EARLIEST RECORDED DATE: ½d pale green ACSC 65 (SG 48) horizontal pair with clear Melbourne '29DE17' machine cancel being the earliest recorded date of use, both units with minor bends, the right-hand unit with a small shallow thin. The ACSC gives the date of issue as "4 January 1918 (in Sydney)."

Grade B C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

FIRST DAY OF ISSUE: ½d green ACSC 65 (SG 48) horizontal pair with clear Elizabeth Street, Melbourne '-4JAN18' machine cancel being the First Day of Issue (in Sydney). The ACSC does not list any known First Day Cover.

Grade A C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

½d green ACSC 65 (SG 48) with Extreme 'Tin Shed' Flaw resulting in major loss of the design, light machine cancel, unlisted in the ACSC.

Grade A C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

½d green Thin Paper ACSC 65ac horizontal pair, exceptionally well-centred, the left-hand unit with a small hinge remainder, the right-hand unit with minor gum disturbance, Cat $550+ for two singles. The ACSC states that "The Thin Paper variety (less than 0.07mm with gum) is found from Electros 6 and 7".

Grade A- A1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

½d green with Double Perforations at Top & Sides ACSC 65b marginal horizontal strip of 3 from the upper-left corner of the sheet, the left margin incomplete at base, small hinge remainders in the margins only, the stamps all unmounted, Cat $825+ for three singles. Comb machines perforated three sides of all stamps in each row. The doubling at the top is obvious but the vertical perfs are virtually coincident. However, the doubling shows clearly under magnification.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

½d green ACSC 65 (SG 48) Coil Join Pair being the sixth & seventh units in a vertical strip of 12, the sixth unit with Kangaroo's Feet White [Pos 6R58] and lower margin & 'Jubilee Line' attached to the unit below, characteristic slightly trimmed perfs at right, the bottom unit & the top two units (minor blemishes) folded under for display, unmounted except for the join, Cat $170+ for unmounted singles (the Coil Join Pair unlisted in the ACSC). Plated as Pos 6R28/.../58 & 6L4/.../34. The ACSC states (p22) that "While coil joins of undoubted authenticity exist for these stamps [½d 1d & 1½d values] ... there is no certain way to expertise such pieces. Consquently, they are not listed." However, coil rolls were created from splitting sheet stock (12x10) vertically & then joining the strips together. Therefore, a genuine vertical strip of 12 must be from a coil.

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

PUNCTURED 'OS/NSW': ½d green with the Perfin Inverted, quite well centred, partial 'NEWTOW[N]/ [NSW' (?) cds at base, a few tiny aging marks on a couple of upper perf tips.

Grade A- B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

½d green 'JBC' Monogram left corner strip of 3 the central unit with White Flaw in Right Side of Crown [Pos 3L56] ACSC 65(4)z, the monogram slightly trimmed at base, lightly mounted in the margin and on the monogram unit, the other two units, including the variety, are unmounted, Cat $750 for a mounted strip.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

½d green 'CA' Monogram right corner strip of 3 ACSC 65(4)zb in a marginal block of 8 (4x2), well-centred, minor perf re-inforcing and/or small hinge remainders in the lower margin & on three units in the upper row, the other units unmounted, Cat $800+.

Grade A- B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

½d green 'CA' Monogram right corner strip of 3 ACSC 65(4)zb in a block of 12 (6x2) from the base of the right-hand pane, with White Spot before '2' in Left Value Tablet [Pos 4R55] and White Spot between 'TA' of 'POSTAGE' [Pos 4R56], quite well-centred, some reinforcing and hinge remainders including on the monogram strip, Cat $900+ for a mounted monogram strip of 3 and the two varieties plus 3 unmounted & 4 mounted singles.

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

½d green Substituted 'CA' Monogram left corner strip of 3 with White Flaw in Right Side of Crown [Pos 3L56] ACSC 65(4)zd in a block of 24 (6x4) from the base of the left-hand pane, with Notch in Lower Frame below 'FP' [Pos 3L43], centring variable, the monogram slightly trimmed at base, a couple of light bends in the margins, the monogram strip with minor perf reinforcing, most others including the variety unit are unmounted, Cat $1460+ for a monogram strip of 3, the variety mounted plus two mounted & 18 unmounted singles.

