1840 One Penny Black
PLATE 1a IMPRIMATUR
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 1 |
P |
|
 SH, Plate 1a, imprimatur, from the first
registration sheet before hardening, strong color and a detailed
impression, large to very large margins all around, very fine; a choice
example of this rare imprimatur; 1969 RPS certificate; ex-Tes. (Image) |
Est. $10,000-15,000
SOLD for $32,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 1a STAMPS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 2 |
 |
|
 EE-EF, Plate 1a, handsome unused horizontal pair
from this especially scarce plate, intense color on bright fresh paper,
four ample to full margins, a fine pair for exhibition; any unused multiple
from Plate 1a is extremely elusive; ex-Cooley.
(Image) |
Est. $5,000-7,500
SOLD for $11,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 3 |
 |
|
 TA-TD, Plate 1a, the magnificent unused
horizontal strip of four from the bottom left corner of the sheet showing
plate number "1" and part inscription "Price 1d. Per Label. 1/- per Row of
12. £ 1.. Per Sheet. Place the", deep rich color, only just beginning
to show signs of plate wear above value tablets, exceptionally large
margins all round, including huge and complete sheet margins at left and at
bottom, small part original gum, TA has small thin spot and TD has crease
at top right resulting in some splitting as well as a thin, overall in a
fine state of conservation for this important and famous plate number
piece; ex-Seymour, Pichai. (Image) |
Est. $50,000-75,000
SOLD for $130,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 1a COVERS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 4 |
 |
|
 BF, Plate 1a, an exceptionally well margined
single tied to 1840 (May 6) folded letter from London to Paisley by two
strikes of red Maltese Cross cancels, dated in manuscript on reverse
"London 6 May 1840" which is over struck by clear "B/My-6/1840" London
cancel, accompanying 1995 BPA certificate states "...genuine, address
partially restored and soiling along vertical crease reduced..." which, in
our opinion, is negligible and professionally done, overall a very fine
example of the extremely rare and highly sought after first official day
of use of the world's first postage stamp; ex-Cooley. (Image) |
Est. $30,000-40,000
SOLD for $80,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 5 |
|
|
 OA-QB, Plate 1a, an extraordinary block of six (2
x 3), with large margins at top and bottom and just clear or slightly
touching at sides, positions OA and PB showing re-entries, on an especially
clean and slightly larger entire addressed to Manchester, tied by fine
light strikes of orange red Maltese Cross cancels, with matching clear
"Chester/My 7, 1840" second day of use double arc datestamp on
reverse, block has been lifted, ironed and neatly replaced on the cover,
removal of wax seals on reverse impinges "C" of "Chester" datestamp,
overall a spectacular combination of an impressive multiple on an early May
date entire, being the second day of issue; a marvelous exhibition item;
signed Enzo Diena and accompanied by a 1974 RPS certificate. (imagea)
(Image) |
Est. $40,000-50,000
SOLD for $62,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 1b STAMPS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 6 |
|
|
 EA, Plate 1b, choice mint example, quite fresh,
with deep rich color and impression on bright paper, large to very large
margins all around, o.g., minor h.r., very fine and handsome; 1986 PF
certificate. (Image) |
Est. $4,000-5,000
SOLD for $5,750.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 7 |
|
|
 HG, Plate 1b, fresh mint single, deep rich color
and impression, large margins all around except just a bit closer at bottom
right, minute corner crease at top left in sizable margin and of little
consequence, large part o.g., nearly very fine.
