SAMOA c.1889 Revenue Samoa c.1899 SUPREME COURT revenue proof

Stock Code: P223012931

Supreme Court: c.1889 undenominated proof impression in orange-brown, large part o.g. Prepared in the UK in the same fashion as the British Consular revenues of the same era using an embossed die, which were supplied in books containing panes of four stamps, arranged vertically in pairs with stamps and counterfoils se-tenant, each pair with unique serial number, perf 11 and imperforate at right and foot of each pane. This impression is almost certainly a proof due to the lack of value underprint or serial number. Diagonal crease and some backing adhesion, of little importance as this is an extraordinary item of the highest rarity- even colour images of this issue are not known! Research reveals that these stamps were prepared in line with the short lived 'Treaty of Berlin' signed in 1889 by the United States, Germany and Great Britain which formalised condominium control of the territory, restored the local King (whose crown is depicted on the stamp), established a Supreme Court to be overseen by a "Chief Justice of Samoa" appointed by all three powers, and contained a full tax schedule priced in US Dollars. A wonderful and historically fascinating proof from an issue where no used stamps are known- unsurprising as the Condominium collapsed after just ten years when the Tripartite Convention of 1899 concluded the Second Samoan Civil War, resulting in the formal partition of the Samoan archipelago into a German colony and a United States territory.

$1,671.00*

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SAMOA c.1889 Revenue Samoa c.1899 SUPREME COURT revenue proof - $1,671.00*


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