William H. Gross Collection of Important Postage Stamps and Postal History of the British Empire continued...

MAURITIUS continued...

Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
101		S.G. #5	S.G. #5, 1848 2p Deep blue on white paper, Earliest Impression, position 2, a gem example featuring four large and wonderfully balanced margins, outstanding Earliest Impression showing incredible detail, displaying slight dry "sticky print" distinctive only to stamps having come from the Earliest Impression, beautifully tied by a circle of twelve horizontal bars to an 1849 folded cover from Port Louis to Calcutta, India, Crowned "Mauritius G.P.O./Ju 20/1849" c.d.s. at top right, framed "Calcutta/Ship Letter" on reverse, in which the inland and ship postage due is apportioned, light central file fold and a bit of ink erosion in address panel of little importance, extremely fine.Very few covers exist - probably a half a dozen or less - bearing Two Pence stamps in any shade that are unquestionably classified as Earliest Impression frankings (no 1p frankings are known). There is no doubt of the classification of this Two Pence franking, as the distinctive dry print found on this stamp is unique to the Earliest Impressions only. Besides its obvious rarity, this cover has long been regarded as one of the finest Two Pence Earliest Impression covers in existence. In fact, in the 1963 auction of the Burrus collection this cover was described as "probably the finest cover of its type in existence and of the most attractive appearance."An exciting opportunity to acquire one of the rarest and most important covers in Mauritius philately. Accompanied by a 1995 BPA certificate; ex-Burrus, Kanai (Scott #4). (Image)	Est. $30,000-40,000 SOLD for $70,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
102	O	S.G. #7	S.G. #7, 1848 1p Orange vermilion on greyish paper, Early Impression, position 2, a lovely used example of this rare and difficult stamp, possessing full to mostly very large margins all around, stunning color that is incredibly intense and vivid, excellent impression on bright fresh paper, perfect "socked-on-the-nose" double circle "14" numeral cancel of Riviere du Rempart, very fine and choice; 1966 RPS certificate and a 1994 BPA certificate; ex-Kanai (Scott #3a; $6,500.00). (Image)	£5,000 SOLD for $6,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
103		S.G. #23	S.G. #23, 1857-59 1p Orange red on bluish paper, Latest Impression, the unique mint block of six, positions 7-12, being the bottom half of the sheet, quite fresh, mostly large margins all around, bit close at bottom left, bright color, large part o.g., small faults including mild creasing, couple of thin spots and a small stain in bottom left stamp, nevertheless this is an extremely rare and important mint multiple from the classic era of Mauritius philately.Despite this block's small faults, it is in a remarkable state of preservation and, amazingly, it still retains a large portion of its original gum. This is the largest known unused multiple of the entire "Post Paid" issue and is one of the key rarities of Mauritius.An important addition to a specialized collection of Mauritius; ex-Dale-Lichtenstein, Kanai. (Scott #3e). (Image)	Est. $10,000-15,000 SOLD for $14,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
104		S.G. #26	S.G. #26, 1858 "FOUR-PENCE" arched surcharge on Green on bluish paper, large margins nearly all around, just a bit close at top left, deep luxuriant color, large part o.g., very fine for this scarce stamp; signed H. Bloch (Scott #12; $1,150.00). (Image)	£1,200 SOLD for $1,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
105		S.G. #19, 29, 37	S.G. #37, 1859 2p Blue, Early Impression, "Lapirot" issue, position 12, used in combination with 1848-59 1p Red brown "Post Paid" on bluish paper, Worn Impression (S.G. #19; position 2) and 1858-62 (9p) Dull magenta Britannia (S.G. #29), all tied to an extraordinary 1859 folded letter from Port Louis to London by black mute oval postmarks, the cover was carried by P & O Packet to London and bears "Packet Letter/Mauritius" double oval on reverse, along with originating red business cachet "Lestrange & Co./Port Louis", manuscript "Via Aden & Marseilles" on front of cover, as is red "London/Paid/Ju 5/59" arrival c.d.s., all three stamps have deep rich colors and mostly ample to large margins, very fine overall.An amazing and beautiful cover, as well as being the only known triple issue franking from Mauritius. This 1/- franking could only have occurred during a very short and fortuitous moment in time, beginning in May of 1859, when all three issues would have been available for use. That all three different issues were used at the same time, and so aesthetically placed on the cover, is a "one-in-a-million" occurrence. Besides being a unique triple issue franking, this cover also is an immensely rare usage of the Two Pence "Lapirot" Early Impression. It is believed that only seven such usages on cover exist and only three of these are in nice collectible quality - this being the most spectacular of the three.One of the most important covers in Mauritius philately and one of the great classic imperforate covers of the British Empire. Signed Peter Holcombe and accompanied by a 1994 BPA certificate; ex-Kanai (Scott #5bc, 11, 14B). (Image)	Est. $75,000-100,000 SOLD for $85,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
106	O	S.G. #42	S.G. #42, 1859 1p Dull vermilion on laid paper, Dardenne printing, a lovely used example, possessing large to huge margins all around, including a partial sheet margin at right, rich vibrant color and impression on bright paper, beautifully cancelled with a petite "PAID" in circle postmark, extremely fine; signed Georg Bühler (Scott #16; $925.00). (Image)	£900 SOLD for $1,050.00 Will close during Public Auction
107		S.G. #222	S.G. #222, 1924 50R Dull purple and green, wonderfully bright and fresh, rich colors, well centered, o.g., barest trace of hinging (if at all), very fine; especially scarce in this choice quality (Scott #200; $900.00). (Image)	£700 SOLD for $750.00 Will close during Public Auction

