Proofs, Trials & Essays

Great Britain 1856 (ESSAY) SG69var

1856 6d Deep Mauve imperforate plate proof on wove paper, watermark emblems inverted with trial cancellation KF AP.-1.1856 datestamp. Taken from a presentation album produced for the 1867 Paris exhibition. 2007 RPS cert.

Stock code: G1121405X | SG number: 69var

£6,500

Great Britain 1856 (ESSAY) SG69var

1856 6d Deep Green imperforate plate proof on thin unwatermarked white wove paper with trial cancellation KF AP.-1.1856 datestamp. Taken from a presentation album produced for the 1867 Paris exhibition. 2007 RPS cert.

Stock code: G1121406X | SG number: 69var

£6,500

Great Britain 1856 (ESSAY) SG69var

1856 6d Green imperforate plate proof on thin unwatermarked white wove paper with trial cancellation removed. Taken from a presentation album produced for the 1867 Paris exhibition. 2007 RPS cert.

Stock code: G1121407X | SG number: 69var

£6,500

Great Britain 1856 (ESSAY) SG72var

1856 1s Green imperforate colour trial on white glazed wove paper, with white cross below chin, with trial cancellation "39" in diamond obliterator. One of only three known in private hands. 2007 RPS cert.

Stock code: G1121408X | SG number: 72var

£7,500

Great Britain 1856 (ESSAY) SG72var

1856 1s Blue imperforate colour trial on white glazed paper, with white cross below chin, with trial cancellation "39" in diamond obliterator. One of only three known in private hands. Cut close at bottom right corner. 2007 RPS cert. Cat. £7,500.

Stock code: G1121410X | SG number: 72var

£5,500

Great Britain 1865 (ESSAY) SG97var

1865 6d Colour trial Pl.6. Very fine unused o.g. imperforate colour trial lettered LJ, printed on thin wove unwatermarked, ungummed paper in orange-red. One of only three known in private hands. Taken from a presentation album for the1867 Paris exhibition. 2007 RPS Cert.

Stock code: G1121404X | SG number: 97var

£7,000

Great Britain 1865 (ESSAY) SG97var

1865 6d Colour trial Pl.6. Very fine unused o.g. imperforate colour trial lettered LJ, printed on thin wove unwatermarked, ungummed paper in rose. One of only two known in private hands. Taken from a presentation album for the 1867 Paris exhibition. 2007 RPS Cert.

Stock code: G1121403X | SG number: 97var

£7,000

Great Britain 1867 (ESSAY) SG97var

1867 6d Colour trial Pl.6. Very fine unused o.g. imperforate colour trial lettered QJ, printed on thin wove unwatermarked, ungummed paper in straw. One of only two known in private hands. Taken from a presentation album for the 1867 Paris exhibition. 2007 RPS Cert.

Stock code: G1121401X | SG number: 97var

£7,000

Great Britain 1880 (ESSAY) SG167var

1880 1½d Hand painted essay. Superb example from the DLR archives lettered IJ-JI, painted in pink, red and white on thick cream card, produced for the forthcoming 1880 "Provisional" issue. Very rare, DLR produced 11 unique essays four of which were purchased by the National Postal Museum.

Stock code: P11214486 | SG number: 167var

£7,000

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG197/211

1885 ½d, 1½d, 2d, 2½d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 9d and 1s series of hand painted “Jubilee“ essays for the original set of 10 values in the issued designs and colours, each on a small piece of card and mounted along with 1881 1d issued stamp on a single piece of card (191 x 160mm). Annotated at foot “THE DESIGNS ARE SIMPLY DRAWN BY HAND AND DO NOT SHOW THE FINISHED EFFECT WHICH WILL BE OBTAINED BY ENGRAVING“, subsequently endorsed in manuscript by W.H. Cousins (Secretary, Inland Revenue) at upper left “This is the Scheme of Stamps approved by the P.M.G. W.H.C. 11 June 85“. A magnificent and unique exhibition showpiece and an important frontispiece for any “Jubilee“ collection.

Stock code: P11214571 | SG number: 197/211

£75,000