STOCKHOLMIA 2019 & ERIVAN Worldwide Rarities

1861 (April 10), Woodblock 1 d. brick-red, a fine used example with ample to large margins all round, showing the major Plate Flaw with part corner ornament missing from design at lower right, lightly cancelled by CGH triangular obliterator in black leaving the variety clear. A scarce and most unusual stamp, especially in this shade. Cert. RPSL (2019) SG 13b = £ 5'000+. 
 

1878/79, First issue 6 pence blue-green, the complete sheet of 60 stamps with several plate flaws (diagram included), unused with original gum, 28 stamps unmounted mint. The perforation split in some places and reinforced or strengthened by hinges, still fine and attractive. An outstanding multiple of the first issue. (SG 3)
Provenance: John E. du Pont (2013)

1891, The "De Worms" block of the bisect provisional ½ d. on half of 1 penny red-brown with upright watermark, consisting of 3 unsevered pairs and 14 bisects (reinforced by hinges), the surcharges misplaced on the 2 top right stamps. Unused with original gum/part original gum and in fine condition. One of the greatest raritites of Falkland Islands. (SG 14, 14a)
Provenance: Anthony de Worms, Dr. Dudley Stone (private treaty 1941), Harmers auction (March 1949), John E. du Pont (2013), illustrated in Malcolm Barton 'The Falkland Islands', page 161

1912/20, George V. 1 penny vermilion, perforated 14 (1918 printing), 7 copies including a block of 4, tied by cds. "FALKLAND ISLANDS 9 AU 19" to piece of linen paper, the lower right stamp with few clipped perf tips, otherwise in fine and fresh condition. Very rare since the majority of this printing was used for "WAR STAMP" overprints, just one further block of 4 of this stamp is recorded. Certificate BPA (1985, showing former SG no. 66a) (SG for single stamps £ 6.300,-)
Provenance: John E. du Pont (2013)

1848, 'POST PAID' 2 pence blue (pos. 5) in beautiful early impression and wonderful fresh and brilliant colour, good to mostly large margins and lightly cancelled by circle of bars, leaving most of the design free. A truly beautiful and outstanding copy of this rare stamp in superb condition. Certificate BPA (2019)

1888 (July 17), Cover from Vryheid, franked with 1896/87, 2 d. violet on granite paper without arms, tied by clear oval violet date stamp and additionally by violet sender's cachet of J. Doiven, the Postmaster General, addressed to his father in Holland. The cover was mailed via Natal with additional franking of 1863, 6 pence violet and 1886, TWO PENCE on 3 pence green, tied by Natal cds.; adjacent "T" and "5 d". In Holland charged for the remaining postage. On reverse transit marks of Helpmekaar, Natal GPO and London as well as arrival mark (AUG 22), some faults as to be expected. A fine and rare cover, mailed just 3 days before the end of the New Republic. Certificate BPA (2000) (SG 27 + Natal 24, 105)
Provenance: Illustrated on title page of Dr. G. H. Jonkers 'De Nieuwe Republiek 1884-1888'

1847, Lady McLeod (5 cents) blue, fresh colour and good to large margins, just touched in the outer design at upper left, used with pen cross on entire letter from Port of Spain (March 5, 1848) to San Fernando. A fine and rare cover from the well-known Taylor correspondence Provenance: C33 of the census of all existing 35 Lady McLeod letters

1889 (MAY 4), Personal large size folded letter (ca. 45:60 cm) from the sultan of Zanzibar, Khalifa-bin-Said, with his seal, addressed to the 23. President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, as a letter of recommendation for a United States ship captain, who had recently visited Zanzibar. Accompanied by the original envelope with the sultan's gold coloured seal on reverse. The envelope slight age wear and small part at upper left corner missing due to rough opening; the letter with some breaks in the folds (partly strengthened). A very rare and attractive ensemble of great historical interest

1977, Namib Desert, original artist's paintings for all 4 values in colour on white carton (design 136:51 mm). Some marginal scrapes and 2 designs with surface breaks (one very marginal). Also included some advertising material and hand drawing for the first day cancel. A most unusual and attractive group

1919, Hawker Trans-Atlantic Flight 3 cents brown in fresh colour and well perforated, used with machine cancel "ST. JOHN'S NFLD. APR 12 1919" on cover addressed to London, here officially sealed with white label "FOUND OPEN (OR TORN) AND OFFICIALLY SECURED" with date stamp "LONDON 30 MY 19". The stamp has been off and is inaccurately replaced (as often occured due to the emergency landing in seawater). A fine and scarce early trans-atlantic flight cover. Signed HR Harmer in pencil and certificate Philatelic Foundation (1972) (SG 142)

1851/60, 3 pence bright blue, diagonal bisect and 2 entire stamps, all in nice fresh deep colour and with good to mostly large margins, tied by grid cancel to small mourning envelope to London with red arrival mark (SEP 5, 1859) tying the bisect and neighbour stamp additionally. A very fine cover. Certificate Vincent Graves Greene Foundation (2018) (SG 3a, 3)

1852/57, Beaver 3 pence red, diagonal bisect in pair with entire stamp, nice fresh colour and large to very wide margins, showing part of neighbour stamp at the bisect bottom, used on entire letter of the Port Hope branch of the 'Bank of upper Canada', dated July 16, 1855, to New York. The stamps tied by black target and additionally by red double line "CANADA PAID 10 Cts", adjacent red (partly faint) dispatch mark "PORT HOPE U.C. JY 16 1855". The paper of the entire somewhat weak in the folds and partly split, but alltogether in fresh and otherwise flawfless condition. Allthough no 4½ pence rate has been recorded and the letter is underpaid for the usual 6 pence rate to the US it was treated as fully paid and remained untaxed in both Canada and the United States. A mysterical and most attractive letter which appeared for the first time 120 years ago. Only few bisects of the beaver stamp have been reported, especially in pair with normal stamp. Certificate Vincent Graves Greene (2018) (SG 8a, 8) Provenance: Illustrated and described in Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal June 30, 1898

1859, 'Sherwin' 2 pence deep blue in vertical pair, pos. 3/6, with good to large margins and in nice deep fresh colour, used with target cancel on entire letter to Nantes, France, backstamped "GPO MAURITIUS NO 10 1859", on front red "PAYS ETA. V. SUEZ 6 DEC. 59" and on reverse French transit and arrival marks. A very fine and rare letter, just 4 entires with a pair of the Sherwin issue are recorded. A beautiful and rare letter. Signed Calves, Roumet with opinion (1971) and Alberto Diena with certificate (1971) (SG 40)

1859, 'Dardenne' 2 pence slate-blue in vertical pair, the lower stamp with so-called 'feather variety', used with clear "PAID" in circle to mourning envelope with reverse side crowned "MAURITIUS GPO JA 7 1860" to Bordeaux. The envelope with slight creasing and small part at bottom missing (for optical reasons backed). A fine and scarce letter. Certificate BPA (1995) and Holcombe (1996) (SG 43b, 43) Provenance: 292. Heinrich Köhler auction (1997)

1863/72, wm crown CC, 1 penny brown, 4 pence rose and 6 pence green, used with "B53" on folded cover endorsed "Via Aden" from "MAURITIUS AU 18 68" to Saigon. On front octogonal "POSS. ANG. PAQ. FR. T No. 3"; on reverse arrival mark "Cochinchine ... SEPT. 68". A very fine and attractive cover to most unusual destination (SG 56, 62, 65) Provenance: Kanai (1993)