MONTSERRAT

Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
108		S.G. #3a	S.G. #3a, 1876 6p Blue green, with "S" of "Montserrat" overprint inverted, a magnificent mint example of this important rarity, of which only two are believed to exist, fabulously well centered, deep luxuriant color, o.g., extremely fine for this; the key rarity of Montserrat; 1981 BPA certificate; described in Linn's Philatelic Gems (pages 76-77); ex-Melat, Prappas and Gibralter (Scott #2e; $9,000.00). (Image)	£10,000 SOLD for $11,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
109		S.G. Footnote after #3	S.G. Footnote after #3, 1883-84 "1/2" Surcharge in red, on vertically bisected 1p Red, left half tied to an immaculate cover by perfect strike of "A08" barred oval, with "Montserrat/My 14/84/Paid" c.d.s., Dominica arrival c.d.s. of May 18th, manuscript "By Post", extremely fine; a gem example of this scarce surcharged bisect which was unofficially produced; 1989 BPA certificate; ex-Prappas (Scott #1a; $1,250.00). (Image)	Est. $750-1,000 SOLD for $1,100.00 Will close during Public Auction
110		S.G. #11	S.G. #11, 1884 4p Blue, a rare mint example of a stamp often missing in even the most advanced collections, possessing especially fresh and rich color, actually better centered than most, large part o.g., nearly very fine; ex-Gibralter (Scott #9; $2,500.00). (Image)	£1,800 SOLD for $1,800.00 Will close during Public Auction

NEW ZEALAND

Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
111		S.G. #8, 9, 14	S.G. #8, 9, 14, 1857-63 1p Dull orange, 2p Pale blue and 6p Pale brown, handsome singles of each, all three with ample to large margins all around, tied to petite 1861 cover to Wiltshire, England by light neat strikes of Auckland barred "1" numeral oval postmarks, manuscript "Via Marseilles" at top left, "Auckland New Zealand/Mr 4/1861" c.d.s. on reverse, along with "Salisbury/My 13/61" transit c.d.s., faint gum tone spot on corner of 2p, back flap tear, overall very fine; an especially rare and beautiful three-color classic franking; 1994 BPA certificate (Scott #7, 8e, 9h). (Image)	Est. $4,000-5,000 SOLD for $6,000.00 Will close during Public Auction

