RED OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 2d vermilion SG DO122, rouletting at left & base, cut from the sheet at top & right to largely preserve the design, large-part gum, Cat £1000. Rated RRR. Ex Colonel Napier (I), 'Hamilton' and Lord Samuel Vestey: sold for £930. The very fine 'Besancon' example sold for SFr1570. Absent from Don Pearce's collection. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 1,150.00
Sold...AU$ 1,150.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1150
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 154
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO122
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 2d vermilion SG DO122, rouletting on all sides, very minor separation fault at upper-right, slight thin at lower-right, very fine GPO cds of SP24/68, Cat £800. Rated RRRRR. Ex 'Sir Humphrey' (Brian Farmer): sold for $442. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2011) states "extremely rare". The very fine 'Besancon' and Don Pearce examples sold for SFr1210 and $A1255 (Sale 247 Lot 129) respectively. [Date range 14.7.1868 to 24.9.1868 only] (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 525.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 525
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 155
Symbol: #
Cat No: DO125
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½ 4d slate-purple SG DO125, with misplaced vertical perfs so cut from the sheet at left & right to preserve the design, unused, Cat £750. Rated RRRR. Ex Baron von Ferrary, Theodore Champion and Philip Croker. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2009) states "extremely rare". The very fine Lord Vestey and 'Besancon' examples sold for £625 and SFr1025 respectively. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 750.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 750
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 156
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO125
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½ 4d slate-purple SG DO125, with misplaced vertical perfs so cut from the sheet at left to preserve the design, superb GPO cds of 'OC26/68', Cat £450. Rated RRRRR. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2011) states "extremely rare". The very fine 'Tamiami' example sold for $630 (Sale 236 Lot 560). Don Pearce's very fine example with under-inked overprint sold for $600 (Sale 247 Lot 131). [Date range 28.9.1868 to 17.2.1871, suggesting this denomination was very little used] (Image1)
Estimate AU$450
Opening AU$ 340.00
Sold...AU$ 340.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 340
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 157
Symbol: *
Cat No: DO123
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 6d dull ultramarine SG DO123, remarkably with rouletting clear of the design on all sides, large-part gum, Cat £750. Rated RRR. Superb. Ex Colonel Napier (II). The 'Besancon' and Don Pearce examples - both with minor imperfections - sold for SFr665 and $A1195 (Sale 247 Lot 132) respectively. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 1,150.00
Sold...AU$ 1,150.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1150
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 158
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO123
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 6d dull ultramarine SG DO123, rouletting on all sides, GPO cds of 'DE8/71' (a very late usage of a Red Overprint), Cat £325. Rated RRRR. Ex 'Sir Humphrey' (Brian Farmer): sold for $360 (Sale 118 Lot 264). Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2019) states "very rare". Superior to the 'Besancon' and Don Pearce examples that sold for SFr665 and $A550 (Sale 247 Lot 133) respectively. [Date range 12.11.1868 to 8.12.1871] (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 159
Symbol: #
Cat No: DO124
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 1/- red-brown SG DO124, rouletting on all sides, unused, Cat £160. Rated S. Ex William Frazer. The Vestey and 'Besancon' mint examples sold for £156 & SFr121 respectively. Don Pearce's mint example sold for $275 (Sale 247 Lot 134). (Image1)
Estimate AU$150
Opening AU$ 115.00
Sold...AU$ 160.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 160
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 160
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO124
RED OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 1/- red-brown SG DO124, rouletting at right & base and cut from the sheet at top & left to preserve the design, light GPO cds, Cat £225. Rated RRRR. Ex 'Sir Humphrey' (Brian Farmer): sold for $360 (Sale 118 Lot 264). Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2019) states "very rare". The very fine 'Besancon' and 'Tamiami' examples sold for SFr230 & Sfr430 (Sale 236 Lot 562) respectively. Don Pearce's example with ironed-out crease sold for $360 (Sale 247 Lot 136). [Date range 16.4.1868 to 14.2.1872] (Image1)
Estimate AU$350
Opening AU$ 270.00
Sold...AU$ 270.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 270
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 161
Symbol: *
Cat No: DO126
