Proofs, Trials & Essays

Great Britain 1841 (UNUSED) SG16

Stock code: G1341008 | SG number: 16

£18,000

1841 1d Red brown Pl.11 (Dickinson silk thread paper). Superb unused four margin horizontal right hand marginal pair lettered KK-KL showing silk thread on left hand stamp. This unsuccessful trial printing had no silk thread on the first or last vertical columns of the sheet. An exceptional pair, very rare so fine. Spec. DP22.

Great Britain 1856 (ESSAY) SG69var

Stock code: G1121405X | SG number: 69var

£6,500

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.

Great Britain 1865 (ESSAY) SG97var

Stock code: G1121403X | SG number: 97var

£7,000

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.

Great Britain 1865 (ESSAY) SG97var

Stock code: G1121404X | SG number: 97var

£7,000

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.

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG197/211

Stock code: P11214571 | SG number: 197/211

£75,000

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.

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG197var

Stock code: P11214791 | SG number: 197var

£4,950

1885 ½d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in deep red brown with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white, inscribed "Postage". Affixed to a piece of white card (38 x 43mm). Horizontal crease at centre nevertheless a spectacular and unique essay. Cat. £7000.

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG197var

Stock code: P11214793X | SG number: 197var

£7,000

1885 ½d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in red brown with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white with the value "½d" repeated on all four sides, affixed to a piece of white card (29 x 32mm). A spectacular and unique essay.

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG200var

Stock code: P11214799X | SG number: 200var

£7,500

1885 2d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in blue-green & scarlet with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white, executed on a piece of white card (79 x 113mm) Endorsed "Violet / Green duty" the "Violet" & "Green" has been pencilled through and replaced with "Purple" & "Red" respectively, with "Ornaments" in manuscript pointing to the Royal Coat of Arms and "4 Annas" at foot, from a group of the rejected designs which were later considered for a proposed India issue in 1891. Unique.

Great Britain 1884 (ESSAY) SG201var

Stock code: P11217002X | SG number: 201var

£7,000

1884 2½d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in slate lilac affixed to a piece of white card (31 x 27mm). Part of the first series of essays before the committee had been given guidelines and lettered BH/HB. A spectacular and unique essay.

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG205var

Stock code: P11214766X | SG number: 205var

£7,500

1885 4d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in grey-green, carmine & rose with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white on buff card affixed to a larger piece of white card (81 x 115mm). A spectacular and unique essay with a portion of the 4d value tablet removed to show a 5d tablet below.

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG205var

Stock code: G1340287 | SG number: 205var

£8,500

1885 4d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in green and rose with "POSTAGE & REVENUE" in Chinese white and the values over-painted in grey, executed on a piece of white card (82 x 117mm) Unique.

Great Britain 1892 (ESSAY) SG206var

Stock code: P11214781X | SG number: 206var

£7,500

1892 4½d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in grey-violet, pale blue & deep blue with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white and cancelled with a pen cross, executed on a piece of tracing paper (62 x 82mm) lettered "A" and dated "FEB 1.92". One of a series of 10 essays produced by DLR for the new 4½d value. A spectacular and unique essay.

Great Britain 1892 (ESSAY) SG206var

Stock code: P11214779X | SG number: 206var

£7,500

1892 4½d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in grey-violet, green & pale green with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white and cancelled with a pen cross, executed on a piece of tracing paper (58 x 82mm) lettered "G" and dated "FEB 1.92". One of a series of 10 essays produced by DLR for the new 4½d value. A spectacular and unique essay.

Great Britain 1892 (ESSAY) SG206var

Stock code: G1340283 | SG number: 206var

£9,500

1892 4½d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in grey-violet, pale blue & deep blue with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white, affixed to a piece of whitecard (62 x 84mm) lettered "B" and dated "FEB 1.92". One of a series of 10 essays produced by DLR for the new 4½d value. A spectacular and unique essay.

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG207var

Stock code: G1340294 | SG number: 207var

£7,500

1885 5d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in brown and grey-green with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white, affixed to a piece of white card (29 x 32mm). A spectacular and unique essay.

Great Britain 1885 (ESSAY) SG209var

Stock code: P11214771X | SG number: 209var

£7,500

1885 9d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in green, deep red and pink with details of the design and the values over-painted in grey, affixed to a piece of white card (82 x 117mm) from the "Fringe" type series. Unique.

Great Britain 1889 (ESSAY) SG210var

Stock code: P11214497X | SG number: 210var

£7,500

1889 10d "Jubilee" Essay. Very fine hand painted example in lilac & green with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white and cancelled with a pen cross, affixed to a piece of tracing paper (70 x 85mm) numbered "7" and dated "March 15.89". One of a series of 10 essays produced by DLR for the new 10d value. A spectacular and unique essay.

Great Britain 1884 (ESSAY) SG211var

Stock code: G1340120 | SG number: 211var

£8,500

1884 1s "Jubilee" hand painted essay. Very fine example painted in green and chinese white on white card, cut to stamp size and mounted on white card. Very rare one of only seven unique designs produced. Ex. DLR Archives.