ST. LUCIA

Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
112		S.G. #10	S.G. #10, 1863 "Six pence" on (4p) blue, an attractive mint example of this very scarce stamp, which was prepared for use, but never issued, rather well centered for the issue, bright color, o.g., very fine for this; 1983 Brandon certificate; ex-Prappas (Scott #26; $1,250.00). (Image)	£1,100 SOLD for $600.00 Will close during Public Auction

ST. VINCENT

Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
113		S.G. #1, 4	S.G. #1, 4, 1862 1p Rose red and 6p Deep green, rough perf. 14 to 16, horizontal pair of the former and a single of the latter, all tied to a lovely folded cover to Paris, France by "A10" in barred ovals, red "Saint Vincent/Ap 8/64" c.d.s. below, red London transit c.d.s. also ties stamps, other markings include a manuscript "7" rating and "PD" in oval handstamp both in red, along with Calais transit c.d.s., Paris backstamp, very fine; a scarce first issue St. Vincent cover from the famous Polignac correspondence; ex-Shenfield (Scott #2, 3). (Image)	Est. $1,000-1,500 SOLD for $2,300.00 Will close during Public Auction
114		S.G. #2	S.G. #2, 1861 6p Deep yellow green, intermediate perf. 14 to 16, an outstanding unused example of this important rarity, possessing deep luxuriant color and about as perfect centering as is possible on this issue, intact perforations, extremely fine; one of the most difficult unused stamps of the Commonwealth and one of the rarest, with only a few known, this perhaps the finest; 1948 RPS certificate; ex-Chapin, Gibralter (Scott #1B; $9,000.00). (Image)	£7,500 SOLD for $10,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
115		S.G. #8	S.G. #8, 1866 1/- Slate grey, perforated 11 to 12 1/2, rich luxuriant color, typical centering for these difficult early issues, o.g., fine; a very scarce stamp that is missing in most collections; 1977 Brandon and RPS certificates; ex-Gibralter (Scott #8A; $3,000.00). (Image)	£2,500 SOLD for $900.00 Will close during Public Auction
116		S.G. #20	S.G. #20, 1873 1/- Lilac rose, perforated 11 to 12 1/2x15, a mint example of this rarity that is, quite likely, the finest centered mint copy in existence, featuring outstanding centering amid uncharacteristically large margins, rich color, large part o.g. that is toned overall, otherwise very fine; scant few mint examples exist; clear 1955 BPA certificate (Scott#22; $6,500.00). (Image)	£5,500 SOLD for $1,100.00 Will close during Public Auction
117		S.G. #26a	S.G. #26a, 1878 6p Pale yellow green, clean cut perforated 14 to 16, watermark upright, extraordinarily well centered, sumptuously rich color, o.g., minor h.r., very fine; rarely encountered this choice; signed H. Bloch and accompanied by a 1991 PF certificate (Scott #15; $850.00). (Image)	£700 SOLD for $950.00 Will close during Public Auction
118		S.G. #31	S.G. #31, 1880 1/- Bright vermilion, unused, strikingly intense color and impression, fine; 1988 BPA certificate (Scott #28A; $725.00). (Image)	£750 SOLD for $350.00 Will close during Public Auction
119		S.G. #38	S.G. #38, 1881 4p Bright blue, an extraordinarily beautiful mint example of this very scarce stamp, possessing an overall brilliance seldom seen, prooflike color and impression, plus its centering is virtually perfect, large part o.g., extremely fine; a true condition rarity; 1987 RPS certificate; ex-Prappas (Scott #27; $1,350.00). (Image)	£1,200 SOLD for $1,400.00 Will close during Public Auction
120		S.G. #50	S.G. #50, 1885 4p Red brown, a remarkably choice mint example of this elusive and difficult stamp, possessing exceptional overall freshness, deep luxuriant color and a deeply etched impression, well centered for the issue, full o.g., lightly hinged, very fine; the first premium original gum example of this we have seen; signed numerous times including Köhler and Richter (Scott #47; $1,150.00). (Image)	£950 SOLD for $1,350.00 Will close during Public Auction