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Rouletted 2d pale orange SG DO126 with the Watermark Reversed, rouletting at top & left and cut from the sheet at right & base to preserve the design, part-gum, Cat £1200. Unrecorded unused by Ron Butler and only two other examples have been recorded so it should be rated RRRRR. Ex Baron von Ferrary, Theodore Champion and Philip Croker. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2009) states "extremely rare". Don Pearce's very similar example, but with a scissor-cut into the base of the design, sold for $2035 (Sale 247 Lot 137). Absent from 'Besancon'. (Image1)
Estimate AU$4,000
Opening AU$ 3,000.00
Sold...AU$ 3,000.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 3000
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 162
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO126
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Rouletted 2d orange SG DO126 with the Watermark Reversed, rouletting on all sides with portions of adjoining units at left & base within the roulettes, fine GPO cds of 'OC8/72', Cat £400. Rated RRRR. Ex Victor Bullock: sold at our auction of 29.3.2008 for $372 (Sale 134 Lot 414). Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2019). Superior to Don Pearce's example, with ironed-out crease, that sold for $455 (Sale 247 Lot 138). Absent from 'Besancon'. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 525.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 525
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 163
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO126a
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Rouletted 2d red-orange Printed on Both Sides SG DO126a with the light initial impression on the 'reverse' Inverted Relative to the 'Face', rouletting on all sides, minor loss of the original printing where hinged, GPO cds of 'NO2-/70', Cat £750. Unrecorded by Ron Butler and the only recorded example so it should be rated RRRRRR. Ex Don Pearce: sold for $1080 (Sale 247 Lot 139). Absent from 'Besancon'. [This actual stamp was noted by both Rev James Mursell and George Blockey] (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 1,150.00
Sold...AU$ 1,150.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1150
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 164
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO131
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange SG DO131, a few trimmed perfs at the top, light GPO cds of 'MY5/74', Cat £325; unpriced unused. Rated RRRR; unrecorded unused. Ex Don Pearce: sold for $550 (Sale 247 Lot 140). Absent from 'Besancon'. [Date range 5.5.1874 to 18.8.1874 only] (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 165
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO131
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange SG DO131 with Crack across 'C' of 'C.O.', GPO cds of MY15/74. Rated RRRR+. This is a constant variety that has also been noted on the 'C.', 'C.L.' and 'C.S.' overprints. Ex Don Pearce: sold for $690 (Sale 247 Lot 141). Absent from 'Besancon'. (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 460.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 166
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO132
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 10 4d slate-purple SG DO132, some trimmed perfs but enough remain to confirm Perf 10 on all sides, very fine GPO cds of 'AU1/71', under-catalogued at £300. Rated RRRRR. Ex Victor Bullock: sold for $175 (Sale 130 Lot 401). Absent from the 'Besancon' and Don Pearce collections. In fact, this may be the only recorded example. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 167
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO133
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk with Irregular Compound Perf 11½-12½x11½-12½x10x11½-12½ 4d slate-violet SG DO133, fine GPO cds of 'AP13/74', Cat £150. Rated RR; unrecorded unused. Ex 'Sir Humphrey' (Brian Farmer): sold for $220 (Sale 118 Lot 267). Don Pearce's fine example, also Perf 10 at the base, sold for $275 (Sale 247 Lot 142). [Date range 13.4.1874 to 11.6.1874 only] (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 220.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 220
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 168
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO128
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½ 6d bright blue SG DO128, cut from the sheet at base to preserve the design, GPO cds of 'MY--/72', Cat £160. Rated R but much scarcer than the Prussian blue printings. Superior to Don Pearce's very fine example that sold for $275. [Date range across both colours -.11.1871 to 5.10.1873] (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 169
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO128
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½ 6d bright blue SG DO128, misplaced horizontal perfs with 'SIX PENCE' at the Top, GPO cds of 'MY21/73', Cat £160. Rated R+, but much scarcer than the Prussian blue printings. Ex William Frazer. (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 230
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 170
Symbol: #*
Cat No: DO129 trio 1