(Image) |
Est. $3,000-4,000
SOLD for $6,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 8 |
 |
|
 MA-OF, Plate 1b, the phenomenal mint block of
eighteen (6 x 3) with 10-17 mm sheet margin at left and inscription "ICE
1d. per label 1/- Per Row of 12. £ 1.. Per Sheet. Plac", "MF" has
double letter "M", vibrant color, wonderfully well margined all around and
with practically full original gum (ink mark on reverse of one stamp), a
few minor thin spots and negligible traces of foxing often associated with
this paper and characteristic of the gum; a wonderful multiple in every
regard, being the largest mint Penny Black multiple still remaining in
private hands, of the highest exhibition caliber, not only one of the
gems of Mr. Gross' collection, but also one of the great classic rarities
of Great Britain and world philately; 1996 BPA certificate; ex-Adams,
"Daisy" and Pichai. (Image) |
Est. $400,000-500,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction |
| 9 |
|
|
 PA-PF, Plate 1b, the remarkable left sheet-margin
horizontal strip of six with inscription "PR" that was originally part of
the large block offered in the previous lot (once having been a block of
twenty-four), all positions except PE showing re-entries or recut
side-lines, unused, with full to large margins, ironed out horizontal
crease, otherwise very fine; a rare and stunning unused Penny Black
multiple in its own right that, after years of having been separated from
the original multiple, was miraculously reunited by Dr. Pichai
Buranasombati in the late 1990's and was one of the showpiece multiples
contained in his Grand Prix winning collection of Line Engraved issues;
ex-Tes. (Image) |
Est. $30,000-40,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction |
| 10 |
|
|
 The above two lots - the mint block of eighteen and
the unused strip of six - will first be offered individually then as a
single lot, if the bidding for the two units together exceeds the
combined total each has realized individually, the two will be sold as one
lot, creating the spectacular reconstructed block of twenty-four. (imagea)
(Image) |
SOLD for $1,000,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 1b COVERS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 11 |
|
|
 AB, Plate 1b, attractive single with four close
to mostly large or huge margins, including a bit of the sheet margin at top
showing a partial inscription "wet. 1/-", tied by red Maltese Cross to
lovely folded letter dated 22 August 1840 sent from Landrake to Dublin,
with perfect strike of scarce "Landrake/Penny Post" two line handstamp in
black, "Devonport/Aug 23/1840" transit c.d.s. and Dublin "B/24 AU/1840"
arrival c.d.s. both in red on reverse, a very fine and desirable cover. (Image) |
Est. $3,000-4,000
SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 12 |
|
|
 MJ-NK and OJ-PK, Plate 1b, two blocks of four
which were originally a block of eight, used together on a spectacular
entire from Limerick via Hull to Hamburg, position MK with re-entry,
NJ, PJ and PK retouched check letters, each block with margins just touched
on one side, while other three margins are large, all cancelled with
Maltese Crosses in a striking deep red brown color which contrast
wonderfully with the deep shade of the stamps, manuscript "Per Packet from
Hull" at top, reverse with "Limerick/AU 27/1840" c.d.s., "5M/AU28/40"
diamond framed handstamp of Dublin in red, "Schiffsbrief Post/Sept
1840/Hamburg" c.d.s. and partial "Hull/Ship Letter" in red, entire with a
small tear at top and one inside flap a bit damaged in opening, neither of
which affects its overall magnificence and beauty; a cover of immense
rarity and certainly one of the most important Penny Black covers to an
overseas destination in existence; an essential cover for a Large Gold
medal collection of Line Engraved issues; 1990 BPA certificate; ex-Sir
Leonard Atkinson. (Image) |
Est. $150,000-200,000
SOLD for $150,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 13 |
|
|
 SD-SE, Plate 1b, horizontal pair with ample to
mostly large margins, used to pay the postage due on 1841 (12 Feb.)
Mulready 1d. letter sheet A81 (minor faults on reverse) from Dublin to
Edinburgh (14 Feb.), cancelled by Maltese Cross in red with a matching
strike adjacent, showing perfectly struck framed "More / To Pay" h.s.
below, manuscript "2" and "over 1 oz.", origin and arrival d.s. on reverse,
very fine and stunning; a truly fabulous usage of the Penny Blacks on an
underpaid Mulready; to our knowledge this is the only use of the 1840 Penny
Black to pay postage due; 1957 RPS certificate and 1989 BPA
certificate; ex-Sparrow, Glassco, Wills, Manzi and Pichai. (Image) |
Est. $20,000-30,000
SOLD for $80,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 2 STAMPS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 14 |
|
|
 SD-TE, Plate 2, a striking unused bottom
sheet-margin block of four with part inscription "Sheet. Place the Labels
ABOVE the", from the second state of the sheet, first repair (S.G. Spec.
