Northern Rhodesia |
|
x An albino proof strike of Northern Rhodesia's Public Seal, embodying the Arms of the Protectorate as granted by George VI, by Royal Warrant dated 16 August 1939, heavily embossed and struck on cream card (97x99mm.). A lovely frontis piece to a collection of Northern Rhodesia. Photo £100-120
Note: The centre portion of the seal shows a shield of wavy lines (representing the Victoria Falls) and eagle with fish, this design being used as the basis for the 1963 Definitive issue
| Forerunners | |
The Interim Period
Rhodesia Admiral values used in Northern Rhodesia |
April 1924 was the last month that BSAC Admiral definitives were valid for postage in both Northern and Southern Rhodesia. This was followed by an eleven month period during which the Admirals were exclusively used in Northern Rhodesia pending the arrival of the first Northern Rhodesia definitive issue on 1 April 1925
|
|
| |
x 1924 (Mar.) Livingstone c.d.s. on 1d. pair with two large part strikes, the last month under BSAC administration; May-Nov. 1924 selection comprising Livingstone on 2/- (14.5), Kasama on 5/- (12.7), Kawambwa on 6d. (11.8), Choma on 1/2d. block of four (3.10), Broken Hill on 3d. block of four (23.10) and Ndola on 1d. aniline red block of four (22.11); the last with some stains though generally fine large part or complete strikes £100-120
|
|
|
x 1924 (10 May) virtually complete Pemba c.d.s. on 10/- carmine and yellow-green. Photo £120-150
|
|
| |
x 1924 (Dec.)-25 (Mar.) selection comprising 1/2d. (22 with four blocks of four), 1d. (25 with eleven pairs, several in aniline red), 2d., 6d. and 2/6d. with c.d.s. of fifteen different offices, generally fine large part or complete strikes £250-300
|
|
|
x 1925 (12 Feb.) virtually complete Lundazi c.d.s. on 10/- carmine and yellow-green; fine and scarce. Photo £150-200
|
|
|
x 1925 (1 Apr.) large part Broken Hill c.d.s. on 1/2d. green, the first day of issue of the King George V issue and accompanied by a Definitive issue 10d. olive-green with large part Livingstone c.d.s. of the same date. A delightful pair. Photo £250-300
|
|
|
x 1925 (6 Apr.) envelope from Livingstone to Bulawayo bearing 1d. red (2) sharing a complete strike; envelope with a few minor stains though a rare and early usage of the Admiral stamps during the April-September period when the Admirals remained valid for postage. Photo £150-200
|
|
|
x 1925 (10 Apr.) Feira c.d.s. on 4d., (25 Apr.) Fort Jameson c.d.s. on 1d. horizontal pair (crease) and (17 June) Abercorn c.d.s. on 10/- carmine and yellow-green; fine large part strikes with the 10/- a late date for this high value. Photo £150-200
|
|
|
x 1926 (22 May) and (19 June) envelopes ex the same correspondence from Fort Jameson to London and sent after demonitisation of the Admiral values, the first bearing 1d. red pair left uncancelled and ringed in blue crayon as not accepted for postage, despatch c.d.s. below and with "4d/f.b./b" handstamp tying the stamps and with G.B. Postage Due 2d. pair cancelled at Clapham (2.6) on arrival; the second bearing 1/2d. green in combination with Definitive 1/2d. and 1d., all cancelled by c.d.s. and passing through the system without charge. A couple of small imperfections though a wonderful pair. Photo £500-600
| 1925-29 Definitive Issue | |
Pencil Sketch Essay | |
|
|
x 1/2d. in a design bearing similarities to the South Africa 1913 King's Head issue with King facing left, outline frame for a value tablet and further 1/2d. shield style value tablet at left, the whole on tracing paper (113x81mm.) marked "Second rough with head size of original". Photo £1,500-1,800
Note: The provenance of this sketch has not yet been confirmed though it is believed to emanate from the Waterlow & Sons archive
Provenance:
Sam Kelly, March 1992
| De La Rue Photographic Essays | |
|
|
x 3d. essay, executed 4 1/2 times stamp size (86x109mm.) on matt paper (102x125mm.); trace of creasing at lower right corner. Photo £200-250
