47

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. black plate 7 DE-EF block of four on experimental thin paper, a magnificent mint block with full original gum, faintest trace of an age stain on DE, typical light gum creases or wrinkles, exceptionally fresh with the lower pair unmounted and the upper pair with a light single hinge, one of the finest known blocks and an exhibition showpiece. Ex Major-General Sir Leonard Atkinson, 1990 (lot 84), Sir Gawaine Baillie (2004, lot 42). B.P.A. certificate (1990). S.G. Spec. AS44c. Photo.

Price Realised £58000

48

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. greyish-black plate 7 IF, a fresh mint example with good to large margins and part original gum, some faint creasing not detracting from the fine appearance. S.G. Spec. AS45, cat. £7,500. Photo.

Price Realised £2200

50

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. black plate 7 OD on fragment of the letter from which it was originally cut and with triangular section of the stamp neatly cut out, presumably removing the cancellation, affixed with sealing wax to December 1840 entire to Truro, tied by two strikes of the red Maltese Cross and with blue ''TRURO/DE 10/1840'' double arc c.d.s. at opposite corner. This clever attempt to defraud the Post Office was detected and the cover endorsed 'Stamp used before' alongside the adhesive and charged '2' due. A rare surviving example of an attempt to fraudulently re-use stamps, illustrative of the fears of the Post Office. Ex Pichai Burunsamobati (lot 121). R.P.S. certificate (1990). Photo.

Price Realised UNSOLD

51

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. black plate 7 RB (no ''O'' flaw) exceptionally fine used with good to large margins and tied by superb black Maltese Cross to March 24th 1841 wrapper from Farnham to London, ''FARNHAM/MR 24/1841'' 'Traveller' horseshoe datestamp with mileage removed struck alongside, framed ''Farnham/Penny Post'' Receiver handstamp also struck on front. S.G. Spec. AS44. Photo.

Price Realised £1100

52

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. black plate 7 SL, superb used and tied by the distinctive pink Maltese Cross of Merthyr Tydvil leaving profile clear on September 21st 1840 entire letter to Bristol with matching pink ''MERTHYR TYDVIL/SE 22/1840'' double arc circular datestamp on front, ''BRISTOL/SP 22/1840/B'' double arc c.d.s. in black on reverse, an exceptional cover. R.P.S. certificate (1987). S.G. Spec. AS44var. Photo.See 'The Maltese Cross - The Colour Problem' by Robson Lowe

Price Realised £3500

53

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. grey-black (extremely worn) plate 7 FA-GB, a very fine and rare used block of four with ample to good margins and superb upright strikes of a black Maltese Cross, stunning visual appeal and exhibition item. Ex Sugden (lot 155) and H.O. Fraser (lot 227). B.P.A. certificate (2001). S.G. 3, Spec. AS45, cat. £18,000. Photo.

Price Realised UNSOLD

54

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. greyish-black (very worn) plate 7 MH-MI and MJ-MK pairs rejoined with hinge to form original MH-MK strip of four, very fine used with good margins and clear neat black Maltese Crosses, most attractive and very scarce. S.G. Spec. AS45. Photo.

Price Realised UNSOLD

55

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. black plate 7 FJ exceptionally fine used with very large even margins and an almost complete black Maltese Cross. S.G. Spec. AS44. Photo.

Price Realised £300

56

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. greyish-black plate 7 HJ, very fine used with good to very large margins and bold black Maltese Cross. S.G. Spec. AS45. Photo.

Price Realised £250

57

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. greyish-black (very worn) plate 7 KD, exceptionally fine used and most attractive with large margins and almost complete black Maltese Cross. Ex Wills (lot 314) and Cawardine (lot 1381). S.G. Spec. AS45. Photo.

Price Realised UNSOLD

58

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. greyish-black plate 7 KK (re-entry) exceptionally fine used with good even margins and clear light red Maltese Cross, most attractive and one of only two re-entries listed for this plate. S.G. Spec. AS45a. Photo.

Price Realised £480

59

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. black plate 7 QI (re-entry) fine used with good even margins and neat black Maltese Cross, one of only two re-entries listed for this plate. S.G. Spec. AS44a. Photo.

Price Realised £290

60

Sale number: 33

1840 1d. black plate 7 RC superb used with good to enormous margins showing large part of RC at left, exceptional centrally struck red Maltese Cross, exhibition quality. S.G. Spec. AS44. Photo.

Price Realised £680