#AS17), three of the stamps are in the unrepaired state, while position TE
has been re-entered, plus the marginal inscription has been re-entered and
is clearly doubled in places, wonderfully bright, uniformly large margins
all around, TE with trivial thin speck and with minor natural
wrinkle/crease, overall an extremely fine block of exceptional beauty and
rarity; ex-Cooley. (Image) |
Est. $20,000-30,000
SOLD for $75,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 2 COVERS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 15 |
|
|
 AB, Plate 2, a lovely single with ample to
mostly large margins all around, including a sizable sheet margin at top
measuring 6mm, showing "bel. 1/- Per Row o" partial inscription, tied to
neat 1840 folded letter From Newbury to Oxford by bold and clear Maltese
Cross in red, "Newbury/JU 13/1840" c.d.s. and red "Oxford/JU 14/1840"
arrival c.d.s. both on reverse, very fine and pretty; inscription singles
on cover, particularly this choice, are quite desirable and sought after;
1989 RPS certificate. (Image) |
Est. $2,000-3,000
SOLD for $6,250.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 16 |
|
|
 TB, Plate 2, with ample to large margins, tied to
1840 (26 July) Lesage Clerical pictorial envelope number 1 depicting "The
Church tossed on a stormy sea", type B (sold by Lawrie and Knight), from
Grangemouth to Lucan, County of Dublin (29 July), showing origin and
arrival c.d.s. on reverse, extremely fine in every regard; a charming and
delightful cover of peerless quality and desirability, very rare; 1996 BPA
certificate; ex-"Illustrious", Manzi and Pichai.
(Image) |
Est. $10,000-15,000
SOLD for $30,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 17 |
|
|
 PC and PG, Plate 2, two singles, each with
margins a bit close or cutting at a few points, used on an 1842 cover
from Barbados, cancelled upon arrival at Portsmouth, whereupon it was
redirected to Chelsea and additionally franked with 1841 1p Red Brown from
Plate 20, vertical pair lettered DD-ED (with ED being the "open top at
north east" frame variety - S.G. Spec. #BS9h), all four stamps tied by
black Maltese Cross cancels, cover noted at top in manuscript "Date March 9
Barbados" and later noted below "Recd. in Sloane St/April 8, 1842" when it
was received in Chelsea, several backstamps including "Chief Office"
straightline (a couple others partially cut away from removal of a bit of
one back flap), some slight soiling and staining from running or
redirection ink, overall fine; an extraordinary cover of tremendous
rarity, being one of the most amazing usages extant of a Penny Black used
from a foreign point of origin; signed Enzo Diena and accompanied by a
1991 BPA certificate. (Image) |
Est. $50,000-75,000
SOLD for $30,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 3 STAMPS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 18 |
O |
|
 LB-MJ, Plate 3, the incredible block of eighteen,
intense color and sharp impressions on bright paper, mostly with margins
but touched in places and some creasing, neat red Maltese Cross
cancellations, overall in a very fine state of conservation for what has
been long recorded as the largest used multiple of the Penny Black in
existence; one of the most important classic multiples in philately and an
astounding exhibition item; ex-Seymour (from which LK/MK were one time
cut in order to make the block free of repairs) and Pichai. (Image) |
Est. $150,000-200,000
SOLD for $85,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 4 COVERS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 19 |
|
|
 TH, Plate 4, 1840 stampless folded letter from
Little Ribston to London, with manuscript "P1", with "Wetherby/Dec 24/1840"
c.d.s and "PAID/25 DE/1840" tombstone datestamp in red, entire redirected
to Norfolk and franked with 1p Black (four margins) and cancelled by red
boxed "York St." handstamp, backstamped "E/DE 25/1840", entire with light
edge soiling and some minor edge splitting due to thick contents, overall
very fine; a scarce and attractive Christmas Day holiday use; 1994 BPA
certificate. (Image) |
Est. $2,000-3,000
SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
PLATE 5 STAMPS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 20 |
|
|
 CJ-CK, Plate 5, scarce mint horizontal pair, with
full and well balanced margins all around, deep rich color, just faintly
toned overall but actually quite fresh and handsome, o.g., relatively
lightly hinged, very fine; 1996 BPA certificate; ex-"Daisy". (Image) |
Est. $10,000-15,000
SOLD for $35,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
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