Provenance: Geoff Lovejoy, April 1996
|
|
|
x 3d. stamp-size essay in sepia, mounted on card (82x101mm.) dated "26.8.24", lettered "A" and marked "duplicate". Photo £1,000-1,200
Provenance: Sam Kelly, March 1992
|
|
|
x 1/- stamp-size essay in sepia with handpainted value tablets in carmine and "one shilling" highlighted in Chinese white, mounted on card (82x101mm.) dated "26.8.24", lettered "B" and marked "duplicate". Photo £1,200-1,500
Provenance: Sam Kelly, March 1992
| Die Proofs | |
|
|
x 1/2d./10d. master in green engraved by W.G. Fairweather, on wove paper (86x100mm.) showing reversed die number "10466" at top and endorsed in pencil "As Appd 22 Oct./24 L"; lower left corner truncated and with traces of thinning. A rare Waterlow proof for a Crown Agents contract. Photo £2,500-3,000
Provenance: Sam Kelly, March 1992
|
|
|
x 1/2d./10d. master in black with manuscript die number "10466" and roller die number "Proof No 2337" at top, "cancelled" in red ink (reduced) across centre; small security hole puncture in left-hand value tablet. The usual soiling from proofs ex. the printer's record book. Unique. PFSA Certificate (1985). Photo £1,500-2,000
Note: This and the following lot were the only two proofs for this issue found in the Waterlow & Sons archive. See "The Die Proofs of Waterlow & Sons" by Fraser and Lowe, page 26
|
|
|
x 1/2d. in black with "postage & revenue" excised, manuscript die number "10508a" and roller die number "7399" at top, "cancelled" in red ink across centre; small security hole puncture in left-hand value tablet. The usual soiling from proofs ex. the printer's record book. Unique. Photo £1,500-2,000
Note: The removal of the "postage & revenue" tablet was possibly a later development to inspect the visual effect of the excision, the later issues of George VI and Queen Elizabeth lacked this wording
| Specimen Stamps | |
|
|
x 1/2d. to 20/- set of seventeen overprinted or perforated (3/-) "specimen", good to fine mint. Cat. £1,100. Photo £400-500
| Madagascar Archive Specimen Stamps | |
|
|
x 1/2d. to 20/- set of seventeen, all in strips of three (the 20/- represented by pair and single) cancelled by several strikes of the "postes et telegraphes/madagascar/
collection/de/berne" handstamp in red and affixed to piece of receiving authority's archive folio numbered "00037" and dated "1925". A unique record. Photo £3,000-3,500
| Issued Stamps | |
|
| |
x 1/2d. to 20/- set of seventeen with additional 2/- marginal block of four and pair; good to fine mint. Also 1/2d. and 1d. "imperforate" examples. S.G. 1-17, £812+ £250-300
|
|
|
x 4d. violet marginal horizontal pair from the left of the sheet, variety imperforate between stamp and margin, lightly mounted mint with brownish crazed gum; small split in margin. Very rare with only a single sheet of this variety discovered, giving a maximum of ten examples possible. Photo £2,000-2,500
Provenance: Sam Kelly, March 1992
|
|
|
x 4d. violet, variety imperforate between the stamp and a fragment of another below it, indistinctly cancelled; some minor staining confined to reverse, otherwise fine.
The unique discovery example referred to in the Bridger & Kay "Five Reigns Catalogue" and below S.G. 17 in the S.G. Part 1 catalogue. R.P.S. Certificate (1973). Photo £1,800-2,000
Provenance: Tom Clapham
Sam Kelly, March 1992
|
|
|
x 8d., 10d., 2/- and 3/- to 20/- in blocks of four and mainly marginal, mint with a few unmounted; gum a fraction toned in places though a rare group. Also 1 1/2d. printer's sample marginal block of four, each with a small punched security hole. Cat. £2,672+. Photo £1,200-1,500
| Covers and Cancellations | |
|
|
x 1925 (28 Mar.) envelope from Pemba to Port Elizabeth, bearing 1/2d. green (3) each neatly cancelled by c.d.s., no arrival marking; envelope with central vertical fold though an attractive franking postmarked four days before the official day of issue on 1 April. Photo £500-600
|
|
| |