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

½d green complete sheet with 'JBC' & 'CA' Monograms ACSC 65(4)z & 65(5)zb and including all ACSC-listed varieties, centring variable, characteristic irregular perfs, minor perf separation at lower-left & some hinge remainders in the margins only, the stamps all unmounted, Cat $4370+ for the two monogram corner strips of 3 and listed varieties mounted, and 95 unmounted singles.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

½d green marginal block of 12 (6x2) from the top left of the sheet with part 'JBC' Monogram in the upper margin as ACSC 65(4)z but with the monogram above 4L3 as a result of mis-guillotining, one lower unit with White Flaw on Kangaroo's Back [Pos 4L11], well-centred, red pencil mark below the monogram, some perf reinforcing in the upper margin and between the lower-left unit & rejoined left margin, one other lower unit with minor adhesion, the other ten units unmounted, Cat $750+ for a normal monogram strip of 3. A Single Watermark Electro 2 'CA' Monogram Above single CTO sold in our auction of 29.11.2008 for $833.

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

½d yellow-green complete sheet with 'CA' Monogram both sides ACSC 65(4)zf and all ACSC-listed varieties, centring variable, minor bend affects two units at upper right, hinge remainders in the upper margin & about a dozen units affected by some perf reinforcing also in the lower margin, the other units unmounted, Cat $11,000+ for the dual 'CA' monogram strip of 12 & listed varieties mounted plus 12 mounted & 80 unmounted yellow-green singles. The ACSC states of the 'CA' monogram both sides strips from Electros 4 & 5 that "approximately 20 strips of 12 have survived [in total]" (our emphasis) but does not give a break-down between the electros. Nor does it state how many are known in complete sheets. See Lot 224 for a 'CA' monogram both sides sheet from Electro 5.

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$2,000

½d yellow-green with White Flaw in Kangaroo's Back [Pos 5L16] & Eight Wattles at Left [Pos 5L17] ACSC 65(5)e & f se-tenant pair in a marginal block of 30 (5x6) from the upper-left of the sheet also including White Flaw on Kangaroo's Back [Pos 5L11] ACSC 65(5)d, Notch in Left Side of Cross [Pos 5L22] ACSC 65(5)g and Notch in Right Side of Value Tablet [Pos 5L25] ACSC 65(5)h, a couple of minor perf separations, hinge remainders in the top margin and on one unit in the lower row, the other units unmounted, Cat $2200+ for one mounted & 29 unmounted singles plus a premium for the varieties.

Grade A C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

½d green with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Face & Neck [Pos 5L46] ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c), well-centred, small hinge remainder, Cat $550 (£350). This is an early state of the ACSC 'Second State', with the crack through the Kangaroo's face & neck presenting as a thin white line only. The ACSC comments in footnote 2 that "Only the second state of the variety is found on Large Multiple Watermark paper". This is a little misleading: the crack expanded greatly over time, beginning on Single Watermark paper as a small 'tear-drop' below the lower-right wattle bloom (see Lots 86 & 87), then extending up to the top frame and down to the oval above 'AUSTRALIA' (as in Lot 88). Later it extends down to the Kangaroo's nose & neck (as here), and finally splits the Kangaroo's face completely and continues to its forearm (see Lot 186) and back (see Lot 188) also causing the oval above 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' to bulge and join the letters (see Lot 187 etc). All the Large Multiple Watermark examples seen (except perhaps Lot 225 below) show the crack extending to the Kangaroo, but the degree to which it does so varies considerably. It also appears that the unit was repaired at some point, possibly more than once (see Lots 190-193), until finally replaced by a Substituted Cliché (see Lot 194). For examples of the Cracked Electro & Substituted Cliché included in monogram blocks & complete sheets see Lots 212-216, 221, 224 and 227 below.