Great Britain 1913 (PROOF) SG390var

Stock code: P10107724 | SG number: 390var

£500

1913 8d Miller and Motley trial. Very fine imperforate example using the 11½mm medal head printed in black on white glazed card, with background of solid colour. See Specialised Vol.2 catalogue pg.127 Fig. 33a.

Great Britain 1934 (UNUSED) SG440var

Stock code: P11204667 | SG number: 440var

£180

1934 1d Scarlet essay. Very fine unused o.g. imperforate "large head" essay printed on block cypher watermarked paper.

Great Britain 1935 (ESSAY) SG455var

Stock code: P12308970X | SG number: 455var

£2,750

1935 2d Silver Jubilee hand painted essay. A superb unadopted hand painted essay of this unissued value in grey, black and chinese white around a bromide quarter portrait of the King in military uniform. A magnificent and unique piece.

Great Britain 1955 (ESSAY) SG536/9var

Stock code: G1230367 | SG number: 536/9var

£1,950

1955 2s6d-£1 "Castles". Stunning series of four bromide phographic essays of unaccepted hand painted alternative designs for the first QEII high value issues from the Farrar-Bell chive. A wonderful and very rare group offering a fascinating insight into this classic issue.

Great Britain 1839 (ESSAY) SG.

Stock code: P11210338 | SG number: .

£35,000

1839 Treasury essay. Superb unfolded wrapper addressed to The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. Bearing an 1839 Treasury Competition essay submitted by Mr R Posser of Birmingham, the simple design of "1 PENNY/ DELIVERY STAMP/ ONE OUNCE" with an affixed label alongside intended to serve as a reciept of postage. The reverse is endorsed with the instructions for use "A letter not exceeding ONE OUNCE weight having this stamp firmly attached with the post town and the date and the address of such letter, legibly copied on the back of this stamp, will be conveyed FREE to all parts of the United Kingdom". The competition number 20853/39 is present on the lower back flap. The inside of the wrapper contains in manuscript "Specimen of the stamp for 1 ounce letter while in the possession of the Post Office" two further covers bearing two 1d adhesives and another bearing two 2d adhesives reside in the Royal Philatelic Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A magnificent exhibition piece of the utmost rarity. Ex Bates (1934), Ex Beaumont (1965) & Ex Staff (1995).

Great Britain 1884 (PROOF) SG.

Stock code: P11208885X | SG number: .

£7,000

1884 5d Hand painted essay. Very fine hand painted essay produced before the stamp committee had been given guidelines. Painted in yellow and grey-lilac on white card (92 x 57mm), from the DLR archives lettered HB, endorsed "6 AUG. 84" in blue at top right. Rare.

Great Britain 1839 (ESSAY) SG.

Stock code: P12300303X | SG number: .

£7,500

1839 Treasury Competition Essay. An attractive green gummed label depicting a turreted building above an octagonal frame with "No___" at one side and a complete Treasury competition number on reverse "21,294/39" on reverse. This entry has been identified as being submitted by "W.Boyd & Sons" a firm which has been tentatively identified as a Belfast firm based in Ballymacarrett. Originally submitted as a group of labels presumably that Boyd & Sons believed demonstrated their ability to print items that could be readily adapted as postage stamps (Just as Perkins Bacon were famous for cotton reel labels in the 1830's, buy readily adapted to printing postage stamps). An identical example can be found in the Royal Philatelic Collection but to date this is the only example recorded in private hands. A rare numbered Treasury essay. Ex. Colonel Bates (1934).

Great Britain 1890 (ESSAY) SG.

Stock code: P11214789X | SG number: .

£7,500

1890 1d "Postage Stamp Jubillee" Essay. Very fine handpainted essay for the proposed and subsequently abandoned issue. Painted in red with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white and cancelled with a pen cross, executed on a piece of tracing paper (73 x 86mm) showing the Boehm head and frame type C, Inscribed "No.6" and dated "Dec. 23rd 89". Unique.

Great Britain 1890 (ESSAY) SG.

Stock code: P11214788X | SG number: .

£7,500

1890 1d "Postage Stamp Jubillee" Essay. Very fine handpainted essay for the proposed and subsequently abandoned issue. Painted in lilac with details of the design highlighted in Chinese white and cancelled with a pen cross, executed on a piece of tracing paper (73 x 82mm) showing the Boehm head and frame type F, Inscribed "No.5" and dated "Dec. 23rd 89". Unique.

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SG.

Stock code: P13403693 | SG number: .

£2,000

1840 Whiting Embossed Essay. Superb example printed in black on white wove paper (57 x 50mm). Scarce so fine.

Great Britain 1837 (ESSAY) SG.

Stock code: P13401535 | SG number: .

£1,400

1837 2d "London District Post" Lettersheet. Very fine example printed in green on John Dickinson silk thread paper. Scarce.

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SG.

Stock code: P12301262X | SG number: .

£3,500

1840 Treasury competition essay by Charles Whiting. Very fine "Harwood Envelopes" essay printed in green on wove paper using the congrieve method of interlocking printing plates. The highly ornate engine turned design was produced to illustrate the use of this method as a protection against forgery. Folded vertically down the centre as usually seen not detracting from this very attractive and scarce essay.