x 1925 (July) picture postcard (corner crease) from Kafue to Belgium bearing, on picture side, 2d. with c.d.s., 1930 (May) envelope from Broken Hill to Lusaka bearing 2d. with c.d.s., 1931 (June) picture postcard from Livingstone to England bearing 1 1/2d. with machine datestamp, and 1932 (July) envelope (no flap) from Livingstone to U.S.A. bearing 1/2d. with c.d.s. and sent at the printed matter rate £60-80
|
|
| |
x 1926-30 selection of registered mail, comprising 1926 4d. envelope, uprated with 2d. (2), from Livingstone to England with green registration label, 1927 from Mumbwa to New Zealand bearing 8d. and with manuscript registration mark, 1929 OHMS Post Office type (240x107mm.) from Livingstone to Canada bearing 6d., 1929 4d. envelope, uprated with 1d. (2), from Mongu to Cape Town with manuscript registration mark and 1930 from Livingstone to Scotland bearing 2d. and 3d. with handstamped registration mark; a few small faults though an interesting group £100-120
|
|
| |
x 1934 (2 Apr.) envelope to England, bearing 1/2d. to 6d., 1/- and 2/6d. sharing several Royal Tour Arms bi-lingual oval datestamps whilst the "White Train" was at Livingstone £80-100
|
|
|
x 1935 (7 Feb.) envelope registered from Luanshya "By Airmail" to Iraq, bearing 4d., 1/- and 20/- neatly cancelled by c.d.s. and with registration label at left, the reverse with despatch, Cairo (14.2) and arrival (15.2) c.d.s.; an unusual destination and with the 20/- rare on cover. Photo £250-300
|
|
|
x 1935 (25 June) envelope registered from Livingstone to Rondebosch, bearing 8d., 10d., 2/-, 7/6d. and 1935 Silver Jubilee set all neatly cancelled by c.d.s.; the reverse (no flap) with despatch and arrival (28.6) c.d.s.; the 7/6d. scarce on cover. Photo £120-150
|
|
| |
x 1938 (12 Jan.) envelope from Bulawayo Station to Johannesburg, bearing 1 1/2d. (2) with framed "t/posted on train/without special fee" handstamp between the two adhesives and completed for an additional fee of 1d. although the cover appears to be correctly franked; also 1934 (27 Dec.) unfranked envelope (230x102mm., folded towards left for display purposes) from Ndola to Bulawayo, marked "Rail Letter/Northern Rhodesia/Southern Rhodesia" and showing fine "rhodesia railways/n'dola station/Station Master's Office" oval datestamp in blue £200-250
| 1935 Silver Jubilee Issue | |
Die Proofs | |
|
|
x 2d., 3d., 6d. and 1/- die proofs of the frames only in black on wove paper, all partly affixed to piece of paper (100x158mm.) and bracketed as "Not appd", initialled and dated "17/12", and 1d. similar die proof affixed to piece (117x76mm.) headed "appendix 29th December 1934" with the proof marked "Appd for Die", initialled and dated "31/12".
A fine and exceptionally rare group with the 1d. proof unique. Photo £5,000-6,000
Note: The De La Rue archives contained two similar sets of proofs for the 2d., 3d.., 6d. and 1/- values. The first series, as above, which were not approved, and a further series which was marked as approved and dated 17 December. The difference between the two series in not readily discernable. Only one proof of the 1d. value was found in the archive
Provenance:
Sam Kelly, March 1992
| Specimen Stamps | |
|
| |
x 1d. to 6d. set of four, each perforated "specimen", mint with gum a little toned.
S.G. 18-21, £190 £80-100
|
|
|
x 1d. to 6d. set of four, each perforated "specimen" and additionally handstamped "specimen" (BEC2a) in black by the Bechuanaland Receiving Authority with the 6d. value receiving an additional strike in violet, affixed to piece with the 1d., 2d. and 3d. values showing traces of green crayon marks. A unique group. Photo £300-400
| Issued Stamps | |
|
|
x 3d. brown and deep blue with variety Dot to left of chapel, used with the other three values of the set and additional 1d. and 2d. (both on reverse) on 1936 (6 May) envelope registered from Nkana to France, transit and arrival (14.5) c.d.s. on reverse; some light foxing around the adhesives though a rare variety on cover. Also a mint set of four.
