373rd Auction

1868 Lithographed 1 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour and good margins, used with four-line cancel, tiny and unimportant corner bend at lower left, a fine example of this rare stamp, signed Diena with certificate (1986) and certificate du Vachat (2010)

1868 Lithographed 2 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour with superb large margins, used with part of well readable 'Joly' handstamp in blue, minor thin on reverse, otherwise a fine example of this rare stamp, signed Calves

1868 Lithographed 2 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour with superb large margins, used on small piece with part of 'Joly' handstamp in blue (Mr. Joly presided over the Company), a fine example of this rare stamp, certificate du Vachat (2010)

1868 Lithographed 2 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour close margins to slightly touched, tied by four-line cancel "BELL'S ASIA MINOR STEAMSHIP CO. SMYRNA AGENCY" to large part of folded lettersheet to Makri-Fethiye, the stamp lifted for inspection, a very rate item with only 3 covers recorded, signed and certificate Scheller (2009)

1847, Lady McLeod (5 cents) blue, fresh colour and close to large margins, without gum, a fine copy of the most iconic of all private ship letter stamps and also the first adhesive stamp issued in a British Colony, certificates PF (1957), A. Diena (1973) and Brandon (1996) Provenance: H. R. Harmer, 1957                     "The David Melat Collection of Postage Stamps of the World" (John W. Kaufmann Inc., 1985)                     "The Henry S. Schneider Collection of British America" (Robert A. Siegel, 1996)                     H. R. Harmer Inc., 2008                    M11 of the census of all existing unused 24 Lady McLeod stamps. There described as "An especially desirable sound unused example"

1864, The 1st. Centavo Issue, Streamer "Robert Todd" ½ centavo black, horizontal strip of four with good to large margins all around, printed from Stone II, positions 13-16, unused without gum, fine, signed Roumet

1864, The 1st. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 1 centavo on rose, horizontal pair with good margins, printed from Stone IA, positions 13-14, fine, signed Roumet

1864, The 1st. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 3 centavo on orange-yellow, complete sheet of 24, showing all the 4 transfer types, good margins, some minor creasing at bottom, otherwise a fine and very rare sheet

1864, The 1st. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 4 centavo on blue, complete sheet of 24, showing all the 4 transfer types, good margins on three sides, touched at bottom, position 1 and 2 with small paper fault, first two stamps of second row somewhat discoloured, otherwise a fine and very rare sheet

1868, The 2nd. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" ½ centavo black on yellowish paper, complete sheet of 25, showing all the 5 transfer types and the prominent variety "large flaw on hull of ship" on position 11, good margins on three sides, touched at left, position one with small hole, otherwise a fine and rare multiple

1868, The 2nd. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 3 centavo black on brownish-orange paper, two singles with good margins, transfer types II and III, unused with original gum, type III small natural paper inclusion, scarce and fine copies of these difficult and desirable stamps  

1868, The 2nd. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 4 centavo black on green paper, deep and fresh colour and four wide margins all around, transfer type A, unused with original gum, a very fine copy of this rare stamp, signed Koopman

1868, The 2nd. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 4 centavo black on green paper, the famous pair showing transfer type C (featuring extensive retouch in the top left corner) and D, deep and fresh colour and four wide margins all around, transfer type A, unused with original, characteristically cracked original gum. Light horizontal crease and pin hole at right, of absolutely no significance for this outstanding rarity. The only multiple available of this, the rarest stamp of Santo Tomás - Lai Guaira - Puerto Cabello issues. Provenance: ex Von Lind

ISSUE FOR VENEZUELA: 1864, Waterlow printings, ½ real red, block of 36, showing types II-V+I-II, from the bottom sheet margin showing inscription "Waterlow & Sons London" and part of the watermark "T H Saunders", mint never hinged, a fine multiple

1866/67, ½ real carmine-rose, horizontal strip of three tied by three strikes of "¼" to folded letter from Puerto Cabello via St. Thomas and London to Bordeaux with accountancy marking "G.B. 1F60C" alongside, upon delivery charged "20" decimes, somewhat discoloured around the stamps, otherwise a fine, attractive and rare entire, certificate Paaskesen (1988)

1866/67, 2 r. yellow-green, stone II, tied by double-ring "CORREOS CARACAS" to folded lettersheet via London to Bordeaux, with accountancy marking "G.B. 1F60C" alongside, upon delivery charged "8" decimes, a fine entire

1864, 2 r. blueish-green, stone II, tied by clear "F. VA. ADMON. DE CORREOS LA GUAIRA NOV 25" to entire folded lettersheet via London to Bordeaux, with accountancy marking "G.B. 1F60C" alongside, upon delivery charged "8" decimes, small tear at top of cover, otherwise fine

