Auction Series 257-264 in Zurich Day 4

Royal Mail Steam Packet Co 1875: Die Proof for the 10 c. value on thick white card paper hand-painted in brown, pale blue and Chinese white, imperforate and attached to piece from the De La Rue Day Book, showing differences to the finished design: the flag being larger, the flagstaff not touching the circle at base and the vignette being on a solid background. There is a sheet marginal example of the finished stamp above and manuscript notation "Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. Postage March 1875. 30 Set. If other duties are required we must make an overprint + cut away 10 Cents from the forme". Illustrated in 'The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World' by Ringström & Tester on page 129 and in Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia, Volume VI on page 261. Minor imperfections to the Essay but wonderful and entirely unique.
Catalogue 261: Stamp Issuing Steamship Companies