S.G. 20g. Photo £300-400
|
|
|
x 6d. slate and purple, variety frame printed double, one albino, unmounted mint; gum a little toned not affecting superb appearance. Very rare. S.G. 21a, £2,750. Photo £1,200-1,500
|
|
| |
x 1937 Coronation set of three and 1946 Victory pair, all perforated "specimen", mint with gum fractionally toned in places; the Victory 2d. a little oxidised. S.G. 22-24. 46-47, £320 £100-120
| 1938-52 Definitive Issue | |
Specimen Stamps | |
|
| |
x 1/2d. to 20/- set of fifteen, each perforated "specimen", good to fine mint. S.G. 25-45 group, £650 £200-250
|
|
| |
x 1/2d. to 20/- set less 1941 1 1/2d. and 2d., each perforated "specimen", mint with gum a little toned; 2d. with a thin £100-120
| Issued Stamps | |
|
| |
x A mint collection including set of twenty-one, a few multiples with 2d. yellow-brown block of six, 1947 U.P.U. Congress folder with fourteen values to 2/6d., and the commemorative issues of the reign; generally fine £200-250
|
|
|
x 1/2d. to 20/- set of twenty-one in imprint blocks of four, fine mint. A rare set. S.G. 25-45, £1,000+. Photo £700-800
|
|
|
x 1/2d. green lower right corner imprint block of forty-two (7x6), the upper right corner block of six with a printing flaw ink smear affecting three stamps; also 1/2d. green printer's sample marginal block of four, three with a small punched security hole. Photo £150-200
|
|
|
x 1 1/2d. carmine-red marginal block of eight with full imprint, fine mint. S.G. 29, £400+. Photo £200-250
|
|
|
x 1 1/2d. carmine-red lower left corner block of twelve (3x4), columns two and three comprising four pairs with variety imperforate between, unmounted mint; gum a little yellow in places due, no doubt, to the way in which it was stored in it's earlier life, however not detracting from the superb appearance of this exceptional and unique multiple. The gem of the collection and unquestionably the most important item of Northern Rhodesia philately. S.G. 29a, £108,000+++. Photo £120,000-150,000
Note: When the original owner of this block passed away in Jamestown, South Africa in 1959, his daughter took his possessions, stored in an old tin trunk, with her to East London. In 1994 her son was perusing the contents of this tin trunk when he found an old red shoe box containing envelopes of stamps. In one transparent envelope he discovered, folded in half, this block of twelve stamps which subsequently came in to the collection offered here.
A photograph found in the Sam Kelly collection shows a block of four with the variety and this was issued with a 1987 B.P.A. Certificate. The whereabouts of this block is unknown though this and the block of twelve offered above are believed to be the only examples of this remarkable variety known. See "The Rhodesian Philatelist", No 10, page 147
| The "Tick Bird" Flaw | |
|
|
x 1 1/2d. carmine-red vertical pair, the upper stamp with "tick bird" flaw and printer's mark at upper left corner, fresh mint; the flaw with small "thin" at centre caused by a dropped out inclusion. Very rare with only a handful of mint examples recorded. S.G. 29b, £6,500. Photo £2,000-2,500
Note: This flaw occurs on Row 7/1 and the flaw stamp also shows a printer's mark at the upper left corner
|
|
|
x 1 1/2d. carmine-red and 1 1/2d. yellow-brown, both with "tick bird" flaw, fine used with Broken Hill and Livingstone c.d.s. respectively. S.G. 29b, 30b, £515. Photo £250-300
|
|
| |
x 1 1/2d. yellow-brown marginal block of nine and a vertical pair, both with "tick bird" flaw, fine mint with the first unmounted. S.G. 30b, £340+ £150-180
|
|
| |
x 1 1/2d. yellow-brown marginal vertical pair and a single, mint, and a used single, all with "tick bird" flaw, fine; "Tick. B." ink notation in the margin of the pair regarding the flaw. S.G. 30b, £405 £150-200
| The "Tick Bird" Flaw, Covers | |
|
|
x 1940 (4 May) envelope from Broken Hill to Rhodesian Railways at Beira, Portuguese East Africa and with censor label at left, bearing 1 1/2d. carmine-red with clear double-ring datestamp, upon arrival redirected to Johannesburg and franked with 40c. and 60c. pair cancelled by 11 May hexagonal datestamps, the reverse with Beira arrival c.d.s. (10.5).
A great rarity on cover with only three examples believed recorded. Photo £3,000-3,500
|
|
|
x 1941 (22 Feb.) envelope from Kitwe to a member of the 1st. Rhodesian Regiment at Nairobi, bearing 1 1/2d. carmine-red horizontal pair, the left-hand stamp with the flaw, and 1d. chocolate, all neatly cancelled by machine datestamp; the normal in the pair with a little foxing, otherwise fine. A great rarity on cover with only three examples believed recorded. Photo £3,000-3,500
|
|
| |
x 1944 (24 Apr.) envelope (central vertical fold) from Ndola to Bulawayo, bearing 1 1/2d. yellow-brown marginal block of four with the lower left stamp showing the flaw and clear of the cancellation £100-120
|
|
| |
x 1948 Silver Wedding 1 1/2d. and 20/- plate blocks of four, unmounted mint, and the two values used on Kitwe Copperbelt Philatelic Society illustrated first day cover to Mombasa; fine. S.G. 48, 49, £445+ £150-200
| George VI Period Covers | |
|
