After the signing of the Treaty on December 6th, 1921, and prior to the ratification by the Dail on January 14th, 1922, an unofficial overprint made its appearance, as shown in the following three lots. The four lowest values of the then-current British stamps (1/2d, 1d, 1 1/2d and 2d) were overprinted using a stereo setting. There appear to have been three distinct batches of posting bearing the unofficial overprints. The first was posted from Dublin, dated December 19, 1921, the second from Kingstown on January 17, 1922, and the third from Blackrock on January 18, 1922. Note: No attempt was made to collect any surcharges on these items which were apparently in breach of postal regulations. DUBLIN: 1921 Envelope franked GB 2d orange overprinted IRISH / FREE STATE / PROV.GOVt, tied by machine cancel dated DUBLIN/DEC.19.1921, a very fine and rare usage of the unofficial overprint Provenance: T.E. Field (Image)

1922 (18.7) GB 1 1/2d brown, stationery envelope, franked GB 1/2 green, pay the 2d rate to York, bearing "Rialtas Sealadac na hEireann 1922" typed unofficial overprint in violet superimposed over both the stamps and embossed stationery impression, plus two fragment with similar frankings showing slightly different typed overprints in black, one being inverted, a very scarce trio, ex. Thomas Field (Image)

1922 Envelope to London, franked GB 1 1/2 red-brown, bearing "Rialtas Sealadac na hEireann 1922" typed unofficial overprint in violet, cvr wrinkles, scarce (Image)

KINGSTOWN: 1922 Envelope franked GB 1 1/2d red-brown, horizontal pair overprinted IRISH/FREE STATE/PROV.GOVt one being inverted, tied by cds dated KINGSTOWN/19.JA.1922, a very fine and rare usage of the unofficial overprint with the variety (Image)

BLACKROCK: 1922 Envelope franked GB 1d scarlet, horizontal pair overprinted IRISH/FREE STATE/PROV.GOVt one being inverted, tied by cds dated BLACKROCK/18.JA.1922, a very fine and rare usage of the unofficial overprint with the variety (Image)

Forgeries: 1921-22 GB 1/2d green, three singles, each bearing bogus Republic/Ireland/1921 overprint, on cover tied Wincanton cds, addressed to USA, plus GB 1/2d green wrapper, also overprinted by Bogus inverted Ireland/1922, unusual and scarce pair written up on album page (Image)

1/2d to 1s attractive balance study neatly mounted and knowledgeably written up on twenty-two-album pages, all values represented, showing a fine array of mint and used, complete set of gutter pairs, some minor and major varieties, including PENCF corrected error on 1 1/2d in wonderful positional block of twelve, ONF for ONE used error etc., few with faults, mixed to fine, a wonderful lot for the student (100's)(Hib.€2'200+) (Image)

1/2d green, block of four, tied by Hey-Dolphin machine first day cancel DUBLIN/FEB.17.1922/A, on envelope sent within Dublin to Rathgar, plus 1/2d in mint block of four, very fine and a scarce first-day usage (Image)

1/2d green and 1d scarlet, two singles, both tied by Hey-Dolphin machine first day cancel DUBLIN/FEB.17.1922/A, on envelope sent within Dublin to Dundrum, plus 1/2d and 1d in mint blocks of four, very fine and a scarce first day usage (Image)

1/2d green and Thom 1 1/2d red-brown, two singles, both tied by Hey-Dolphin machine first day cancel DUBLIN/FEB.17.1922/A, on envelope sent to Shrewsbury, plus 1d scarlet and Thom 2d orange, die II, both tied by double-ring DUBLIN/17.FE.22 cds, very fine and a scarce pair of first day usages (Image)

1/2d to 1s, attractive group of twelve covers, all neatly mounted and written up on album pages, showing a fine array of seven different registered usages, a fine and scarce lot (Image)

1d scarlet, in combination with Thom 2d die II & 6d, all tied on envelope to Denmark by the very rare skeleton PAQUEBOT/COBH/25(JU)22 cds, with month missing, code 2E at top, a showpiece maritime pmk. Note: By August 24th 1922, this handstamp was withdrawn, and another hs with Cobh at top was issued in its place. (Image)

1d scarlet, mint nh left sheet marginal single, with overprint shifted to the left and showing overprint inverted variety, fresh, very fine, and scarce. Hibernian T2a; €375+. (Image)

1d scarlet, mint nh single, showing inverted overprint variety, fresh, fine and scarce (Hib.€375) (Image)

1d scarlet, mint single with overprint shifted to the left and showing overprint inverted variety, fresh, very fine, and very scarce. Hibernian T2a; €375+. (Image)

2 1/2d ultramarine and 3d violet, singles, both tied by machine first day cancels CORK/17.FEB.1922, on envelopes sent to Chesterfield, very fine and a scarce pair first-day usages (Image)

2 1/2d to 10d part set of six values, all in blocks of four, each tied on registered covers to Rathmines, arrival bs, a very fine and scarce assembly. (Image)

9d agate, single, tied by machine first day cancel CORK/17.FEB.1922, on envelope sent to Chesterfield, also a mint block of four, plus two additional covers including single franking sent within Dublin, and block of six tied Ballaghadereen cds to Manchester, very fine and a scarce first-day usage (Image)

4d grey-green, single, tied by machine first day cancels CORK/17.FEB.1922, on envelope sent to Chesterfield, plus additional cover franked 4d pair tied by double-ring DUBLIN/18.FE.22 second-day ds, also mint pair and block of four, very fine and a scarce pair of first and second-day usages (Image)

5d yellow-brown, single, tied by machine first day cancel CORK/17.FEB.1922, on envelope sent to Chesterfield, also a mint block of four, very fine and a scarce first-day usage (Image)

2 1/2d to 1s part sets of both Dollard and Thom printings, all singles, each tied on covers to Rathmines or Dublin, some showing unusually put through the post office twice and postmarked at different times, arrival bs, a very fine and scarce assembly. (Image)

2 1/2d blue, with red ovpt, block of four, tied GRANBY ROW DUBLIN/13.NO.23 cds, on registered cover to Rathmines, fine and scarce. (Image)

2 1/2d, 4d, and 9d red and carmine ovpts, group of mint singles and blocks of four, plus five covers, with single, mixed and registered frankings, a fine and scarce group mounted and written up on pages (Image)

4d grey-green, with red ovpt, block of four, tied GRANBY ROW DUBLIN/13.NO.23 cds, on registered cover to Rathmines, fine and scarce. (Image)

4d grey-green, overprint in carmine, mint nh top sheet marginal block of fifteen, showing complete stereo from setting 2, neatly mounted and knowledgably written up on album page, one stamp creased, fresh, very fine, and a very scarce block. Hibernian T10A, €1'650+). (Image)