384. Auction

1846 (8 Jan.), letter sheet from Sydney to London and re-addressed to Bonn (Prussia), marked "p. William Metcalfe", rated "3" in red and "8" and showing "PAID SHIP LETTER/SYDNEY". Upon arrival in London, forwarded by Coutts & Co (cachet at left), marked "via Ostende" and re-rated "20" (decimes) and "5½" (groschen). This is the second earliest recorded cover from the Australian Colonies to Germany. 
 

1855, Queen Victoria 6d. deep blue, horizontal pair with wide margins all around and four adjoining neighbours, fresh colours, used, extremely fine

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Ham Printings, 3d. blue, unused, without gum, well-centered within four balanced margins, delicate pale shade, small thins not detracting from the fine and fresh appearance of this extremely scarce unused stamp.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Ham Printing, 1d. dull rose, vertical pair, showing frameline at top, cut into on other sides, without gum, crease through lower stamp, yet with good colour, and a rare multiple, one of only a small number recorded.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, 1d. bright pinky red, Ham Printing, unused, with part original gum, showing cut transfer at foot, repaired tear at top and other small faults as often seen, but a presentable example of this scarce variety.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, 1d. bright pinky red, Ham Printing, three unused examples, displaying slight shade variances, two without gum, each showing the so-called “white veils” characteristic of this printing, margins close to into design in places as typical, small flaws and/or repairs, but a fine-appearing trio.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, 1d. bright pinky red, Ham Printing, unused, without gum, portion of frameline at top and bottom, and clearly showing the so-called “white veils” distinctive of this printing, touching or into design at left and right, fresh colour, a pleasing example.

1851, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Ham Printing, 1d. pale drab, unused, without gum, heavy hinge remnant, margins good to slightly into design in places, small faults, surface abraison at lower left, light crease near hinge, despite its flaws, of good colour, and a presentable example of this difficult stamp.

1855, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Campbell & Fergusson printings, 1d. pink, unused, without gum, good margins on three sides, barely touching at left, trivial small thins, yet of pleasing deep colour and fine appearance. 

1854-7, Queen Victoria “Half Lengths”, Campbell & Fergusson printings, three 1d. singles, unused, without gum, in shades of pink to rose, one a particularly deep shade,  one showing short transfer most noticeable at lower left, each with some degree of fault, rose shade with corner crease, but a useful reference group of chiefly fine appearance, showing the characteristic poorer quality impressions of this printing.

1856-8, Queen Victoria on Throne, 1d. yellow green, block of four, large part original gum, clear to good margins all around, the upper left stamp with traces of extraneous red ink, vertical folded through centre margin, small spots of gum toning, but a scarce multiple; handstamped Gilbert.

1856/58, Queen Victoria on Throne, 1d. yellow green, imperforate, two singles with part original gum, chiefly clear to good margins and fresh colour, and 6d. bright blue, rouletted, three unused singles, one with part original gum, typical centering, some small flaws, chiefly fine.

1898, 2-1/2d rose, lower right corner block of thirty six, hinged in places, leaving the majority of stamps never hinged, three stamps showing the “damaged N” to first N of PENNY variety, bright colour, a fresh and desirable positional block.

1899, 2s. turquoise-green, watermark “Crown Over Q”, Type II, perforated 13, left margin block of eighteen on Cowan paper, showing the “flaw on ball of lower 2” variety, and left margin strip of seven on whiter De La Rue paper, most examples on the Cowan paper block never hinged, a fine comparison of these two paper types.

1897-8, 1d. vermilion, upper left sheet corner block of thirty six, showing the  zigzag roulette, with perforation 13 superimposed, watermark Crown Over Q (Type II), hinged in places, leaving most stamps never hinged, bright fresh colour, an impressive multiple of this experimental perforation.

1850/1974 (ca.), Australia and Australian States, interesting mint never hinged/unused and used balance of a collection, incl. Revenues, strength before the 1930s with many duplicates, early States issues represented as well as the Australian Kangooroos and KGV issues, many types and shades, some occasional faults especially in the early issues, overall fine to very fine condition

1854/1931 (ca.), extensive mint never hinged/unused and used collection with covers, filled with an abundance of duplicates, very strong in the early Australian States, many better items starting with Samoa and some large multiples, Tasmania 1 s. vermilion pair unused, Queensland SG-Nr. 2 used, Tasmania 1853 1d.(2) and 4d. used, South Austrlia nice part with shades and some pairs, Western Australia SG-Nr. 1(3) used, New South Wales with Sydney Views and later issues with SG-Nr. 102/106(3), New Zealand 1d.(3), 6d. (9) and 1s.(2) imperforate used, Australia Kangooroos specimen incl. the high values, etc., together with a selection of covers with multiple and combination frankings. Some occasional faults, overall in good condition, some signed Köhler, Bühler, A.Brun, Richter, a most delightful and remarkable lot

1896/1908, Sideface Issues, including both mint and used examples, an in-depth collection of 1/2d through 2s. values, in singles, pairs, and larger multiples including large part sheets, with detailed annotations as to printings, varieties, etc, noting 1896 1d. proof pair on medium wove unwatermarked paper, 1887 1d. imperforate plate proof block in colour of issue, 1896-7 1d. block of four noted “approved proof” and dated on reverse, several pages of 1899 1d. printings with experimental zig-zag roulettes, various examinations of constant plate flaws, including 1897-1908 2s. irregular positional block of fifteen, several 2d. blue showing “cracked plate” varieties in mint and used, including used multiples, pleasing group of 1911 printings in used blocks, complemented by a small number of covers, including. 1901 2-1/2d single franking to India,  and seven “stamp collars” cut from envelopes, advertising Schnapps, Tobacco, Tailors, etc, some items identified as being ex A. Ronald Butler, a few pages of other contemporary issues also included, the occasional small flaw to be expected, but an overall exceptionally fresh and fine collection, likely exceeding 1,000 stamps, a detailed study from which the enthusiast of this issue can expand.