Corinphila Auction 284-290 Day 1

1918: De La Rue Essay for the War Stamp 1½ d. value, Frame only printed in black, with value tablet "One Penny Halfpenny" hand-painted in black affixed to proposal card dated '12 APR 1918' in blue, signed off "Approved WHM 16.4.18" (Sir William H. Mercer) in manuscript below; with pencil manuscript on reverse "Reqsn. for special 1½d. from new border plate for o/ptd. War Stamp". Illustrated in "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP on page 2087 and by John G.M. Davis in "War Tax Stamps" on page 45. A spendid and unique Essay.rnProvenance: Collection John G.M. Davis, Grosvenor, London, 6-7 Oct 2010, lot 695.