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½ 1/- red-brown SG DO129 trio 1) with minor perf misplacement, small fault at lower-right, unused; 2) an unusually tall example with misplaced horizontal perfs with 'ONE SHILLING' at the Top & Base, large-part gum; and 3) from the Worn Plate, large-part gum; Cat £225+. Rated S. Don Pearce's very fine normal mint example sold for $125 (Sale 247 Lot 146). (3) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 290.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 290
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 171
Symbol: */**
Cat No: DO129
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½ 1/- red-brown SG DO129 block of 4 from a late Worn Plate printing, large-part gum with the lower units being unmounted, Cat £300+ for unused singles. A superb multiple. Rated S+ for singles. Ex Don Pearce: sold for $575 (Sale 247 Lot 147). 'Besancon' included a block of 6 believed to be from the same sheet as this item, that sold in 2020 for SFr665. Most of the surviving blocks are from a sheet on which the gum was blemished and dry. (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 460.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 172
Symbol: *
Cat No: DO127
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 2/- carmine SG DO127, rouletting on three sides & cut from the sheet at the base to preserve the design, large-part gum that is remarkably fresh for the 2/-, Cat £250. Rated RR, but very fine examples are very elusive. Ex Ron Butler. Don Pearce's fine mint example with the characteristic dark brown gum sold for $503 (Sale 247 Lot 151). (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 420.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 420
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 173
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO127
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 2/- carmine SG DO127, rouletting on all sides, remarkably fresh for a 2/-, GPO cds of 'NO2/68', Cat £200. Rated RRR. Ex Ron Butler. Superior to Don Pearce's example, dated 'DE14/68', that sold for $503 (Sale 247 Lot 153). [Date range 2.11.1868 to 31.3.1890, a very late out-of-period usage]
Ron Butler, at page 54, states that the existence of Don Pearce's stamp (and, of course, this example) "emphasises that this denomination was not overprinted in red". We note that there are a few other black overprints that pre-date this stamp so use in late-1868 is merely evidence, and not proof, of the 2/- not being overprinted in red. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 174
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO127
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Rouletted 2/- carmine SG DO127 vertical pair, rouletting on all sides but the lower unit cut from the sheet just into the design at right, the overprints are very faint but obvious, minor aging, GPO cds of 'AP26/69', Cat £400+ for singles. Rated RRR+. A rare multiple. Sold at our auction of 16.5.2023 for $630 (Sale 251 Lot 662). [Date range 2.11.1868 to 31.3.1890, a very late out-of-period usage] (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 175
Symbol: #
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' (Overprinted 'C.' Only, Misplaced to Right and 'O' Inserted by Hand) on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½ 2/- rose-pink, a bit aged, unused, this shade is not listed by Gibbons and nor is the Inserted 'O'. Rated RRR+. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2010). Lord Vestey's very similar example sold for £455.
Ceremuga states that the 'O' was applied "using different overprint ink". He speculates that "stocks of 'C.' overprint stamps made earlier" were treated in this manner. We agree that it is possible entire sheets had the 'O' inserted on every unit. However, we think it more likely that the 'O' was omitted or dislodged from a few (?) units on the overprinting forme. Whatever the cause, this is a remarkable 'make-do' by the Post Office. See also the next lot. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 420.00
Closed..Dec-01-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 420
Sale No: 262
Lot No: 176
Symbol: F
Cat No: DO130a
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'C.O.' (Overprinted 'C.' Only Misplaced to Right and 'O' (No Stop) Misplaced from having been Inserted by Hand) on QV Perkins Bacon Large Star Wmk Perf 11½-12½ 2/- rose-pink, a bit aged, very fine GPO cds of 'MR25/74', very fresh. This shade is not listed by Gibbons and nor is the Inserted 'O'. Rated RRR+. We suggest that the 'O' was omitted or dislodged from a few (?) units on the overprinting forme. However, the late usage may indicate that an excess of stamps overprinted 'C.' for Customs was repurposed for the Comissariat Office. See also the previous lot.
Gibbons list the 2/- in 'carmine' with No Stop after 'O' SG DO130a. We have not recorded an example in this shade. Don Pearce's example in 'bright carmine-pink' - that we note was dated 'NO20/70' - sold for $455 (Sale 247 Lot 155). However, the stamp offered here is not that: it does not have a missing stop after 'O' but, rather, an inserted 'O' with No Stop. (Image1)
