In Preparation: GPA 89 British Empire & Foreign Countries

Our May 21st/22nd auction will feature the first part of the superlative collection of British Levant postal stationery formed by Dr Alan K Huggins MBE, RDP, FRPSL, focusing on the unoverprinted issues employed in the area. A further offering of Kuwait from the fine collection formed by Dr. L Phillips is joined by outstanding Switzerland formed by the late John E Ager of Bookham and the latest in our continuing series of specialised sections of Falkland Islands & Antarctica including the remarkable study of the 1938–50 Issue formed by A.G. Belfield, FRPSL.

This comprehensive study of the printings, plate no. and sheet no. singles and multiples, varieties includes the unique 1938 2d. vertical column of ten imperforate at top and showing the sheet number “1944″ in margin (detail pictured opposite) and a range of covers including commercial use of all values with some rare postal rates.

Other notable rarities to be offered include the recently discovered 1934 airmail cover carried by seaplane from H.M.S. Exeter, the sixth cover recorded and only the second without “AIR MAIL” handstamp; the unique proof of the South Georgia 1928 21/2d. provisional surcharge struck in violet with accompanying letter from sub-magistrate A.G. Nelson-Jones confirming it to be “the first to be surcharged”; and the rare and attractive essay for the 1944 Dependencies issue of the proposed overprint “SOUTH GEORGIA/DEPENDENCY OF THE” handpainted on imperforate 2d. affixed to card.