1903-04 5a, bicolour working die proof, stamp size in black and orange-brown on glazed card. Insignificant blemishes but attractive and probably unique. Ex Sir Gawaine Baillie (Sotheby's 24/11/2005, lot 201).

1903-04 wmk CC 1r to 50r (exclg 3r), seven values, locally handstamped 'SPECIMEN' (15x2mm, in a seriffed type not recorded by Samuel), with clearly identifiable part strikes of Gabon circular receiving handstamp, inscribed 'COLONIE du GABON/RF 1er BUREAU/ SECRETARIAT GENERAL'. From the Gabon UPU archive, dispersed c.1975. Gabon joined the UPU after the original UPU 'specimens' had been distributed to member states, and so normal stamps were specially handstamped at Mombasa (?) and supplied direct to the Gabon Post Office. Without gum, and slight soiling, but good colours and well above average for such items. A fascinating and important group of the highest rarity, which may be the only surviving examples of the five of each that originally existed. (See Samuel p.58 for the story of similar local specimen opts supplied to Gabon by Hong Kong and Rhodesia. The same phenomenon has recently been discovered for Gambia.)

1903 (9 MAY) die proof of frame for 1903-04 2r, in black on glazed card (92x60mm), dated in blue at upper left and stamped 'BEFORE/HARDENING' at upper right.

1903 (13 MAY) die proof of frame for 1903-04 4r, in black on glazed card (92x60mm), dated in blue at upper left and stamped 'AFTER/HARDENING' at upper right.

1903-04 20r grey and stone, wmk CC, opt 'SPECIMEN', brilliant o.g. Exceptional condition.

1903-04 50r grey and red-brown, wmk CC, opt 'SPECIMEN', brilliant o.g. Exceptional condition.

1912 (?) De La Rue vignette die proof of the King's portrait in solid oval with surround, as adopted for the 1912-21 low values (and similarly Somaliland), stamp size in black on glazed card affixed to piece (45x59mm) ex De La Rue day book, with M/S endorsements 'Feb 3rd/240/No 2/Made in error... given out by CA' and initialled. A unique and interesting item. 1912-21 50c included for comparison.

1912-21 wmk MCA short set of 7 to 25c (the 15c and 25c in rejoined horizontal pairs) and 2r, 3r, 5r, opt 'SPECIMEN', with clearly identifiable part strikes of Gabon receiving handstamps, the 3c and 6c with 'COLONIE DU GABON/SECRETARIAT GENERAL', the others with 'COLONIE du GABON et du CONGO FRANCAIS/RF 1er BUREAU/DIRECTION de L'INTERIEUR'. From the Gabon UPU archive, dispersed c.1975. Without gum as usual, and the 2r and 3r with small surface faults, but a rare and interesting group, the pairs unique as only three examples of each value were sent to Gabon.

1912 KGV original set of 16 to 20r (black and purple/red), opt 'SPECIMEN', three examples of each, neatly affixed to two complete ledger pages from the Madagascar P.O. archive (with signed audit notes at lower right), and tied by multiple strikes of the red 'POSTES ET TELEGRAPHES/COLLECTION DE BERNE/MADAGASCAR' large circular receiving H/S. The first page with 3c and 6c only (distributed first), the second (headed 'Suite') with the other 14 values, dated in M/S respectively '14 May 1912' and '3 October 1912', being the dates of despatch from Bern.The pages with unimportant periphal faults but the stamp smostly very fine, with lovely fresh colours. Spectacular and unique, with the 2r to 20r having been sent in an unexpected format, namely singles from the foot of one sheet and horizontal pairs (now separated) from the top of another.

1912-21 25c black and red/yellow, white back, opt 'SPECIMEN', fresh o.g.

1916 (AP 4) printed memorandum to the G.P.O. Nairobi, from 'THE DUSTPAN' (a firm of ironmongers) with typewritten message confirming payment of R42.99 for postage on 1433 magazines (at 3c each), and requesting acknowledgement of receipt. Affixed to the reverse were stamps to the appropriate value, cancelled or tied by very fine strikes of NAIROBI cds, from which the 1912-21 20r black and purple/red, 2r (upper marginal), 75c, 15c, 6c and 32c (=R22.99) survive, all in very fine condition, with official endorsement 'Certified that 1433 copies of Monthly Magazine have been duty posted and Rs42/99 received for postage' and signatures x3. Folded, and with a piece cut away (presumably bearing another 20r stamp), still a most remarkable and interesting item. We cannot recall handling such a complete example of a bulk postage receipt from any commonwealth country in the past 25 years.

1912-21 50r dull rose-red and dull greyish green, wmk MCA, opt 'SPECIMEN', exceptionally from upper left corner with plate number '1', fresh o.g. (hinged in margin only). One short perf but rare and spectacular in this positional form, with less than seven sheets overprinted.

1922 (11 May) master die proof of the KGV head vignette used for the 1922-27 1s to £100, in black on glazed card (92x60mm), with 'AFTER/ HARDENING' handstamp at lower left, and with pencil M/S 'Kenya' and '11/5/22' (both erased but still discernible) at upper left and lower right respectively. With issued 1s for comparison. A very rare and important proof (ex RL 6/7/78, lot 222).

1925 (19 APR) die proof in black on glazed card (60x92mm) of frame for 1922-27 4s value, with handstamped date in blue above, and M/S endorsement 'Before hardening' below. Rare.

1922-27 7s50c orange-yellow, very fine large part o.g.

1922-27 7s50 frame die proof in black on glazed card (60x92mm), with 'BEFORE/HARDENING' handstamp (vertically) at lower left. Rare.

1922-27 £2 green and purple, o.g. Couple of fractionally shortish perfs but very fresh colour. (cat £900)

1925 (19 APR) £2 die proof of frame in black on glazed card (60x92mm), with handstamped date in blue above and manuscript 'Before hardening' below. A rare and desirable proof, unusual with the M/S endorsement.

1922-27 £4 black and magenta, fiscally used with part red embossed cancel dated '8 9 31'. Fine and attractive.

1922-27 £5 black and blue, o.g. Suspicion of toning on gum, still an attractive example with fresh colour. Very scarce. (cat £2250)

1935 Silver Jubilee set of 4 to 1s, perf 'SPECIMEN' (type D19), large part o.g. (1s unmounted, but minor offsetting). 30c with odd shortish perfs, still a fine set with very fresh colours. (cat £150).

1935 Silver Jubilee set of 4 to 1s, perf 'SPECIMEN' (type D19), o.g. (20c and 65c unmounted). 65c with vertical crease (and 1s with trivial gum tone), otherwise fine appearance with fresh colours. (cat £150).

1938-54 1c black and chocolate brown, upper left corner block of 18 (6x3) with guide cross, showing variety break in bird's breast (R2/5), unmounted o.g.

1938-54 1c black and chocolate brown, upper left corner block of 18 (6x3) with guide cross, showing variety break in bird's breast (R2/5), unmounted o.g.

1948 RSW 20c and £1, marginal blocks of 4, unmounted o.g.

1948 RSW 20c and £1, marginal blocks of 4, unmounted o.g.

1948 RSW 20c and £1, unmounted o.g.

1954-59 set of 14 to £1, unmounted o.g.

1960-62 set of 16 to 20s, unmounted o.g.

1969 (20 Jan) Water transport 30c deep blue, light blue and slate-grey, ERROR SLATE-GREY OMITTED (chiefly affecting aft superstructure of ship), unmounted o.g. Seldom offered.