Closed Auction

lot # 7876 - Great Britain - QV (line engraved) 1855

Tuesday Apr 13, 2021 17:00 Europe/London

Experimental printing on Neal’s Steam Press, accorded major SG catalogue listing status SG29a (SG Specialised C8(I)H 1d. red-brown, Die II, alphabet III, plate 22 imperforate, without gum (as catalogued), unused right hand sheet margin multiple block of 18 (3x6), lettered HJ/HL, MJ/ML, complete with full marginal inscription (including the desirable ‘rosette’) instructing the position to affix a stamp ‘above the address and towards the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the letter’. (Nothing has changed 165 years later). Plates 22 (and 25) were used for an experimental printing on a Steam Press and were never officially issued. One sheet of each was found circa 1960 and was cut up. All imperforate examples extant come from these sheets, therefore this marginal rosette inscriptional multiple is unique. Condition report: The block has a horizontal crease through row ‘H’ and ‘M’ and is variously creased between the rows, aside of the lower row - none of which affect the very fine appearance of this block, closed marginal split through rosette. Holcombe 1993 colour photo-certificate of authenticity. Forming one of the most important pieces in the historic Sir Garwaine Baillie collection auctioned by Sotheby’s c.2006, the multiple realised c.£33,000= including buyer’s premium in that famous auction and currently catalogues SG£54,000= as singles (‘from’ £3,000 each), excluding multiple premium: what price the unique positional multiple? Reserved at £26,400= start price upon a £33,000 estimate. Perhaps a unique opportunity to acquire one of the most important pieces of classic British philately. Cat £54000 (image available) [US1] (Start Price = £23,496.00)


SG 29a

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