385th Auction

1931 (11 February), 1 r. orange-vermilion, perforated 12, overprinted SERVICE in black, Type O2 with thick letters, unused, without gum as issued, deep colour, usual irregular perforations, fine; ex Harell, with 1987 B.P.A. certificate.

1859, 1d. blue, slightly touched at upper left, otherwise good margins, tied by black c.d.s. to entire letter with adjacent blue "CORFU 22 GIU", to Kephalonia with fancy arrival mark on front. Fine and scarce

1884, 6d. (½ oz.) inscribed “LETTER”, with hallow dot after “B”, fresh color and good margins all around, without gum, minor toning, otherwise fine, signed Calves

1847, Post Office 1d. and 2d., the 1911/12 reprints in black, orange and blue from the original plate, on ungummed paper. Orange print with 2 light creases outside the die area and small tear at base, still fine and rare. The blue sheet signed Jakubek.

1848, early impression 1 d. vermilion, touched at lower left, otherwise full to large margins and deep fresh colour, neatly cancelled by blue "1" MAHEBOURG. A rare stamp in fine condition. Certificate Philatelic Experts (2024)

1882/90, Victoria 1 s. pale-violet, fresh color and good perforation, tied by barred “A09” obliterator with adjacent cds. “NEVIS AU 26 90” to registered OHMS envelope via London with red oval “REGISTERED LONDON 11 SP 90” to Dresden with arrival mark “DRESDEN-PLAUEN 12/9 90”, file folds, but an immensely rare usage of this stamp on commercial letter, certificate RPSL (2023)

Reference: The Encyclopaedia of British Postage Stamps, page 119, Robson Lowe

1840, folded letter dated “Sapapalii, Island of Savaii Samoa 3rd April 1840” sent from Charles Hardie to the Treasury of the London Missionary Society in London, with adjacent red crowned “PAID SHIP LETTER JU 16 1840 SYDNEY” and manuscript rate 8", straight-line “SHIP LETTER” in reverse, a fine and scarce early entire

1886/1900, 1/2d, 1d., and 4d. singles, tied to cover from the Consulate General of the United States of America by Apia c.d.s. (Type 3, date inverted), to A. Albrecht in Cleveland, Ohio, with San Francisco (Dec 25) and Cleveland (Dec 29) c.d.s. backstamps, the odd trivial toned perf and small tear to back mentioned for strict accuracy, else an attractive and scarce three-colour franking; ex Guy Hamilton. (Odenweller Census #326).  

1892, King Malietoa 2½ d., die proof on black and issues color rose, no gum as issued, very fine and scarce

1894 (February 28), 5d. on 4d. blue, tied to cover to Sellschopp & Co by Apia c.d.s. in blotchy purplish-black, backstamped with crisp San Francisco / Paid All entry c.d.s. (Mar 15), piece torn from back flap, else fine.

1893, 5d. on 4d. blue, Trial surcharge in red “5d.” with stop after value, unused, very fine, scarce

1894 (September 12), 5d. dull vermilion, perf 11.5x12, tied to cover to Chicago by choice strike of Apia c.d.s. (Type 4) in purplish-black, San Francisco machine transit backstamp (Sep 29), fine and most attractive.

1898, 2½ on 1s. dull rose-carmine, handstamp surcharge, vertical pair tied by cds. “APIA NOV 30 98” to registered cover with San Francisco with red “REGISTERED LONDON 30 DE 98” on front and violet-blue “N.Z. MARINE P.O. R.M.S. ”ALAMADA 30 NOV 98" and arrival mark on reverse, slightly toned, minor imperfections, a scarce and attractive cover

1897, Reply card 1d. rose on thick pale greenish blue chalk-paper, with addiotnal franking ½d. purple-brown from “APIA APR 24” to New York with San Francisco transit, minor transportation wear, a scarce card

½d. on 3 pfg., tied by cds. “APIA” to wrapper to Auckland, inevitable traces of transportation, otherwise fine and attractive

1914, ½ d. on 3 pfg. brown, vertical pair with lower sheet margin, the lower stamp with variety “Comma after G.R.I”., the upper stamp almost invisibly hinged, the lower mint never hinged, very fine, certificate BPA (1985)

