No Longer Available - NORTH BORNEO 1928 SG299 Essay

Stock Code: P201006125

1928 (12 Oct) 25c "Clouded leopard" stamp-size artist's essay for the 1931 50th Anniversary issue, entirely handpainted in sepia-black, violet and Chinese white, design as adopted except for the characters in the side panels, sunk mounted in thick card (108x91mm) with embossed "WATERLOW & SONS / LIMITED / SPECIMEN" circular device at lower right. With no less than four separate pencil endorsements in the surround, comprising "Cat instead of croc" and revised Jawi characters (at centre left), "substitute with cat" (at centre right) and "omit printer's name in all stamps" (at lower left), and final neat M/S "appd. with cat instead of crocodile / (initials) / 12/10/28" at lower left. [Clearly the original choice of vignette had been for a crocodile, with the intention to include the printer's imprint in the lower margin, as on the Waterlow 1909-22 and 1911 definitive designs, which remained current until 1939]. A unique and magnificent essay of great charm and beauty, perhaps the finest which it has ever been our privilege to offer, from any Commonwealth country, with artwork of extraordinary delicacy and finesse (which can only be fully appreciated under magnification). Illustrated and discussed on p.961 of the Shipman and Cassels handbook (vol. III), and from the full set of eight original essays once in the collection of Col. J.R. Danson (CRL 30/6/1971, lot 2251). [The degree of care and pride in the preparation of this landmark commemorative issue can be judged by the fact that these essays were approved over two years before the scheduled release date. These efforts were amply repaid when the GSM editorial in Dec 1930 concluded "We are going to state here and now that the forthcoming North Borneo set is one of the most beautiful which has ever been made - the designing and colouring being superb".]

$7,887.50*

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