Grade A- B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

½d emerald with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Face & Neck [Pos 5L46] ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c), quite well-centred, a few 'fluffy' perfs, light gum disturbance, Cat $550 (£350). The crack through the Kangaroo's face & neck is now up to 0.5mm wide and the oval above the 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' is noticeably thickened.

Grade A- B2 (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

½d green with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Face & Neck [Pos 5L46] ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c), quite well-centred, hinge remainder, Cat $550 (£350). The crack through the Kangaroo is now 1mm wide and the oval above the 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' is thickened.

Grade A- B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

½d green with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Face & Neck [Pos 5L46] ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c), well-centred, a few irregular perfs, small hinge remainder, Cat $550 (£350). The crack now splits the Kangaroo's nose away from its face and the oval above 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' is distorted & joined to the letters below.

Grade A- B2 (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

½d emerald with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Forearm [Pos 5L46] ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c) being the lower-left unit in a block of 6 (3x2), the lower-central unit with White Flaw under 'P' of 'POSTAGE' [Pos 3L47] ACSC 65(5)l, quite well-centred, the upper-central unit lightly mounted, the other units all very fine unmounted, Cat $675+ for the two varieties mounted and one mounted & three unmounted singles (£350+ for the Cracked Electro mounted). The crack now splits the Kangaroo's nose away from its face, and the oval above 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' is distorted & almost joined to the letters below.

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

½d emerald with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Forearm [Pos 5L46] ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c) being the left-hand unit in a horizontal pair, the right-hand unit with White Flaw below 'P' of 'POSTAGE' [Pos 5l47] ACSC 65(5)l, light Toowomba (Qld) '-8OCT18' machine cancel largely clear of the varieties, Cat $700+ (£375+) for two singles. The oval above 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' is distorted & almost joined to the letters below.

Grade A C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

½d green with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Forearm [Pos 5L46] ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c), well-centred, Melbourne '13NO18' cds cancel largely clear of the variety, Cat $650 (£375). The crack now splits the Kangaroo's nose away from its face and the oval above 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' is distorted & almost joined to the letters below. In this instance, the crack continues down from the Kangaroo's forearm, almost reaching its back.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

½d dull green with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Forearm [Pos 5L46] ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c), well-centred, alongside KGV 1d red x2 all tied by Sydney 'JE19/1918' machine cancel largely clear of the variety to a mourning envelope addressed to the actress "Mary Pickford" in New York, re-directed with 'HOLLYWOOD/Los Angeles Calif.' handstamp on face, Cat $650+ (£375+) for used (unpriced on cover). The crack now splits the Kangaroo's nose away from its face and the oval above 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' is distorted & fully joined to the letters below. Cracked Electros on cover are rare.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

½d emerald with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Face & Neck Retouched [Pos 5L46] as ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c) but an unlisted retouch with the wattles & shading lines above the 'U' of 'AUSTRALIA' extensively repaired but the crack through Kangaroo's face & neck still present, small hinge remainder, Cat $550+ (£350+) for the 'normal' Cracked Electro. Andrew Johnston described this and the next three Lots as previously-unrecorded repairs and we agree with this assessment. While the thin 'tear drop' crack from the lower-right wattle bloom is reminiscent of the very early 'First State', the still-extensive cracks through the Kangaroo confirm these to be a later state as such cracks do not exist in 'First State'. But the previously evident crack from the Left Wattles past 'AU' of 'AUSTRALIA' to the Kangaroo's ear has largely disappeared, and the only logical explanation is that it was repaired.

Grade A- C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

½d dull green with Cracked Electro from Left Wattles to Kangaroo's Face & Neck Retouched [Pos 5L46] as ACSC 65(5)ka (SG 48c) but an unlisted retouch with the wattles & shading lines above the 'U' of 'AUSTRALIA' extensively repaired but the crack through Kangaroo's face & neck still present, quite well-centred, indistinct '--OC18' machine cancel largely clear of the variety, Cat $650+ (£375+) for the 'normal' Cracked Electro. Compare this with the pre-retouched example in Lot 187 above - also used in October 1918 - to see the extent of the repair.

Grade A B1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$400