½d. on 5 pfg., block of four, fresh color and mostly good perforation, tied by cds. “APIA” to local cover, upper right stamp small pre-printing surface abhrasion, minor paper clip rust spots, otherwise fine

½d. on 5 pfg., horizontal pair, tied by cds. “APIA 11.9.14” to wrapper to Hamberg, minor transportation wear, otherwise fine

1914, ½ d. on 5 pfg. green, vertical pair with lower sheet margin, the lower stamp with variety “Comma after G.R.I”., the upper stamp hinged, the lower mint never hinged, very fine, certificate BPA (1993) and opinion Holcombe (1992)

4d. on 30 pfg. with heavily shifted surcharge, thus parts of “GRI” showing at top and bottom, with additional franking, all tied by cds. “APIA 20.9.14” to large part of envelope, fine

1d. on 10 pfg., horizontal pair with clear double overprint, unused, very fine and scarce, signed a.o. Bothe BPP and certificate BPA (1978)

2½ d. on 20 pfg., block of 36 from the lower left sheet corner, showing four strips with positions 2-9, thus four times variety “damaged stop after G” and four times “no fraction bar", 26 values mint never hinged, the others lightly hinged, few separtions, a scarce and attractive multiple

2½d. on 20 pfg. and 6d. on 50 pfg., tied by cds. “APIA 2-11 14” to shortened registered cover with typed registered label “APIA No I2” to Coffs Harbour, New South Wales with arrival mark, light toning to the adhesives, otherwise fine

2½d. on 20 pfg., block of four with bottom sheet margin, the two lower stamps with variety “Comma after I”., the varities mint never hinged, upper stamps and margins unused, a fine and attractive multiple, opinion Holcombe (1992)

3d. on 25 pfg., white paper, block of four, fresh color and good perforation, tied by cds. “APIA 12.9.14” to small piece, printed as presumably part of the "Unofficial Issue" of Jimmy Ah Sue, executed with the original printing types, an interesting item

Reference: G.R.I. by Robert M. Gibbs, page 270, Note 3

1914, 6d. on 50 pfg. as top marginal horizontal strip of three, the center stamp with double surcharge, tied by cds. “APIA 12.9.14” to small piece, the outer stamp with corner fault, the center stamp in fine condition, a scarce and attractive multiple

9d. on 80 pfg., block of four, fresh color and good perforation, tied by cds. “APIA 12.9.14” to small piece, fine

1 Sh. on 1 m. with variety “broken stop after I", used with central cds. “APIA 8.9.14”., small vertical crease, otherwise fine, scarce, certificate Ceremuga (2001) and Miro (1955)

2 Sh. on 2m. blue, very fresh and deep color, unused without gum, very fine, scarce with only 126 printed, certificate Ceremuga (2003)

2 Sh. on 2m. blue with bottom sheet margin, fresh color and good perforation, tied by cds. “APIA 28.8.14” to large part of cover addressed to Captain A. Loftus Tottenham, few toned spots on the letterpiece only, fine

Note: Captain Tottenham was the Provost Marshall in charge of the occupation of the Apia Post Office and the overprinting of the stamps

3 sh. on 3 m., unused, small corner crease, otherwise fine

5 Sh. on 5m., fresh color and good perforation, mint never hinged, a rare stamp in this condition, signed Bothe with certificate (1972)

5 Sh. on 5m. with variety “broken stop after I”, with additional franking 3sh. on 3m. and ½-9d., mostly fresh color and good perforation, all tied by cds. “APIA 14.9.14” to locally addressed cover, 2½d. slight discoloration, the envelope folded at bottom, otherwise fine

1915, Postal Stationery card ½d. on 5pfg. with additional franking Samoa George V. 2d. yellow and 2s. deep-blue, used from “APIA 14.SP.18” as registered card with adjacent boxed “PASSED BY CENSOR G.R.I.” to Bern with transit and arrival mark, minor transportation wear, scarce and attractive, signed Kilian

Postal stationery double-card 1d. on 10 pfg. with clear and heavily shifted double overprint, thus the reply card with corresponding normal and albino overprint, unused, very fine and scarce