1869, Jesurun Issue ½ real green, perforated 12½, block of 15 with left sheet margin, mint never hinged resp. two outer stamps and sheet margin unused, some minor perf separations, a fine and attractive multiple 

1869, Jesurun Issue 2 real red, perforated 12½, tied by double oval agent cancellation "CAMERON MACAULAY & CO -St. THOMAS" to envelope to Curacao with arrival mark on front, minor ageing, a fine and very rare entire of which a similar one is shown in "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 1, page 28" 

1869, Jesurun Issue 2 real red, perforated 12½, used with double oval agent cancellation "CAMERON MACAULAY & CO -St. THOMAS", small imperfections, scarce

1869, Jesurun Issue 2 real red, perforated 12½, block of 12 with left right margin, mostly mint never hinged, a fine and attractive multiple 

La Guaira - San Tomas: 1870, Numerals 1 c. yellow-brown, ½ r. green and 2 r. blue, unused without gum, few thins, otherwise fine, very rare stamps (Facit LG 23, 24, 26)

1871 (ca.), white label with blue border and handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", fresh colour and close to good margins, used with pen stroke, a very fine copy of this very rare stamp with only a total of 6 used copies recorded, no unused examples are known, the only recorded cover has been permanently lost some years ago, signed Diena and others Provenance: The Julius Steindler Collection "Shipping Companies stamps" (Robson Lowe 1972)                       ex Chiavarello                  

1872, First printing, Steamer 1 penny blue, fresh colour and close to good margins, used with violet oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", hardly perceptible bend at bottom, otherwise fine, very scarce with only about a dozen used examples known

1872, First printing, Steamer 1 penny blue, two singles (transfer types 1 and 9), fresh colour and mostly good margins, one example with left sheet margin, used with violet oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", both with horizontal crease, otherwise fine, very scarce with only about a dozen used examples known, marginal copy signed E.F.H. Harpenden

1872, First printing, Steamer 1 penny blue, intermediate stone, block of 30 with sheet margins on left and right, deep and fresh colour and with full characteristic brownish gum, four stamps unused, the others mint never hinged, small tear in the margin only, very minor ageing and a small surface scrap mentioned for full accuracy only, a very rare and attractive multiple

1872, First printing, Steamer 6 pence lilac (transfer type 4), fresh colour and close to good margins, used with black oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", hardly perceptible corner bend at lower right, otherwise fine, very scarce with only about half a dozen used examples known, certificate BPA (with no opinion on the cancellation)

1872, First printing, Steamer 6 pence lilac (transfer type 1), fresh colour and close to good margins, used with violet oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", a very fine and sound copy of this rare stamp with only about half a dozen used examples known

1872, First printing, Steamer 6 pence lilac (transfer type 3), fresh colour and good margins, used with violet oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", minor thin, otherwise a fine copy of this rare stamp with only about half a dozen used examples known

1872, First printing, Steamer 6 pence lilac (transfer type 3), fresh colour, somewhat irregular margins, used with violet oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", minor surface scratches, otherwise a fine copy of this rare stamp with only about half a dozen used examples known, signed E.F.H. Harpenden

1872, First printing, Steamer 6 pence  lilac, horizontal pair, crease through one stamp, otherwise fine

1875, House flag 10 cents Die Proof on glazed card with handstruck "Feb 13 1875" and "BEFORE HARDENING", very fine

1875, House flag 10 cents Die Proof on glazed card with handstruck "Feb 19 1875" and "AFTER HARDENING", very fine

1875, House flag 10 cents Die Proof on glazed card with handstruck "Feb 19 1875" and "AFTER STRIKING", very fine With the last three lots you have the rare opportunity to purchase all three different known Die Proofs of this issue!

1875, House flag 10 cents rose-red, complete sheet of 30 with all margins, mint never hinged, a fine and scarce item, in addition a single stamp used with agents cancellation "JOH KOCK & CO..:" (Facit RMS 1)

1875, House flag 10 cents rose-red, tied by oval agents cachet "JOH. KOCK & CO LLOYD'S AGENTS PTO CABELLO" to folded lettersheet (sideflaps missing) endorsed "p. Essequibo" (the Vessel of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company) to Barcelona with instructional marking "VIA DE INGLATERRA" on reverse and red "SHIP-LETTER" and tax marks on front. One of only three recorded letters with the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company stamp this being the only recorded usage from Venezuela and the only usage to an address outside of the Caribbean area, a great and attractive rarity of Venezuela and Private Ship letter stamps of the World, detailed certificate Heister BPP (2005) (Facit RMS 1)