Great Britain 1839 (UNUSED) SG.

Stock code: P13405855 | SG number: .

£1,900

1839 "Whiting" Treasury Essay. Superb, huge four margin example printed in red and black on thin white card by Charles Whiting using the Congreve printing method of interlocking plates (115 x 33mm). Endorsed "Post Paid/ 1d/ Beaufort House" Most attractive and scarce.

Great Britain 1838 (ESSAY) SGDP9b

Stock code: P13403701 | SG number: DP9b

£4,200

1838 Background trial. Very fine reprint (1936) of the original plate as produced for assessing the engine turned design background for the forthcoming 1d black and 2d blue adhesives. Printed in purple on white wove paper. Very scarce in this colour.

Great Britain 1836 (ESSAY) SGDP9b

Stock code: P10100049XX | SG number: DP9b

£4,200

1836 Background trial. Very fine reprint of the original plate as produced for assessing the engine turned design background for the forthcoming 1d black and 2d blue adhesives. Printed in orange on white wove paper. Very scarce in this colour.

Great Britain 1840 (UNUSED) SGDP20

Stock code: G1010017 | SG number: DP20

£70,000

1840 1d Rainbow trials (State 1). Very fine and fresh unused sheet of twelve printed in deep blue on thick white wove unwatermarked paper. Rare, one of only four recorded surviving sheets in private hands.

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20

Stock code: P12306654 | SG number: DP20

£55,000

1840 1d Rainbow trials (State 2). Very fine and fresh unused sheet of twelve printed in a "Milky" blue shade on thin white wove unwatermarked paper. Most unusual and rarely seen in this colour.

Great Britain 1840 (UNUSED) SGDP20

Stock code: G1340221 | SG number: DP20

£4,500

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3b). Superb unused four margin bottom corner marginal example printed in red on white wove paper. Scarce. Spec. DP20 (State 3b).

Great Britain 1840 (UNUSED) SGDP20

Stock code: G1340316 | SG number: DP20

£4,750

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3a). Superb unused four margin example printed in deep blue on white wove paper heavily soaked in prussiate of potash, showing a large part of the papermakers "wavy line" watermark. Scarce. Spec. DP20 (State 3a)

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20a

Stock code: P11216354 | SG number: DP20a

£30,000

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3a). Superb presentation sheet bearing six 1d "Rainbow" colour trials with voided corners and without check letters, three of which are printed in shades of blue on "Plain Paper" with three more printed in shades of blue on "Prussiate Paper" which gives the paper a blued affect. Endorsed at top "Fugitive Inks" in the copper plate handwriting of Jacob Perkins with additional numbers and annotations alongside each trial & dated at top left "1840". A similar piece resides in The Royal Philatelic Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A magnificent exhibition showpiece.

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20a

Stock code: G1120124X | SG number: DP20a

£4,750

1840 1d Deep blue "Rainbow Trial" (State 3). Superb unused bottom left hand corner marginal example with manuscript endorsement in margin "F. ½ Pruss" by Edwin Hill. Most attractive and scarce. Spec. DP20 State3(a). 1996 RPS Cert.

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20b

Stock code: P13401496 | SG number: DP20b

£4,750

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin top right hand corner marginal example printed in red brown on white wove paper showing part of the papermaker's watermark. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20b

Stock code: P13404333 | SG number: DP20b

£4,750

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin top marginal example printed in prussian blue on white wove paper. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20b

Stock code: P13401497X | SG number: DP20b

£9,000

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin left hand marginal horizontal pair printed in red brown on white wove paper. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20b

Stock code: P13401498X | SG number: DP20b

£9,000

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin right hand marginal horizontal pair printed in red brown on white wove paper showing part of the papermaker's watermark. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20b

Stock code: P13401500X | SG number: DP20b

£4,500

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin bottom marginal example printed in red brown on white wove paper, showing "Tiny dash" in SE corner square in position R.3/2. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20b

Stock code: P13401495X | SG number: DP20b

£4,500

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin top marginal example printed in red brown on white wove paper. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20b

Stock code: P13401501X | SG number: DP20b

£9,250

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin bottom right hand corner marginal horizontal pair printed in red brown on white wove paper showing part of the papermaker's watermark. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20b

Stock code: P13401494X | SG number: DP20b

£4,500

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin top marginal example printed in red brown on white wove paper. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

Great Britain 1840 (UNUSED) SGDP20b

Stock code: G1340228 | SG number: DP20b

£16,000

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 2). Very fine and fresh unused four margin example printed in black on unwatermarked white wove paper. Very scarce. Spec. DP20b (State 2).

Great Britain 1840 (ESSAY) SGDP20d

Stock code: P13404332 | SG number: DP20d

£5,000

1840 1d Rainbow trial (State 3). Very fine imperforate four margin bottom marginal example printed in drab on thick bluish laid paper. Showing "Tiny dash" in SE corner square from position R.3/2. Spec. DP20b (State 3).

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British Proof, Trial & Essay Stamps