamp.

With clear 1966 P.F. certificate. SG £9,000. Unitrade C$12,500.00 (Image)

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VERY FINE. A HANDSOME ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 10-PENCE VERMILION.

This is a very rare stamp, which is missing from even the most advanced collections. With 1980 Friedl and 2014 B.P.A. certificates. SG £4,750 (Image)

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VERY FINE. A CHOICE STRIKE OF THE RARE FALKLAND ISLANDS 1869 BLACK FRANK. ONLY 46 ARE RECORDED.

The cover was carried by the Black Hawk to Montevideo, and then by the Boyne to Southampton.

Ex Palmer and Styles. No. 5/73 in the Barnes census. SG value (Image)

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FINE. A HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE 1919 ONE-PENNY WAR TAX DOUBLE OVERPRINT. A KEY ERROR RARITY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS.

With 2007 B.P.A. certificate. SG £4,500 (Image)

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VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE 1917 POSTAGE DUE SE-TENANT STRIP OF THE FIRST PRINTING COMPLETE SETTING. ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.

SG £18,000. (Image)

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