Sale #73

(1st April) 10c on 30c grey-green, SURCHARGE DOUBLE with equal intensity, from position 17 of the third printing showing broken 'EN', very fine mint, and with 2011 BPA photo certificate signed by Schneider, Granger and Taylor, probably the most knowledgeable experts in the field today. To put the rarity of this stamp into perspective, the 10c on 30c with Chinese characters similarly with double surcharge has been recorded incl. within a complete mint pane, and a handful of singles (currently priced at £12,000 by SG). ONLY one row in a single pane became doubly printed, and the row comprised a setting of six subjects (incl. the above variety showing 'EN' broken); Moving on to the same stamp issue without Chinese characters which this is, ONLY ONE OTHER EXAMPLE IS KNOWN and unpriced by SG, and to find one with this combination of broken letters is almost certainly unique. A Hong Kong and indeed Asian philately rarity of the highest calibre. (image available) [US6] (Start Price = £5,020.80)